'Long live the Rondos!' - Ain't It Cool News

'I love Rondo!' - Guillermo del Toro

   Below is the official ballot for the (can-you believe-it!) TENTH Annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards, recognizing the best in monster research, creativity and film preservation.

   Since 2002 the Rondos have been fandom's only true classic horror award. They are decided by fans, for fans. Every Rondo nominee below is being recognized for a significant achievement in the genre during the year of 2011.

   So take a look at the ballot and please let the nominees know how much we appreciate their work by voting in this year's Rondo awards!

HOW TO VOTE:

-- All voting is by e-mail only.   Simply copy this ballot (cut-and-pasting is easy), and send an e-mail with your picks to me (David Colton), at taraco@aol.com by SUNDAY NIGHT at midnight, April 1, 2012.

-- One vote per person, please.

-- Every e-mail must include your name to be counted. All votes are kept strictly confidential. No e-mail addresses or any personal information will ever be shared with anyone.

-- Important: Feel free to spread the word about Rondo, place banners on websites, go viral.  But please remember that organized voting campaigns (duplicated ballots, mass e-mailing of filled-in ballots), are prohibited and can result in a warning and even disqualification.  So do let folks know , but let's also keep this a fun vote of monster fans.

-- And no, you do not have to vote in every category.

AGAIN, TO VOTE simply copy this ballot and make your picks by highlighting your selection, putting an X by your selections, or by typing out your picks separately. Whatever is easiest.  Then e-mail your selections to taraco@aol.com.  

   You'll receive an e-mail acknowledging your vote, and the nominees who work so hard to enrich the classic horror genre will appreciate your taking the time to say thanks for their efforts..

-------------------------------------------------------------

BALLOT FOR THE TENTH ANNUAL RONDO HATTON CLASSIC HORROR AWARDS

This year's awards are dedicated to the memory of Les Daniels, Richard Gordon

and the vivacious Yvette Vickers.

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. BEST MOVIE OF 2011 (Pick one)

-- ATTACK THE BLOCK
-- BATTLE: L.A.
-- CONTAGION
-- DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK
-- FINAL DESTINATION 5
-- FRIGHT NIGHT
-- HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS (PART TWO)
-- HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN
-- INSIDIOUS

-- PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3
-- RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
-- THE RITE
-- THE SKIN I LIVE IN
-- STAKE LAND
-- SUPER 8

-- THE THING
-- TROLL HUNTER
-- TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN (Part 1)
-- X-MEN FIRST CLASS
-- Or write in another choice:

2. BEST TELEVISION PRESENTATION

 -- AMERICAN HORROR STORY, 'Halloween,' FX, 11.2.11. The holiday seems almost cheerful compared to the ghosts from the past invading Murder House. 'What are you, the Dead Breakfast Club?'

-- DOCTOR WHO, 'The Doctor's Wife,' BBC, 5.14.11.   The Tardis takes center stage at the edge of the universe in this episode written by Nail Gaiman. 'Oh, it's the warning lights. I got rid of those. They never stop.'

-- FRINGE, 'The Day We Died,' Fox, 5.6.11.  In the year 2026, two worlds hang in the balance in a hunt for End of Days terrroists. 'When their world was destroyed, that was the day we sealed our fate.'

-- GRIMM, 'The Three Bad Wolves,' NBC, 12.9.11. Twists on the fairy tale include murder and Dan Roebuck as an arson investigator. 'Little pig, little pig, let me come in.'

-- HAVEN, 'Audrey Parker's Day Off,' SyFy, 8.19.11.  A troubled Audrey gets caught in a time loop, unable to prevent a car from repeatedly killing her friends. 'You're stuck in my second-favorite Bill Murray movie.'

-- PSYCHE, 'This Episode Sucks,' USA, 10.26.11.  Cameos from Kristy Swanson (Buffy), Corey Feldman (Lost Boys), and vampire homages abound in this Halloween send-up. 'Sookie is mine!'

-- SUPERNATURAL, 'My Heart Will Go On,' CW, 4.15.11.   The Titanic has been saved from sinking so Fate begins removing people from the present. 'If these people are the Waltons, then why are they dying?'

-- TERRA NOVA, 'Instinct,' Fox, 10.3.11.   Swarms of Pterosaurs begin to stake a claim on the camp. 'What we've seen here today is just the first wave. There's a lot more coming.'

-- WALKING DEAD, 'Save the Last One,' AMC, 10.30.11.   Shane makes a shocking choice while getting medical supplies. ' Look at him. Hanging up there like a big piñata. The other geeks came and ate all the flesh off his legs.'

