Eric Butler's Blog, page 32

I'm not fat...just a little husky

Guys to be honest I'm burned out. This nonstop everything is a crisis lifestyle the world seems to be heaping on us is taking a toll on my emotional and mental health. I had a few different things planned for today's post but my heart wasn't in it.

I planned on doing a post comparing the 2 House on Haunted Hill movies. I shelved it. I was thinking of doing a post about everything being closed and it's effect on me but I don't want to write anything that is going to come off as political or invite people's opinions on healthcare...

So instead I'm going to share a couple of stories, some pics of my beautiful huskies, and post a link to Irving Fontaine and remind you that if you have Kindle Unlimited you can read it for free...

First up. My mother came to visit last week. I love when she comes to town because I have an excuse to pull out old movies and we get to point out how things have changed in life and the movies. I'm a Vincent Price super fan. I've also started to branch out with my British horror icons from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. I've always been a big fan of Hammer, but I am just now seeing some of Amicus and other lesser-known studios from back then.

This time we were able to watch House on Haunted Hill(1959), The Mad Magician, Master of the World, and An Evening with Edgar Allen Poe. All three amazing showcases of Price's talents and must watch if you can find them. The Mad Magician was originally shown in 3D so it came with 2 Three Stooges shorts that were shown before the main feature.

See it on Amazon Prime in color:

You can only find this one on DVD or Blu-Ray or my house...

This movie is in the same vein as House of Wax, Price's first 3D movie.

This one can be bought to stream on Amazon and streamed on FLIXFLING if you have it. This 20000 Leagues Under the Sea knockoff also stars Charles Bronson and is one of Price's action/adventure movies.

Once again it's DVD, Blu-ray, or my house to see this one.

Here is Price playing the narrator from the Tell-Tale Heart. This movie takes 4 of Poe's stories and has Price narrate them in character. Poe wrote these tales from a specific perspective which allowed Price to take over in character to deliver 4 15 minute tales. This movie has Tell-Tale Heart, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Sphinx, and The Cask of Amontillado.

We also found time to watch Dr. Terror's House of Horrors. A clever mash-up of 5 smaller stories told by Dr. Terror and his tarot cards in a train car. The movie stars Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, and a very young Donald Sutherland. You can stream it on Tubi and I found it also on Youtube for free.

https://youtu.be/PpfRzcOFnwA

Watch the full movie here:

Found this gem on Amazon Prime. It's the first of 2 movies done with the Saint character, Simon Templar. A precursor to his days as Bond, you can see the light-hearted lady's man Moore would infuse into his Bond characterization. You can watch it

https://youtu.be/MrBeOQ89vPY

The rest of the time we spent watching Carnival Eats on Food TV...yes that's right...crazy out of this world food concoctions. The main reason is the host Noah Cappe is such an upbeat and fun guy, it's hard not to smile during his show. I pop it on any time I need a mental pick me up...or I want to drive Dawn crazy (she's not as into food shows as I am).

Here is a quick video of Noah showing off his home...sharing this for my mom's enjoyment...but if you like home shows it's pretty cool. Click

Kittle is getting bigger and Totoro is having a blast with her new baby sister. They share the same father so they really are sisters. Although they both have the Husky breed's traits, their personalities are so different. Kittle requires tons of snuggles and wants to be with a person at all times. Totoro on the other hand is more choosy when she wants attention and will disappear to her favorite spot for hours on end. That being said, when either wants attention there is no stopping these 2. We've been woken up at all times of the day or night with one or both of the girls jumping on the bed looking for love.

I'm a firm believer in never letting the girls off-leash. I've had to chase Totoro when she was younger around a parking lot when she got loose once and believe me never again. So you can imagine my horror when a few weeks ago I took the girls for a walk and Totoro's leash attached itself from her harness.

We had just stepped out front and I heard the click. I stared at the leash as it dropped to the ground. I was too far away to just reach out and grab her, and if I bolted towards her there was no assurance she wouldn't just run thinking we were playing. Luckily nothing was out there to get her attention so I fell to the ground and acted like I was hurt. Side story - when she was a puppy I tripped once while she was running and when I hit the ground, she came back and licked my face to see if I was okay. My hope was she would come to me to investigate. Thank God she did. I clicked the leash on her and we went for the walk. I assumed in my hurry I had not attached it correctly.

I was wrong. When my mother was here, I took them for a walk. This time no issues and we were moving at a pretty good clip. Just as a nice couple was commenting on how pretty the girls are, a cat ran across the street. I yelped "thanks" as the girls took off to investigate and I had no choice but to do my best Lamar Jackson impression to keep up.

When we got to the cat's hiding spot, Kittle started to jump against her sister...possibly in excitement or maybe to egg her on. Luckily I was standing next to them, bent over and trying to stop my heart from exploding when I heard the chilling click of the leash coming loose once again. I grabbed her harness grip, thankful I had just ordered the girls new harnesses equipped with that. I reattached it and tied the leash to the harness, praying we made it home. I purchased a new leash the next day and so far so good, but honestly walking these huskies can be nerve-wracking, especially if the old leash wasn't the issue. Fingers crossed...

Irving Fontaine and the Horrors of the Wild West

The Shadow Within

The Pope Lick Massacre

The Ephraim Godwin Chronicles - Part 27 - chapters 64 &65

,SIXTY-FOUR

The inspector's carriage pulled to a stop as Dr. Livingstone emerged from the house, closely followed by the others. Ms. Whitlock wore a sour expression, and while glad to see her up and about, Kimbell wondered if it was a good idea to bring her. ,It is the woman's dead brother we will be chasing after all.

Ephraim stalked towards the carriage, his face betraying his anger which Kimbell assumed was the reason for Ms. Whitlock's expression. Nodding to his constable, he motioned the other three into the open seats.

"I thought I witnessed your brother earlier at the fire," Kimbell said as he tapped his cane to the ceiling of the carriage. He raised his hands to the men hoping to quiet their reactions. "Gentlemen, the man is deceased. I don't make it a habit of telling others I've seen dead men at various crime scenes."

"It's him," Ms. Whitlock said with a sigh. "His body at least...and his name; he sent me a note and signed it Zachariah J. Whitlock. I can only assume the J is now for Jonah as his true middle name was Stuart. He is headed home."

"But you are from England, why would your brother board a ship bound for France?"

Kimbell studied the faces of each man before turning his attention back to Ms. Whitlock.

"You know what my brother specialized in," she said, no question in her voice.

Everyone close to the siblings had no confusion in the two realms they occupied. Kimbell believed Zachariah Whitlock was authentic in his powers. He had witnessed too many miracles for it to be anything else. However, Kimbell also recognized death's finality in all things, and Zachariah Whitlock was quite dead when he arrived at the morgue.

Kimbell nodded and said, "no matter what I do or do not know... your brother is dead."

