Dr. Paul Bearer: The Lost Photographs – Part 2

Greetings Fright Fans, continuing our remembrance of Dr. Paul Bearer on the thirteenth anniversary of Dick Bennick’s untimely passing, here is another batch of rare photographs from deep within the Retrorama vaults.

First up this week is an alternate hearse shot taken in Dick Bennick’s driveway the day of the Lost Interview. Posing with the abominable automobile are John Hickey (right) and Our Man in Tampa, David Polk (left). A few moments later they would join me inside the house to make history!

 
 

Here are two screen grabs from the Lost Interview video that was filmed in August, 1991. These are rare shots of a casually attired Dick Bennick relaxing in his home. John and I were on the couch to his right while David dutifully manned the camera in front of our horror host idol. The information obtained from this interview was originally used for a tribute we did to honor Dr. Paul Bearer at that year’s Necronomicon convention.

 
 
 

[LEFT] Here is a better shot of John Hickey standing next to a ghoulishly grinning Dr. Paul Bearer. This photo was taken in the lobby of the Holiday Inn Cyprus shortly before we presented the Horrible Horror Host with his award for over 18 years of service to fright film fans.

 

[RIGHT]In the process of awarding the plaque, Dan Tuchmann (who was instrumental in organizing the event) pauses to explain the situation to a confused Necronomicon hostess. Meanwhile I am leering over her shoulder and undoubtedly making smart remarks. 

[[LEFT] Even Star Trek geeks love horrible old movies! After the award presentation, the ever approachable Dr. Paul Bearer posed for photos and chatted with some of his fans.

[RIGHT] About a month after the Necronomicon ceremony, we got an incredible surprise. During a live broadcast of Creature Feature from a Specs Records store in Tampa, Dr. Paul Bearer proudly displayed his award and publicly thanked us for thinking so much of him! I’ve said it before and I will say it again, what a guy! The inscription on the plaque reads “RIP – In memoriam of Dick Bennick (A.K.A. Dr. Paul Bearer) Beloved Ghoul and Horror Host. In appreciation for over 18 years of really horrible old movies”. Fortunately, I just happened to be taping the show that day because the movie was War of the Gargantuas.

Wherever you are Dr. Paul Bearer, your fans still miss you and we hope you are still lurking for us from your tenement castle in the sky!

 

Fanboy Alert! – March is filled with fanboy opportunities you don’t want to miss!

March 1 – Blood Feast screening at Channelside Cinemas in Tampa, FL. Not only will you get a chance to view this 1963 classic, filmed in South Florida, that revolutionized the special effects industry and put gore films on the map, but you will also have an extremely rare opportunity to meet the men who made it. Herschell Gordon Lewis and David F. Friedman will both be in attendance and speaking at a question and answer forum following the film. I highly recommend you check out the details athttp://gasparilla2008.bside.com/2008/?_view=_filmdetails&filmId=48638000 and don’t miss it!

In related news, I will be in Tampa that day and a Fanboy Summit has been planned. All readers of Retrorama and the Pop Culture Review are cordially invited to join us at the Chili’s restaurant at13050 N Dale Mabry Highway at 1PM on March 1. We will be having lunch and swapping Fanboy stories and trivia in preparation for the Blood Feast event.

March 8 & 9 – This is going to be one busy Fanboy weekend! First off it’s Megacon in Orlando. Byron and I will be attending on Saturday morning so stop us in the isle and say hi if you see us. This same weekend, the Orange Park Mall (in Orange Park, FL) is hosting the third annual Wizard of Oz Day. This year’s event promises to be the best ever with screenings of the film, OZ vendors and memorabilia, and real live munchkins! For more information, visit http://www.southeastwizardofozfest.com/. This is an event for the whole family and most of the activities are free.