-- Or write in another choice

3. BEST CLASSIC DVD

-- BLACK MOON (Fay Wray, 1934)
-- THE BLACK SLEEP (DVD-R)
-- BURN WITCH BURN (DVD-R)
-- COLOSSUS OF NEW YORK (Olive)
-- DESTROY ALL MONSTERS
-- EMBODIMENT OF EVIL (Coffin Joe)
-- HORROR EXPRESS
-- HOUSE OF THE LONG SHADOWS (Price, Lee, Cushing, Carradine)

-- ISLAND OF LOST SOULS (Criterion Blu-Ray)
-- KONGO (DVD-R)
-- KURONEKO (1968 samurai ghost story)
-- MASTER OF THE WORLD (MGM, 1961)
-- METROPOLIS (Moroder version)

-- MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (Twilight Time limited edition Blu-Ray)
-- PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (Image)
-- QUATERMASS XPERIMENT
-- QUEEN OF BLOOD
-- Or write in another choice:

4. BEST CLASSIC DVD COLLECTION

-- GAMERA DOUBLE FEATURE: vs. Zigra and vs. the Super Monster (Shout!)
-- JURASSIC PARK: Ultimate Trilogy
-- ROGER CORMAN SCI-FI CLASSICS: Attack of the Crab Monsters, War of the Satellites, Not of This Earth
-- VAMPIRES, MUMMIES AND MONSTERS COLLECTION: Lady Frankenstein, Time Walker, Velvet Vampire and Grotesque
-- SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE ARCHIVE COLLECTION VOL. 2 (18 rarities from 1912 to 1955
-- STAR WARS BLU-RAY: THE COMPLETE SAGA (all six films)
-- TWILIGHT ZONE: Blu-Ray Bundle: Season One-Five. Includes all the commentaries and features.
-- Or write in another choice:

5. BEST RESTORATION

-- HORROR EXPRESS (Severin Films/MPI). Restored from print found in Mongolia.
-- ISLAND OF LOST SOULS (Criterion). Best elements combined, image cleaned, bits of dialogue restored.
-- LADY FRANKENSTEIN (Shout!) International cut is included.
-- LORNA THE EXORCIST (Mondo Macabro reassembles Jess Franco film from several sources)
-- MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (Twilight Time Blu-Ray): New 1:66 transfer.
-- TWILIGHT ZONE Seasons 3-5 (Blu-Ray): Episodes shine in high-definition.
-- Or write in another choice: classic.

6. BEST COMMENTARY

-- ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTERS, by Tom Weaver, Michael and John Brunas.
-- ISLAND OF LOST SOULS, by Gregory William Mank.
-- MIMIC, by Guillermo del Toro.
-- SPINE TINGLER: THE WILLIAM CASTLE STORY: William Castle interview used as commentary on documentary.
-- TWILIGHT ZONE: SEASON FOUR, 'The Printer's Devil,' by Bill Warren and Marc Scott Zicree.
-- TWLIGHT ZONE: SEASON FIVE: 'In Praise of Pip,' by Neil Gaiman and Marc Scott Zicree
-- Or write in another choice:

7. BEST DVD EXTRA

-- BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS: Space Opera on a Shoestring documentary.
-- CAT O' NINE TAILS (Arrow Blu-Ray): Dario's Murderous Moggy, a 10-minute interview with Dario Argento.
-- A CHRISTMAS CAROL (VCI). Two featurettes by Daniel Griffith (Dead to Begin With and Brian Hurst) VIDEO LINK

-- EVIL DEAD 2 (25th Anniversary), 90-minuteSwallowed Souls: The Making of Evil Dead II
-- HALLOWEEN II, Full Terror in the Aisles documentary included.
-- HORROR EXPRESS. Audio interview with Peter Cushing.

-- KURONEKO, Critic Tadeo Sato on how Japanese ghost stories grew more violent (17 minutes)
-- MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 Vol. XXII: Trail of the Creeper: Making the Brute Man, featurette by Daniel Griffith.
-- ROGER CORMAN SCI-FI CLASSICS: A Salute to Roger Corman testimonials from Peter Fonda, Peter Bogdanovitch, Joe Dante and others.
-- Or write in another choice:

8. BEST INDEPENDENT FILM (Click on VIDEO LINKS to see clip or trailer)

-- ATTACK OF THE MOON ZOMBIES, directed by Christopher Mihm. Retro 50s spoof. VIDEO LINK
-- ATTACK OF THE OCTOPUS PEOPLE, directed by Joshua Kennedy. Young director's tribute to all things sci-fi, now an Alpha DVD. VIDEO LINK
-- BITE MARKS, directed by Mark Bessenger. A truck carrying coffins picks up hitchhikers, and that's just the start of this vampire horror-romp. VIDEO LINK
-- THE BOOK: They Came from Inner Space, directed by Richard Weiss. A mysterious book is focus of a stylish alien takeover in the 24th century. VIDEO LINK
-- A CADAVER CHRISTMAS, directed by Joe Zerull. A janitor gets a bloody holiday revenge. VIDEO LINK

-- CHILLERAMA, directed by Adam Rifkin, Tim Sullivan, Adam Green and Joe Lunch. A very meaty sendup of midnight movies. VIDEO LINK
-- DIVINE: THE SERIES, by Maplewood Productions. Web series finds a priest confronting evil being called Divine. VIDEO LINK
-- ERIK: PORTRAIT OF A LIVING CORPSE, directed by Ryan Bijan. The Phantom's story through Erik's eyes, adapted from Gaston Leroux' novel. VIDEO LINK

-- MIL MASCARAS VS. THE AZTEC MUMMY, directed by Andrew Quint. Cult lucha libre film finally makes it to DVD. VIDEO LINK
-- THE WHISPERER IN DARKNESS, directed by Sean Branney. Adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's evocation of alien horror. VIDEO LINK
-- YOU'RE NEXT, directed by Adam Wingard. Creepy home invasion thriller. Don't look in the window. VIDEO LINK
-- Or write in another choice:

