Mysteries From Beyond the Other Dominion

Ultradimensional Anomalies No.25

2012-01-31T17:09:00.001-08:00

Ultradimensional Anomalies No.24

2012-01-31T14:27:00.000-08:00

Ultradimensional Anomalies No.23

2012-01-30T17:52:00.001-08:00

Ultradimensional Anomalies No.22

2012-01-29T14:54:00.000-08:00

Ultradimensional Anomalies No.21

2012-01-27T16:50:00.000-08:00

Ultradimensional Anomalies No.20

2012-01-26T17:25:00.000-08:00

My Latest Huffington Post Blog:"Man On A Ledge" Forerunners!

2012-01-25T20:58:00.000-08:00

'Mysteries From Beyond The Other Dominion'
GET UPDATES FROM DR. FRANKLIN RUEHL, PH.D.

An Absorbing Quartet of 1950s Man On A Ledge Productions
Posted: 01/24/2012 10:29 am

With a potentially hot new film, Man On A Ledge, on the verge of being released, it is appropriate to review four intriguing similarly themed entries from the 1950s, one from the cinema and three from TV, as follows:

Fourteen Hours(1951): A man, Robert Cosick (ably portrayed by Richard Basehart) is psychologically devastated by his family's lack of love for him and his fear of being unable to bring happiness to his galpal (Barbara Bel Geddes). As he stands on a ledge contemplating suicide, a police officer, Charlie Dunnigan (Paul Douglas), endeavors to talk him out of his planned death, and ultimately succeeds after 14 hours!

"The Big Jump" (1952 Dragnet episode): On his way home, Sgt. Joe Friday (Jack Webb) stops to check out a crowd gathered, looking up at a man, Walter Harrison (Paul Richards), on a ledge threatening to off himself. Finally, he is able to dissuade him from his planned felo-de-se. But, in the epilogue which was presented at the conclusion of each show, it was reported that the gentleman leapt to his death three months later!

"The Human Bomb"(1953 Adventures of Superman episode): A gambler, Bet-A-Million Butler (Trevor Bardette) has wagered $100,000 that he can keep Superman at bay for 30 minutes while two henchmen rob the local museum. To execute his plan, he drags reporter Lois Lane (Phyllis Coates) out onto the ledge of the Daily Planet building, threatening to kill them both with dynamite strapped to his chest unless the Man of Steel sits in an office for half an hour where he can both see and hear him. Clark Kent (George Reeves) leaves the scene in disgust in order to reappear as Superman where he records his voice to answer Butler and has a detective sitting in shadowed profile to make the gambler think he is cooperating. Of course, he thwarts the robbery and eventually subdues Butler.

"Man With A Problem" (1958 Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode): An apparently moribund man, Carl (Gary Merrill), threatens suicide on the ledge of a hotel. In flashback, we see that his beloved wife Karen (Elizabeth Montgomery) fell in love with another man, Steve, who refused to leave his wife for her. Consequently, she committed suicide. Carl indicates that he will only speak to the officer on the beat (Mark Richman) who comes out on the ledge to attempt to bring him in. It turns out that this was a well-conceived plan, as that cop is actually Steve, whom Carl pushes to his death!

A trio of relevant video reports:

George "Superman" Reeves Was Murdered:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bURq-WPHeQ

1st Actress To Leap Off The Hollywood Sign:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpS1ubzZIxU

The Suicide of All About Eve Actress:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7Pvx8OGq1c

Ultradimensional Anomalies No.19

2012-01-20T17:41:00.000-08:00

Ultradimensional Anomalies No.18

2012-01-19T20:21:00.001-08:00

Ultradimensional Anomalies No.17

2012-01-18T15:32:00.001-08:00

Ultradimensional Anomalies No.16

2012-01-16T15:58:00.001-08:00

Ultradimensional Anomalies No.15

2012-01-15T14:08:00.000-08:00

Ultradimensional Anomalies No.13

2012-01-14T17:35:00.000-08:00

My Latest Huffington Post Blog:13 Intriguing Friday The 13th Factoids

2012-01-12T16:56:00.000-08:00

13 Intriguing Friday the 13th Factoids!
Posted: 1/12/12 01:25 PM ET

Friday The 13th History , Friday The 13th Superstitions , Friday The 13th Facts , Fear , Friday The 13th , Superstitions , Weird News

-- The fear of Friday is skeviphobia, the fear of the number 13 is triskaidekaphobia, and the fear of Friday the 13th is paraskevidekatriaphobia (aka friggatriskaidekaphobia).

-- While both Friday(because Judas was thought to have been the 13th guest at the Last Supper) and 13(because it is an uneven number following the even number 12 widely considered beneficial) had independently been considered unlucky for centuries, the dark nature of Friday The 13th appears to have only originated in the West in the 19th century, possibly with Henry Sutherland Edwards' 1869 biography of Gioachino Rossini wherein the date is termed unlucky!

-- Apollo 13, which barely escaped becoming a doomed flight, was launched on 13:13 CST, April 11,1970, with the explosion that disabled the craft occurring on April 13(a Monday).

-- In Spanish-speaking nations, Tuesday The 13th is regarded as unlucky!

-- Oklahoma bandit Crawford "Cherokee Bill" Goldsby murdered 13 victims, and was captured with a reward of $1300, At his trial, 13 eyewitnesses testified against him, the jury took 13 hours to render a verdict of guilty, and he was hanged on April 13,1896 on a gallows with 13 steps!

