Godzilla vs. Music Box!

Godzilla vs. Music Box poster art.

Looking for something Godzilla-related to do this summer in Chicago but are unimpressed by the usual lackluster conventions on offer? No worries -- the historic Music Box Theatre in Chi-town has you covered!

Running from June 7 through June 13, the historic Music Box Theatre will be presenting a film series called Godzilla vs. Music Box, which will feature a plethora of film screenings, special-guest Q&As and signings, and a whole lot more!

On Monday, June 10, horror host Benign Svengoolie will introduce Destroy All Monsters (1968) and sign autographs before the screening. Given that Svengoolie resides in the Chicagoland area, the chances of a last-minute cancellation by the event's headlining guest seem remote in the extreme. (Boy, I'm sure other nearby conventions wish they could say the same thing!)

I'm also proud to share that a photo I took of the Godzilla Minus One (2023) display at Toho Cinemas Hibiya has been officially licensed for use in the promotional poster seen at the top of this blog post. It was designed by Mute Neighbor, and I'm told that copies will be available for sale at the Music Box. Be sure to snag your poster while supplies last!

You won't see much of Gamera represented at Godzilla vs. Music Box, which seems like the way things should be for an event celebrating Godzilla's 70th anniversary. This film series is all Godzilla, and I can't think of a better way to celebrate 70 years of the Big G this summer in Chicago.

Benign Svengoolie

"It's comiiiiiing!" Svengoolie seems to be saying to the cameraman in 2012. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Ever since my return to the U.S., I've been catching up with Svengoolie on MeTV. I'd never seen the show prior to my return, though I'd seen clips here and there. Overall, I'd say it's fun stuff. It's also refreshing to see that Svengoolie refrains from making overly cynical comments about the movies he shows, which you can't always say about the various horror hosts out there.

The line waiting to meet Svengoolie. Photo by Brett Homenick.

In case you're wondering what the title of this blog post might mean, there is an explanation. Although it doesn't seem to be available online (in any form that I can access, anyway), it refers to a line spoken in the Ed Wood documentary Flying Saucers Over Hollywood: The 'Plan 9' Companion (1992).  

Svengoolie poses with a fan. Photo by Brett Homenick.

In the documentary, written by the late Mark Carducci, the narrator describes Wood as being a "benign Svengali" to his stock company of actors, such as Conrad Brooks. I thought that was a rather interesting expression, but also figured that a documentary featuring Forrest J Ackerman among its participants might want to make things even more monsterrific by likening Wood to a "benign Svengoolie."

Svengoolie signs autographs. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Well, I thought it was amusing, anyway. But all this did remind me of the (very brief) time I met Svengoolie. It all happened in July 2012 at a convention in the Chicagoland area. Svengoolie was not an official part of this particular show, but he had a table set up there from which he signed autographs and posed for photos. I knew very little about "Sven" at the time but was rather impressed by the crowd he drew. (See the picture elsewhere in this blog post.) 

I did get Svengoolie to pose for the photo at the top of the post, even though I wasn't even waiting in line. I thought that was quite cool of him, and, while it may seem like a small gesture, you'd be surprised how many convention guests won't even give you the time of day unless you put a fifty-dollar bill on their table.

While I can't say that I'll post a review of every Svengoolie show (that seems like a task more suitable for Agent X7), I certainly plan to watch as many shows of his as I can. I look forward to it!

A Salute to Android M11

Which one is real M11? Photo by Brett Homenick. 

I recently decided to reach back into picture archives and share some photos of Android M11 I've taken throughout the years. These days, M11 is just as associated with Chicago as he is with his role in Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991). Here are the pics. Enjoy!

 M11 onstage in July 2012.

M11 signs for his hardcore fans. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

All smiles in July 2012. 

With Damon Foster in July 2010. Photo by Brett Homenick.

 With yours truly in July 2007.

M11's Eye on Japan in July 2009. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Sizing up his autograph line in July 2009. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Translating for Yoshikazu Ishii in July 2005. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Translating for Yoshikazu Ishii in July 2005. Photo by Brett Homenick.

M11 talks with Zillamon51 in July 2004. Photo by Brett Homenick.  

With Mark Rainey in July 2004. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

With Carl Craig in July 2003. Photo by Brett Homenick.

You could say that Chicago has successfully achieved international understanding through M11. Keep on keepin' on!

KAIJU CRESCENDO HEADS TO CHICAGO! Get Your Tickets Today!