"True, my brother's spirit has departed," she said with a sad smile on her lips. "However his body is not as the very fiend we've been hunting all this time now resides in it."

"It's true," Dr. Livingstone said as if his voice provided some credibility to Ms. Whitlock's statement. Ephraim simply nodded and turned his attention back out the window, studying the people as they scurried by.

"Jonah Cook, the negro who worked for Devitt is now Zachariah J. Whitlock," she said without going into any further detail.

Kimbell sat still, his mind racing as he attempted to process the information he was just given. His mouth opened, but nothing came out and after a moment, Kimbell shut it with a sharp click.

"The real question," Ephraim said his attention still on those outside the carriage, "can the man be charged with an actual crime? Or are we simply riding to offer him a fond farewell?"

"Don't forget his signature on the papers found at Chattaway's," Livingstone said with a nod.

"Yes, we can and will hold him for questioning on those land purchases and the fact he was very likely the last one to see them alive...other than the killer of course," Kimbell said, happy to have a plan all of a sudden. He didn't believe they would be allowed to hold him long, but Kimbell only needed a few days alone with any man to get the desired confession.

Ephraim offered a shrug. Zona and the doctor seemed more enthused with Kimbell's proclamation. They just needed to get there before the ship pulled away.

,***

Zachariah J Whitlock strolled across the deck and paused at the bow. He studied the water below. The dark cold water swirled and battled against the ships as they bobbed on its surface. He shifted his icy glare to the deck, scanning the crowds of people ready to embark on their adventures. No one paid him any mind.

Shaking his head, Whitlock allowed himself a smile. ,Will I ever grow accustomed to the anonymity this white face gives me?, A chuckle slipped out as he wondered just how well his new face would go over in Africa on his return. Before he went home though, he needed to stop off in France and pay his last respects to a gentleman there. He hoped he made it in time.

Returning his gaze to the water, Whitlock began to chant. His words so soft at first, no one could hear them but with each sentence, those words increased in volume. He reached into his coat and produced a bag, cinched at the top. Picking open the knot, Whitlock began to sprinkle white ashy flakes over the side. As his words gained strength, the ash began to blacken and smoke, hitting the water with a hiss.

Others on the deck mumbled, glancing at Zachariah, but he didn't notice. These people were insects; they were nothing but fodder for those he hoped to reawaken. He began to rush as he chanted, spitting the words out so quick they blurred together, forming new words from the garbled syllables.

The water around the ship foamed and churned, sending the vessel up and down as if out to sea. Mumbles turned to cries and angry proclamations, but still, no one approached Zachariah as he continued to chant and sprinkle ash over the side.

The ship began to move away from the dock, the gangplank pulled free from the vessel and splashed into the frothing briny darkness. Screams and cries of terror filled the air as the ship slipped farther away. Zachariah Whitlock closed his eyes and continued to chant as the strain soon overwhelmed him.

,CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE

The carriage jolted to a stop as people swarmed from the docks, rushing past Ephraim as he opened the door to jump out. Livingstone and Zona joined him but the inspector ordered the driver to pull as close as possible. Constable Hill hesitated a moment before hopping down to join the others.

The group pushed through the mob, struggling to get closer to the water's edge. Ephraim watched in wonder as a ship moved away from the docks, dragging through the water as if pulled by Poseidon himself.

"How in the bloody hell?" Livingstone said, paused and then repeated louder as if volume would provide the answer. Ephraim shook his head and glanced at Zona.

Sweat ran freely down her brow, and he suddenly wondered if this was too much, too soon for the woman. ,She just woke up,. She turned her head and their eyes locked for a split-second and Ephraim saw a determination there that would allow no argument.

The carriage stopped a few feet from the dock when a roar sounded. For a moment every living thing paused, their reaction to the awful noise to shut down and freeze. Ephraim noted Zona's lips moving in slow motion, and he wondered if maybe they were no longer awake. ,Yes, that's it. We are in a dream once again,.

The motion jerked and then everything was back to normal as people crashed into each other, screams filled the air, and the water rose like a mountain over the dock. The ship, no longer dragging, turned in such a way that the wind caught its sail and pushed it away from the land.

"I hope that wasn't the ship," Livingstone said as he pointed to the vessel.

Zona slipped, stumbling to her knees, and cried out, "But it is Doctor."

The water was no longer pouring down and the cries grew louder, more forceful as another roar issued. Ephraim's attention snapped to the sound, his gasp loud enough to be heard over the rush of bodies desperately trying to escape.

A giant creature stood by the docks. Ephraim thought at least 8 rods high. The torso was almost circular, and wiggling tentacles flailed every foot or so around the circle, appearing as appendages or hair depending on what part you stared at. The bottom quarter of the torso disappeared under the waves. Ephraim wondered just how large the beast was.

Large wet eyes covered the torso, seemingly haphazardly but Ephraim soon recognized the pattern of an enormous circular spiral that grew tighter and tighter the closer they got to the center of the monster. Ephraim fought the urge to scoop Zona up and retreat as his eyes followed the path of the spiral to a large open maw of razor-sharp teeth.

The creature's mouth was giant, making up almost half of what he could see. The teeth varied in size; some long and sharp like sabers, others stumpy and jagged. They slipped back and forth as if a woman being pulled by two suitors. One gigantic eye sat above the gnashing teeth, breaking the spiral pattern a bit.

Livingstone gripped Ephraim's arm and pulled. He glanced back at the doctor and shook his head before freeing his limb. He pointed to Zona, waited for the man to nod, before sprinting off shouting.

"Watch out for her good doctor."

Zona reached out to Ephraim as he rushed past her, but Livingstone slipped his arms around her and helped her stand. Ephraim shuddered as her screams sounded over the clash of noise, but he continued forward. He spotted the carriage just ahead, so he angled towards it and the inspector. ,Hopefully, he has come prepared;, although, Ephraim couldn't honestly think of anything short of a canon that might fell such a beast.

Another roar blared as the creature began to lift people from the ground with its slimy tentacles before stuffing them into its great maw. Their screams lost in the grinding of their bodies and the beast's growls of delight.

Multiple tentacles snaked out; slipping around the horses and carriage Ephraim ran towards. He cried out in warning but the monster's limbs grabbed the driver before he could jump down. His cries of terror washed out by the horses as the beast pulled them to its mouth.

The left door bulged out, pressing against the monster's flesh. The door relaxed but a moment before bulging again, this time until it splintered and cracked. Kimbell slipped out and gripped the door frame, dangling in midair as the beast moved the carriage ever closer to its mouth.

"Inspector!" Constable Hills screamed as he ran past Ephraim.

