In Honor of the FIFTY-THIRD Anniversary of NIGHT of the LIVING DEAD
Congratulations to my NOTLD extended family, my beloved friends Kyra, Jack, Russ, Gary, Ella Mae on your success and the increasing recognition by society as a whole, and of course I extend the same to all the other current survivors of the crew and cast that participated in the creation of a culturally relevant treasure...to Judy Ridley, Paula Richards and everyone else, to all of you CHEERS!!! Aaaahh there's the first shot!!! Lucky for me there's a few more toasts before I fade to black here.
Alright FILL "EM UP SOAKS, er I mean FOLKS. The second drink comes with the second sentiment and that is to honor the memory of two members of the Night Tribe that are no longer physically with us, two very important gentleman whom were clearly cherished by their NOTLD family and remain so clearly by their fellows left behind, that much is clear in the many stories, recollections and spoken tributes that have both publicly and privately been shared by their colleagues, their NOTLD Familia. The respect and affection cannot be feigned by those that knew them well, a point that for as blessed as I have been that the LIVING DEAD TOUR BUS pulled over and pulled me off the side of the road, somewhere on the Highway to Hell, blessed to warm myself by the fire and share in so much goodness together, these two men are the only two among all of the Living Dead O.G.s that I never had the honor or chance to get to know personally and every time they are spoken of, it reminds me how much I missed out on not getting that chance.
I am of course speaking of The PROFESSOR and The DOCTOR of course. Yes PROFESSER DUANE JONES and DOCTOR "KEITH WAYNE"(I know but I am not breakin' kayfabe on the names here XD.)
CHEERS!!! That's the second shot. Fill 'em all right back up barkeeps
NEXT, I would raise the glass and acknowledge so many other empty seats at the table, all of them of course primaries in the realization of your masterpiece, essential components to your created family and to the results of your efforts For me, unlike with Prof Duane and Doc "Wayne", I was beyond lucky that all of these next Night MAESTROS became very important friends, guides, mentors and extended family to me, no length of time ever passes in my life where each one of them doesn't enter my thoughts or my process, some advice or practical knowledge they gave me, or some emotional point, humor, social complication, creative applications or business methodology. I'll never be able to express my appreciation or the impact adequately. So here's to raising the glass for the third shot, in no particular order, the subjects of this third toast, the Cemetery Ghoul, Zombie Numero Uno, teacher, mentor, friend and so much more to me and so cherished by all of you, his family and his fans BILL HINZMAN. Bill is with me always, still helping me and pointing me forward. Discipline tempered with Love is a powerful thing. KARL HARDMAN aka Harry Cooper from the moment you approached my brother Scott and I, to the very last time we spoke, the phone calls when we were hashing ideas of stories we will sadly never get to tell, every word, every laugh, your warmth, your smile and the mischievous glean in your eye, all are etched indelibly into my brain and heart and I'll have to throw your own words right back at you, NO KARL, NO YOU, you are the KEEN FELLA and a PEACHY DANCER XD. KUS!!! GEORGE KOSANA aka The Sheriff! Man did we have some fun. A bit of everything too, from the ridiculous to the sublime to the serious. Woodsman skills, hunter knowledge, history, script writing, We got to shoot together, both footage and weapons!!! Haha, I still have your last script, still love it, miss you busting my stones about the cancer sticks, I never light a fire outside without thinkin' of you. The LEGEND on uncountable fronts, part of every inhabitant of the Burgh for half a century, unparalleled endurance and drive, equally excelling at all he endeavored , and how great and special you were to me as well, my friend BILL CARDILLE, what an icon, what an inspiration both publicly and to so many of us personally, being treated as a friend by you, was like being given a reward of the highest order, you were not just a legend and icon, you were a pioneeer,and a Prince. What would it all be without the NOTLD Tribe's Fire Keeper, humble, kind, generous, an example and a reminder always that one would be best served by taking pride in their work, so funny, undersold and overly capable, and for obvious reasons CHILLY BILLY and I talked wrestling, from inside the business, but REGIS SURVINSKI and I talked and even watched wrestling together from a point of view of fans, spectators. Last time I was lucky enough to spend time with him, we watched a shit load of CZW stuff, a lot of CULT FICTION, a lot of me dropping F Bombs and getting murdered here and there lmao .Sometimes with no intent or realization probably, Reg made me feel like I was older than him, he had this energy, like perpetual youth. Cherish my times with Reg, even though he tried to blow me up, lmmfao RUDY RICCI what a great surprise and unique man. What an inspiration and as with the rest here so damn funny. How hospitable and engaging you were is hard to relate verbally. And Dammit I really thought we would end up getting to make the Polka Dot Flying Saucer. You I came to realize were such an important component with your friends, your attitude, humility and willingness to work with the benefit of all in mind is never forgotten. And Mister RADIO MAN, we didn't have a fraction of the time together that I had with all the rest of your wonderful Team Mates, but we still had some laughs and I realized you were another REAL DEAL to UMPTH DEGREE, you were a master of words and your own genre' and with your humor I would tell these folks what I told you personally, that wrestling could have used you CHARLES CRAIG...BIG TIME, Gene Okerland might not be a household name if you had gotten in with Vince Sr. back at the same time as Billy did, for real and that's because you share a lot of qualities with Mean Gene, you could have been huge in that role and what a pleasure it was to chew on some words and have a few verbal exercises hah. SO YES THIRD SHOT FOLKS. CHEERS Bill, Karl, Billy,.Kus, Reg, Rudy and Chuck!!!! OKAY fill 'em up again barkeeps.
