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Jimmy’s Notes on ‘Episode 8: Ben Avery vs. King Kong (1976)’

Published January 15, 2020

Our big year started with a big film when Nathan was joined by Ben Avery to discuss Dino de Laurentiis’ 1976 remake of King Kong. I have a lot to add and Nathan had plenty of leftover notes from re-watching the film. So, let’s started.

  • Nathan informed me after the fact that I forgot to mention that the film has a 5.9 score on IMDB with 28,249 ratings as of today. Oops. Okay, Nathan, you get one point on me. Don’t expect that to happen often!
  • The books Ben mentioned—as pointed out by a listener on Twitter—were the Crestwood Monster Series Books. Yes, they do go for a pretty penny now, although you can find them for reasonable prices if you search on eBay. (Weirdly enough, the King Kong book is on Amazon for only $15 in hardback!)
  • “Funnest,” Ben? I’d expect a professional writer like yourself to know that isn’t the proper superlative for that adjective (although I’m surprised it isn’t). The Law of Common Usage may make you right eventually, though.
  • I think it was more De Laurentiis making this film than Paramount, but, you know, details. 😛
  • Gorillas are apes, not monkeys, Ben! (see VeggieTales).
  • Actually, Ben, I do think you get a few decent close-ups of the “gorilla chief,” especially during the sacrifice scene where he’s dancing around like a male stripper on crack!
  • Wow, Ben, you outdid me. I couldn’t find those deleted/alternate scenes you mentioned were on YouTube. However, some of the scenes shown on the extended NBC TV version can be found on it.
  • It’s pronounced “kra-kn” not “krei-kn,” Ben.
  • Tim would be disappointed that Nathan forgot Charles Grodin was in The Great Muppet Caper. Shame. 😛
  • “Petra” is Greek for “rock,” so I assume it was used as the source word for Petrox (not to take away from the clever pun).
  • Nathan and I watched a POV video of the original Kong ride, “Kongfrontation,” at Universal Studios. He was doubly jealous when I told him I rode it back when it opened in 1977. 😛 Yes, there were Smellitzers” installed in the animatronic Kong’s mouth that emitted “banana breath.” (The scientists here on the Island tell me the real Kong’s breath is…well, in need of some kaiju-sized mouthwash).
  • Ben correctly identified the documentary as Man on Wire. It tells the true story of Phillippe Petit, who walked across a tightrope between the World Trade Center Towers in 1974. (This was illegal, by the way). Nathan wants to see it now.
  • According to Newsweek, there were gas stations owners who faced prosecution in 2001 for price gouging.
  • Your closing is cute, Ben, but I’m actually a Sagittarius. 😛 (Not that I believe in horoscopes. I am a man of science who knows what stars actually do: burn and gravitate). J

Now on to Nathan’s rather exhaustive notes from the film. He went through all his stuff for the 1973 oil crisis, but as Ben said, there is much to talk about with this film.

Nathan notes:

  • “Here’s to the big one.” Foreshadowing. (Hence why Nathan referenced it at the beginning of the episode. –Jimmy)
  • James Creelman, Ruth Rose, Merian C. Cooper, and Edgar Wallace are all credited as inspiration. Wow. (Probably for legal reasons. 😛 –Jimmy)
  • How do sailors deal with everything on a table moving during a stormy sea? It’s even worse when you’re drunk.
  • The island does appear to be shaped like a skull, although they never call it that.
  • It’s implied that Kong may be at least 400 years old (1605). Or he is the latest member of the species? At least that’s a little mythic.
  • “Spouting ape s—t.” Foreshadowing?
  • “Snapped a few monkeys.” More foreshadowing.
  • Jack and Dwan’s relationship does get at least a little more development in this compared to Jack and Ann.
  • Was Kong spotted on radar briefly?
  • How does Dwan not cause all kinds of trouble being the only woman on this ship? (When I flew on the Gohten, there was only one woman onboard, and the men behaved themselves—although that was probably because she was the captain’s daughter, so you may have a point there. Maybe. I’m not giving you another one this week, Marchand!)
  • Set off charges to map geological structure—just like in Skull Island!
  • I gotta say, the scenery in this is really pretty. It does make me wonder if Peter Jackson was influenced by this?
  • They say the wall is Egyptian like in the original.
  • Dwan says this is a wedding. Bride has a blonde headdress. Groom stand-in is dressed in ape mask and makes thrusting motions while dancing. Definitely indicates what they think happens. Very ‘70s.
  • The chief tries to trade six maidens for Dwan like in the original.
  • Jack speaks against colonialism by saying this isn’t the 19th century, so they can’t walk in and take their island.
  • Just like the original, the natives read the script and knew exactly where Dwan was. Somehow they keep her from not screaming much.
  • Did Dwan get drugged by natives? (Obviously, yes. –Jimmy)
  • It’s never explained why the natives want Dwan over their own girls. The original aid it was because she was blonde.
  • And so they recreate the iconic scene where the girl is tied to the…altar(?) and Kong comes through the trees and takes her. It’s surprisingly effective.
  • Kong appears 53 minutes in. (Which I think is proportional to the 1933 original where Kong appears 40 minutes into a 100 minute film. –Jimmy)
  • Dwan references Empire State Building.
  • There’s a Chinese cook (and masseuse?) like in the original.
  • “Turned on ape.” Constant sexual references. Very ‘70s
  • Stone towers foreshadow Twin Towers.
  • This time Kong undressing the girl does feel sexual, unlike the original. It’s unsettling.
  • A giant snake appears out of nowhere. Only other monster on island. Gory death when Kong breaks its jaw. Harkens back to original.
  • “Estimates monkey time”? Oh my…
  • Replicates the scene where Kong crashes through wall. A bit more spectacular because Kong actually smashes it.
  • Like original, Kong is knocked out with chloroform. Scene with his hand rising out of cloud of gas in hole is actually effective.
  • Jack opposes the exploitation of Kong, unlike original. Calls it a “grotesque farce.” The beauty and the beast show is frowned upon. Later calls it a “Tragedy.” Quits Wilson’s “circus” on principle.
  • The shot where Kong catches Dwan was a bit unimpressive.
  • There’s no mention of a legend of Kong before getting to island, unlike original.
  • One shot of Empire State Building.
  • How long did it take Wilson to put all this together? This is a lot of stuff.
  • Kong reaches into building and grabs Dwan like in original. This time, though, she doesn’t seem as resistant. Yet she still calls for help. Hmm…is she confused about how to feel? I don’t want to get into sex and consent right now.
  • Jack cheers when Kong kills soldiers. He is a hippie.

With that, the “Kong Quest” will with the…unfortunate sequel in next month’s main episode on King Kong Lives.

Join us next week for a mini-analysis of one of my favorite Toho tokusatsu films: The Mysterians.

Follow me on Twitter: @NasaJimmy

#JimmyFromNASALives
#WeShallOvercome

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Episode 8: Ben Avery vs. ‘King Kong’ (1976)

Published January 8, 2020

Hello, kaiju lovers!

We’re kicking off 2020 with the Eighth Wonder’s return to Hollywood in a film brought about by Italian producer Dino de Laurentiis. Writer/podcaster Ben Avery joins Nathan to discuss the 1976 remake of King Kong starring Jeff Bridges and Jessica Lange, which is firmly entrenched in its time and was touted as “the most exciting original motion picture event of all time.” What’s interesting is it straddles the gritty cynicism of early ‘70s films like Dirty Harry and the more hopeful films of the late ‘70s like Star Wars (because no MIFV episode is complete without mentioning that franchise). This was the first time Nathan had seen Kong ‘76 in years, and while he didn’t like it as a teen, he softens to it thanks in part to Ben’s love of it. Their discussion also touches upon the weird love triangle between Dwan, Jack, and Kong; the great but sometimes wonky special effects; and how modern audiences may feel about the film’s climax on the World Trade Center post-9/11. The Toku Topic is the 1973 Energy Crisis since it directly influenced the filmmakers’ decision to have the characters’ expedition be about finding untapped oil reservoirs.