Both men sped up, pushing through the crowd of frightened people trying to move away from the nightmare in the water. The inspector shifted his weigh, glanced down, and with a cry of defiance let go. Ephraim stumbled to the ground; falling as he finally pushed past the retreating crowd. Hill reached down to offer him a hand, the two men followed the inspector's fall to the ground with a thud.

"Come on," Ephraim said as he regained his feet and lurched forward. He prayed Kimbell was all right, but he'd witnessed enough falls from that height to know death was possible. Hill ran next to him, eyes locked on the inspector.

"Steady yourself," Ephraim warned; worried the man would lose himself so close to the flailing flesh.

Hill nodded his understanding, his eyes locked on the inspector as they darted back and forth to avoid the tentacles. Ephraim glanced up, seeing many of the eyes lock on to their movement. Select tentacles stopped moving so chaotically and slithered towards the two men. He grabbed Hill, pointing to the approaching flesh.

"Head up," Ephraim barked, slipping back into his leadership role. He very much wanted them both to make it to the inspector.

"If he still lives," Ephraim shouted over the crash of noise the beast created with every movement. "You are to take him to the doctor. No delay...do I make myself clear?"

The question said in such a way, Hill nodded without question or comment. The men advanced as the stench of the beast began to overpower their senses. Tears ran from their eyes and Hill paused to vomit before they advanced once more. Ephraim forced himself to take shallow breaths through his mouth, but the little he took in still burned his throat. His stomach tightened, as his bowels grew loose, and he found himself wishing he was back in the Crimean War instead of in the shadow of some great beast.

,Fear is always more manageable when facing a human opponent,. The thought lingered as they slid to a stop next to Kimbell. He let out a low moan as Hill gently shook him. A smile broke out on Hill's face, and he glanced up at Ephraim who mouthed "GO".

Hill pulled the inspector to his feet, slipped his arm around his waist, and hurried back as quickly as he could. Ephraim kept an eye on the monster as it roared and slammed its tentacles against anything left standing. ,A matter of moments and that will be me,.

A gleam of metal alerted Ephraim to a pile of discarded harpoons near a grinder stone. ,Someone left their job unfinished., Hoping not to make the same mistake, he rushed to the pile, slipping to his knees as he scrambled to search for the sharpest one. A tentacle knocked against his side, throwing him over the pile and onto his back. He frantically flung out his arm, desperate to find any of the harpoons as the tentacle wrapped around his leg and began to lift him.

Ephraim's fingers grasped the end of a harpoon, and he struggled to move his grip up the pole as the beast pulled him higher. His hold weakened and the weapon slipped from his grasp, a wordless howl of defeat ripped from his chest.

"Mr. Godwin," Hill called out. Ephraim opened his eyes and his heart leapt with excitement as Hill threw the harpoon back up. He reached out and grabbed the wooden shaft with both hands. Cackling loudly, Ephraim shifted his weight and as the tentacle brought him to the beast's might maw, drove the harpoon's tip into the one great eye.

Time froze. Ephraim hovered in midair, his legs bound by the slime encrusted appendage. The beast's eyes bulged out, and its teeth stopped moving for a moment before a roar like a thousand cannon blasts rushed out. Ephraim shuddered as a pop sounded in his ears, and then nothing but a hum. The beast's tentacles flailed about, no longer in any pattern or purpose.

The tentacle released Ephraim's legs, and he flew back, sailing over the inspector and Hill. He landed hard against an overturned fish cart, his head smacking against the splinted wooden wheel. As his vision dimmed, the beast slowly sank into the water and Zona Whitlock rushed towards him. Although Zona's mouth moved and her motions were quite excitable, there were only the hum and the approaching darkness.

Ephraim took her hand and offered her a smile before closing his eyes and allowing himself to slip away.

© 2020 Naked Cat Press. All Rights Reserved

Are you not entertained? Then head over to Amazon...

So if you didn't already know, I've written a few books. More and more reviews are coming in, and people are really enjoying the roller-coaster rides I've put them on with these titles. My first novel, The Shadow Within is available on Kindle and in Paperback. It's a labor of love that took many different paths before finally ending up ready to share. You can find it Book two is gaining traction as more people are discovering The Pope Lick Massacre and the legend of the Pope Lick Goat-man. It's getting high marks for its fast pace and intense action. If you like a quick, fun, and bloody read...check out the book
You can also find my monthly western horror serial on Amazon's Kindle Unlimited. You can read it for free there or purchase it to download. There are 2 out so far. And don't forget The Ephraim Godwin Chronicles and several short stories on this site. Just look under the serial tab or story tab to see what all is there...

The Ephraim Godwin Chronicles - Part 26: Chapter 63

CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE

Zona Whitlock stared at the folded paper held loosely in her right hand. She didn't need to read it again, the words burned in her memory.

Dear Ms. Whitlock

I must bid you adieu. Please understand, it fills me with profound sadness, but it is time for me to leave this cursed island and travel home. I want to thank you and your brother for such a fine vessel and hope that you can help me one final time. I have left a gift for our Mr. Godwin that will allow him the closure he so desperately needs. Simply walk a mile until by the end each step aches and you see nature's sanctuary spring from the very ground. The answers can be found if you search deep enough.

Sincerely,

Zachariah C. Whitlock

So the man has finally taken my brother's identity as well as his flesh. The thought made her heartache, and once again she wondered if she was up for the task. Zachariah would know what to do, no hesitation just action...while Zona lay in bed, barely able to hold down a piece of toast.

Of course, it would help if she understood his message. If only her mind was clearer, but the poison the fiend had fed her still clouded her mind. Taking a deep breath, she swung her legs and let them dangle over the side of the bed. Her mind swirled, flooding her sight with colors, and forcing her stomach to flop around like a fish.

Zona steadied herself before slipping to the floor. She smiled as her legs held her weight, and she stepped forward, timid at first but her confidence grew with each new step. She slipped out of her nightgown, and into a simple dress that required no help from Mary. Mary would not approve. A giggle slipped out at the thought. There were very few things her lady's-maid approved of in all actuality.

With her boots on and her hat pinned, Zona opened her door a crack and sighed. No one was sitting in the hall to stop her. That was a welcomed surprise. Creeping down the hall, she made it to the kitchen before she detected the ever-present mumbles of her lady's-maid; the topic appeared to be Ephraim.

Zona smiled. That man had made quite the impression on Mary, and not at all in a positive manner. Zona's stomach fluttered in excitement at the thought of trying to convince her otherwise, but now was not the time for such thoughts. She slipped past the opening and hurried down the hall snatching her umbrella by the front door before exiting the house.

"Hello Ms. Whitlock," a cheery voice said from the side. Zona turned slowly, a painful smile on her face, as Constable Hill stood. He looked exhausted and quite disheveled. She wondered if he had slept the night out here by the door.

"Constable Hill," she said looking to fill the awkward silence. "What a surprise."

"Yeah, after what happened to Clark they thought it best if someone kept an eye on the house."

