shortlist.composted a story today announcing that the visiting public can now take a tour of The Ohio State Reformatory, which was the main location for the 1994 movie's prison.
is now being opened for tours. The move came after the prison, which closed as a working building around 25 years ago, had successfully hosted ghost tours, a Halloween and murder mystery festival last year and a Shawshank anniversary celebration last weekend. The roof has now been fixed and plans are afoot to upgrade the rest of the building so that it will be visitable all year round.
The article says that the tour will be a 13-stop bus tour which includes:
The reformatory
The bench where Brooks fed the birds,
Malabar Farm State Park where Andy followed his wife
The Bissman building where Brooks and Red live after they have been released.
The article explains,
Up until now, fans have organised their own tours, but these have carried their own dangers; tour guide Pastor Ron Puff has said that, "To be honest, we don’t have keys for some of these [cell doors]", so don't close them behind you, or you could be doing some time yourself.
Starting November 11th, Stephen will embark on a six-city book tour to promote the release of Revival. The tour begins in New York City and continues through Washington DC, Kansas City, Wichita, Austin and South Portland. Further details regarding the itinerary will be posted on September 15th. Be sure to check back then for updated information regarding the events, venues and times.
November 11, 2014: New York City November 12, 2014: Washington, DC November 13, 2014: Kansas City, MO November 14, 2014: Wichita, KS November 15, 2014: Austin, TX November 17, 2014: South Portland, ME
Unearthed and Untold, The Path to Pet Sematary announcted:
Our documentary will be having its world premiere in the county where it all started: Hancock, Maine. On Saturday September 13 Unearthed & Untold will be playing at the Grand Theater in Ellsworth - one of the primary towns featured in the original film. This event is being billed as a double feature: They will also be showing Pet Sematary just before the documentary!
We will be in attendance as will some local cast and crew from t...he film. If you are in New England or the New England-area please consider coming to the September screening. Tickets may sell quickly, so go to the Grand Theater website to buy now! (grandonline.org)
This is hugely exciting and a real milestone for what has been a long, challenging, and rewarding journey. *To date, NO official distribution plans have been made, though we are working on it. Once we know HOW and WHEN you can see it, of course we will let you know. See you in September!
The Manatee County Public Library System announced that Stephen King will "headline" the 28th annual author event, titled, "An Evening with Stephen King."
January 29, 2015
7pm
Manatee Performing Arts Center,
502 Third Ave. W., Bradenton.
The event will support the Manatee County Library Foundation, which has set a goal to raise $100,000 to help finance technological upgrades of the library's online operating system.
The article says that King will speak for about an hour, and sign copies of his novel, Revival.
To help raise more money, the library is sponsoring a "mystery thriller writing contest" which it calls "Page Turner." The prize? A free ticket to "An Evening with Stephen King."
bradenton.com gives these details about the contest:
To enter, submit the first paragraph -- no more than 250 words -- of an originally conceived mystery or suspense novel that conveys a sense of style, creativity, readability and intrigue. The official deadline for submission is Nov. 15, and the winner will be announced Jan. 5. Details about the contest and sponsorship participation for the King event are available at manateelibraryfoundation.org.
Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2014/08/06/5289166/horror-author-stephen-king-star.html#storylink=cpy
The event is past, but it struck me as something wonderful I wish I could have attended.
centralmaine.com ran an announcement that The Skowhengan Drive would have a "Stephen King movie marathon" this past Friday and Saturday. Now that sounds awesome! Our small town as a drive in, and the truth is, they are fun. The drive in theater is a bit of America that is quickly disappearing. And think about it -- a Stephen King marathon, how cool is that?
The movies slated are pretty good:
FRIDAY: “Christine,” “The Shining” and “Pet Sematary” SATRUDAY: “Creepshow, “Christine” and “The Shining."
Those are great picks! And who wouldn't want to see them again on the big screen?
Tickets for the “Stephen King Movie Marathon” went for $50 per car for general admission, $150 for V.I.P. Spots up front.
Oh, the funny parts: "Friday at approximately 6:30 p.m" -- what theater runs on the "approximately" schedule? I also like this line, "We also have a no pet policy due to complaints last year." Makes ya kinda wonder what happened last year, doesn't it?
The marathon is a fundraiser "to replace equipment in order to continue new releases." Translation: You get to watch old Stephen King films at a drive in theater on old movie equipment. I dunno, sounds kinda retro and fun in our overly high teach world that values spotless images and intense resolution.