Here’s to the big one!

Check out all of Ben’s podcasts:
–Strangers and Aliens
–Welcome to Level 7
–The Comic Book Time Machine
–Supersonic Pod Comics

Timestamps:
Intro: 0:00-3:33
Entertaining Info Dump: 3:33-11:10
Toku Talk: 11:10-1:16:53
Toku Topic: 1:16:53-1:47:11
Outro: 1:47:11-end

Read Jimmy’s Notes on this episode when you finish it.

© 2020 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Jimmy’s Notes on ‘Episode 7: Half Human (Mini-Analysis)’

Published January 1, 2020

Happy New Year!

Now that we have passed Blade Runner in the timeline, I will greet 2020 with my first Jimmy’s Notes of the decade. This one is on Nathan’s mini-analysis of 1955’s Half Human. Admittedly, these bullet points are all from his independent study on director Ishiro Honda back in his grad school days. They are more akin to an actual review of the film. I do not have much to add for this one.

Nathan’s Notes on Half Human

  • Begins like a film noir in an alleyway in the rain
  • Ashes in a box. Cremation. Foreshadowing.
  • New Year’s holiday (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_New_Year); told in two flashbacks. First by youth and then by professor. It’s weird.
  • Masaru Sato’s score is quite good. Perhaps better than Godzilla Raids Again. It switches between whimsical and foreboding.
  • The skiing sequence does feel like padding.
  • Filmed on location, and it shows. The scenery is beautiful.
  • “Burning Hell Valley freezes over.” (A joke from my brother Jarod)
  • The clock in an early scene looks like Mom and Dad’s cuckoo clock back home.
  • The phone call with the gunshots and screams is eerie.
  • Footprints. Echoes the real-life events around “discovery” of abominable snowman at the time.
  • It is strange that the Snowman murders everyone in the cabin (it seems) but is kind later. The scene seems to point to him (fur, bent bar). Unless it was the tribe and he was just present?
  • “Wait for the spring thaw.” As in find the body of Takeno.
  • Akira Takarada and Momoko Kochi, the star-crossed lovers of Godzilla, appear in this film together as a couple.
  • Takarada tells Kochi, “You have to be strong,” because of her brother’s death.
  • Snowman’s roar is a bit unnerving. Like an elephant.
  • Oba Incorporated: biggest animal dealer in Japan. Villains. They get more over-the-top as the film progresses.
  • The Snowman appears about 39 minutes in. His face is a combination of a mask and make-up. The costume is covered in goat fur. Even appears to be balding.
  • Is the Snowman smitten with Kochi? I don’t know. Possibly. He is lonely. The last of his kind. Adam Noyes proposes that the Snowman, in his rage, takes Kochi because she’s important to everyone like his son was to him. Planned to kill her in front of everyone.
  • 50 minutes in we learn that the Snowman has a son (Snowboy?). Is he his biological son? Adam Noyes theorizes he’s adopted.
  • Peter H. Brothers argues that Chika clings to a knife, a phallic symbol.
  • The scene of Takarada dangling from the cliff has a great matte painting. It’s an homage to King Kong when the Snowman pulls him up. The birds do look a little fake, though. The Snowman shocks Takarada by helping him. Unexpected and atypical.
  • Chika is the best character in the film (aside from the Snowman). She’s multidimensional, and the actress gives a great performance. She’s curious but fearful.
  • The Snowboy sounds like a screeching monkey.
  • Chika reveals Snowman’s location after Oba gives her a ring. Throws rock to mark location of his cave. I thought she was throwing the ring away. She is essentially cursed by the elder when he’s shot for doing this.
  • Snowboy saves Snowman from truck.
  • These villains are cartoonish. “I’ll teach you to balance a ball!” Are they evil because they like French girls?
  • The dummy thrown over the cliff looks terrible.
  • Like Godzilla (and Kong), the Snowman is tragic and sympathetic monster.
  • Chika tries to save the abusive elder when the Snowman destroys the village (like Kong does), but he says not to. Nuance?
  • Chika blames herself for what happened even though she was deceived by Oba.
  • Shinsuke is told to be strong when he cries over his dead brother.
  • Snowman’s kind died from eating poison mushrooms (Matango? :P) How could they? Animals are good about realizing something is poisonous. Bad science.
  • The Snowman is lonely because he’s the last of his kind. Chika is lonely because her tribe is isolated and savage. Kinship.
  • The one stop-motion shot of Snowman climbing is awkward.
  • Chika confronts the Snowman to save Kochi as redemption. Dies with the Snowman.
  • Tragic ending like Godzilla. Monster and hero(ine) both die.
  • Tacked on “happy” ending to soften tragedy.