-- President Franklin Delano Roosevelt would never host a dinner party with 13 guests in attendance and refused to travel on the 13th day of any month!

-- Cuban leader Fidel Castro was born on Friday, August 13,1926, while celebrated outlaw Butch Cassidy was born on. Friday, April 13,1866!

-- Miami Dolphin Quarterback Dan Marino wore No. 13 throughout his distinguished football career. In his one and only trip to the Super Bowl(1985), the San Francisco 49ers clobbered his team, 38-16!

-- The majority of skyscrapers in America do not have a 13th floor, while some hospitals avoid rooms numbered 13, and a few airline terminals bypass gates numbered 13!

-- Every calendar year has at least one Friday The 13th. The most Fridays The 13th that can occur in any given calendar year is three, such as in 2012(January, April and July)!

-- The longest period that can occur without a Friday The 13th is 14 months, either from July through September of the following normal year, or from August through October of the following leap year!

-- In the 1960 cinematic thriller, 13 Ghosts, director William Castle, known for creating innovative PR gimmicks, introduced "Illusion-O" and offered audience members "ghost viewers" to enable them to see the invisible spirits(unfortunately, his on-camera appearance is often deleted from TV airings of the film).
-- On Friday April 13, 2029, the asteroid 99942 will make its closest encounter with the Earth!

Here are 2 Friday The 13th related video links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2RZn9CV_9s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwnCZO7vr88

Follow Dr. Franklin Ruehl, Ph.D. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/drruehl

Ultradimensional Anomalies No.12

2012-01-09T17:57:00.000-08:00

The Amazing Man Who Can Predict Earthquakes(Part 1)

2012-01-07T15:42:00.000-08:00

The Man Who Can Predict Earthquakes(Part 2)

2012-01-07T15:39:00.000-08:00

The Haunted Del Coronado Hotel(Part 1)

2012-01-04T14:27:00.001-08:00

The Haunted Del Coronado Hotel(Part 2)

2012-01-04T14:24:00.001-08:00

"Kimbar of the Jungle"(Starring Steve Reeves As A Tarzan Clone)

2012-01-03T14:54:00.001-08:00

New Year's Eve Film:"Repeat Performance"

2011-12-31T13:26:00.000-08:00

Secrets of Mysterious Carnivorous Plants!

2011-12-29T14:14:00.000-08:00

Ultradimensional Anomalies No.11

2011-12-28T16:49:00.000-08:00

My Latest Huffington Post Blog(3 Intriguing Factoids From The Horror/Sci-Fi/Mystery Genre)

2011-12-27T15:44:00.000-08:00

Dr. Franklin Ruehl, Ph.D.
Host, 'Mysteries From Beyond the Other Dominion'
GET UPDATES FROM Dr. Franklin Ruehl, Ph.D.

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Intriguing Factoids From the Horror/Sci-Fi/Mystery Genre
Posted: 12/27/11 11:16 AM ET
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Was actress Gloria Dickson fated to die tragically by a scene in her penultimate film? Did monstrous actor Rondo Hatton actually suffer from acromegaly, which gave him a grotesque head? Was raven-haired Vampira in reality a Scandinavian blonde?

These are just a few of the engrossing film factoids from the sci-fi/horror/mystery realm that we now disclose:

-Actress Gloria Dickson began her career as a loyal wife trying valiantly to save her wrongly convicted husband from execution in 1937's They Won't Forget (Lana Turner's 1st important role, as a murder victim), then appeared in a number of dramas and mysteries, such as 1938's Racket Busters and 1939's They Made Me A Criminal.

Undoubtedly, her most intriguing role was in 1943's Crime Doctor's Strangest Case, in which she was a woman of mystery who used 2 names and was married to a man (Jerome Cowan) who repeatedly tossed down lighted cigarettes which ignited fires. Less than 2 years later, on April 10, 1945, Dickson died tragically in a house fire in Hollywood, started by, as fate would have it, a lighted cigarette!

Ruehl Fact: After suffering from a nervous breakdown, Columbia rewarded veteran actor Warner Baxter (who had won an Academy Award as Best Actor for his role of "The Cisco Kid" in 1929's In Old Arizona) with the "Crime Doctor" series, of which he only had to make no more than 2 episodes a year. He starred in 10 entries from 1943 through 1949, but never recovered his health and died at age 61 in 1951.

-Rondo Hatton starred in 1946's Brute Man as a college football hero whose face was disfigured by a chemistry accident. This parallelled his true situation, where he had a normal face until being exposed to poison gas during WWI, which triggered the onset of the head-enlarging syndrome known as acromegaly.

He also essayed the role of "The Creeper" in 2 films, 1944's The Pearl of Death (a Sherlock Holmes entry starring Basil Rathbone), and 1946's House of Horrors (where he was exploited by an evil artist played by Martin Kosleck), but was not involved in 1948's The Creeper.

Off camera, he was a gentle, deeply religious individual who had a devoted wife. Sadly, he died shortly before turning 52 in 1946 from coronary thrombosis triggered by chronic myocarditis as a result of the acromegaly.

Ruehl Fact: Acromegaly brought on by experiments in gigantism afflicted a scientist (Leo G. Carroll, best known for his starring role in the 1953-55 Topper TV series about ghosts) and 2 of his associates in the 1957 creature feature, Tarantula (a Universal film starring John Agar).