9. BEST SHORT FILM (Click on VIDEO LINKS to see the film, a clip or trailer)

-- THE ATTACK OF THE CREATURE: A 50s Monster Movie, directed by Dylan Druktenis. A giant turtle, skateboards and cool special effects. VIDEO LINK
-- BLINKYTM, directed by Ruairi Robinson. Formerly Bad Robot, all about a boy, a robot and a dysfunctional family. VIDEO LINK
-- CHARLIE CHAN IN TRANSYLVANIA, directed by Brian Nichols. The Nichols family takes on the detective in their latest Monster Bash video. LINK
-- G-FANTIS: WORLDS COLLIDE, directed by Billy (Rockstarbd82). Preview of fan project Godzilla Battle Royale is amazingly Toho. VIDEO LINK

-- THE GIANT RUBBER MONSTER MOVIE, directed by Thomas Berdinski. Horror host cameos enliven this send-up of 70s kaiju. VIDEO LINK
-- MICROCINEMA, directed by Skip Shea. Fantasy turns deadly in this mature reverie of a stalker. VIDEO LINK
-- LA NINA, directed by Moises Servin. From Mexico, Richard Sheffield produces the tale of a mysterious child. VIDEO LINK
-- WHISPER, directed by Bryan Wolford. A new dorm room is fine, except for the whispering from the closet. VIDEO LINK
-- YOU WILL NEVER GUESS WHAT THIS AD IS ABOUT, directed by Andreas Roth. German commercial will surprise you. VIDEO LINK

Or write in another choice:

10. BEST DOCUMENTARY (full feature; Click on VIDEO LINKS to see the film, a clip or trailer)

-- THE BEST OF TRAILERS FROM HELL, VOL. 2, commentaries by Joe Dante. John Landis, Eli Roth, others. VIDEO LINK
-- HI THERE, HORROR MOVIE FANS: The Bowman Body, A Documentary, directed by Sean Kotz and Christopher Valluzzo. A look back at Virginia's legendary horror host, Bill Bowman. VIDEO LINK
-- MIDNIGHT MADNESS: The History of Horror, Sci-Fi and Fantasy Films, from Midnight Marquee. Two-disc set includes dozens of vintage interviews with top genre stars. VIDEO LINK
-- SCREAMING IN HIGH HEELS: The Rise and Fall of the Scream Queen Era, directed by Jason Paul Collum. Told through the careers of Linnea Quigley, Brinke Stevens and Michelle Bauer. VIDEO LINK

11. BOOK OF THE YEAR

-- AMERICAN SCARY: Conversations with the Kings, Queens and Jesters of Late-Night Horror TV, by Michael Monahan. (Midnight Marquee, softcover, 242 pages, $25). Interviews and rare photos with 23 well-remembered horror hosts.
-- BORIS KARLOFF: MORE THAN A MONSTER: The Authorised Biography, by Stephen Jacobs (Tomahawk Press, hardcover, 568 pages, $50). Karloff's life from Canadian theater companies to his many creatures, radio appearances and triumphs on Broadway and television.
-- CASE FILES OF ORIENTAL SLEUTHS: Charlie Chan, Mr. Moto and Mr. Wong, by David Rothel (Bear Manor Media, softcover, 326 pages, $24.95). Detailed look at all the films, plus radio and even the short-lived Chan TV series.
-- CREATURES OF THE NIGHT THAT WE LOVED SO WELL, TV Horror Hosts of Southern California, by James M. Fetters. (Perfect Paperback, softcover, 365 pages, $24.95). Armed with a tape recorder in the 1960s, the result goes to the roots of horror hosts.
-- DARK STARS RISING: Conversations from the Outer Realms, by Shade Rupe (Worldhead Press, softcover, 568 pages, $27.95). 27 interviews with the outre set, including Brother Theodore, Chas. Balun and Tura Santana.

-- FORGOTTEN HORRORS VOL. 5: The Atom Age, by Michael H. Price, John Wooley, Jan Alan Henderson (CreateSpace, softcover, 328 pages, $30). Sci-fi and Red Scare obscurities abound in this latest volume of the series.
-- HAMMER FILMS, THE UNSUNG HEROES: The Team Behind the Legend, by Wayne Kinsey (Tomahawk, softcover, 500 pages, $49.95). In their own words, the workers themselves, carpenters and secretaries, tell the story of horror's most colorful studio.
-- THE HAMMER VAULT, by Marcus Hearn. (Titan Books, hardcover, 176 pages, $34.95). From the studio archives, documents, stills and memorabilia in a handsome package.

-- HORROR FILM FESTIVALS AND AWARDS, by Thomas P. Sipos (McFarland, softcover, 318 pages, $40). Advice for filmmakers, and listings of scores of independent film festivals, award programs and winners (Rondos, too!)
-- THE HORROR HITS OF RICHARD GORDON, by Tom Weaver (Bear Manor Media, softcover, 236 pages, $24.95). Wisdom from the late director about his career and Hollywood, as told to his friend.
-- HORROR NOIR: Where Cinema's Dark Sisters Meet, by Paul Meehan (McFarland, softcover, 310 pages, $39.95). How horror and gritty mysteries meet, from the 1930s and 1940s to today.
-- MAIL-ORDER MYSTERIES: Real Stuff from Old Comic Book Ads! by Kirk Demarais. (Insight, hardcover, 156 pages, $19.95). The shocking truth about what you really got if you ordered those X-Ray Glasses or Six-Foot Monsters.