There you have it.

Come back next week when Nathan is joined by Ben Avery to discuss the 1976 remake of King Kong!

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Jimmy’s Notes on ‘Episode 5’ (and the Podcast’s New 2020 Schedule)

Published December 4, 2019

There isn’t much to add to the latest episode (although I heard most of it after it was recorded), but here are a few points I noted.

  • Mary Shelley’s original Frankenstein novel is in the public domain, but as John said, other incarnations like the Universal film versions aren’t. There have actually been several lawsuits related to Frankenstein copyrights, including way that arguably saved the VCR.
  • John calls the island in Son of Kong, “Skull Island,” when that name isn’t stated—but I’m not arguing with him because he’s John LeMay. 😛

Now, as Nathan said on the podcast’s Twitter last week, here’s a revamped (though tentative) 2020 schedule for the show. We’ll be returning to the original format—one full episode and one mini-sode each month—with Godzilla vs. Kong being delayed to November.

January
King Kong (1976)
The Mysterians (Mini-Analysis)

February
King Kong Lives
Varan the Unbelievable (Mini-Analysis)

March
King Kong (2005)
3 Treasures (Mini-Analysis)

April
Kong: Skull Island
Battle in Outer Space (Mini-Analysis)

May
Rebirth of Mothra
The Last War (Mini-Analysis)

June
Rebirth of Mothra II
Gorath (Mini-Analysis)

July
Rebirth of Mothra III
Matango (Mini-Analysis)

August
Daimagin
Atragon (Mini-Analysis)

September
Return of Daimagin
Space Monster Dogora (Mini-Analysis)

October
Daimagin Strikes Back
Frankenstein Conquers the World (Mini-Analysis)

November
Godzilla: King of the Monster (2019) (Mini-Analysis)
Godzilla vs. Kong

December
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms
War of the Gargantuas (Mini-Analysis)

Hopefully, we won’t have to redo this again. (Got that, Legendary?)

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Episode 5: John LeMay Presents ‘King Kong vs. Frankenstein’ & ‘Continuation: King Kong vs. Godzilla’

Published November 27, 2019

(FYI: This was recorded before the news that 2020’s Godzilla vs. Kong would be delayed).

Hello, kaiju lovers!

In this special “side Kong Quest” ( 😛 ), Nathan is joined by author John LeMay (who is a gentleman and a scholar) to talk about two unmade King Kong films with connections to King Kong vs. Godzilla. The first was “King Kong vs. Frankenstein,” a project that special effects legend Willis O’Brien tried to get made in the late 1950s before it ended up at Toho. Then Godzilla and Kong almost had their rematch in the 1960s with Shinichi Sekizawa’s “Continuation: King Kong vs. Godzilla,” where the Eighth Wonder becomes a surrogate parent to a Japanese baby! Hear all about them in this episode! These and many other lost Kong films are covered in great detail in John’s book Kong Unmade: The Lost Films of Skull Island, which is part of Monster Island’s library and one of Nathan’s go-to resources for the podcast.

Jimmy From NASA is absent for most of this episode because Kong and Godzilla were upset that Nathan skipped their 1962 monster mash movie, so Jimmy left to calm them down with the ORCA. The thing is, Nathan covered that film on his previous podcast, Kaijuvision Radio. Here’s a link if you want to listen to it before the next episode:

Episode 8: King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) (The Japanese Economic Miracle (The Golden 60s))

Also, Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here on Monster Island!