Not much needed to be said for this Fourth toast. To your Chief , your hub, your centralizing figure, your Eldest Brother figure and leader , always cordial and kind to me as an acquaintance and as with the others wish we had more time, RAISE 'EM UP..CHEERS GEORGE!!!!!!!!! Nuff 'said.
Fill 'em up for Number Five Folks. CHEERS to the FANS of NOTLD!!!! YOU ALL ROCK!!! One more folks, fill 'em one more time!
Okay folks Toast Number Six and that's all she wrote or all I did for now. My esteemed friends , NOTLD Participants and Creators, I raise this last shot to acknowledge the fact, that one hundred years from now, long after I have run out of wind, people will still be buzzing about NIGHT of the LIVING DEAD. THAT is a FACT. Well Done GUYS...CHEERS!! Love ya and now I am off to start my fifth viewing of NOTLD this month , PEACE \m/
*P.S.:*Addendum, I penalized myself and hour after I posted and imposed a double shot for not mentioning Vince Survinski right along with Duane and Keith. CHEERS VINCE.
I LOVE THE DEAD
In Honor of the FIFTY-THIRD Anniversary of NIGHT of the LIVING DEAD
Congratulations to my NOTLD extended family, my beloved friends Kyra, Jack, Russ, Gary, Ella Mae on your success and the increasing recognition by society as a whole, and of course I extend the same to all the other current survivors of the crew and cast that participated in the creation of a culturally relevant treasure...to Judy Ridley, Paula Richards and everyone else, to all of you CHEERS!!! Aaaahh there's the first shot!!! Lucky for me there's a few more toasts before I fade to black here.
Alright FILL "EM UP SOAKS, er I mean FOLKS. The second drink comes with the second sentiment and that is to honor the memory of two members of the Night Tribe that are no longer physically with us, two very important gentleman whom were clearly cherished by their NOTLD family and remain so clearly by their fellows left behind, that much is clear in the many stories, recollections and spoken tributes that have both publicly and privately been shared by their colleagues, their NOTLD Familia. The respect and affection cannot be feigned by those that knew them well, a point that for as blessed as I have been that the LIVING DEAD TOUR BUS pulled over and pulled me off the side of the road, somewhere on the Highway to Hell, blessed to warm myself by the fire and share in so much goodness together, these two men are the only two among all of the Living Dead O.G.s that I never had the honor or chance to get to know personally and every time they are spoken of, it reminds me how much I missed out on not getting that chance.
I am of course speaking of The PROFESSOR and The DOCTOR of course. Yes PROFESSER DUANE JONES and DOCTOR "KEITH WAYNE"(I know but I am not breakin' kayfabe on the names here XD.)