-- MONSTERS IN AMERICA: Our Historical Obsession with the Hideous and the Haunting, by W. Scott Poole (Baylor University Press, hardcover, 290 pages, $29.95). A cultural history of monsters and why they touch such deep chords in the American psyche.
-- MONSTERS IN THE MOVIES: 100 Years of Cinematic Nightmares, by John Landis (DK, hardcover, 320 pages, $40). Large-format overview of the genre, told through hundreds of glossy photos and posters.
-- NIGHTMARE MOVIES, Horror on Screen Since the 1960s, by Kim Newman. (Bloomsbury, softcover, 633 pages, $45). Updated edition of his 1987 classic; covers films through 2011.

-- SCI-FI SAVANT, by Glenn Erickson (Point Blank Press, softcover, 312 pages, $19.95). Still-timely reviews of 116 science fiction films from his DVD Savant column.
-- SIXTIES SHOCKERS: A Critical Filmography of Horror Cinema, 1960-1969, by Mark Clark and Bryan Senn (McFarland, hardcover, 541 page, $59.95). Tracing the decade when horror found blood was red, awakened zombies and entered the modern age.
-- WAR EAGLES: The Unmaking of an Epic by Dave Conover and Philip J. Riley (Bear Manor, softcover, 292 pages, $24.95). An in-depth look at the Willis O'Brien film that could have been.

-- ZOMBIES: An Illustrated History of the Undead, by Jovanka Vuckovik (St. Martin's Griffin, softcover, 176 pages, $17.99). Tracing the cultural invasion of the decayed and departed.
-- Or write in another choice:

12. BEST MAGAZINE OF 2011

-- Cinema Retro

-- Diabolique
-- Famous Monsters of Filmland

-- Fangoria
-- Filmfax
-- Freaky Monsters
-- G-Fan

-- Girls and Corpses
-- Horror Hound

-- Little Shoppe of Horrors

-- Mad Monster
-- Mad Scientist
-- Midnight Marquee
-- Monster Bash

-- Monsterpalooza
-- Monsters from the Vault

-- Paracinema
-- Phantom of the Movies Videoscope
-- Rue Morgue
-- Scarlet
-- Scary Monsters
-- Screem

-- Shadowland

-- Shock

-- Undying Monsters
-- Van Helsing's Journal
-- Video Watchdog
-- Or write in another choice:

13. BEST ARTICLE (Please choose two; one will win)

-- 'The Curious Undead Life of Tod Browning's Dracula (1931): A Classic of the Horror Films,' by Gary Don Rhodes, MONSTERS FROM THE VAULT #29. From camera movements to cardboard on the lamp, a renewed appreciation of the film that started the horror cycle.

-- 'The Damning of the Tarantula,' by John H. Myers, FILMFAX #128. Spider by giant spider, a creepy look at the eight-legged beasts of sci-fi history.

-- 'Dare You See It? James Whale's Frankenstein,' by Pierre Fournier. MONSTERPALOOZA #1. Using vintage newspaper stories, ads and ballyhoo, what the public was told about the filming of Frankenstein in 1931.

-- 'Dracula's Guest Revisited,' by Bob Statzer, SCARY MONSTERS #77. Finding the truth about the Bram Stoker story said to inspire so many adaptations.

-- 'Godzilla Goes Green: Godzilla vs. Hedorah,' by Martin Arlt, MAD SCIENTIST #24. From Rachel Carson to a 300-pound smog monster suit, behind the scenes of Toho's ecological warning.

-- 'The Golden Age of TV Terror,' by Kier-La Janisse with Dan Murphy, RUE MORGUE #117. A look at made-for-TV rarities and 'haunted' episodes from shows like Andy Griffith, Laverne & Shirley and Punky Brewster.

-- 'The Green Slime Are Coming! The Green Slime Are Here!' by Bill Cooke, VIDEO WATCHDOG #162. An 'old school' Watchdog comparison of the film's U.S. and Japanese versions.

-- 'A History of Horror Films Portmaneau,' by Steven West, MIDNIGHT MARQUEE #78. Tracing the growth of horror anthology films, from the silent era to today.

-- 'Invasion: A History of Body Snatchers,' by Aaron Christensen, HORROR HOUND #31. From Jack Finney's novel to Nicole Kidman's takeover, they're here!

-- 'Japanese Fantasy Cinema: Reflections of Reality,' by Fabian Mauro. G-FAN #95-96. How Japanese fear and fantasy combined to create works of lasting impact.

-- 'Karloff and the Creation of the Screen Actor's Guild,' by Mark Redfield, MONSTERPALOOZA #1. How the shy British actor became one of the founding members of one of Hollywood's earliest unions.

-- 'King Kong and the City: A Trilogy' by James H. Burns, THE THUNDER CHILD webzine. How generations grew up with the classic in New York -- on Channel 9, during holiday meals and at the Empire State Building.

-- 'Lovecraft's Paleontological Time Travels,' by Allen A. Debus, MAD SCIENTIST #24. How Lovecraft's mythos translated to lost worlds and beasts of the pulps and beyond.

-- 'The Mad Genius: A Retrospective,' by Greg Mank, MONSTERS FROM THE VAULT #28. A look at the Svengali-like era of John Barrymore's early sound career.

-- 'The Making of Hands of the Ripper,' by Bruce G. Hallenbeck. LITTLE SHOPPE OF HORRORS #26. How the shocking tale made it to theaters mostly intact.

