Episodes – YESTERYEAR BALLYHOO REVUE

The PULP CINEMATIC UNIVERSE returns as Zach, Matt, and special guest Natalie Gordon Beiser assemble to tackle the Golden Age routes and journey of the very first Avenger, CAPTAIN AMERICA!

Settle in and listen as the trio unpack the origins of the characters creation, sift through the strange tale of the 1944 Republic Serials conception and execution, MARVEL at the journey Cap undergoes from portrayals by Dick Purcell all the way up to Chris Evans, and finally analyze the importance of the character and how he has stood the test of time across all media.

Rashmi & Zach begin Unit II of their International Noir Journey with a look into Police Noir. The unit kick’s off back in Hollywood with the legendary Fritz Lang and his 1953 crime classic, THE BIG HEAT.

Tune in to hear about the many ways Lang’s masterwork establishes many of the noir tropes & portrayal of police in noir that would influence the world of cinema to follow.

Zach is joined by return pod-pal Smokey (Podcaster, ‘The House of Hammer’ & ‘All The Best Lines’) on a trip to the legendary Ealing Studios to discuss and delight in the comedy titans 1955 classic, THE LADYKILLERS.

Settle into Mrs. Wilburforce’s world with our podcasters as they discuss the origins of the darkly comic script, revel in stories surrounding the casting of the many legends on screen, become flabbergasted at tales of director Alexander Mackendrick’s methods in getting what he wanted on film, unpack the magnificent plot of a robbery stopped short by a little old lady, and finally...

Rashmi & Zach reach the end of their “One Last Job” unit of Noir with a trip to Australia and unspool the glory of Julius Avery’s 2014 outing, SON OF A GUN.

Tune in to hear them breakdown how the film draws upon its Noir ancestors & indie filmmaking savvy to create a tight crime caper on a budget with style!

Zach welcomes back podcaster Ryan Frost (Reel Nerds Podcast) for a Top Ten Countdown dedicated to the greatest year in Golden Age Hollywood as they present to you: THE DIVINE ’39

All last year, Ryan and Zach celebrated the year of 1939 in film by watching the classics and the underseen gems. Now join along as they each give you their list of Top Ten Films and why they treasure them so dearly.

PLUS: The duo fix the 1939 Academy Awards so you don’t have to!
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Website: https://reel...

Zach welcomes back return guests & Ballyhoo correspondents Andrew Bueno (Stand-Up Comedian, Writer), Matt Willocks (Filmmaker & Podcaster, ‘Pulp Cinematic Universe’ and ‘History of High Adventure’), and Jace Perrodin (Filmmaker) to unpack a true crime case turned controversial motion picture from Warner Bros. in 1939 as they dive deep into CONFESSIONS OF A NAZI SPY!

Tune in as the group lay out the details of the actual case, learn how the film was able to circumvent era censors and opposing forces, analyze its use of documentary & procedural crime drama, marvel at the bumbling nature of various characters, dissect the films effectiv...

Rashmi & Zach pay a visit to the cinematically oft neglected country of Chad on their international Noir tour as they unpack  Mahamat-Saleh Haroun’s 2013 tale of dance and danger, GRIGRIS.

Tune in as the duo unpack the many ways the film is picking up very familiar tropes and traits of Noir past while able to bring forth an ending that the dawn of Film Noir could never achieve.

Rashmi & Zach’s tour through the wide world of noir lands this week in Mexico as our hosts navigate the bleach bypassed world of Alejandro González Iñárritu and his 2000 debut feature, ‘Amores perros’.

Tune in as the duo unpack this crime anthology that embraces its noir roots and comes across the unique ways that Iñárritu upends traditional noir tropes to create further dimensions for viewers to contemplate.

Zach welcomes Craig Shemin (Author & Historian, ‘Sam & Friends: The Story of Jim Henson’s First Television Show’) onto the program for an inspirational, celebration-al, & Muppet-tational chat about Jim Henson and his first outing into Television, SAM & FRIENDS.

Grab your favorite Esskay Meat Product and your thermos filled with Wilkins Coffee as the two explore the origins of Jim’s path to puppetry, unveil the curtain to find out more of how his partner Jane Nebel contributed so heavily to early Muppet success, roll on the floor laughing through 5 surviving episodes of the show, and settle upon how ‘Sam & Frie...

Rashmi & Zach’s trek through the noir alley’s of the world continues with a stop in Hong Kong; where with the twist of your hand and a flock of doves, noir and action combine in John Woo’s THE KILLER!

Tune in to hear more about the making of the film, hear them deconstruct the crime thriller’s plot, and analyze how John Woo takes the reliable plot elements & style of noir and intertwines them with the pulse pounding action he would become revered for.

Zach welcomes aboard Jack Hanley, Shay Westcott, & Bryan Bonner (Founders of REEL WEIRD HORROR COLLECTIVE) to celebrate Horror Cinema with a Top 10 countdown of their favorite films of fright from yesteryear in… THE TERROR-FUL TEN!!!!

Tune in as everyone round robins ten to one with their favorite horror films made up into 1968, revel in their admiration for everything from Boris Karloff on down to George Romero, and learn a bit more about the fabulous new REEL WEIRD HORROR COLLECTIVE’S mission and upcoming awards ceremony.

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Rashmi & Zach’s tour through the wide world of noir lands them in Fance and at the door steps of an old friend, Jean-Pierre Melville, and his 1970 heist spectacular, LE CERCLE ROUGE!

Tune in to hear more of how Melville homages and updates the Noir genre of Hollywood that entranced him, thrill alongside our hosts as they unpack this meticulous and patient picture, and… swoon like crazy over the glory that is Alain Delon with a mustache!

To learn more about the beginnings of Melville and Delon’s collaborations, listen to Rashmi...