Zona raised an eyebrow. What happened to Clark? She had no idea what the man was talking about which infuriated her. She had been down days because of that awful man, and she hastily needed to catch up.

The front door opened and Ephraim stared down at the pair with an amused smile. Zona glared at the man, before swinging her gaze to the constable. He shrank back with cheeks ablaze. She deduced the turncoat...as if the suspect pool was numerous.

"Don't blame him...or me," Ephraim said as he held out his hand. She took it after a moment and let him lead her inside. "Your dear Mary suspected something might be up once you received a letter."

"Did she now?" Zona grumbled as she placed her umbrella back and the pair moved to the kitchen.

Dr. Livingstone stood, a broad smile on his lips, "Ah, Ms. Whitlock, so good to observe you up and about."

Zona smiled as she clasped his hands in greeting. She found herself quite fond of the doctor. Zachariah would have enjoyed his company as well. Ephraim pulled back her seat and after she sat, moved to his seat across the table.

Mary poured Zona some tea, fixing it as she preferred. Neither woman spoke; Zona sighed in relief. The last thing she wanted was to be dressed down in front of them. Worry flooded her as she studied the two men.

They wore their exhaustion like badges, but Zona could see cracks forming. She sipped her tea and waited.

"We have been discussing pulling back...a retreat if you will," Dr. Livingstone said, his eyes on Ephraim while he spoke. Zona studied the doctor before glancing at Ephraim's grim expression. He seemed embarrassed and angry with the statement, leading her to believe he was its originator.

"To what end?"

"To save the lives of the doctor...and yourself," Ephraim said his voice level as he fidgeted with his teacup.

Zona leaned forward, her eyes flaring with emotion, "And what of the others? The casualties of Mr. Cook's pardon Mr. Whitlock's actions."

"I don't know," Ephraim mumbled. He stared blankly ahead.

"Well, I have something here that just might help ease your mind Mr. Godwin," she said as she placed the letter in the center of the table. Ephraim stared at it, but made no move to pick it up. After a long pause, Livingstone opened it and read it aloud.

Ephraim stood and paced around the kitchen, forcing Mary to either march in front of him or leave the room. Zona smiled as she watched her lady's-maid storm out. Livingstone rose an eyebrow at Zona before moving his attention to Ephraim.

"Any ideas?" the doctor asked. Zona shook her head and frowned. Her planning went no farther than sneaking out, suddenly grateful that Hill stopped her from leaving.

"I'll need a map, but obviously we are meant to walk down Mile End," Ephraim said, pumping his fist at the table. He wore a crooked smirk, and his eyes shone with a battle lust that took Zona's breath.

"Let's send Hill for the inspector," Zona said as she rose. "I will secure a map, and we can plan while we wait."

The front door opened and Hill appeared. The doctor and Ephraim exchanged looks.

"That was fast."

Hill appeared confused, "What was?"

"I didn't think Ms. Whitlock had time to summon you."

"She didn't," Hill said his face reflecting the room's confusion.

"Then why are you here?" Zona asked as she reentered the room. Their conversation had floated through the house, and she tired of waiting for the constable to disclose his reason without prompting.

"Oh...right," Hill said with a sheepish look and wide eyes. "Two messages arrived; almost on top of one another...the inspector is on his way with a carriage. A Mr. Whitlock has been spotted getting on a ship to France. He is requesting your help in the matter."

"By Jove," Livingstone exclaimed as he stood. "There might be time to catch the scoundrel no matter what the note claims."

"You said two messages," Zona reminded Hill as he got caught up in Livingstone's excitement.

"Oh yes," Hill said as he rummaged in his pocket for a moment before producing a folded envelope. He held it out to Ephraim who studied the paper as if a viper. He took it gingerly and held it flat.

"Well?" Zona asked, his actions enhancing her intrigue.

His face showed no emotion, but flashes of something Zona couldn't place danced across his eyes. Anger, disappointment, apprehension; she struggled to recognize which was strongest as they all seemed to be there.

He tore open the envelope, removed a single slip of folded paper, and read the letter without commentary. Zona slid next to the doctor, hoping to get a better look at the letter without invading Ephraim's space.

"It's my brother, Samuel," Ephraim said after reading. "He's been in an accident, and I am being summoned back home."

Zona stepped closer; her hand hovered before she placed it on his forearm. She offered him a reassuring squeeze. And he nodded his thanks.

"Doctor," he said, his voice heavy with emotion, "will you be so inclined to join me? I would much appreciate a medical man's opinion in case the situation is worse than the letter presents...after this Mr. Whitlock situation of course."

"But of course," Livingstone responded with a head bob.

Loud banging on the front door grabbed their attention, and they hurried to the front. Zona stared at the back of Ephraim's head, she would give him an hour, and then if he hadn't asked her to join also...well, she guaranteed Ephraim Godwin would rue the day.

Writing, reading, and visitors from faraway

"Wait this isn't chapter 63 of Ephraim Godwin."

Okay, so you are looking for the next chapter(s) of The Ephraim Godwin Chronicles. So am I. This week has been a whirlwind of activity and I honestly had no idea today was Wednesday...I know how that sounds but what can I say? My mother traveled from Kentucky to see everyone and get a taste of Texas weather and meet her new Grand-puppy; it's been so long since we had visitors I forgot how long getting ready takes.

She made the trip with little incident and it's nice to see family start getting back together. Hopefully, we are moving in the right direction. So instead of Ephraim coming out today, I will have the next few chapters out on Friday. And today I want to share some good news.

First, the

Some things are better left undiscovered.

by Alexandria Ducksworth

Sam is a single waitress in charge of taking care of her little brother (Kenny) after their mother’s death. Life is average for the two siblings in their small Kentucky town. Sam makes her ends meet working at a local diner while Kenny attempts to improve his social life in the Boy Scouts. All seems normal.

But soon, Kenny and his troops disappear during a forest expedition. Losing her mother is one thing, now Sam might lose her brother too. She joins a search party desperate to find the missing scouts, unaware of the dark secret waiting for them.

Eric Butler’s The Pope Lick Massacre is a bold take on a cryptid monster based on Southern legends. In Louisville, Kentucky stands the old Pope Lick trestle bridge where the infamous Goatman haunts the area. Some say the ax-wielding monster can mimic voices and hypnotize people. Curious visitors have died on this bridge. Not by the Goatman himself (they say), but from train-related accidents. It’s really interesting how Butler manages to bring this cryptid legend to life.

If you love horror and cryptozoology, you’ll get a kick out of this book. There are plenty of bigfoot and UFO stories out there, but not many about the Pope Lick Goatman. Butler delivers suspense in each chapter of his book, and there are plot twists hiding where you least expect them.