For Godzilla fans in Chicago, the event to attend this July is Kaiju Crescendo. What's it all about? Here is what you need to know:

An incredible evening of symphonic music from Toho’s Godzilla Series and Special Effects films featuring composer MICHIRU OSHIMA conducting her works from GODZILLA VS MEGAGUIRAS (2000), GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA (2002), and GODZILLA TOKYO SOS (2003). Michiru Oshima is a multi-award winning composer of film, television, and video games. In addition to selections from those films, Ms. Oshima will also be premiering a brand new composition expressly for this occasion. All performed live by large orchestra! 

But the rare treats do not stop there. John DeSentis (conductor and musical director/producer of the IFUKUBE 100: A LEGACY OF MONSTER MUSIC and SYMPHONIC FURY: THE MUSIC OF JAPANESE MONSTERS concerts) will be presenting works by legendary composer AKIRA IFUKUBE. Along with selections from his scores to RODAN (1956) and THE MYSTERIANS (1957), his incredibly rare score from THE THREE TREASURES (aka Birth of Japan 1959) will be performed. A sonic treat for kaiju fans! 

Another legend of Japanese film music, MASARU SATO, best known as the longtime composer for Akira Kurosawa, will have selections from his scores to “SON OF GODZILLA (1967)” and GODZILLA VS MECHAGODZILLA (1974) performed.

In addition to the above, several special guests from Japan will be on hand especially for Kaiju Crescendo. I won't spoil the fun, so to find out who the VIPs are, just follow this link.

Michiru Oshima in June 2012. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Kaiju Crescendo goes down on Saturday, July 13, at 9:00 p.m. at the Center Theatre. Kaiju Crescendo is shaping up to be the best Godzilla-related concert in North American history. With a beefed up orchestra and improved organization, it's a surefire hit. 

Be there on July 13 for Kaiju Crescendo -- the North American kaiju event of the year!

GODZILLA VS. GAMERA! How You Can Make the Long-Awaited Showdown Happen!

John DeSentis and friends (including the late Koichi Kawakita) at G-FEST last summer. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Composer/Godzilla fan John DeSentis plans to do it again, and in true kaiju eiga spirit, his plans are even bigger than before! John has launched a new Kickstarter campaign to bring Godzilla and Gamera music to the Pickwick Theater this July!

John DeSentis, Erik Homenick, and Chris Oglio celebrate after a successful concert in 2014.

Entitled "Symphonic Fury! The Music of Japanese Monsters," Akira Ifukube's classic Symphonic Fantasia will join the first-ever live concert of Ko Otani's Gamera trilogy score. If enough funds are raised, Otani-san himself plans to attend the concert live and in person!

Donate to the Kickstarter and help make music (and kaiju) history!

G-FEST XXI: Your Humble Blogmeister Shares His Memories!

My G-FEST experience began at Narita Airport where I met special guests Katsuhiko Sasaki and Tomoko Ai (along with her entourage). I met Sasaki-san first and later caught up with Ai-san. As Sasaki-san and I were checking our luggage, Ai-san greeted us. So, technically speaking, the Terror of Mechagodzilla reunion happened at the ticket counter of United Airlines!

We all ate a small lunch together and took some photos. While we were about to board the plane, I spotted Shinpei Hayashiya and his producer-wife Atsuko Tsunakawa who were also waiting to board the plane.

The plane ride to Chicago was quite memorable. I sat right next to Sasaki-san, and Ai-san was seated next to Sasaki-san. During the flight, Ai-san gave me a small Mechagodzilla toy as a gift. As cool as that was, it was really amazing to be a fly on the wall while Ai-san and Sasaski-san spoke about the old days at Toho. At one point, Ai-san mentioned Espy (1974), which was fascinating to me. I later found out that she was talking about how that film and Terror of Mechagodzilla were being filmed at basically the same time.

After landing, we took Sasaki-san to dinner. Joining us were Yasushi from Tokyo and my brother Erik, who runs the official English-language Akira Ifukube Web site. We went to Giordano's and sampled some of its renowned deep-dish pizza. Sasaki-san was floored by its size, but he enjoyed a few slices. Say, isn't that Sasaki-san's former co-star Biollante lurking in the background?

The next day we took Sasaki-san and modeling guest Hiroshi Sagae to the Art Institute of Chicago. Ms. Hiroko Saito provided the guests with a Japanese-language tour of the gallery. Many thanks to Ms. Saito for arranging and hosting the tour.

After lunch, Yasushi and I took Sasaki-san to Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), which was also my first time in the tower. It was great to see Sasaki-san take photos of Chicago from one of the tallest buildings in the world.