-- 'The Marvelous Movie Menagerie of Marcel Delgado,' by Debbie Painter, MOVIE COLLECTOR'S WORLD #755. The influence of the master designer on Kong and other island beasts.

-- 'Music by James Bernard: Themes For a Tapestry of Terror,' by Steve Vertlieb, FILM MUSIC REVIEW, Fall 2011. Scoring the master of suspense and thrills.

-- 'Prophet of Horror: H.P. Lovecraft,' by Charles A. Coulombe. FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND #255. A popular overview of the author's career and lasting influence.

-- 'Sarah's Song: Remembering Sharon Tate,' by Terry Pace, LITTLE SHOPPE OF HORRORS #27. The career of the doomed actress, in her own words and those who knew her.

-- 'Save the Earth: Ecological Messages in Toho's Giant Monster Movies,' by Mark Justice, G-FAN #94-95. The green side of kaiju, film by film.

-- 'Scouting the Singularity,' by Thomas A. Foster, VIDEO WATCHDOG #165. How dreams of a tech leap forward for mankind has been supplanted by films of apocalyptic hysteria.

-- 'Sex, Food, Death and Religion: Jean Rollin's Archaic Modernity,' by Bryan L. Yeatter, SCREEM #22. An argument that the famed French filmmaker pushed the limits in vampire films, but then lost his way.

-- 'Sullivan's Travels,' by William J. Wright, VIDEOSCOPE #79. Revealing the "unsung hero" of The Evil Dead, special effects technician Tom Sullivan.

-- 'What If -- Alternative Castings in Classic Horror Films, by Steven Thornton, MONSTERS FROM THE VAULT #29. Some not-so-far-fetched roles: Chaney as Dracula, Karloff as the Invisible Man, Lorre as the Son of Frankenstein, and more.

-- 'When Dracula Haunted New York,' by Mirek Lipinski, FREAKY MONSTERS #2-4. Three-part article looks at Lugosi's days in New York City.
-- Or write in another choice:

(Please vote for TWO of the articles above; one will win)

14. BEST INTERVIEW
(Award goes to the interviewer)

-- Jane Asher: "On Masque of Red Death," by Rod Webber, DIABOLIQUE #6. Conducted by Skype in conjunction with ReelZine, actress talks about working with Corman and Price.

-- Tanya Constantine: 'My Father, Eddie Constantine,' by Tim Lucas, VIDEO WATCHDOG #163. A daughter reveals the man behind Lemmy Caution in this wide-ranging talk.

-- Warwick Davis: "From Leprechaun to Harry Potter,' by Calum Waddell, VIDEOSCOPE #77. The little person who began his very large career as an Ewok and never looked back.

-- Mimsy Farmer: 'The Mimsy Farmer Experience,' by Mark F. Berry. VIDEO WATCHDOG #161. Extensive talk with star of teen rebellion films, Four Flies on Grey Velvet and more.

-- Haruo Nakajima: 'The Original Godzilla,' by August Ragone. FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND #256. The man who played Godzilla, Rodan, Gargantua and many others recalls the hot suit, the staged battles and the work ethic.

-- June Lockhart: 'On She-Wolf of London,' by Tom Weaver, VIDEO WATCHDOG #160. Actress looks back on one of her earliest roles with laughter and some chagrin.

-- Roman Polanski: 'Dancing with the Master,' by Constantine Nasr, LITTLE SHOPPE OF HORRORS #27. A rare transatlantic talk with the director of The Fearless Vampire Killers.

-- Peter Sasdy: 'A Taste for Vampires,' by Ashley Thorpe, FANGORIA #308-309. A conversation with man who directed Dracula and Ripper films for Hammer.

-- Barbara Steele: "The Gothic Queen of Italy," DIABOLIQUE #5, by Paulo Zelati. The sometimes aloof icon's discusses her return to Italian horror.

-- Akira Takarada: 'Truly Amazing!', by Fabian Mauro, G-FAN #95. A star of the original Godzilla, and later Godzilla: Final Wars, talks about his six decades of fame.

-- Marie Wallace: 'On Stage and In Shadows,' by Rod Labbe. SCARY MONSTERS #77. Encounters in the past and now with Dark Shadows co-star.

-- John Waters: 'His Master's Maniacs,' by Rusty Nails, RUE MORGUE #111. The cult movie pregenitor talks about the films that inspired him, his book and, of course, Divine.

-- Or write in another choice:

15. BEST MAGAZINE FILMBOOK, THEME OR SPECIAL CONTENT

-- BRIDES OF DRACULA Filmbook, Undying Monsters #3. An old-fashioned look at the second Hammer vampire film,

-- DUEL OF THE REMAKES, Horror Hound #32. Includes an 8-page 'Remake Report Card' rating 27 do-overs, from classics like Cat People and The Blob to Texas Chainsaw and The Crazies.

-- THE FANGORIA 300, Fangoria #300. 'The Ultimate Horror Guide' includes expert commentaries on 300 films that matter.

-- FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS. Little Shoppe of Horrors #27. Philip Nutman's 'making of' spearheads nine articles devoted to the Roman Polanski classic.

-- MONSTER KIDS, Famous Monsters of Filmland #257. From Spielberg and Landis to Rick Baker and John Carpenter, profiles of more than a dozen 'Monster Kids' who made it big in Hollywood.

-- THAT OLD HOUSE ON THE HILL, Mad Monster #1. The Psycho mansion ready to cut out and assemble from cutouts on thick glossy paper.