And yet, the terrorizing monster in this book isn’t the only monster you should be worried about. Tobias, for example, is the town’s pastor, a wolf in sheep’s clothing. This shady character is associated with murder, lust, and criminal associates. Tobias is the living example that not all monsters have horns, and I enjoyed this subtle inclusion from Butler.

The only missing element in this book for me is Sam’s character depth. You’ll follow her to the end of the story and hope for the best, but we really only know one layer of her. She’s a waitress, a big sister, and a former athlete. While reading, I longed to know her real motivation to go through the blood, sweat, and tears for Kenny. What internal force made her face her fears? Prove she could be a better caretaker than her mother?

Overall though, The Pope Lick Massacre is a bold, brutal horror story that’ll remain in your mind long after you read it. Legend trippers may be especially interested in checking this out, but here’s your warning: This book is not for the faint of heart. The title says it all; it is as violent as you’d expect.

This is the type of book you read while you’re in the comfort of your home during a lightning storm. And I know one thing for sure: it’ll encourage you to stay far away from the woods, especially near Pope Lick Creek.

Reviews are coming in from readers on both books, and I wanted to share another awesome review for The Pope Lick Massacre by reader Sureshot

5.0 out of 5 stars

Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2020

First off, let me say, this is how it’s done. Butler’s style is unrestrained and unapologetic. And that’s what a good horror story needs. I was into this book in no time and found it hard to put down. If you want a tense horror story that will actually scare you, check out this independent author.

There is not a ton of description to hack through. Butler stuck mostly to the characters and their interactions, sparing the reader a lot of filler. I still felt like I was there, on the trail with them. I didn’t find myself skimming a lot, like I so often have to do reading mainstream horror novels. The descriptions he did use were graphic and stuck in my mind. That wouldn’t have happened had I been skimming page after page about the color of the leaves or reading a ton of unnecessary detail about each character’s life.

If I was to compare him to a mainstream author, I’d say Richard Laymon, who also pulled no punches in his writing.

I won’t go too much into the ending of this book, other than to say I loved it.
This is my first Butler book. It will not be my last.

You can find the book

New on Netflix...and worth the watch if you like Will Ferrell. This movie has the feel of many of his movies, and there's nothing wrong with that. It has a Pitch Perfect 2 vibe and is filled with fun songs sung by people acting very seriously. Not sure if Rachel McAdams actually sings her songs or is just lip sinking but the voice is incredible. Will Ferrell is funny, but you've seen this character before...but maybe not with an Icelandic accent. Lots of big names actors and cameos make the movie fun to watch.

Thanks again for your patience and expect to see the next chapters Friday morning. Until then I recommend you check out The Irving Fontaine Adventures on Amazon Kindle Unlimited. You can find the first one, The Skin Walkers

The newest one, To Stare Death in the Eyes can be found

Here also is the link to Ephraim Godwin's introduction. Originally written for a short story contest, the idea has blossomed to over 50000 words and 62 chapters. Soon to be moved over to Kindle, this is a chance to read the first meeting between the central characters or to go back and enjoy seeing where the adventure all started. Click

Irving Fontaine rides again

As I stated when I released the first Irving Fontaine adventure,

So I wrote, then erased, and wrote again. This happened over and over as I simply could not get any traction. Not to mention I was still working on the weekly series, The Ephraim Godwin Chronicles - which you can read here and will soon be released for the Kindle as well. And of course, outlining my 3rd stand-alone horror novel. And let me tell you, June flew by and there I was staring at a barely started project with less than a week to go.

It's very important for me to deliver when promised. If I tell you I'll have a post on the site Monday, then I strive to make sure there is something there...even if it's just me shrilling for one of my projects. The same goes for the next part of The Ephraim Chronicles, chapters arrive Wednesday morning. So when I say I want to release Irving Fontaine's adventures near the beginning of the month, I mean it. But I don't want to just release anything, I want to release an enjoyable story.

And I think I got it. Except the story became larger than the format I was shooting for. The goal is to release shorter stories for people who don't want to read huge books. I aim for 5000 to 10000 words each month for Irving Fontaine. In a perfect world it would be like the first story, just under 6000. I found a natural break in To Stare Death in the Eyes at around 11600 words. So this adventure will be broken into parts. Part one is available tomorrow on the Kindle. As soon as the link appears on Amazon, I will add it to the story and share it on my Facebook pages.

Once it's up the story will be available for the Kindle only. The price is $2.99 and it will also be free to Kindle Unlimited readers.

Thanks for all your support and I hope you enjoy the wild west adventures as they come out.

Below is the Prologue, to give you an idea of the style and flow of the Irving Fontaine adventure.

,Prologue

,NOW...

A bullet ricocheted off the stone wall behind Irving Fontaine. He instinctively flinched, but he smoothly raised his Colt and cocked the hammer. Taking a deep breath, he aimed and fired. One man fell with a cry, then another as blood exploded from the back of his head, and a third tumbled to the ground, the light from his eyes disappearing. The crack of rifle fire echoed in the tunnel as two more men fell. The horde pulled back, shrieking and hurling insults.

Irving glanced next to him and offered a smile to the pretty blonde woman who knelt beside him. It had been a weird few days and as the two made their way deeper into the tunnels, he found himself wondering if they would ever glimpse the sun again. He hoped so, but if this was the end so be it.

"We need to move on," he said as he helped the woman stand.

She nodded but kept her eyes locked on the horde's direction. Irving glanced over his shoulder to make sure the way was clear. He began to step back, his free hand on the woman's shoulder. She kept the rifle at the ready, and he wondered how many bullets they had left between them. ,Not enough to stop all of them, but maybe enough to discourage them from following,. The thought made him grimace as all indications said these zealots wouldn't stop until he was dead.

The horde began to pulse forward, screaming threats and howling in frustration, as something edged them on. Irving realized their blood lust would override their fear of being shot in the next few minutes and decided he needed to act now. He reached up and grabbed one of the lanterns distributed throughout the tunnels to provide light. The oil sloshed inside as he swung it down to his side. He pulled the woman behind him and stepped forward, swinging the lantern in a wide arch before letting it go.

The lantern tumbled through the air causing the light to flicker and Irving wondered if their luck would hold or if the fire would go out. He grinned as the lantern crashed to the ground and the spilled oil ignited and blocked the way with an immense wall of fire.

Irving spun and slipped the woman's hand into his as they ran away from the flames and down the other tunnel. He bought them some time, but he knew in the end, it might not be enough. The journey that brought them to the hills flashed through his mind as he tried to piece together a way out for them. The howls of the horde echoed off the walls and chased them deeper into the tunnels.

© 2020 Naked Cat Press. All Rights Reserved

The Ephraim Godwin Chronicles - Part 25 - Chapter 62

,CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO

"I forgive you," Mr. Whitlock said with a sad smile. "However, I cannot trust you...hence the shackles."