Read Jimmy’s Notes for corrections, riffs, and more info on this episode!

© 2019 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

#JimmyFromNASALives

Bibliography/Further Reading:

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Episode 4: Timothy Deal vs. ‘Son of Kong’

Published November 13, 2019

Hello, kaiju lovers!

After Jimmy From NASA flies him back to Indiana to get his microphone, Timothy Deal of the Derailed Trains of Thought podcast returns to Monster Island to continue the “Kong Quest” with Son of Kong, the almost forgotten sequel to King Kong. If the 1933 masterpiece is a grand myth, the sequel is a pleasant bedtime story. Screenwriter Ruth Rose, when talking about writing this film, said, “If you can’t go bigger, go funnier,” which is an apt statement about this film and sequels in general. Nathan and Tim’s lively discussion connects Son of Kong to the Russian film Battleship Potemkin, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Terminator 2: Judgment Day—and gives Jimmy a lot of work for “Jimmy’s Notes.” They also theorize about what happened to “Mrs. Kong”/Kiko’s mother, which actually puts this and the first film into perspective…sorta. The Toku Topic builds off of the previous one with a philosophical discussion of how 1930s filmmakers addressed the Depression in their movies, touching on themes like escapism and collective rage.

Here’s the Kaijuvision Radio episode on King Kong vs. Godzilla for you to listen to as part of MIFV’s Kong coverage: Episode 8: King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) (The Japanese Economic Miracle (The Golden 60s))

Read Jimmy’s Notes on this episode here.

Timestamps:
Intro: 0:00-3:49
Entertaining Info Dump: 3:49-9:43
Toku Talk: 9:43-56:24
Toku Topic: 56:24-1:19:44
Outro: 1:19:44-end

© 2019 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading
“Culture and Politics in the Great Depression” by Alan Brinkley

“Escapism” (Wikipedia)

“Escapism and Leisure Time 1929-1941” (Enclopedia.com)

“How the Great Depression inspired Hollywood’s golden age” by Paul Whitington

Kaijuvision Radio, Episode 2: Godzilla Origins – King Kong (1933) and The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)

King Kong: History of a Movie Icon from Fay Wray to Peter Jackson by Ray Morton

Kong Unbound: The Cultural Impact, Pop Mythos, and Scientific Plausibility of a Cinematic Legend (edited by Karen Haber)

Kong Unmade: The Lost Films of Skull Island by John LeMay

Son of Kong Wiki Articles
–Gojipedia
–Wikizilla
–Wikipedia

Son Of Kong (1933) Review – Kong-A-Thon Episode 2 (DMan1954)

Tracking King Kong: A Hollywood Icon in World Culture (2nd edition) by Cynthia Erb

The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales by Bruno Bettelheim (pg. 45-60)

“Why Fantasy Matters Too Much” by Jack Zipes

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Jimmy’s Notes on ‘Episode 2: The Tourists vs. King Kong (1933)’

Published October 16, 2019

Welcome to the first entry of Jimmy’s Notes! My blog series will feature nitpicks supplements on each episode of The Monster Island Film Vault. Nathan does lots of research and works hard at editing every episode, but he and the Tourists don’t always get stuff right (unlike his intrepid producer) and can’t include everything. I will correct any errors and feature additional information not in the episode–and take the opportunity to riff everyone and get away with it. 😛

So, let’s get started.

Corrections
-Okay, this first one is on me since I write the Entertaining Info Dump. I wrote that King Kong paved the way for Godzilla and the kaiju genre “three decades later” when it was actually two decades later. Apparently, I forgot how to math there for a second. My friends at NASA would be disappointed.

-I also forgot to mention the IMDB score for the film in the Info Dump (oops). It’s 7.9.

-Nathan said “TMC” when he meant “TCM”—twice. Once I can understand, but twice? Was he thinking of the tabloid TMZ and not Turner Classic Movies? I feel insulted for TCM. On a related note, he said it was TCM who added the overture to King Kong in 2005 when it was actually Warner Bros.