-Long raven hair! A skin-tight black gown! Long, threatening fingernails! Piercing eyes capped by thin black brows! These were the tools that TV legend Vampira employed to both terrify and engage late night TV audiences of the 1950s!

However, the dark-haired femme fatale was actually a Scandinavian blonde who was born Maila Syrjaniemi in Petsamo , Finland back on December 11, 1921. That surname was later truncated to Nurmi. Indeed, the renowned multiple Olympic medal runner Paavo Nurmi was her uncle. She arrived in the U.S. as an infant, and travelled around the country as her father lectured on temperance.

As an adult, she was performing in Mike Todd's "Spook Scandals" when celebrated director Howard Hawks caught sight of the beauty and cast her in the cinematic version of the Russian novel, "Dreadful Hollow." However, Nurmi walked out on her contract after being utterly disillusioned by repeated production delays.

She then tried modeling and dancing, including a long stint with Earl Carroll's revues. Her breakthrough came when, for a masquerade competition, she costumed herself in the mode of Charles Addams' Morticia cartoon character. Not only did she win 1st prize, but also landed a contract with the local L.A. ABC affiliate channel 7 for a late night hosting gig for horror films for the 1954-55 season. Impressively, she was nominated for an Emmy for "Most Outstanding Female Personality," and was profiled in such mags as "TV Guide," "Newsweek," and "Life."

Fan clubs sprung up all over the globe as she became a quite recognizable figure, making guest appearances at store openings and judging contests. She was dubbed the "Queen of Horror," with songs composed to honor her!

Bela Lugosi was also a fan, and was delighted when she joined him as his dead wife in 1956's Plan 9 From Outer Space. Unfortunately, he died 2 weeks into production.

Vampira's fame quickly expired after that, with only a few scant film roles, such as in 1959's Beat Generation and 1960's Sex Kittens Go To College. She did engage in painting, creating some "Vampira" portraits, and made a final screen appearance in 1998's I Woke Up Early The Day I Died.

Ruehl Fact: Nurmi sued Cassandra Peterson, asserting that her "Elvira" characterization was a ripoff of "Vampira," but lost the case in court. She died January 10, 2007, in her sleep at the age of 86.

My video critique of "Plan 9 From Outer Space" featuring Vampira and Bela Lugosi:

The Shocking Truth About Billy The Kid!

2011-12-26T14:57:00.000-08:00

Animals On Trial!

2011-12-24T14:37:00.001-08:00

Ultradimensional Anomalies No.10

2011-12-23T17:15:00.000-08:00

Ultradimensional Anomalies No.9

2011-12-22T17:07:00.001-08:00

Ultradimensionall Anomalies No.8

2011-12-20T14:59:00.001-08:00

Ultradimensional Anomalies No.7

2011-12-19T18:32:00.000-08:00

Ultradimensional Anomalies No.6

2011-12-18T13:58:00.000-08:00

Ultradimensional Anomalies No.5

2011-12-17T17:43:00.001-08:00

Ultradimensional Anomalies No.4

2011-12-16T14:14:00.000-08:00

The Ghost of the Green Briar Swamp!

2011-12-13T19:19:00.000-08:00

The Secrets of Atlantis!

2011-12-12T20:14:00.000-08:00

Ultradimensional Anomalies No.3

2011-12-11T15:02:00.000-08:00

Ultradimensional Anomalies No.2

2011-12-10T13:36:00.001-08:00

My Latest Huffington Post Blog:This Week's "Realm of Bizarre News" Top 7

2011-12-09T16:54:00.000-08:00

December 9, 2011

2012 BLOG HUFFPOST HILL 2012

Dr. Franklin Ruehl, Ph.D..Host, 'Mysteries From Beyond the Other Dominion'
GET UPDATES FROM Dr. Franklin Ruehl, Ph.D.

This Week's Realm of Bizarre News Top 7

Posted: 12/8/11 01:38 PM ET React Amazing
Follow Video , Dr.Ruehl , Mice Attack Cows , Realm Of Bizarree News , Use a Vacuum Cleaner Vs Fleas , Butter Attack , Cricket Sounds Deafen You , Weird News .

This Week's "Realm of Bizarre News" Top 7

- Ouch! Angry gal down in Collier County, Georgia got into a heated dispute with her roommate over who paid for which food. Finally, she hurled a stick of butter at him, striking him in the ankle! Surprisingly, she was later arrested for assault and battery (or, should that be "buttery?").

- Eek! Cows are being attacked by, of all creatures, ravenous mice down in South Australia! The starving rodents actually are hopping on the backs of bovines and chewing them up alive! One farmer has been spreading engine oil on the cows' bodies to protect them from the mice.

(Trivia Q: What is the term for the fear of mice? Answer below)

- Larry Fick of Auburn, Michigan won a $2 million lottery in June of 2010, yet still receives food stamps! Amazingly, this is completely legal because lump-sum payments such as his are not counted in assessing an individual's eligibility for food assistance!

- A most unusual phobia: Phoebe Tann, 19, of Maidstone , Kent , England is absolutely terrified of toilet paper! The problem began 6 years ago when her mom sent her to the market to purchase some TP and she freaked out! She has even undergone hypnotherapy to overcome her phobia, but to no avail. So, the TP in the bathroom must always be covered so she does not see it!