CHEERS!!! That's the second shot. Fill 'em all right back up barkeeps
NEXT, I would raise the glass and acknowledge so many other empty seats at the table, all of them of course primaries in the realization of your masterpiece, essential components to your created family and to the results of your efforts For me, unlike with Prof Duane and Doc "Wayne", I was beyond lucky that all of these next Night MAESTROS became very important friends, guides, mentors and extended family to me, no length of time ever passes in my life where each one of them doesn't enter my thoughts or my process, some advice or practical knowledge they gave me, or some emotional point, humor, social complication, creative applications or business methodology. I'll never be able to express my appreciation or the impact adequately. So here's to raising the glass for the third shot, in no particular order, the subjects of this third toast, the Cemetery Ghoul, Zombie Numero Uno, teacher, mentor, friend and so much more to me and so cherished by all of you, his family and his fans BILL HINZMAN. Bill is with me always, still helping me and pointing me forward. Discipline tempered with Love is a powerful thing. KARL HARDMAN aka Harry Cooper from the moment you approached my brother Scott and I, to the very last time we spoke, the phone calls when we were hashing ideas of stories we will sadly never get to tell, every word, every laugh, your warmth, your smile and the mischievous glean in your eye, all are etched indelibly into my brain and heart and I'll have to throw your own words right back at you, NO KARL, NO YOU, you are the KEEN FELLA and a PEACHY DANCER XD. KUS!!! GEORGE KOSANA aka The Sheriff! Man did we have some fun. A bit of everything too, from the ridiculous to the sublime to the serious. Woodsman skills, hunter knowledge, history, script writing, We got to shoot together, both footage and weapons!!! Haha, I still have your last script, still love it, miss you busting my stones about the cancer sticks, I never light a fire outside without thinkin' of you. The LEGEND on uncountable fronts, part of every inhabitant of the Burgh for half a century, unparalleled endurance and drive, equally excelling at all he endeavored , and how great and special you were to me as well, my friend BILL CARDILLE, what an icon, what an inspiration both publicly and to so many of us personally, being treated as a friend by you, was like being given a reward of the highest order, you were not just a legend and icon, you were a pioneeer,and a Prince. What would it all be without the NOTLD Tribe's Fire Keeper, humble, kind, generous, an example and a reminder always that one would be best served by taking pride in their work, so funny, undersold and overly capable, and for obvious reasons CHILLY BILLY and I talked wrestling, from inside the business, but REGIS SURVINSKI and I talked and even watched wrestling together from a point of view of fans, spectators. Last time I was lucky enough to spend time with him, we watched a shit load of CZW stuff, a lot of CULT FICTION, a lot of me dropping F Bombs and getting murdered here and there lmao .Sometimes with no intent or realization probably, Reg made me feel like I was older than him, he had this energy, like perpetual youth. Cherish my times with Reg, even though he tried to blow me up, lmmfao RUDY RICCI what a great surprise and unique man. What an inspiration and as with the rest here so damn funny. How hospitable and engaging you were is hard to relate verbally. And Dammit I really thought we would end up getting to make the Polka Dot Flying Saucer. You I came to realize were such an important component with your friends, your attitude, humility and willingness to work with the benefit of all in mind is never forgotten. And Mister RADIO MAN, we didn't have a fraction of the time together that I had with all the rest of your wonderful Team Mates, but we still had some laughs and I realized you were another REAL DEAL to UMPTH DEGREE, you were a master of words and your own genre' and with your humor I would tell these folks what I told you personally, that wrestling could have used you CHARLES CRAIG...BIG TIME, Gene Okerland might not be a household name if you had gotten in with Vince Sr. back at the same time as Billy did, for real and that's because you share a lot of qualities with Mean Gene, you could have been huge in that role and what a pleasure it was to chew on some words and have a few verbal exercises hah. SO YES THIRD SHOT FOLKS. CHEERS Bill, Karl, Billy,.Kus, Reg, Rudy and Chuck!!!! OKAY fill 'em up again barkeeps.
Not much needed to be said for this Fourth toast. To your Chief , your hub, your centralizing figure, your Eldest Brother figure and leader , always cordial and kind to me as an acquaintance and as with the others wish we had more time, RAISE 'EM UP..CHEERS GEORGE!!!!!!!!! Nuff 'said.
Fill 'em up for Number Five Folks. CHEERS to the FANS of NOTLD!!!! YOU ALL ROCK!!! One more folks, fill 'em one more time!
Okay folks Toast Number Six and that's all she wrote or all I did for now. My esteemed friends , NOTLD Participants and Creators, I raise this last shot to acknowledge the fact, that one hundred years from now, long after I have run out of wind, people will still be buzzing about NIGHT of the LIVING DEAD. THAT is a FACT. Well Done GUYS...CHEERS!! Love ya and now I am off to start my fifth viewing of NOTLD this month , PEACE \m/
*P.S.:*Addendum, I penalized myself and hour after I posted and imposed a double shot for not mentioning Vince Survinski right along with Duane and Keith. CHEERS VINCE.
I LOVE THE DEAD