Oringo glared at him from the hard stone ground. They were far underground; in a small room, Mr. Whitlock had experienced a stay in when he was Mr. Cook. A room for dishing out punishment in the pursuit of obedience; a room so deep and off the beaten path, no one remembered its existence. No one save Mr. Whitlock.

Though in a new body, his back still ached from the memory of the lash tearing into his flesh over and over and over. Shaking his head, Mr. Whitlock chased the memories away. He had no time for those just yet. He studied the chains running from the wall before gripping them into his hands and pulling.

"As strong as I remembered," he said, his smile returning. He squatted down and reached out, touching Oringo's cheek with the back of his fingers. The boy pulled away causing Mr. Whitlock to sigh and rise.

"You had a simple job," Mr. Whitlock said as he strode back and forth before the young man. "Plant the seed in the Jew's graveyard. Is that what you did?"

Oringo sat quietly, glowering at his Master. He offered no explanation or excuse. Mr. Whitlock nodded, happy to see his lessons holding true. He was sad to see it come to this, but he honestly knew that eventually there would be no choice. ,Better to complete the transformation now,.

"No...no, it was not," Mr. Whitlock said to fill the silence. "And do you know what happened? It grew too fast and was too exposed and now it is gone."

Shaking his head he stopped walking and squatted back down in front of Oringo. Staring into the young man's eyes, he saw pure hate staring back. ,The boy was doing well to feed the seed properly. ,It would take longer since there was only the one body here, but when it blossomed,...

Mr. Whitlock stood. He strolled to the doorway and gathered his cane. Turning back to Oringo he offered a bow.

"You will be something truly magnificent to behold. I bid you well and good luck."

With that, Mr. Whitlock stepped from the room and closed the door. It wasn't until the loud click of the key turning the lock did Oringo finally start to scream.

,***

The bundle of flesh still smoldered as it lay on the table. Ephraim resisted the urge to find a stick to poke the lump while Livingstone hung his coat and hat on the hooks by the door. Kimbell hung off to the back, his handkerchief pressed against his face. Ephraim didn't blame him as the stench was quite overwhelming.

"Nothing compares," Ephraim said as he moved closer to the mound. Livingstone and Kimbell shared a look, and Ephraim offered a smile. ,They think I'm still dulled from the drink.

If only he was, and not remembering the last time his senses were assailed like this.

Bad enough they just bunched the dead from both armies, but when an Officer of little ability to think or plan, ordered them burned instead of buried to save time...well, Ephraim never thought he'd smell something that horrid ever again.

"But here we are," he said to no one in particular.

"I'm sorry?" Livingstone asked as he stepped up to the table.

Ephraim offered a sad smile and a partial shake of his head before moving out of the way.

Kimbell hovered around the men, glancing over their shoulders at the mass.

"Well, Doctor?"

Ephraim leaned back, resting on a stool. ,We need Zona,. The thought struck him from out of the blue, but it was correct. The three of them were not equipped to deal with all this. They were non-believers, doubters, men of science; they needed someone who was in tune with the supernatural and the world of the metaphysical.

"Yes...well," Livingstone said, starting and stopping as he appeared to be delaying either beginning or making a decision of what lay on the table.

"All in good time, inspector," Ephraim said hoping to ease the doctor's obvious discomfort.

"I don't think you understand the gravity of the moment, Mr. Godwin," Kimbell said as he moved closer. "Your names are being whispered. Soon those whispers will be shouts and I will not be able to help you for most likely they will lump me in with your misfortunes."

Livingstone nodded and began to cut into the skin. A loud shriek filled the room and Livingstone stumbled back as the mass writhed and shook while dark goo ran from the fresh opening. The stench intensified and Kimbell began to gag and wretch. Ephraim moved to Livingstone's side and steadied the man.

"Good lord," Livingstone asked, his eyes never leaving the mass. "Could it still be alive?"

"I'm not sure it ever was truly alive, but we must do what we can as quickly as we can or so Kimbell has been telling us all night."

"Right," Livingstone replied as he stepped back to the specimen. Ephraim followed him step for step and this time when the doctor cut, Ephraim was holding it down as well as he could.

The flesh was a hot and sticky mess that covered Ephraim's hands with thick slimy mucus. Ephraim tried to focus on anything else, as he began to gag. Livingstone rushed in his dissection, and after a few moments allowed for Ephraim to step back and wash up.

The mass was no longer moving and the doctor had five distinct piles. Ephraim dried his hands on a slightly soiled towel and Kimbell stood by. Livingstone turned to the men and frowned.

"I have no idea what this is as a whole," he said with a touch of defeat in his voice. "But I can tell you there are at least four humans and a number of rodents, felines, and canines mixed together in this mass."

"Good God," Kimbell said his voice barely a whisper.

Ephraim turned to the inspector, "At this point, I don't think we are dealing with God anymore."

© 2020 Naked Cat Press. All Rights Reserved

H.P. Lovecraft visits the movies

If you've been keeping up with The Ephraim Godwin chronicles, you may have noticed a bit of Lovecraft's influence in the monsters and gods I reference in the story. In fact the elder gods and the powers they grant our villain Mr. Cook/Mr. Whitlock comes from the idea of a darker set of truly powerful and truly evil beings that predate man's religious views. No one quite captures this idea with their stories like HP Lovecraft.

I am reading some of his stories now as I find myself being drawn back into his dark world of fiction, the deeper I get into Ephraim's realm of mystery, mysticism, and murder. If you skipped the weekly serial because of format, I want you to know I am working on getting it ready for kindle and paperback soon. I will start to release the serial in sections so a little rewriting will be necessary to give the story more of a traditional book form. The serial just flows from week to week, adding to the horror and mystery Ephraim Godwin, Dr. Livingstone, and Zona Whitlock face as they try and solve murders and face off against a dark force rising in Victorian London. You can still read the chapters on this blog, under the serial tab.

As I was reading Lovecraft, I thought of a handful of movies that were inspired by Lovecraft and his stories and wanted to suggest them to you. If you love horror, these movies are for you.

The first one is an oldie. In the 60s AIP and Roger Corman had success with a serious of pictures based on Edgar Allen Poe. However, in The Haunted Palace, all they took was the title. The story itself is based on Lovecraft's The Case of Charles Dexter Ward. Of course, it stars the wonderful Vincent Price and that alone is worth the price of admission for me.

The only problem is no one has it to stream. If you want to purchase the movie it seems to be out of print so all the copies cost an arm and a leg, unless you have a way to play movies from other regions (which is pretty easy with a laptop and a downloaded player). That being said, keep an eye out for it and follow my

https://youtu.be/CIxey5Y0inY

Next up is Lovecraft's Color out of Space starring Nic Cage and Joely Richardson. This movie has been done several of times but I think this version does a great job of capturing the story's essence.