-- 25 YEARS OF THE FLY, Rue Morgue #116. An anniversary examination of all the 'Help me!' films, then and now.

-- Or write in another selection.

16. BEST MAGAZINE COVER

17. BEST WEBSITE
(The Classic Horror Film Board, sponsor of the Rondos, is not eligible)

-- Chiller Cinema Home of Dr. Gangrene's Web Lab.
-- Classic-horror.com Dedicated to the history of classic horror.
-- Count Gore de Vol's Creature Features Films, interviews and horror host news updated weekly.
-- Creepy Classics Home of Monster Bash, and classic and rare monster releases.
-- Dread Central Latest news, insider info from the horror industry.
-- Eccentric-cinema One of the earliest of the cult sites.

-- Famous Monsters of Filmland Version 3.0 of the first monster magazine.

-- Horrorhost Graveyard Clips, show listings and more.

-- Horror Society  A voice for independent horrors.
-- Latarnia: Fantastique International All things Euro; an outspoken Forum, too.
-- Masters of Horror Classic news and updates from a true horrorhead.
-- Mondo Cult Online The world of genre and music, plus a message board.

-- Monster-mania Offers a window on 21st Century conventions.
-- Monsterz Mark Thompsen's amazing collection of colorized monster stills.

-- Planet Fury Furious film news with discussions you won't find elsewhere.
-- Serial Squadron Their work never leaves us hanging.
-- The Terror Trap Horror movies from 1925-1987.
-- Thethunderchild.com Interviews, analysis of sci-fi and horror.
-- Trailers from Hell Joe Dante and top talents offer commentaries on vintage trailers.
-- Universal Monster Army The friendly and knowlegeable headquarters of monster toy talk.

-- Universal Steve The largest Universal archive outside of Hollywood.

-- The Vincent Price Exhibit A lifetime documented, from Usher to cookbooks and Price's lost loves.
-- Witch's Dungeon Multimedia home for Hollywood monsters, history and preservation
-- Or write in another choice:

18. BEST BLOG OF 2011

-- Cinema Suicide A celebration of cheap thrills
-- Cinema Dave A journal of horror and film.

-- Classic Movie Monsters Photos, art and covers from the past.
-- Cyberschizoid Latest monster magazines and cult updates.
-- Die, Danger, Die, Die, Kill! The wide world of pop culture underground.

-- Dollar Bin Horror For monster fans on a budget.
-- The Drunken Severed Head Impeccable sense of the outre, an essential stop for monster weirdness.

-- Final Girl Stacie Ponder survives to have the last, bloody but often essential word.

-- First Person Monster Blog Shannon Shea takes a personal approach to movies, models and monsters.

-- Four-Color Shadows Horror, thrills, mystery from comic pages of the past.

-- Frankensteinia Fun, smart and essential as it keeps the Monster alive.
-- From Midnight, With Love A cult movie reverie with an edge.
-- Gary J. Svehla: Midnight Marquee/Mad About Movies A founding fan on movies new and very old.
-- The Good, the Bad and the Godzilla August Ragone's G-blog is wise among giant monsters.

-- Groovy Age of Horror Fearless and unexpected.
-- The Horrors of it All When horror corrupted more than the comics.

-- Kindertrauma Your childhood ends (or starts), here.

-- Monster Magazine World A digital home for monster magazines past, present and hopefully future.

-- Monstermoviemusic The soundtracks of our horror lives.

-- Radiation-Scarred Reviews Bill Adcock takes on the mutants of film, no matter the era.

-- Sherlock Holmes News Charles Prepolec's grand arcanum of news, reviews and 'unsavory opinions.'
-- Shloggs Horror Blog Modern horror talk, with a classic sensibility.

-- The Shock! and Son of Shock! Viewing Project Every film in the TV package viewed again.
-- Terror from Beyond the Daves An essential, home of the weekend horror host report.

-- TheoFantastique A high and furrowed brow ponders monsters, myths, theology and comics.

-- Unimonster's Crypt Musings on the status of monstrous media.
-- Video Watchblog Scaled back, but Tim Lucas' musings are still worth the wait.

-- We Are Controlling Transmission Peter Enfantino and John Scoleri, along with David Schow, review every episode of the Outer Limits.

-- Zombos Closet All manners of horrors pour out.
-- Or write in another choice:

19. BEST CONVENTION OF 2011

-- Blob Fest (Phoenixville, Pa.)
-- Chiller (Parsippany)
-- Cinema Wasteland (Cleveland)

-- Days of the Dead (Indianapolis)
-- Dragon Con (Atlanta)
-- Famous Monsters Imagi-Movies Festival (Los Angeles)

-- Fright Night Film Fest (Louisville)
-- G-Fest (Chicago)
-- Horror-Find (Baltimore)
-- Horror Hound weekend (Indianapolis)

-- Horror Realm (Pittsburgh)

-- Monster Bash (Butler, Pa.)
-- Monster Fest (Chesapeake, Va.)
-- Monster-Mania (Cherry Hill, N.J.)
-- Monsterpalooza (Burbank)
-- Rue Morgue's Festival of Fear (Toronto)

-- Scare Fest (Lexington, Ky.)
-- Spooky Empire (Orlando)
-- Texas Frightmare (Dallas)
-- Wonderfest (Louisville)

-- Or write in another choice:

20. BEST FAN EVENT OF 2011

-- Blob panic re-enactment. Held at actual theater in Phoenixville, Pa., where movie was filmed (Blobfest)

-- Classic Horror Campaign. British fans enlist horror celebrities in campaign to get for more classic horror movies on BBC.