- Staffers at the SkyCity Casino in Auckland , New Zealand , are wearing pet flea collars around their ankles to ward off attacks by biting fleas! They have been complaining about the problem for months and finally resorted to this measure as daily cleanings of the floor have failed to deter the bugs.

- Incredible! A patient at the St.Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor , Michigan was emitting poison gas as a result of ingesting rat poison! To protect other patients and staffers, he was placed in isolation and even monitored by a Hazmat team! Thankfully, at last report, his condition was improving.

- Hold your ears! According to Dr,.Todd Rickettts, associate professor of hearing and speech at Vanderbilt University (Nashville,TN), the chirping(actually, love songs) of cicadas can damage human hearing as the sounds reach 86 decibels (85 decibels is the threshold for safety). This is especially worrisome as 17-year cicadas have just been emerging from their hiatus and are chirping away in Tennessee and 12 other states.

Trivia answer: The fear of mice is musophobia (aka muriphobia).

Follow Dr. Franklin Ruehl, Ph.D. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/drruehl

Ultradimensional Anomalies No.1

2011-12-07T14:20:00.000-08:00

The Mary Celeste-Mysterious Ghost Ship

2011-12-05T16:27:00.000-08:00

Do Blobiforms Exist On Titan?

2011-12-04T14:25:00.000-08:00

Is Travel Through Black Holes Possible?

2011-12-01T18:13:00.001-08:00

My Latest HuffPost Blog:The Wolfstone Marker!

2011-11-29T17:52:00.000-08:00

HUFF POST WEIRD NEWS

November 29, 2011

Dr. Franklin Ruehl, Ph.D..

Host, 'Mysteries From Beyond the Other Dominion'

What Is the Strangest Burial Marker in Existence?

Posted: 11/29/11 12:19 PM ET

A strong candidate for this title would be a stone cross dubbed the "Wolfstone" on a grave in the Fichtel Mountains of Germany. In the 18th century, a local shepherd hired a hunter to kill a strange, huge wolf which had been devouring lambs in his flock.

But, when the marksman took aim and fired at the predator, the bullets had no apparent effect although at least one hit the creature straight on.

However, the next day, the shepherd observed that an old woman, long suspected of practicing witchcraft in the area, was hobbling down the street, as though wounded. He deduced that she was a female werewolf, transmogrifying herself into a large wolf at night to attack his sheep.

So, he reported her to the local authorities who arrested her and chained her to the floor of a dingy cell. But, when they went to interrogate her the next day, she had mysteriously vanished.

Two nights later, while the shepherd was out in the woods with the huntsman searching for her, the killer wolf, who had been lying in wait, sprung at them!

Fortunately, the hunter had a silver knife with which he was able to slash the beast. As soon as its blood began to flow, the wolf, writhing on the ground in intense agony, morphed into human form, namely, that of the old witch, absolute proof that she indeed had been a female werewolf!

They buried her an unprecedented 20 feet beneath the ground and marked her grave with the Wolfstone cross in hopes of sanctifying it.

But, to this day, locals claim that eerie phenomena, such as enigmatic lights, are seen near that accursed site!

Ruehl Fact: Nina Foch starred as a female lycanthrope who inherited her affliction from her gypsy mother in the horror film, Cry of the Werewolf (1944).

My video account of the Wolfstone Marker:

Werewolves Are For Real:

Ancient Werewolf Accounts:

For additional fascinating information on lycanthropes and their strange cousins,I strongly commend you to Brad Steiger's "The Werewolf Book:The Encyclopedia of Shape-shifting Beings." Without a doubt,it is the most comprehensive work yet published on such strange entities,covering everything from ancient accounts to cinematic treatments of them!

Follow Dr. Franklin Ruehl, Ph.D. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/drruehl

Witchcraft Practitioners In Action!

2011-11-27T14:07:00.001-08:00

My Doritos Superbowl Contest Ad!

2011-11-23T18:22:00.000-08:00

My entry in the Doritos Superbowl Ad Contest is entitled,"Doritos Empowers My Magic Act!" The URLlink is:

http://www.crashthesuperbowl.com/#/gallery?video=15936

Masy the Power of the Comsos,and of Doritos, be with You!

Dr.Franklin Ruehl,Ph.D.

Europa Is Teeming With Life!

2011-11-18T14:45:00.001-08:00

Who Are The Enigmatic Tulpas?

2011-11-14T19:10:00.001-08:00

A Warning About Spaghetti!

2011-11-13T16:15:00.000-08:00

Were The Mighty Dinos Plagued By Gut Worms?

2011-11-12T13:56:00.000-08:00

Intriguing Film Facts About Shirley Temple & John Archer!

2011-11-10T20:00:00.000-08:00

The Pharaoh Who Saw A UFO Fleet!

2011-11-09T15:15:00.001-08:00

Let's Insitute DOUBLE DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME!

2011-11-08T16:19:00.000-08:00

Intirguing Bela Lugosi Factoids!

2011-11-07T16:23:00.000-08:00

The Case of the Mysterious Bobbing Skulls!

2011-11-06T14:54:00.001-08:00

My New Blog On The Huffington Post

2011-11-03T18:03:00.000-07:00

Dr. Franklin Ruehl, Ph.D.