The real importance of this movie is the return of Richard Stanley to the director's chair for a full-length feature. If you don't know his story, you have to check out the documentary Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley's Island of Dr. Moreau. He was an up and coming director who had a unique vision to make The Island of Doctor Moreau but who had such a hard time with the actors and studio he lost it and was replaced.

He does a great job with this movie, and Cage is great playing the father figure to this family facing a nightmare from space. If you have hoopla you can stream it, otherwise you can rent or buy on Amazon, VUDU, Google, or anywhere streaming can be purchased.

https://youtu.be/agnpaFLo0to

You can watch Lost Soul on Amazon Prime for free if you are a member.

https://youtu.be/0y_wLNe15x0

The next is a fun cult classic. Re-animator came out in the mid-80s and turns the gore level up to 11. Based on the story Herbert West - The Re-Animator, Jeffery Combs does a spectacular job as the off-balanced Herbert. This movie is a must-see for fans of comedy horror, and those that like to see special effects used to their fullest.

Re-Animator can be seen on Showtime streaming and can be rented or purchased from other services.

I'm including in this section the sequel Bride of the Re-Animator as it continues Herbert's fascination with bringing the dead back to life. Many of the actors return in the sequel, making it more of an extension of the first movie than a true sequel.

Both are fun, gory, and action-packed.

Bride of Re-Animator can be seen for free on Amazon Prime.

https://youtu.be/wLJ8Z3PDEGUhttps://youtu.be/FDbvsaahLLU

The last movie is HP Lovecraft's From Beyond; based on a story of the same name. It stars Re-Animator's Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton as the main characters and has Stuart Gordon returning to the director's chair.

This is a fun movie with much of the same energy as Re-Animator on a bigger budget and more wiggle room.

You can see it on Pluto TV for free or rent/own on Amazon or Vudu.

https://youtu.be/d3D9O9vrDjw

The Ephraim Godwin Chronicles - Part 24 - Ch 60 & 61

,CHAPTER SIXTY

Kimbell stood at the entrance of the alley. He sent Constable Hill to escort Livingstone and Godwin back to Ms. Whitlock's address, so he knew where to find them. He glanced behind him at the men, their nervous energy feeding into his anxiousness. Kimbell had four more constables and three from the fire brigade looking to help clear the alleyway and search for Constable's Clark's body.

Making the sign of the cross he stepped into the dark alley. He held a newly lit lantern high, casting as much light as possible. Kimbell made sure every other man had a lantern before entering back into the darkness. He refused to be caught unaware again. Kimbell shook his head in disgust. Clark died because he once again underestimated the situation. The unexplained was the norm whenever a Whitlock was involved.

In his free hand, Kimbell held a pistol. As soon as he could stand, he sent a man to the closest station house to retrieve as many firearms as possible. Each man without a lantern now held either a rifle or a revolver, except Jones in the back. As a member of the fire brigade, he carried a massive ax like some sort of Viking hero from the past.

Everyone there agreed the fire must have been caused by a gas leak, and Kimbell was happy to leave it at that since he didn't know how to explain the truth. At the back of the alley, Kimbell stopped and investigated the wall. The charred brick had large streaks of filthy soot where the rain had fallen. The fire burnt a great deal of the debris and filth away from the alley but an overwhelming odor still lingered. Kimbell tried not to focus on the stench, not sure he wanted to ever know what it might be.

"Ow' 'ere, Gov'," a constable called out. He squatted by a burnt lump. As Kimbell pushed closer, he recognized the burned remains of a man.

"Right," Kimbell said with a cough. "Wrap him up and let's move him to the morgue. The rest keep looking for anything else."

Two men slipped the remains on a blanket and folded it before lifting it and leaving the alley. Kimbell nodded as they left; happy they at least recovered the body.

"Bloody hell," a voice said from behind the inspector. He spun and held his lantern high. The remaining men were staring down at a jumbled burnt mass. He stepped closer before echoing the man's words. ,Bloody hell was right.

"How did they get all jumbled together?" Jones asked leaning on his ax to peak a closer look. Kimbell had his suspicions but stayed quiet. He'd want the doctor's opinion but Kimbell would bet at least three more male bodies formed the mass.

"Let's move this out of here as well...have the Doc look at it," he said motioning for the men to start moving, so they could cover the burnt mass and remove it from the neighborhood before rumors started up.

,***

Mr. Whitlock stood at the corner. His carriage was up the road, away from the crowds, so he couldn't be boxed in. Curious about the commotion, he stopped the driver and slipped out. Now he practically shook with rage. ,That foolish boy had planted the seed in the wrong place.

Whitlock flexed his hands, the handle of his cane creaking from the effort. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath. He still had one more seed and all this could be set right; although it meant bypassing the original plan for the last seed. This brought a frown to his face as he hoped that would remove Ephraim Godwin from the board permanently. ,Oh well, there are other ways,.

Whitlock watched as two men carried a blanket from the alley. A badly burned hand slipped from the makeshift carrier and the surrounding crowd gasped. He ignored the chattering voices as he continued to study the alleyway. ,Was ,his problem solved accidentally?, Shifting closer to the men as they loaded their burden to the back of a wagon, he overheard their talk.

"He was a good man," the first said with his head bowed. "I always liked Constable Clark." The other man nodded, and they turned to head back to the alley.

,Drat,. The mishap removed a simple pawn, but Whitlock understood even pawns had a place in this game. His biggest concern was removing the Queen, but he felt positive that he had earlier. He would need to find out for sure before leaving for the continent. The crowd grew silent. Whitlock turned his attention back to the alley.

He smiled as the group of men struggled to carry out a tremendous mass of burnt flesh. Whitlock knew he now saw the remains of his first seed. The seed absorbed and fed off matter until it became large enough to move about. If planted in the right place, it would have been massive before slipping from the graveyard.

"Hey...you," a voice called out. Whitlock locked eyes with the inspector for a moment and offered a smile and a tip of his hat before slipping back into the growing crowd of spectators.

,CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE

Ephraim sat at the table sipping his tea under the angry gaze of Mary. He offered her a smile, and attempted to compliment her on the tea, but all he received in return was a huff of dismissal. He still wasn't quite sure why she was angry with him, but with every visit, her displeasure seemed to be growing.

Ephraim opened his mouth to ask what he had done when Livingstone reappeared and patted Mary on the arm, "She's awake and asking for you."

Mary turned to the Doctor with a smile and started to move from the room. She paused just long enough to glance over her shoulder and offer one last dagger stare at Ephraim before disappearing down the hall.

"What did I ever do to that woman?" Ephraim asked in exasperation. Livingstone offered him a shrug as he sat down and poured a cup for himself.

"Lord only knows," he said before taking a sip. "Ms. Whitlock seems to be feeling better, but Dr. Bent is correct, she needs rest and plenty of it."