-Both Nick and Tim mispronounced “Denham” as “Dunham.” I guess they buy a lot of sporting goods.

-Nathan said the name “Skull Island” is in the novelization of King Kong. It’s not. It was used in RKO’s promotional materials. In the film it’s called “Skull Mountain Island.” I don’t think the name was spoken in a film until either the 2005 remake or Kong: Skull Island. I’ll ask around. I’m sure one of the scientists studying the kaiju will know.

-Nathan calls Kong a monkey when he’s an ape. Even the Tourists corrected him on that during the recording by saying even VeggieTales knows the difference! I should’ve thrown a (Bob the) tomato at him for that.

-Everyone said there was a brontosaurus in this film, but some say the brontosaurus is actually an Apatosaurus. Since most sources say the former, I can’t hold that against them.

-Joe incorrectly said it was the “Monster Island Resort” when it’s the “Monsterland Resort.” An easy mistake, although the Island’s Board of Directors is very particular about keeping the branding straight (which makes me think they should’ve made the name a bit more different, but hey, I just work here).

-Nathan said Son of Kong was released six months after the original when it was actually nine months. He must’ve gotten that cash-grab sequel confused with the other cash-grab sequel starring another famous resident on the Island. ::cough-cough:: Godzilla. ::cough-cough::

Additional Notes: The Film
Now for some things from Nathan’s notebook that weren’t mentioned in the episode. This isn’t all of his notes, but they’re the ones I thought were the most important of what he omitted:

-“Are the natives depicted in a racist fashion? It is weird that a South Seas island has black people on it. I read an essay that went into great detail about this. The chief is played by Noble Johnson, who actually gets listed in the opening credits and is portrayed as a strong man. A black man getting listed like this was unheard of back then.”

-“How convenient for the native warriors that Ann was right there so they didn’t have to go on the ship. They must’ve read the script. :P”

-“Charlie the cook is considered ‘racist’ now, but he is played by Chinese actor and is treated well by everyone. He speaks broken English.”

-“The missing ‘spider pit’ sequence. In script but may or may not have been filmed. Some claim to have seen it. Cut by Cooper because it wrecked the pacing. Recreated by Jackson and WETA. Had a triceratops-like dino. That’s why one sailor looks back while running and why sailors don’t run back on log. I gotta say, if some of them survived, they’re tough hombres!”

-“Schoedsack and Cooper are piloting the plane that kills Kong.”

-“Kong’s origins are ambiguous; the line between science and myth blurred. Part of the appeal. Harry Harrison has a crazy ‘alternate universe’ origin story. Not surprising given he writes alternate history.” (Jimmy here: If I remember correctly, this involved a man being cursed to take the form of a gorilla by island gods).

-“Esther M. Friesner compared the King Kong story to that of Enkidu in The Epic of Gilgamesh and Samson in the Bible because they are strong men undone by beautiful women.”

-“In China, ‘kong’ means ‘strong.’”

Additional Notes: The Depression
-“Optimism persisted despite the crash. John D. Rockefeller said, ‘These are days when many are discouraged. In the 93 years of my life, depressions have come and gone. Prosperity has always returned and will again.’” (Wikipedia)

-“Birthrates for 14 major countries fell 12% from 19.3 births per thousand population in 1930, to 17.0 in 1935. Families wanted to avoid having children until they achieved more financial stability. In Canada, half of Catholic women defied Church teachings and used contraception.” (Wikipedia)

Conclusion
Now that I’ve gotten my first Note out of the way, I need to get back to writing the Entertaining Info Dump for Son of Kong if for no other reason than to remind Nathan of his contractual obligations. 😛

Follow me on Twitter.

#JimmyFromNASALives

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Episode 2: The Tourists vs. ‘King Kong’ (1933)

Published October 9, 2019

Hello, kaiju lovers!