Host, 'Mysteries From Beyond the Other Dominion'

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-franklin-ruehl-phd/halloween-facts-history-_b_1074357.html

15 Intriguing Halloween-Related Factoids!

Posted: 11/3/11 02:22 PM ET

- Halloween's origins can be traced to the ancient Celtic festival known as "Samhain," which included a feast of the dead in both Pagan and Christian times, and marked the end of harvest and the commencement of winter!

- Jack-o-lanterns were once carved out of turnips, beets, or potatoes before the custom reached America and pumpkins were discovered...according to legend, Jack was a miser who could enter neither heaven nor hell, being forced to wander the earth carrying a lantern until Judgment Day!

- The Greek legend of King Lycaon of Arcadia being transmogrified into a wolf by Zeus after offending the god by serving him a meal of human flesh gave birth to the scientific term for werewolf, "lycanthrope."

- Prior to the 17th century, witches were depicted as riding brooms in the sky whose heads pointed downward, but thereafter, with the heads pointed upward (they also flew on cats, donkeys, goats, or even the Devil himself in animal form)!

- There was a real-life Dr.Dippel Frankenstein who engaged in alchemical experiments utilizing both animal and human cadavers at Castle Frankenstein in southwestern Germany in the early 1700s...Mary Shelley actually visited the castle in 1814, perhaps being inspired by Dippel's work to pen her famous novel!

- Surprisingly, the very 1st written account of a seance is contained in the Old Testament(Samuel I,Ch.28), wherein Saul enlisted a sorceress, the Witch of Endor, to summon the spirit of Samuel so he could consult with him about the ongoing war with the Philistines!

- In the 1922 German horror flick,"Nosferatu," the reflection of the vampire Orlok (portayed by Max Schreck) is clearly visible in a mirror in one scene...although based on "Dracula," that name was never employed because the producers had failed to pay for the rights to use it!

- Not a single defendant at the1692 Salem Witch Trials was burned at the stake...19 were hanged while a 20th, a man who refused to enter a plea, was crushed to death with heavy stones (medical historians have ascribed the bizarre behavior exhibited there to various causes, such as an outbreak of encephalitis or rye bread contaminated by the hallucinogenic known as ergot)!

- Godzilla's name in Japan is "Gojira"...after purchasing the rights to the film in 1956. American producer Richard Kay renamed the creature and added extrensive scenes with Raymond Burr of "Perry Mason" fame portraying a reporter named "Steve Martin!"

- No mummy's tomb is known to have been inscribed with a curse...the concept originated with a stage show in London's Piccadilly Circus in 1821, followed by Jane Webb's 1922 novel, "The Mummy" ("Little Women" authoress Louisa May Alcott also dealt with a mummy's curse in her obscure 1869 short story, "Lost In A Pyramid")

- Val Lewton, who produced such film noir classics of the 1940s as "Cat People" and "Curse of the Cat People," actually had an abiding fear of cats(a full-fledged ailurophobe)...he penned several film scripts under the pseudonym of Carlos Keith!

- The first chain-clanking ghost was described by the noted Roman writer Pliny The Younger in the 1st century A.D., who reported that the philosopher Athenodorus of Athens encountered such an entity who lead him to his grave where he had been buried alive in shackles...when the chains were removed and the body given proper burial, the spirit vanished, apparently finally at peace!

- Today, in a village in Germany's Fichtel Mountains, stands a large stone marker known as the Wolfstone Cross, placed above the grave of a female werewolf who, by day, was an old woman, but, who by night, was a murderous lupine ultimately dispatched by a hunter's silver blade back in the 18th century!

- To ward off the power of the Evil Eye, people around the globe have invoked many practices: Colonial Americans carried heart-shaped amulets, Turks wore eye-shaped brooches made of blue glass, and women in India painted black circles about their own eyes!

- Bela Lugosi was born Bela Blasko in 1882, but changed his name in 1903 in honor of his hometown of Lugos,Hungary, while Boris Karloff was born William Henry Pratt in 1887, but assumed his new minacious moniker in 1909 while riding through Canada on a train!

Who Actually Penned Shakespeare's Works?

2011-11-01T16:55:00.000-07:00

3 Adorable Kittens At Play!

2011-10-31T15:41:00.000-07:00

Intriguing Halloween Factoids!

2011-10-29T15:06:00.000-07:00

Which Astrological Sign Has The Most Billionaires?

2011-10-27T15:27:00.000-07:00

Bizarre News:Missing Grave,Doggy Diapers, & More!

2011-10-26T15:12:00.000-07:00

The Truth About The Salem Witch Trials!

2011-10-25T15:50:00.000-07:00

Rudolph Valentino's Cursed Cat's-Eye Destiny Ring

2011-10-23T13:29:00.000-07:00

My Letter Defending "Plan 9 From Outer Space" Published!

2011-10-22T16:50:00.000-07:00

My letter to the editor defending "Plan 9 From Outer Space" was published in the Glendale News-Press. as follows:

Not the worst movie ever made
October 20, 2011 | 5:07 p.m.

Mesmerizing music. Solid acting. Intriguing plotting. These are among the surprisingly positive elements that comprise the oft-ridiculed film, “Plan 9 From Outer Space” (“Return to 'Plan 9 From Outer Space,’” Oct. 16).