-- Dracula's Guest at the Bash. The Hammer gals -- Veronica Carlson, Caroline Munro and Yvonne Monlaur -- perform with Zach Zito at Monster Bash,

-- Famous Monsters Imagi-Movies Film Festival. Independent films, guest panels tributes to Lugosi, Price.

-- 80th Anniversary Tribute to Dracula and Frankenstein. Scott Essman and L.A.- based fans mount special presentations at Pomona Fox Theater, which also opened in 1931.

-- G-Tour 2011. G-Fan editor J.D. Lees, Mad Scientist editor Martin Arlt and others retrace Godzilla's steps on a tour of Japan that includes holding the original oxygen destroyer at Toho Studios.

-- It's Bob, by iPad! Giant robot with the video face of Bob Burns, live from Burbank on an iPad on its chest, shows up at Dr. Gangrene show at WonderFest.

-- Scares That Care Charity horror events, videos, Facebook pages, Kane Hodder team up to scare up money for childhood diseases.

-- Super 8 Film Festival. Condensed versions of Price's Poe films, trailers and The Mad Magician in 3-D. Horror Hound weekend, Indianapolis.

-- They Called Him Godzilla. Hauro Nakajima talks about wearing the Godzilla suit. Monsterpalooza in Burbank.

-- Twilight Zone Carousel restored. Cortlandt Hull paints murals from famous episodes on Rod Serling's childhood carousel in Binghamton, N.Y.

-- Vincentennial: Celebration in St. Louis of Vincent Price's 100th birthday included appearances by Roger Corman, Victoria Price, museum exhibits and art shows.

-- Women in Horror Month. Websites and events in February again honor women in all aspects of horror. Begun by Hannah Neurotica of Ax Wound magazine.

-- Or write in another choice:

21. FAVORITE HORROR HOST OF 2011
(Active hosts only; if your favorite is missing -- there are far too many to list here -- please write them in)

-- A. GHASTLEE GHOUL (Ohio)
-- THE BONE JANGLER (Illinois)
-- KARLOS BORLOFF (Monster Madhouse, Washington, DC)

-- BROTHER JACK ANGRY (Omaha)

-- COUNT GORE DE VOL (Creature Features)

-- COUNT GREGORE (Count Gregore's Crypt)
-- DR. GANGRENE (Nashville)
-- Dr. MADBLOOD (Virginia Beach)
-- DR. SARCOFIGUY (Spooky Movie Television)

-- ELVIRA (Movies Macabre)
-- GHOUL A GO-GO (NYC)

-- LATE DR. LADY
-- MR. LOBO (Cinema Insomnia, California)
-- ORMON GRIMSBY (N.C.)
-- PENNY DREADFUL (Shilling Shockers, New England)
-- PROFESSOR EMCEE SQUARE IT'S ALIVE, Pittsburgh)
-- REMO D (California)
-- SON OF GHOUL (Ohio)
-- SVENGOOLIE (Chicago)
-- WOLFMAN MAC (Chiller Drive-In, Michigan)
-- ZOMBOO (House of Horrors, Reno)

-- Or write in another choice:

22. BEST HORROR COMIC

-- EDGAR ALLAN POE'S TALES OF MYSTERY (Graphic Classics). Includes Murders in the Rue Morgue.
-- FLESH AND BLOOD: BOOK ONE (Monsterverse). The Hammer film that never was, by Robert Tinnell and Neil Vokes.

-- GODZILLA: KINGDOM OF MONSTERS (IDW). Eric Powell tells a human story amidst the monster rallies.

-- BOB HOWARD: Plumber of the Unknown by Rafael Nieves and Dan Dougherty. Ordinary jobs don't stop this monster hunter.
-- HELLBOY: THE FURY (Dark Horse). Can this really be the end? Mike Mignola surprises everyone.

-- MONSTERS AMONG US (monsters-among-us.com). Celebrating the four-color fun of monstrosities.

-- PLANET OF THE APES (Boom!) Daryl Gregory and Carlos Magno pick up the story from Battle.

-- THE STRANGE CASE OF MR. HYDE (Dark Horse). Jekyll is dead. Then who...? By Cole Haddon and M.S. Corley.
-- 30 DAYS OF NIGHT (IDW). Steve Niles and Sam Kieth revive the true world of vampires.
-- THE WALKING DEAD (Image) Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard go far beyond the TV series.

-- XOMBI (DC). John Rozum and Fraser Irving resurrect David Kim in this dark tale of snow angels and mummies..

-- Or write in another choice:

23. BEST HORROR MULTIMEDIA (AUDIO OR PODCAST)

-- BLOOD & STONE The Wireless Theater Company's version of Countess Bathory.
-- BLOODY GOOD HORROR Reviews of the monstrous.
-- BLOODY PIT OF ROD Home of the Naschycasts.
-- B-MOVIE CAST Talk and horror history in this podcast.
-- CADAVER LAB HORROR PODCAST Full-length PD films streamed here.
-- CULT RADIO A GO-GO! Pioneer of horror talk and music stations.
-- DEADPIT RADIO Hillbilly horror from the hills of Kentucky.