The theater is in the process of conversion to Digital Projection. i96rocks.com says, "Digital projectors run for about $80,000, far more than the seasonal drive-in can afford. The Skowhegan drive-in hopes to raise the cash it needs to make to conversion, and stay open, with the movie marathon."
wabi.tv quoted theater operator, Donald Brown, “This is a cultural asset not just for Skowhegan, but for all of central Maine. It’s an element of the communities cultural heritage that once it’s gone, because of the changes in this industry, will never come back.”
The theater's website notes that "without this conversion, when 35mm film is no longer being produced, there will be no movies at the Skowhegan Drive-In Theatre.
The town itself looks like something out of a Stephen King novel. It was seen in the 2005 HBO mini-series Empire Falls.
How would you like to encounter this clown on the side of the road? A pennywise-eque clown is making his rounds through New York's Staten Island. What is the clown doing -- handing out balloons, of course. Nothing harmful in that, right? Well, as yahoo reports, people are actually pretty freaked out! (FULL STORY: yahoo.com/blogs)
The people who live in the New York City borough are not thrilled with their new addition. Robert Privtera, who took a picture of our friend, told the Advance, “Bro, I did a double take. My heart stopped." Vincent Innocente characterized it as bizarre. People are taking to Twitter and voicing their concern as well…
Pennywise has been making a lot of sightings lately, including on google maps and in England.
Pennywise might have been chased off from Derry Maine, but he's not dead! The evil clown has been making appearances throughout the United Kingdom borough of Northampton.
Shea Bennett of Media Bistro says, "Residents are, as you’d imagine, spooked, and you can understand why – imagine seeing this guy standing outside your window?"
Indeed, the clown has become so popular that a Facebook Page erected on Friday has already picked up more than 25,000 Likes, with the clown using Facebook to update fans, as well as fend off a few slightly sensationalised reports.
As for why he’s doing all of this, that still remains unclear. But, as we can see from the photos, he has balloons. So, I guess the only question that really matters, is…
Now. . . a question -- If you saw Pennywise, would you pause to take a picture? Well, I probably would. But I don't think I'd have the courage to go up and say howdy. Just for fear of hearing him say, "They float!"
And -- another question -- does anyone think the British Pennywise is perhaps a bit more, eh, scary than the American versions? I don't know why, but I find that clown just flat out creepy. And that's not to put down Curry's performance in the mini-series. In fact, it's probably good Curry didn't look that scary, or I would have died watching it.
Casey Key resident and best-selling author Stephen King signed books at downtown Sarasota’s Bookstore1 Sunday. King signed copies of his most recent novel, “Doctor Sleep,” for 400 fans.
Presented by The Benson Theatre Doors @ 6:00, Show starts @ 7:00 VIP Tickets get you seats closest to the stage, access to meet and greet with cast members after the show, and special numbered souvenir tickets (you will get these at the door in exchange for your VIP ticket).
7pm
$30 General Admission, and $60 VIP
2234 S 13th St Omaha, NE 68108
The tragic story of the Torrance family and their battle against the inhuman forces of The Overlook Hotel comes to life on stage, presented by the Benson Theatre. A world premiere event.
Mark Horning posted that Beck Center for the Arts and Baldwin Wallace University Music Theatre Program are collaborating to co-produce "Carrie: The Musical." The show will run from February 7 through March 9, 2014 on the Mackey Main Stage. Show times will be 8:00 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays and 3:00 p.m. on Sundays.
The show is directed by Victoria Bussert (Director of Music Theatre at BWU) and stars Katherine DeBoer as the mother and Jodi Dominick as Mrs. Gardner, the phys-ed teacher (both appear courtesy of Actors Equity Association). Twenty actors from Baldwin University’s nationally recognized MT program make up the rest of the cast. Musical Direction is by Nancy Maier with Choreography by Gregory Daniels. The show features music by Michael Gore with lyrics by Dean Pitchford and book by Lawrence D. Cohen.
“I am very excited that the third annual Beck Center collaboration with Baldwin Wallace University Music Theatre program will bring Cleveland the local premiere of CARRIE the musical, based on the famous and infamous first novel by Stephen King,” remarked Bussert. “The collaboration has also brought highly-acclaimed productions of Spring Awakening and Next to Normal to the Beck Center stages.
Horning writes that the musical "pulses" with an "amazing score ranging from high energy rock to epic melodies of nearly operatic proportion."
With a cast combining professional actors and Baldwin Wallace students, it promises to be a night you'll never forget!”
Tickets are
$29 for adults
$26 for seniors (65 and older) with an additional $3 service fee per ticket applied at time of purchase.