While the movie admittedly is characterized by fourth-rate special effects, such as hubcaps for UFOs, and an illogical confusion of night and day in several scenes, it is an interesting film overall, with a cogent plot involving aliens resurrecting dead humans to act as their slaves.
And it should be noted that visually-engaging graveyard scenes were actually shot on location in a cemetery in the San Fernando Valley that was being torn down. The crew sneaked in and moved tombstones around to
achieve some definite eerie effects.

And, for horror film fans, it was a final opportunity to see Bela Lugosi on the silver screen one last time as he died a short time into shooting. Indeed, we appreciate his few scenes being repeated several times during the film.

Additionally, it was a pleasure to watch Vampira and Tor Johnson moving morbidly about throughout the production.

So “Plan 9 From Outer Space” is by no means the worst movie ever made.

Franklin Ruehl

Glendale

Do Freezing Planets Harbor Life?

2011-10-20T16:26:00.001-07:00

2 Amazing Ways To Combat Head Lice!

2011-10-19T16:07:00.000-07:00

How Often Do Vampires Bring Across Their Victims?

2011-10-18T16:14:00.000-07:00

A Tribute To Vampira!

2011-10-17T15:07:00.000-07:00

Vampira, A Role Model For Some of Us!

Flowing locks of raven hair! A skin-tight black gown! Long, sharp, threatening fingernails! Piercing eyes capped by thin black brows! These were the tools that TV legend Vampira employed to both terrify and engage late night TV audiences of the 1950s!

Simultaneously minacious and alluring, Vampira drew viewers who might not otherwise tune into the low-budget horror flicks she was hostessing. Indeed, she was a captivating pioneer in this limited niche, being the very first to present such films on the little silver screen. And, she was an inspiration to other such hosts who would follow in her footsteps, including yours truly. Sadly, she passed away this past Thursday, January 10, in her sleep at age 86.

While, unfortunately, none of Vampira's TV hosting segments was preserved on film (as far as I know), she can be seen (although never heard) in her Vampira role as Bela Lugosi's dead wife throughout Ed Wood's much-maligned sci-fi entry, "Plan 9 From Outer Space."

Vampira was born Maila Syrjaniemi in Petsamo, Finland back on December 11, 1921. That surname was later truncated to Nurmi. Indeed, she was the niece of the renowned multiple Olympic medal runner Paavo Nurmi.

She arrived in the U.S. as an infant, and travelled around the country as her father lectured on temperance.

As an adult, she was performing in Mike Todd's "Spook Scandals" when celebrated director Howard Hawks caught sight of the beautiful blonde, and cast her in the cinematic version of the Russisan novel, "Dreadful Hollow." However, Nurmi walked out on her contract after being utterly disillusioned by repeated production delays. She then tried modelling and dancing, including a long stint with Earl Carroll's revues.

Her breakthrough came when, for a masquerade competition, she costumed herself in the mode of Charles Addams' Morticia cartoon character. Not only did she win 1st prize, but also landed a contract with the local L.A. ABC affiliate channel 7 for a late night hosting gig for the 1954-55 season. Impressively, she was nominated for an Emmy for "Most Outstanding Female Personality, and was profiled in such mags as "TV Guide," "Newsweek," and "Life." Fan clubs sprung up all over the globe as she became a most recognizable figure, making guest appearance at store openings and judging contests. She was dubbed the "Queen of Horror," with songs composed to honor her!

Bela Lugosi was also a fan, and was delighted when she joined him in "Plan 9." Tragically, he died two weeks into production.

Vampira's fame quickly expired after that, with only a few scant film roles, such as in 1959's "Beat Generation" and 1960's "Sex Kittens Go To college.' She did engage in painting, creating some "Vampira" portraits, and made a final screen appearance in 1998's "I Woke Up Early The Day I Died." And Nurmi made some news when she sued Cassandra Peterson, asserting that her "Elvira" characterization was a rip off of "Vampira."

Again, I thank you, Vampira, for your inspiring portrayal, and May the Power of the Cosmos be with You, wherever you may be now!

Preview:"Plan 9 From Outer Space"

2011-10-13T19:41:00.000-07:00

The ETs of Santa Monica Bay!

2011-10-12T19:18:00.000-07:00

Intriguing New E-Book Series:"Real Nightmares"

2011-10-11T16:12:00.000-07:00

Brad Steiger Announces an Exciting New Monthly eBook Series:
Real Nightmares

A real nightmare occurs when you experience a frightening encounter with something strange and unknown, and you know without question that you are not asleep, that you are not dreaming. You know with every ounce of your being that the chilling encounter is real.

I first experienced real nightmares when I was a child, and ghostly visitors walked through our bedrooms nearly every night and kept us awake. Our farmhouse was built on the site of the old stagecoach stop, and it seemed that some other-worldly passengers were still trying to catch the last stage out of this dimension. Years later when our parents tore the old house down and built a new home on the same site, our spirit interlopers now appeared as shadows moving about the house and amused themselves by knocking on the walls, stomping about with heavy feet, and opening and closing doors. Growing up with real nightmares on a regular basis prepared me for the nights in my adulthood when I would investigate haunted houses with a team of paranormal researchers and encounter a wide variety of other-worldly beings.

