The Beat Generation - Charles F. Haas - 1959

I'm sure some of you have been wondering "what about The Beat Generation ? That one with Mamie Van Doren. "

Well, it's been a while coming but here it is, one of the most famous of the beatnik B-movies. Based on the book by Albert Zugsmith, the movie is a who's who of b-list actors. Starring Steve Cochran as a detective on the hunt for a serial rapist, called "The Aspirin Kid", that he only half-heartedly believes is real, since his first wife cheated on him and deep down he thinks women are really asking for it, that is until it happens to his pretty young fiancé....well, that doesn't really change his opinion either until it almost happens to Mamie Van Doren. 

   Jackie Coogan also stars as Cochrans partner and apparently was the dialogue coach as well. Irish McCalla, James Mitchum, Charles Chaplin Jr., Maila Nurmi (Vampira), Max "Slapsie Maxie" Rosenbloom, Norman Grabowski and Louis Armstrong all have cameos and make this a beatsploitation flick that is well worth seeing.

   Maila Nurmi does an awful poetry reading, awful in a good way. I've ripped it so you can hear it below, as well as the theme song by Louis Armstrong and his All-Stars and a bit of a song called "Orbit Me" or something of that nature by Dick Contino from the frantic beat party at the end.

This film also sometimes gets included in the film noir canon, although I personally wouldn't classify it as noir at all, who am I to argue? You be the judge.

"The Beat Generation" by Louis Armstrong and his All Stars

Cochrans tweedy jacket plays havoc with the camera.

Beatnik hangout "The Golden Scallion"

Inside the Golden Scallion

"Upon A Certain Birthday" - Maila Nurmi

Coogan and Cochran on a stakeout

"I'm pregnant ! What if it's his child ? Could you look at it ? Could you love it ?"

"Come off the Ma'am act, do I look that old ?"

"Oh come off it ! He didn't try anything and you're all trying to make a federal case out of it."

TOOOOOT !

"Don't ever come back until you can kiss me like a husband, until you can love our baby like a father and until you can put your arms around me without feeling dirty !"

More beats at the Scallion.

zounds, what sounds !

"You know what all women are ? They're filth. Filth !"

"The earth is no where, man"

"We no longer have communication with the outside world, we're far out, the beat is ours and it belongs to us !"

"Orbit Me" - Dick Contino

"VROOOOM !"

Mamie, the human shield.

More Beat Pulps

It's been a while, here's a couple more beatnik pulps.

The Art of Derek Yaniger

    Whilst browsing through the Outré Gallery Blog and website, I came across the art of a guy named Derek Yaniger. This is exactly the kind of stuff I love. Beautiful, rich illustrations , inspired by beatniks, tiki's and all manner of cool culture. He has a stunning looking website you should dig, like, right now !

     He's also set to be the featured artist at this years Hukilau in Fort Lauderdale so if you're headed south in the next couple of weeks, be sure to say hi! for me.

Teenage Fiona

This is actually a photo of my wife from around the mid 80's. She looked up her name on the blog and feigned surprise that I hadn't written anything about her. Fact is she'll probably kill me when she see's this. But it is such a great beat inspired photo, no?

He became a beatnik

From my Flickr buddy, Olga-saglo

Burlesque Monday #2

Okay, so maybe not every Monday will be burlesque monday. I have trouble sticking to any kind of schedule, but this monday is #2.

Just after I finished typing up the last burlesque post, I got a notice that Burlesque Magazines 2nd issue was now out. You can read the whole mag online via the cool application on their website. There's a neat article on burlesque in China of all places.

Here is the Original Cast Album for Ann Corio's stage production "This Was Burlesque".

You can get it here.

And finally, here is another great, politically incorrect, dance routine, courtesy of the Internet Archive entitled "Indian Love" ...Enjoy!

The Bloody Brood - Julian Roffman - 1959

First of all, thanks to those who came out to the Bloody Brood screening tuesday night at the Brantford Arts Block. I think everyone had a good time and enjoyed the film and lively discussion afterwards.

The Bloody Brood is a beatnik classic as well as a Canadian film produced and directed by Julian Roffman who also did the cult classic The Mask. The film is the story of a gang of innocent beatniks who are relatively ignorant of all the nefarious activities of their leader Nico, played very slimily by Peter Falk. After witnessing a death, Nico and his unhealthy looking, advertising director friend Francis decide to murder a delivery boy for kicks by feeding him a hamburger full of ground glass. Francis doesn't have the stomach for murder though, and Nico's involvement with the mob, his drug dealings and plans to double cross his mules, Studs and the Weasel, along with the nosey brother of the kid they murdered hanging around in their club is threatening to spell the end for him.

"Nah,nah nah, there's no doubt about it, the worlds falling apart. And they call it progress. First they spend millions developing toothpaste to stop cavities, then they spend billions on bigger and better ways to blow us all to bits."

"Patty cake, patty cake, puzzle for squares. Why take a plane trip to fly through the air? You work the whole year to get two weeks with pay. So, get with it, cats, and you'll fly every day."

"I'm digging lots of things now, for instance, that it's possible to live you're life the way you want, and the most important day of the year isn't mother's day."

"Five bucks a minute !"

"Look, Honey, you want to seduce the world into using Feather Foam, not clobber them with it!"

"The lights are blue, the moon is to. French fried shoes, all the way!"

"The Digs"

"I'm gonna do more for you than anything you can find in stores!"

Wanton beat chick dance routine

"Listen you mindless, gutless snob. At the first sign of trouble you start trying to weasel out. Let me remind you. I didn't feed him that hamburger, you did."

Studs and The Weasel

"NOOOOOOOO"

Watch the whole film right here!