My mission for Xmas in Vegas: find Ray Dennis Steckler (MST3000 fame).

[Deep13]

My wife and I are going to Vegas for Xmas and the trip will be made all the more memorable if we can find B-film creator Ray Dennis Steckler.

Mystery Science Theater fans will remember Steckler (alias Cash Flagg) as the director and star of The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed Up Zombies!!? This movie has the longest title in commercial cinematic history and was the first horror musical, and remains one of the only three. The other two are the remake of Little Shop of Horrors and Rocky Horror Picture Show. MST fans might also remember that it was Steckler who gets pushed into the swimming pool near the end of Eegah! Steckler did several B horror films in the 1960s including Blood Shack, The Thrill Killers, and Ratfpink and Booboo. He runs a video store in Las Vegas today. According to Joe Bob Briggs' commentary for Mixed Up Zombies, the store is called Mascot Video on Tropicana Av. A website about Steckler, however, has his store at Video Exchange on E. Charleston Blvd.

Natuarlly we will need to figure out where he is first.

[Deep13]

1. What, no one cares about the Steckler?

[Giant Robot]

2. I care I just have no clue!

:shrug:

I wish you luck with this most sacred quest however! But here is my Christmas present to you:

Tom: It's quiet in the cold of our own little orbit, starless and bible black. And as I look down on the big blue bean we would call home I think it so near, yet... oh, I wish on that star and I hope that in a little snow-covered house with a warm hearth and a loving family, maybe some kid is looking up tonight and wishing upon us. Oh, and how I hope sweet Santa will fly by tonight, because if he does I'm gonna reach right out and hug that big guy. Oh, for the sound of hooves against the steel hull of the ship. Oh, to see the rosy face of Santa in the porthole, offering me a Coke and a smile... (gradually becoming upset) ...of course, his cheeks WOULD be rosy because it's a VACUUM out there! I mean, Santa's HEART would explode! (becoming hysterical) But HE wouldn't feel it because the capillaries in his brain would pop like little firecrackers (Joel tries to calm him down) due to the blood boiling away in his face like pudding in a copper...OH THE HUMANITY!! (Now both Joel and Crow are trying to calm him down.) And his jolly old belly would start bubbling like a roasted marshmallow, eyes bulging and popping out... AND THE REINDEER--OH THE REINDEER!!!--keep floating like holiday floats and in turn exploding in a hail of blood and entrails! Prancer--BOOM! Dancer--BOOM!...
Joel: HEY!
Crow: Tom!
Joel: Tom, take it easy! Santa's gonna be okay, buddy.
Tom: You sure?
Joel: Yeah, give him a little credit, okay?
Tom: Phew, what a relief!

[AllegroRondo]

3. Good luck to you!

MST3K was some great stuff.
The episode "Manos, the Hands of Fate" led me and a friend on a similar quest. I was living in El Paso at the time, and found out that most of the movie was filmed there. We did a lot of research and ended up finding some of the filming locations.

[Deep13]

5. Yes, definitely the worst movie of all time.

Manos is as boring and as pointless as Blood Shack, but much, much ickier what with the Torgo and the child abduction and all. Guess it takes more than a fertilizer salesman to make a movie.

Angie: "He wouldn't be Jerry if he did."

Tom: "And that's bad somehow?"

[BrotherBuzz]

4. While you're there, keep your eyes peeled for Osama bin Laden

I understand he's being comped in one of the finer Las Vegas hotels. Inquiring minds want to know.