For five decades now I have been devoted to exploring and examining unusual, unexplainable, and otherwise strange occurrences--and giving other people vicarious nightmares through my books and articles. I have written more than two thousand articles with paranormal themes and authored/coauthored more than 170 books, including Real Vampires, Night Stalkers, and Creatures from the Darkside; Real Ghosts, Restless Spirits, and Haunted Places; The Werewolf Book; and with my wife, Sherry, the author/co-author of 43 books, Real Miracles, Divine Intervention, and Feats of Incredible Survival, Conspiracies and Secret Societies, and Real Aliens, Space Beings, and Creatures from Other Worlds.

The reviews of these books often have a recurrent theme of the readers “leaving the lights on” and being unable to sleep. While most individuals would probably be offended if someone accused them of giving them nightmares, I take it as a compliment.

Commenting about Real Vampires, Night Stalkers, and Creatures from the Darkside, a reviewer wondered if Stephanie Meyer “…would ever have written the Twilight books” if she had read my book first.
Yet another warned that Real Vampires “…will keep you awake at night and you will want to sleep with the lights on, which I must warn you may be the only way that you will rest at all.”

Some of those who reviewed Real Ghosts, Restless Spirits, and Haunted Places also felt it was their duty to advise readers of possible nightmares as a result of reading the book: “There were several occasions where I had to stop and allow the chills to pass, but I still had to read with all the lights on.” Wrote another: “There are terrifying tales of ghosts and mysterious beings that will unnerve you.”

Real Monsters, Gruesome Creatures, and Beasts from the Darkside brought similar forewarnings from reviewers that readers may suffer resultant nightmares from reading the book: “Filled with gripping, nail-biting monster stories, be prepared to give up sleeping until you are completely finished with this book. You will have to leave the lights on to get even half-way through this book.”

And now, in an exciting new and unique monthly eBook series entitled Real Nightmares, Visible Ink is offering scary stories that readers have declared the most frightening, scary, and awesome—the ones that they had to leave the lights on to finish reading...the ones in which you may vicariously experience “real nightmares.”

Is It Possible To Travel Through Black Holes?

2011-10-10T15:46:00.000-07:00

How A Biscuit Timer Thwarted A Robbery!

2011-10-09T14:58:00.000-07:00

Fascinating Film Factoids(Buster Crabbe & Allison Hayes)

2011-10-08T17:40:00.000-07:00

Radio show Tonight:"Were Fairies & Elves ETs?"

2011-10-07T14:40:00.000-07:00

Radio Show Tonight("Hypergalactic Enigmas")

Tonight(FRIDAY,October 7,2011):

8:30PM(PDT)/11:30PM(EDT)

Subject:"Were Fairies & Elves ETs?"

"Hypergalactic Engimas" on Blog Talk Radio

Call:(626)414-3408

http://tobtr.com/s/2409291

Host:Dr.Franklin Ruehl,Ph.D.

3 Secrets Regarding General Custer!

2011-10-06T15:01:00.000-07:00

Secrets of Jesse James' Murder!

2011-10-04T19:31:00.001-07:00

How To Disengage Yourself From a Chatterbox!

2011-10-03T15:25:00.000-07:00

Radio Show Tonight:"Secrets of Time Travel"

2011-09-30T14:57:00.000-07:00

Radio Show Tonight("Hypergalactic Enigmas")

Tonight(FRIDAY,Sep.30,2011):

8:30PM(PDT)/11:30PM(EDT)

Subject:"Secrets of Time Travel"

"Hypergalactic Engimas" on Blog Talk Radio

Call:(626)414-3408

http://tobtr.com/s/2381737

Host:Dr.Franklin Ruehl,Ph.D.

Was Goliath Possibly An Alien?

2011-09-28T16:55:00.000-07:00

The Mysterious "Face of Mars"

2011-09-26T16:29:00.001-07:00

3 Intriguing Film Factoids!

2011-09-25T14:40:00.000-07:00

I Was a Guest On ILLOGICAL CONTRAPTION RADIO

2011-09-24T17:26:00.000-07:00

I was a guest last night at 11:30 PM PDT/2:30AM EDT on ILLOGICAL CONTRAPTION RADIO discussing Peter Lorre's mysterious weight gain and Basil Rathbone's paranormal experiences.

blog @ illogicalcontraption.blogspot.com

Radio Show Tonight:"Was Jonah Spirited Aboard A USO?"

2011-09-23T13:54:00.000-07:00

Radio Show Tonight("Hypergalactic Enigmas")

Tonight(FRIDAY,Sep.23,2011):

8:30PM(PDT)/11:30PM(EDT)

Subject:"Was Jonah Spirited Aboard A USO?"

"Hypergalactic Engimas" on Blog Talk Radio

Call:(626)414-3408

http://tobtr.com/s/2340881

Host:Dr.Franklin Ruehl,Ph.D.

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What Was The Forbidden Fruit of The Garden Of Eden?

2011-09-22T14:33:00.001-07:00

DO VAMPIRES EXIST?

2011-09-20T18:26:00.000-07:00

The Titanic's Paranormal Links!

2011-09-19T16:16:00.000-07:00

Odor Judges Smell Stinky Feet!

2011-09-18T16:20:00.001-07:00

Did ETs Build The Sphinx & 3 Great Pyramids?

