There is perhaps no more profound movie in the history of Wapella than the 1972 classic Evil Roy Slade. John Astin roars in the lead as Evil Roy, with Slade being an acronym for the the orphaned cowboy standing for Sneaking, Lying, Arrogance, Dirtiness and Evil, top qualities for the meanest villain in the West.You can take your Monty Python, your Airplane's, and your Blazing Saddles shows only so far without the primal influence of Evil Roy Slade. As a reviewer put it "If Evil Roy Slade had been released theatrically in the last ten years, it would have had the same effect on moviemaking as Nirvana's Nevermind had on music. In other words, there would have been no Armageddon, no Batman Forever, well you get the picture."
At long last, this one is now on DVD. I suggest buying two copies, so that you have one with you when you travel. This one is coming out on January 8, 2008, so order now to prevent disappointment.
Buy Evil Roy Slade here.
14 comments:
The English band SLADE are great. Very Wapella-ish in their delivery. C'Mon Feel the Noize, Wildcats!
Go buy SLADE's Greatest Hits. You will not be disappointed.
May have gone to a Slade concert around '71 at ISU. Am I mistaken?
SS
Back on topic, I must say that I heartily agree with Mod on this one. Wandering home after a hard day at WGS in the early 70's, I flipped on Channel 3's own Tom Jones Dialing for Dollars Early Show and came upon ERS. What an eye-opener! The sucker was funny--had young HG rolling on the green shag carpet.
HoosierGato
Right back to the band SLADE - SS, please confirm if Slade played at ISU. Damn, I'd have loved to have been there.
Mod,
What is your reference for the Nirvana "Nevermind" comparison? Dan Kraft?
I believe W.com's founder did view Astin in his one-man performance: Poe. It may have also been a one-man audience which in the theatre (notice the affectation) is as intimate as it gets.
Hoosier Gato brings back fond memories of the "Early Show". The Miracle Worker, To Kill a Mockingbird, Diary of Anne Frank, Soylent Green and other films most kids now "have to watch" were our only choices - and now I believe serrendipitously beneficial. Plus, the IGA and Robeson's commercials were top drawer.
Kansas Cat
Astin is a genius. His work as Gomez Adams stands high in the American comedy pantheon.
My John Astin poster has been the only decoration in my office for nearly 15 years. This man, Astin, is the greatest talent in modern American culture bar none.
Concur with Mod, Astin is a giant of the American cinema and the tube. The Early Show was great. Maybe we can call it redneck cable? Anyway, the films were great. Rumor has it HG still has his eye on Judy Frazier after all of these years.
BEP
BEP,
You're wise to me. I love the weather and all the ladies associated with it. Brava! I move we return to all female Hurricane names, and that we submit some of Wapella's finest names for consideration. Brenda L., perhaps?
The Early Show was great. I always was hoping for a call from TJ on Dialing for Dollars, but I think WCIA thought the 935- prefix was out of its service area. How wrong they were!
HG
TJ gave way to Tom Kelly? Correct? Didn't vintage Channel 3 have the best staff? Jerry Slabe was a bum. The Schlitz sponsorship of Tom Schoendienst's sports reports was great.
Is Mr. Roberts still alive?
Did the Mod sail with Capt. Jinks and Salty Sam?
BEP
Judy was really a pioneer of weather foxes. Is she still going at it?
Speaking of WICS I always thought Slabe's schtick was pretty strong (yes Slabe spent some time on WAND as well). WICS really brought in a doofus after Slabe.
bbd
Isn't WCIA's own Dana Perino now the White House press secretary?
HG
I thought Slabe went from Decature, WAND, to WCIA? Didn't he spend a lot of time at Katsinas?
Heard he was a stick man.
BEP
foxes galore on WCIA now: J.Ketchmark, A.Dill, J.Roscoe, A.Jenne
Slabe was a notorius hound and general rounder. He would have been right at home in Hog City at the Green Ring or any tavereen for that matter. All he needed was a ladder to get onto a bar stool. We shared the same broker and I had several occasions to hoist a pint or 30 with him. Foul mouthed little munchkin. If he would have been in the Wizard of Oz Dorthy would have been knocked up.
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