Opening ceremonies was Friday night, and the guests were very well received. I don't think an opening ceremonies at G-FEST has ever seen a bigger audience. Following the guests' introductory remarks, I played video greetings provided by Toru Ibuki, Wataru Mimura, and Shigeo Kato.

The next morning, I interviewed Tomoko Ai about her acting career. It was fascinating to hear her stories about Ultraman Leo, Terror of Mechagodzilla, and her acting roles beyond.

After that, I interviewed Sasaki-san about his career. This was actually the second time I interviewed him, but even then this interview still managed to cover new ground.

The band got back together for another meal together at Gibsons Steakhouse. Sasaki-san enjoyed his steak immensely, and Yasushi provided us with very special gifts from Japan. Good times were had by all!

Jay Johnson interviewed the great Don Frye about Godzilla: Final Wars as well as other subjects. Don had the audience in stitches with his witty and sometimes self-deprecating sense of humor. Despite being a famous fighter, actor, and you-name-it, Don Frye is about as ego-free as they come.

Next came the autograph sessions, which like everything else were bigger than ever. Although some hiccups did occur, the G-FEST staff made sure everything ran smoothly.

After the autographs were finished, it was time to head to Chicago! Sasaki-san, Ai-san, and all of us went to Buddy Guy's Legend for dinner and live music. The food and entertainment were quite good, and afterward we were all feeling quite tired, so we started to make our way back.

The ride back to the hotel was one for the history books, as a panhandler came onto the train and decided to liven things up for us. Thankfully, he was escorted out of our train car before too long!

Sunday morning saw a panel discussion on Godzilla: Final Wars, with Don Frye, Martin Arlt, and yours truly. Many topics were covered during the session, including the WWF, Michael Mann movies, and bar fighting.

During the Sunday autograph session, I was showing Ai-san's manager photos of the Don Frye session I was just on, and her eyes widened. She asked me to show Ai-san the photos. She got really excited and said she was a big fan of Don Frye and wanted to meet him. I knew Don was just about to leave for the airport, but I found him in the lobby just in the nick of time. As you saw in the photo above, meeting him really made her day.

Hanging out with Yasushi, Shinpei Hayashiya, and Hiroshi Sagae was another highlight!

I almost missed getting a photo with Koichi Kawakita, but I finally got one Sunday night. That said, Kawakita-san is a fixture of various events in Japan, and I've met him several times. But it was nice to get one at G-FEST.

Photo by Loren Portillo.

And that's a wrap! There were many highlights throughout the weekend, but this blog post covers most of the events of the weekend that I was a part of. Of course, there were a lot of other great sessions and events at G-FEST, but I didn't even get to see most of them! But there's always next year.

See you at G-FEST XXII!

G-FEST XXI: Interviews and Presentations

I have posted several of the interview sessions from the weekend to YouTube, and just for your viewing pleasure, here they are!

G-FEST XXI: A Big Success!

 

Actor Katsuhiko Sasaki and special effects director Koichi Kawakita swap stories at the G-FEST staff dinner Sunday night. Photos by Brett Homenick.

With roughly 3,000 attendees, G-FEST XXI was the largest, most successful convention in its history. The highlight of the show was the reunion of actors Katsuhiko Sasaki and Tomoko Ai, who hadn't seen each other since making Terror of Mechagodzilla in 1975!

Actress Tomoko Ai is a Don Frye fan and got to meet the professional fighter/actor at G-FEST!

There were many surprises along the way, but I will write a longer report with more details. Congratulations to everyone involved for making this G-FEST one for the history books!

KATSUHIKO SASAKI IS READY FOR G-FEST! Excitement Builds for the Best Kaiju Event of the Year!

My friend Yasushi and I just finished a lengthy planning session with Mr. Katsuhiko Sasaki, who is one of the featured guests at G-FEST in Chicago next week. Mr. Sasaki is very excited to visit Chicago, and we are working very hard to make his trip one for the history books.

On the way back, I photographed this giant advertisement for a Godzilla exhibit in Shibuya Hikarie that will be running when I get back from G-FEST! Pretty good timing, eh?

See you in Chi-town!

CAPTAIN GORDON, REPORTING FOR DUTY! Don Frye Returns to G-FEST!

Actor/mixed martial artist Don Frye poses with some substantial reading material in preparation for his return to G-FEST. Photo courtesy of Don Frye.

As if G-FEST XXI couldn't get any bigger, the one and only Don Frye (Captain Douglas Gordon from Godzilla: Final Wars) will make his triumphant return to the convention, from July 11 through 13! In 2008, Don Frye was a massive hit with G-FEST attendees, so we've decided the 60th anniversary of the Godzilla franchise was the perfect opportunity for an encore performance.