"Well, I feel we are at a crossroads as is," Ephraim said after a moment of quiet. "We were a step behind at every juncture, and failed to save one person...present company excluded of course."

"Of course," Livingstone replied with a slight smile.

"And, so I wonder if it is not in all our interests to step away...to give up before more lives are lost."

Ephraim stood and walked to the window, pulling back the drapes. He studied the road, embarrassed by his suggestion, and unwilling to sit under the doctor's watchful eyes. What he proposed was the safest course, but also the coward's way out and it irked him to his very core to suggest it.

"Honestly, I have no idea what the correct decision is," Livingstone said, "But I think we shouldn't make any decisions without Ms. Whitlock."

Ephraim turned and nodded, "Now let's find something stronger than tea."

,***

Kimbell failed to hide his surprise when Ephraim opened the door.

"Ah Inspector, come in, come in," he said with the slightest of lisps. A giggle slipped out before Ephraim slammed his mouth shut and stared at Kimbell with exaggeratedly wide eyes.

"Ignore him," Livingstone called out from deeper in the house, "He's had a bit too much."

Kimbell entered and after a moment's hesitation handed his hat and coat to Ephraim. He took them with a bow and slid over to the coat rack, before leading the inspector to Livingstone.

"I could use with a nip myself," Kimbell said as he slipped into an open chair.

"Good man," Ephraim exclaimed as he poured the inspector a glass before refilling his own. "The doctor has decided to abstain...in case Ms. Whitlock needs him."

Kimbell took a long drink, letting the alcohol's burn travel down and warm him up. The day was close to an end but there was so much still to do.

"I'm glad to hear as I need the doctor...and you if you can sober up quickly enough," Kimbell said as he leaned forward and stared at the drink in his hand. If he could he would slip into the amber liquid and forget everything from today...from the last few days if he was being honest. He wanted to curse his luck for sending him to this house in the first place. ,As soon as I heard the name Whitlock, should have run,.

"Oh if we can get some food in him, he'll be fine," Livingstone said. "How may I be of service?"

"We removed the...thing from the alleyway. I need your opinion on its composition," Kimbell said before throwing back the rest of his drink.

"That sounds horrific," Ephraim said as he sat down, placing his drink untouched in front of him.

"I've had the boys take it and Constable Clark to the morgue," Kimbell said as he stood. "I'd prefer to finish this before anything makes its way to the higher-ups. The last thing we need right now is unwanted eyes."

Livingstone nodded and rose.

Ephraim sat for a moment longer, staring at seemingly nothing before standing and exclaiming, "Bloody hell."

© 2020 Naked Cat Press. All Rights Reserved

A Father's Day Gift

Today is Father's Day, a special time to reflect on the special times we have shared with the male role models in our lives: actual fathers or just the amazing men in our lives who are there through example and action. Some people don't have that and so I want to give you something my father gave me many years ago...an appreciation for movies. I don't mean just the blockbusters shoved down our throats every Summer and Winter, and not just the Oscar-worthy films of gay cowboys eating pudding. I mean all movies, even those with a shoestring budget, terrible directors or even worse producers who won't get out of the way, pretty people who can't act, and special effects done by a blind puppeteer.

My father gave me a love of movies at a very young age, and since he missed the class about censoring what children should see, I was able to enjoy many classic films in their natural environment, the cinema. That said, I was lucky to be born at the dawn of the VCR age and many of the movies I missed either because of age or where I lived when they were released, I was able to catch up on. Add in a friend with HBO in elementary school and my dad getting the Movie Channel and I had it all covered.

My father loved comedies, sword & sorcery, and science fiction movies the most. However, the only genre he avoided was horror. He was terrified by them. When I was young we lived on base in Germany(early 80s) and you were forced to watch the movies that the Army provided. They were the newer ones but always later than the US release date. No biggie if you've been overseas for any amount of time. I remember seeing Raiders of the Lost Arc, Star Trek 2, Excalibur, and Clash of the Titans to name a few.

My father was such a fan of movies, I remember the reason we saw Clash of the Titans. The PX was selling a Clash of the Titans notebook and when he saw it he remembered it was playing and we immediately dropped what we were doing and went to get tickets. The theater was in the same area on the base. He was like that when a movie was playing he wanted to see.

Once we moved back to the states - AL to be exact, we were able to expand our movie viewing - we got a VCR, got TMC, and had more movie theaters to choose from when it was time to see movies. And the great thing about my father was anytime was a great time to see a movie. He would take me and occasionally my friends to movies any time during the week - school night be damned. We had a theater on base - which was still behind regular release days, 2 theaters in Enterprise(only 15 minutes away), and multiple theaters in the nearest mall in Dothan-only 40 minutes or so.

Like I said my father was a big fan of the blockbuster movie. I remember seeing all the big movies on opening day when we could get tickets. This was before you could order them online - you might even have to wait for hours in line to get some depending on the movie and the day. Kids today don't know how easy they got it. But more importantly, he liked low budget try hard movies...and the occasional try not so hard movie. Which is why I led off with the movie poster for Ator. I saw this in the theater with my father. I was just shy of 8 years old and I remember how amazing and magical the experience was...I also remember eating my weight in popcorn and Jujy Fruits. Side note - my father's candy choice was always Hot Tamales.

Looking back on it now, with the eyes of an older more discerning eye, I can see the flaws. You can point to the budget, the director, how it was edited, and the stiff delivery of people who had no idea how to act. But I also see the passion for the story, the attempt to make every $ count in special effects, costume, and weapons, and a shared love of movies that the people there shared with their audience. It's what I look for with almost every movie, can I see the attempt to be the best it can be with everything fighting against it? With everything on your side making a movie is difficult, and rarely(esp. with low budget movies) is much on your side.

So I want to leave you with a couple of things; where you can see the gem Ator, and three documentaries that share the magic of making movies and will hopefully ignite a desire to see the films showcased.

In this day and age, with all the computer effects, I like to remember how movies were done. I like to remember a time when going to a movie was special. To remember there was a time when there was real movie magic...not only in the films but with those in the audience sharing the experience.

Happy Father's Day

https://youtu.be/1uL3kV5XR1U

It's your lucky day, this gem is available to stream on Prime...

First Documentary is on Ray Harryhausen the man who inspired many of today's big directors with his amazing stop motion special effects.

You can watch this on Amazon Prime

https://youtu.be/1-Jy6JJKVqc

Second Documentary deals with the men behind the costumes of the original Planet of the Apes and the phenomenon that it became.

You can watch it on Amazon Prime

https://youtu.be/Y9mb2JHxvdA

Third Documentary for you to check out is on King Kong and the effect he had on movies and movie makers.

You can watch it on Amazon Prime

https://youtu.be/hhQbn-lwNSk