2011-09-17T14:57:00.000-07:00

Guest Tonight on "ILLOGICAL CONTRAPTION" RADIO

2011-09-16T17:28:00.000-07:00

I am guesting toniht at 11:30 PM PDT/2:30AM EDT on ILLOGICAL CONTRAPTION RADIO
blog @ illogicalcontraption.blogspot.com

Subject: Legendary Monsters

Email us during the show @ illconradio@gmail.com

Join the madness! CALL US @ 415-829-2980 in studio 1A 10pm-Midnight!

Radio Show Tonight:"Does Life Exist On The Moon?"

2011-09-16T14:16:00.000-07:00

Radio Show Tonight("Hypergalactic Enigmas")

Tonight(FRIDAY,Sep.16,2011):

8:30PM(PDT)/11:30PM(EDT)

Subject:"Does Life Exist On The Moon?"

"Hypergalactic Engimas" on Blog Talk Radio

Call:(626)414-3408

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/defconzero/2011/09/17/could-there-be-life-on-the-moon

Host:Dr.Franklin Ruehl,Ph.D.

Was Jonah Spirited Aboard A UFO?

2011-09-14T15:35:00.000-07:00

Secrets of the Lost Dutchman Mine!

2011-09-13T15:49:00.001-07:00

Mysterious Vardogrs: Ghosts of Living Beings!

2011-09-12T17:07:00.000-07:00

The Mysterious Foot On Buck's Grave!

2011-09-11T13:28:00.001-07:00

Another Septet of Classic 1950s TV Openings!

2011-09-10T14:07:00.001-07:00

Radio Show Tonight("Were Mythological Beings Actually ETs?")

2011-09-09T13:27:00.000-07:00

Radio Show Tonight("Hypergalactic Enigmas")

Tonight(FRIDAY,Sep.9,2011):

8:30PM(PDT)/11:30PM(EDT)

Subject:"Were Mythological Beings Possibly ETs?"

"Hypergalactic Engimas" on Blog Talk Radio

Call:(626)414-3408

http://tobtr.com/s/2303629

www.blogtalkradio.com/defconzero

Host:Dr.Franklin Ruehl,Ph.D.

This Week's "Realm of Bizarre News" Top 7!

2011-09-07T16:50:00.000-07:00

This Week's "Realm of Bizarre News" Top 7(No.179)

-Widow in Fayetteville , TN , has been eating her dead husband's cremated ashes! When Casie Johnson's husband suddenly died of an asthma attack, the 26-year-old wife had him cremated and began carrying around the ashes in a small urn wherever she went, including markets, theaters, and restaurants. On one occasion, some of the ashes spilled onto her hand, and, not wanting to brush them off, instead licked them. This initiated her strange obsession of actually ingesting the ashes on a daily basis, which she asserts consoles her psychologically. Thus far, she estimates that she has consumed 1 pound of the 6 pounds of ashes!

(Trivia Q: What is the technical term for an ash eater? Answer below)

-Teen girl could die from brushing her hair! Megan Stewart, 13, of Wishaw , Scotland , suffers from a severe case of "Hair Brushing Syndrome," where static electricity generated by hair brushing interferes with the functioning of her vital organs, such as her brain. Indeed, she was diagnosed with this rare condition recently after suffering a seizure when her mom was combing her locks.

-Marco Polo was a fake! According to an Italian research team, his accounts, which were detailed in his celebrated work, "The Travels of Marco Polo," are replete with errors and inconsistencies, such as concerning Kublai Khan, the Mongol Emperor of China . They suspect that he never journeyed beyond the Black Sea and acquired his information from secondary and tertiary reports from other travelers!

-Doofus of the Week: Wacko shot off his own finger to rid himself of a wart! Sean Murphy,38, of Doncaster , England , actually shot the wart off with a shotgun, losing most of the finger as well. Adding insult to injury, he was charged with illegal possession of a firearm, given a suspended 16-week jail sentence, fined the equivalent of $160 in court costs, and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service!

-Escaped pet kangaroo in Prague , Czech Republic , went on a spree stealing ladies' lingerie from clotheslines in yard after yard! Benji was finally captured when a woman looked out her kitchen window and spotted the hopper stealing her undies!

-Call in the Ghost Hunters! A mischievous spirit is haunting Laura's Cafe in Cardross , Scotland ! The poltergeist, nicknamed "Nanny Goony," leaves crumbs on newly wiped tables, removes lollipops from jars, and knocks pictures off the walls. The owners feel the ghost is just having fun and don't feel at all threatened by her.

-Completely understandable! A customer began hurling pizza and breadsticks at the employees of Toppers pizzeria in Brookfield , WIS , because the pizza delivered to his home was cold! He first phoned to complain, then drove to the eatery and staged his rampage.

(Trivia answer: An ash eater is technically termed a "spodophage.")

Why We Must Return To The Moon!

2011-09-05T14:33:00.001-07:00

Suspicious Canadian UFO Footage!

2011-09-04T15:19:00.001-07:00

Radio Show Tonight("Hypergalactic Enigmas")

2011-09-02T16:40:00.000-07:00

Radio Show Tonight("Hypergalactic Enigmas")

Tonight(FRIDAY,Sep.2,2011):

8:30PM(PDT)/11:30PM(EDT)

Subject:"Intriguing Biblical UFO Cases!"

"Hypergalactic Engimas" on Blog Talk Radio

Call:(626)414-3408

http://tobtr.com/s/2278445

www.blogtalkradio.com/defconzero

Host:Dr.Franklin Ruehl,Ph.D.