$15 Student tickets with valid I.D. (includes service fee).
Purchase tickets online at beckcenter.org or call Customer Service at 216.521.2540, ext. 10. Beck Center for the Arts is located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, just ten minutes west of downtown Cleveland. Free onsite parking is available.
Booking.com has a new advertising line -- stay at the Stanley Hotel, if you dare. "Over 350,000 accommodations, including haunted hotels."
They give this note on The Stanley Hotel:
Welcome to The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, CO, the inspiration behind Stephen King’s novel The Shining. It has everything for the true ghost hunter – from supernatural parties in the ballroom, to a guest killed in a gas explosion still haunting room 217. If that’s not enough to spook you, spectral children can be seen and heard playing in the hotel’s hallways.
Theater actress Mikkie Bradshaw as Carrie in Atlantis Productions' locol staging of the Broadway musical. -- Photo from the theater company's official Facebook page
Wow, look who's getting a lot of attention these days -- Carrie! Miguel Dumaual, ABS-CBNnews.com, says that the 1998 Broadway Musical will be coming to the Philippines via Atlantis Productions.
The musical version of Carrie is set in the present, in the Chamberlain, Maine. It appears high school bullying is something people can identify with world wide.
Coinciding with the debut run of "Carrie: The Musical" in the Philippines, Atlantis Productions will also release a four-track EP of the play featuring the local cast. The local production will run until October 6.
The Day columnist Rick Koster has posted a review of Stephen King's conversation with NPR's Colin McEnroe benefiting the Mark Twain House and Museum.
Koster offers several interesting tidbits. I liked this note about Joyland,
On how books start with just an image in his mind. For a long time, he said, he had an image of a boy in a wheelchair flying a kite but wasn't sure what to do with it. Then, driving past a carnival, it all came together in his mind - and he wrote his latest book, "Joyland."
Check out Carole Goldberg's article "Stephen King Thrilled To Be Benefiting Twain House"
at courant.com.
After spending some time telling us that King really is a nice guy -- not the monster we might suspect -- she relies bits of a very interesting interview with King. "just seeing my name in the same sentence with Mark Twain's was a thrill."
King discusses his love for Tom Sawyer, favorite scenes from the novel, and his preference for horror over superheros. (What would a Stephen King superhero look like? Carrie.)
And then there is this bit about the ending to the Mist:
Fans of King who have read his 1980 novella, "The Mist," will recall its ending, when a brave band of ordinary Mainers who are fighting and fleeing horrific extra-terrestrial creatures hears one word amidst the static on the radio.
That word is "Hartford."
King says he chose it because it begins with an H, "like hope. I wanted a place south of Maine — where maybe, they'll get out.
"Whenever I go through a mist, I cross myself," he says.
Join us for a memorable evening with author Stephen King in celebration of the release (September 24) of "Doctor Sleep," the long awaited sequel to "The Shining." Mr. King's visit to return to Boulder is very special as he resided in Boulder in 1974, when he wrote "The Shining." Mr. King will talk, read and answer questions. Mr. King will not be signing books but will pre sign a limited quantity of "Doctor "Sleep" that will be randomly distributed at the event.
Did you catch all that? Hollywood... Joyland... England...
It's like they stepped out of the book. This is enough to make you wish you lived in London. Forbidden Planet reports:
a team of ‘Hollywood Girls’ from the world of JOYLAND will be touring bookstores to give away free JOYLAND-branded bags of popcorn. Bookstore shoppers will also be able to win free books and exclusive JOYLAND prizes by tweeting pictures of the Hollywood Girls - #Joyland @titanbooks
Dressed in the costume designed by Glen Orbik for the cover of the book, four ‘Hollywood Girls’ and their vintage popcorn machine will be at Forbidden Planet Shaftesbury Avenue on June 7th from 1 – 3pm.
EHS Principal Sean Kiley and Stephen King
share a lighthearted moment following King’s visit to Kristina Peterson’s class on Friday.
PHOTO CREDIT: www.seacoastonline.com
Sea Coast Online reports that last Friday Stephen King mad a special visit to Exeter High School. He was expected to skype with Kristina Peterson's class, which has focused the last semester on King's novel "The Stand." Of course, students wanted to talk with the artist who destroyed the world with a super plague and then brought down the battle between good evil.
Now hold on! They spent a semester studying The Stand? Seriously -- I went to the wrong High School! How cool is this! I'm going crazy here with how awesome that is.
Principal Sean Kiley said that ten minutes earlier than originally scheduled, King rolled right onto the High School grounds and spent three hours on campus.