-- DRIVE-IN OF THE DAMNED RADIO Exploiting the airwaves since 2002.

-- EXPLOITED CINEMA Horror, cult and exploitation mark these podcasts.

-- HORROR ETC Offbeat is focus of this horror podcast.

-- HORROR RISES FROM SPAIN. Podcast documentaries and more.

-- MAIL ORDER ZOMBIE A podcast for the undead.

-- THE MONSTER CHANNEL  Streaming films (formerly 100 Years on Monster Movies)

-- MOVIE MELTDOWN Podcasts feature caffeinated geek talk.

-- 1951 DOWN PLACE Hammer discussion and gothic podcasting.

-- PROFONDO CINEMA From NOTLD to Snake Plissen, intellectually-speaking, of course.

-- PSYCHOBILLY GARDEN PARTY Where horror has a subculture beat.
-- RUE MORGUE RADIO The final year of Tomb and the caustic gang.

-- SIX FOOT PLUS A biweekly podcast that find a monstrous rhythm.

-- TIMES PAST OLD TIME RADIO ARCHIVES. Searchable and deep.

-- Or write in another choice:

24. BEST SOUNDTRACK OR HORROR CD

--- BLACK SUNDAY (Kritzerland). Les Baxter's score for the American version of Mario Bava film.

-- THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI (November Fire). The group Hobgoblin adds a haunting mysticism to this tribute.

-- HYMNS FROM THE HOUSE OF HORROR, VOLUME II (Rue Morgue). 20 scare bands in a downloadable compilation.

-- IT! THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE (Monstrous Movie Music). Paul Sawtell and Bert Shefter.

-- MIDNIGHT SYNDICATE: Carnival Arcane. Music to haunt by.

-- MONSTER THAT CHALLENGED THE WORLD (Monstrous Movie Music). Complete score by Heinz Roemheld.

-- MUSICAL SHADOWS: Songs from the Dark Shadows, A Gothic Musical. Songs inspired by the soap opera from folk-rocker David Leinweber.

-- RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (cosmichobo.com) A 4-CD set of readings recorded in 1971.

-- TALES FROM THE EMANCIPATED HEAD. The Pine Box Boys (mp3 download). Raw meat rock.

-- WELCOME 2 MY NIGHTMARE, Alice Cooper (Bigger Picture). Cooper returns to a dark throne of rock.

-- THE X-FILES: Volume One. (LaLa Land). Mark Snow's music from 40 episodes over nine seasons.

-- X:THE MAN WITH X-RAY EYES (LaLa Land). Les Baxter's score, includes 'Morella' from TALES OF TERROR.

-- Or write in another choice:

25. BEST TOY, MODEL OR COLLECTIBLE
Nominees developed with help from the Universal Monster Army!

WRITE-IN CATEGORIES

26. CLASSIC MOST IN NEED OF RESTORATION

Which classic horror film, either released or unreleased, do you think most deserves a restoration or video upgrade?

27. WRITER OF THE YEAR (for 2011)

Who do you think did the best published (or online) work in 2011 to advance the state of classic horror research?

28. ARTIST OF THE YEAR (Pro)

Which professional artist (designer, illustrator, sculptor, modeler, photographer), did the best work in 2011?

29. ARTIST OF THE YEAR (Fan)

Which amateur or fan artist (designer, illustrator, sculptor, modeler, photographerr), did the best work in 2011?

30. DVD REVIEWER OF THE YEAR

Which reviewer in print or online did the best work in 2011?

31. 'MONSTER KID' OF THE YEAR

Help us choose this year's recipient:  Who deserves to be named 'Monster Kid of the Year' for efforts beyond the call of duty to build a better world of gods and monsters? Send us your suggestion.

32. MONSTER KID HALL OF FAME

And finally, help us again: Who do you think should be this year's inductees into the Monster Kid Hall of Fame?

ALREADY INDUCTED ARE: Bob and Kathy Burns, Forrest J Ackerman and James Warren, Zacherley and Vampira, Ray Harryhausen, Ray Bradbury, Alex and Richard Gordon, William K. Everson, Rick Baker, Basil Gogos, Roger Corman, Dick Klemensen, Gary and Sue Svehla, James Bama and Bobby 'Boris' Pickett, Paul and Jackie Blaisdell, Joe Dante, Don Glut, Jack Davis, German Robles and Frank Frazetta; Bernie Wrightson, Ben Chapman, Cortlandt Hull and Dennis Vincent, Ed 'Big Daddy' Roth, Archie Goodwin and Ghoulardi.Ken Kelly, Jim and Marian Clatterbaugh, Bob Wilkins, Calvin Beck, Paul Naschy, Lux Interior, Bob Lemon and Ray Meyers, Bill Warren, Dennis Druktenis, Sammy Terry and Frederick S. Clarke; Tim and Donna Lucas, William Stout, Ron Borst, George A. Romero, Tom Weaver and Verne Langdon. Who should join them?

Tell us your suggestions. We'll pick six more.

Whew! That's it!!!

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REMEMBER TO INCLUDE YOUR NAME

AGAIN, TO VOTE simply copy this ballot and make your picks by highlighting your selection, putting an X by your selections, or by typing out your picks separately. Whatever is easiest.  Then e-mail your picks to taraco@aol.com

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And remember, even the Creeper himself can't stop Rondo! 

Want more information about the Rondos?

Email david colton at taraco@aol.com