Our “Kong Quest” begins! 😛 Nathan is joined by his core group of Monster Island Tourists—Nick Hayden & Timothy Deal of the Derailed Trains of Thought podcast and Joe & Joy Metter—to discuss one of the greatest movies ever made: 1933’s King Kong. What’s interesting is none of these Tourists had seen this classic film before coming to the Island, so you’ll hear their fresh reactions, opinions, and analyses to the Eighth Wonder’s first and greatest outing. Listen as each of them compete for best (or worst?) joke of the podcast (“No monkeying around!” says Nick). Along the way Jimmy From NASA gets sassy with the Tourists and has to corral a dog dubbed “Teddy Kong,” who keeps trying to make a cameo during the Toku Talk. The Toku Topic for this episode is the Great Depression since the film was made and released at the height of that period and indirectly mentions it several times.

Be sure to check out the latest episode of Nick and Tim’s podcast, Derailed Trains of Thought, where they visited Monster Island to discuss destruction as a story element with Nathan as a guest host. Their podcast is marvelous, and Nathan has appeared on multiple episodes.

Timestamps
Intro: 0:00-4:42
Entertaining Info Dump: 4:42-12:06
Toku Talk: 12:06-1:21:27
Toku Topic: 1:21:27-1:54:52
Outro: 1:54:52-end

Read Jimmy’s Notes for corrections, riffs, and more info on this episode!

#JimmyFromNASALives

© 2019 Moonlighting Ninjas Media

Bibliography/Further Reading

“Depression, You Say? Check Those Safety Nets” by Charles Duhigg (The New York Times)

King Kong Wiki Articles:
            –Wikipedia
            –Gojipedia
            –Wikizilla

Kaijuvision Radio, Episode 2: Godzilla Origins – King Kong (1933) and The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)

King Kong (1933) Review – Kong-A-Thon Episode 1 (D Man1954)

King Kong: History of a Movie Icon from Fay Wray to Peter Jackson by Ray Morton

Kong Unbound: The Cultural Impact, Pop Mythos, and Scientific Plausibility of a Cinematic Legend (edited by Karen Haber)

Kong Unmade: The Lost Films of Skull Island by John LeMay

“Prostitution – The Great Depression”

Tracking King Kong: A Hollywood Icon in World Culture (2nd edition) by Cynthia Erb

Wikipedia Articles:
            –Great Depression
            –Gold Standard
            –Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act
            –New Deal
            –Reflation
            –Roaring Twenties
            –Timeline of the Great Depression

“What Sex was Like During the Great Depression” by Melissa Sartone

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Meet the Tourists!

Published October 2, 2019

With the first big film discussion episode next week—which begins our chronological coverage of King Kong’s filmography with the 1933 classic—I thought now would be a good opportunity to introduce you all to the core group of Monster Island Tourists who will be guest-hosting with me on the podcast.

Ladies, gentlemen, and kaiju lovers of all ages, meet Nick, Tim, Joe, and Joy!

Nick (left) and Tim (right).

Nick Hayden and Timothy Deal are the co-hosts of Derailed Trains of Thought, the premiere podcast on storytelling for the creator and the consumer. I’ve known both of them since my college days. Nick is an accomplished writer (and you should be reading everything he writes!), and Tim studied film in grad school. I’ve collaborated with them on several writing projects like Children of the Wells and, as I’ve mentioned before, I’ve been a frequent guest on their podcast. Be sure to check out the links to their sites!

Joe and Joy.

Joe and Joy Metter are another pair of longtime friends of mine. I also met Joe back in my college days. Joe loves anime and Mystery Science Theatre 3000 (which is probably why we got along as well as we did), and Joy thinks she lives in a musical half the time and will randomly break out into song. The two of them just celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary.

These four will be on the show most often, but they won’t be the only ones. Here’s a tentative list of the other Tourists who will be joining me during the podcast’s extended first season:

Eric Anderson (founder of Nerd Chapel)
Ben Avery (writer and podcaster)
Dallas Mora (co-founder of Geek Devotions)
John LeMay (kaiju scholar and author)
Daniel DiManna (creator/author of the Godzilla Novelization Project)
Bex Smith (host of the Redeemed Otaku podcast)

There are a few other names on my back-up list and my season two list. It’ll never be boring on this show with this lively group of newcomers and veteran fans!

See you next week for King Kong (1933)!

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