Kiley said about King, "He is as famous as he is humble, and agreed to be here today for nothing more than a roast beef sandwich and a diet Pepsi. Today at Exeter High School was a special one. King inspired faculty, staff, and students alike."
The first hour was given to a private hour long session with students in Peterson's classroom answering questions about The Stand. I like King's summery of the book, he told students, "if you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything."
He then gave 90 minutes to answering questions and reading from his upcoming novel "Joyland."
The Sea Coast article closes with, "In response to a student question, King summed up what Exeter High School holds to be true, 'if you can read and write, you can own the world.'"
PEN Canada announced that Stephen King will discuss writing his son Owen King. They are the opening feature for the 34th International Festival of Authors. The event is Thursday, October 24th, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. in the Fleck Dance Theatre at Harbourfront Centre. The article also notes that award-winning mystery writer Louise Penny will moderate the discussion.
“We are thrilled that Stephen and Owen King are supporting the work of PEN,” said Charlie Foran, President, PEN Canada. “The evening promises to be a rare glimpse of an intimate father-son conversation about life and art.”
Stephen King will present his new novel, Doctor Sleep, which returns to the characters and the territory of his first best-selling hardcover novel, The Shining, including the now middle-aged Dan Torrance. Owen King will present his debut novel, Double Feature, which explores the creative life and the complicated relationship between a B-movie actor and his filmmaking son.
On Thursday, July 18, at 8:00 p.m., Stephen will appear on stage at The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Avenue in downtown Hartford, Connecticut, in conversation with WNPR radio personality Colin McEnroe. Proceeds from the event benefit the continuing educational and preservation activities of The Mark Twain House & Museum.
Tickets will be open for purchase by members of the museum on Monday, March 18. Museum membership is available by calling 860-280-3112, or by going to their membership site here.
Members will be given a special on-sale code for ticket purchasing.
Tickets will become available to the general public on Thursday, March 21. At that time reservations may be made on The Bushnell's site or by calling 860-987-5900.
Stephen King fans are being given a special opportunity to purchase tickets before the general on-sale date, beginning Tuesday, March 19th, by using the promotional code CLEMENS.
Ticket prices range from $25 to $75 (additional service fees apply) with a special VIP ticket for $250, which includes a reception with Stephen King and an autographed book.
Are you a Mark Twain fan? I am! courant.com posted this bit of news:
Stephen King, the author of horror books, mystery stories and essays, will engage in a conversation with WNPR radio host a Courant blogger Colin McEnroe, July 18, at The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts. The event is a benefit for the Mark Twain House.
Twain House members can reserve tickets on March 18. Become a member by calling 860-280-3112 or visiting www.marktwainhouse.org. Annual memberships begin at $35 for ages 39 and younger and $50 for other individuals.
If only I lived. . . on the other side of the country!
Sure, you can watch creepshow on DVD, Blu-Ray, VHS, Laser Disk and Netflix. . . but if you want to see it in a theater, you've got to head over to Stamford's Avon Theatre. This is from www.stamfordplus.com
Stamford's Avon Theatre
presents a cult classics presentation of Creepshow
STAMFORD, CT - On Thursday, January 17th at 9:00 p.m.
The Avon Theatre presents a Cult Classics screening of CREEPSHOW on
35mm.
Ticket prices are as follows: Carte Blanche Members: FREE, Members:
$6, Students & Seniors: $8, Nonmembers: $11. Call the Avon box office at
203-967-3660, x2 for tickets.
Two macabre masters - writer Stephen King
and director George A. Romero - conjure up five shocking yarns, each a virtuoso
exercise in the ghouls-and-gags style of classic '50s horror comics. A murdered
man emerges from the grave for Father's Day cake. A meteor's ooze makes
everything...grow. A professor selects his wife as a snack for a crated
creature. A scheming husband plants two lovers up to their necks in terror. A
malevolent millionaire with an insect phobia becomes the prey of a cockroach
army. Add the spirited performances of a fine cast (Hal Holbrook, Adrienne
Barbeau, Leslie Nielsen, Ted Danson, E.G. Marshall and King himself) and the
ghoulish makeup wizardry of Tom Savini and let the Creepshow begin. Rated R
| 120 minutes | In English
In short, readers both familiar and unfamiliar with Stephen King's novels will find a motherlode of interesting information inside the pages of Brighton David Gardner's insightful and illuminating treatise.
I can't recommend it enough, so be sure to get it either for your Kindle or e-Reader of choice, or buy the print version because it's easily worth twice the cover price.