Mr. Frye is a veteran of UFC, New Japan Pro Wrestling, Pride, and other mixed martial arts and professional wrestling organizations. In recent years, Mr. Frye has turned his attention to acting, landing roles in the Michael Mann films Miami Vice (2006) and Public Enemies (2009), on top of guest spots on shows like It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Although his schedule has been increasingly busy, Mr. Frye is looking forward to reuniting with his fans at G-FEST XXI.

Captain Gordon wants you ... to meet him at G-FEST!

TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA REUNION AT G-FEST! KATSUHIKO SASAKI and TOMOKO AI Set Their Sights on Chicago This July!

Actor Katsuhiko Sasaki speaks about his career during an interview in Tokyo. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975) remains one of the most popular entries in the Godzilla franchise, and G-FEST XXI has chosen the occasion of the Big G's 60th anniversary to honor this beloved film with the first-ever reunion of its two leading actors in the U.S., from July 11-13 in Chicago. The two Toho stars are looking forward to signing autographs and answering G-fans' questions!

KATSUHIKO SASAKI, who starred as Akira Ichinose in Terror of Mechagodzilla, makes his first convention appearance in North America at G-FEST.

The son of actor Minoru Chiaki (Seven Samurai, Godzilla Raids Again), Mr. Sasaki also stars in Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973) as inventor Goro Ibuki.

His work can be seen in numerous other Toho titles like Battle of Okinawa (1971), The Evil of Dracula (1974), The Last Days of Planet Earth (1974), Conflagration (1975), Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989), and Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991). In recent years, Mr. Sasaki has become a prolific voice actor who has dubbed the voices of such American stars as Robert De Niro, Liam Neeson, Alec Baldwin, and William Hurt for various Japanese releases of American movies. Mr. Sasaki is the most identifiable actor from the 1970s cycle of Toho films, and G-FEST is proud to host his debut appearance in the U.S.

Actress Tomoko Ai poses with some substantial reading material in Tokyo. Ms. Ai is excited to make her first North American public appearance at G-FEST XXI in July. Photo courtesy of Tomoko Ai.

G-FEST is also pleased to announce that TOMOKO AI, who played Katsura Mafune in Terror of Mechagodzilla, will make her first convention appearance in the United States. Ms. Ai looks forward to meeting her fans and celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Godzilla series this summer.

Prior to her performance in Terror of Mechagodzilla, Ms. Ai played a recurring role in Tsuburaya Productions' Ultraman Leo (1974-75) as Monster Attacking Crew (MAC) member Haruko Matsuki.

Ms. Ai worked with acclaimed Godzilla series director Ishiro Honda (Godzilla  '54, Godzilla vs. the Thing), and acted alongside such Toho luminaries as Akihiko Hirata (Godzilla '54, King Kong vs. Godzilla), Goro Mutsumi (Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, Espy), and Toru Ibuki (Ghidrah the Three-Headed Monster, Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster). Her starring role in one of the most popular Godzilla movies of all time make her one of the most anticipated guests in G-FEST's history.

Actor Yosuke Natsuki talks shop about his career at Toho. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Adding to the 60th-anniversary excitement is a live Skype Q&A with Toho star YOSUKE NATSUKI. Mr. Natsuki wished to attend G-FEST in person, but unfortunately some long-term ailments prevent him from joining the convention. However, not only will he be at the convention in spirit, he will participate in a live Skype chat with G-FEST attendees, directly from Tokyo!

Mr. Natsuki starred in Ghidrah the Three-Headed Monsters (1964) as Detective Shindo, Dogora the Space Monster (1964) as Inspector Komai, and Godzilla 1985 (1984) as Professor Hayashida. He also appeared in Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo (1961), Hiroshi Inagaki's Gen and Acala (1961), and Shue Matsubayashi's Attack Squadron! (1963), among many other titles. From Ishiro Honda to Akira Kurosawa, from Toshiro Mifune to Takashi Shimura, from Kumi Mizuno to Yumi Shirakawa, Mr. Natsuki has worked with them all, and he will share his stories at G-FEST in a live Skype session all the way from Tokyo! (This interview has regretfully been cancelled.)

G-FEST XXI takes place in Rosemont, IL, at the Crowne Plaza O'Hare from July 11-13. Don't miss it, be there!

UPDATE (6/25): Yosuke Natsuki's scheduled Skype interview has regretfully been cancelled. For more details, please follow this link.