Zach welcomes back podcaster Michael Holland (From Out of the Past) for a night in a creepy bayou mansion filled as much laughter as there is terror with deep dive into the 1939 Horror-Comedy, THE CAT AND THE CANARY!

Grab your scotch and get ready to make rye faces as the duo dissect how the film becomes a major stepping stone for comedian Bob Hope, revel in the understated mastery of Eliot Nugent’s direction, cackle like crazy over their favorite Hope lines, appreciate the perfect genre blending of horror and comedy, and then finally surmise the...

Rashmi & Zach move along the map in their Noir journey and find themselves back in Japan to unravel the amazing heist and aftermath of Takumi Furukawa’s 1964 caper, CRUEL GUN STORY (Kenjū zankoku monogatari)!

Tune in today to unpack all the glorious ways Furukawa blends together the various strands of noir in such an efficient way and how it stands in the grand gutter of Noir legacy.

PLUS: Joe Shishido becomes the greatest meme of all time.

To watch CRUEL GUN STORY, go to Criterion for Disc & Streaming Options

Zach welcomes back podcaster and Cary Grant aficionado Ryan Frost (Reel Nerds Podcast) for a trip to the port of Barranca to explore the lives and perils of its daring air mail pilots as they dig deep into Howard Hawks’ 1939 spectacular, ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS.

Buckle up for quite a wild flight as the two unpack the intriguing production history, learn how Hawks was able to bounce back after the debacle of ‘Bringing Up Baby’, talk through the star studded cast and the ups and downs they had working with Hawks, marvel at the stunning visual...

Rashmi & Zach set upon their first trip abroad in their international noir journey with a stop in France as they deep dive into the gritty world of Jules Dassin’s 1955 caper, RIFIFI. 

Tune in to hear about the films unusual origin story, stories from the production, and how the film’s influence has permeated the world of film we experience today. 

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Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org/local/ca...

Zach welcomes back pod-pal Ryan Frost (Podcaster, ‘Reel Nerds Podcast’) to celebrate the holidays with the Peanuts gang as the two celebrate their classic 1965 television debut, A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS.

Stop by the Ballyhoo’s podcast booth and listen as the boys explore the intriguing journey Peanuts took from funny pages to the TV Screen, become awed by the innovations that the creative team brought to television as a whole, become inspired by Sparky’s perfect holiday story, and finally settle upon the many ways in which the show has influenced the television landscape and pop culture as a who...

Zach welcomes back pod-pal Rob Stroude (Ballyhoo Correspondent) for a fine holiday mess with Laurel and Hardy as they unpack the delightful and bonkers 1934 holiday classic, BABES IN TOYLAND.

Hitch a ride with them aboard a Zeppelin driven by a capuchin monkey dressed as Mickey Mouse as the duo explore the tumultuous production history of the film, break down how the film strikes a balance between straigh story telling and comedy driven set pieces, marvel at the boys’ ability to interact alongside sincere narrative, and then finally settle upon the many ways this film has sto...

Zach welcomes back Marshall Rosales (Filmmaker, Ballyhoo Correspondent) to help sift through the remains of a butchered Noir masterpiece as the duo take an extensive look at Orson Welles’ 1958 classic, TOUCH OF EVIL.

Pull up a comfy chair and get ready for a heavy exploration as the boys unpack the making of the film and the many versions of the stories that are told, revel in the master craftsmanship that Welles presents on screen, meticulously analyze the many versions that exist and how they differ, reckon with the films sensitive subject matters , and finally settle upon the ma...

Welcome to the wide world of noir as Rashmi and Zach introduce the newest YBR Presents series: NOIR MONDIAL

The duo inaugurate this new series studying film noir here and abroad with their first study unit, ‘One Last Job’. As a starter they dig into one of film lands most beloved noir heists, John Huston’s 150 classic, THE ASPHALT JUNGLE!

Tune in today to hear them break down the film and how it influenced the wider world of both noir and film at large.

Zach welcomes Natalie Gordon Beiser (Film Scholar/ Podcast Pal) aboard MGM musical train whose destination is a tribute to cinema itself as they unpack and revel in Gene Kelly & Stanley Donen’s 1952 masterpiece, SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN’.

If you can stan ’em, follow our podcast duo as they marvel at the long journey the film took from idea to screen, become fascinated with the process of sewing in previously published songs into the fabric of a filmmaking tribute, revel in the performances from Don to Lina , sift through the ups and downs the film has as a plot...

Zach welcomes aboard regular Ballyhoo contributor Matt Willocks (Pulp Cinematic Universe) and new contributor Ken Sowder on board the beginning of a journey through the history of the high adventure genre.
On this episode, the trio take a trip to the Alabama Hills of California in 1939 to witness George Steven’s influential RKO epic, GUNGA DIN!
Join our daring adventurers as they study the text’s of the films production and the historical context surrounding the characters and settings, travail dangerous roads as they sift through the plot and it’s influential tropes, uncover the essential reckonings of the...

The BallyBOO concludes for this year as Zach is joined by return guest Rashmi Menon (Ballyhoo Correspondent/ YBR Presents Co-Host) on a journey to deep in the heart of Texas where unspeakable mutants made by science terrify your soul as they dive into Ray Kellogg’s 1959 Creature Feature, THE KILLER SHREWS.

Hold onto your seat as the duo unpack the film’s origins, shudder in terror as they walk through history of Kellogg and the films producer Gordon McLendon, repulse in agony as they dissect a simple and stupendous silly plot, and finally hop aboard the boat to s...

Zach welcomes back actress/writer/ craft artist Erin Mullane (Velvet Void Creations) for a journey to Mushnick’s Floral Shop on Skid Row and a dive into the most astounding and outrageous tale of terror and comedy to ever be told: Roger Corman’s THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS!

Follow them along as they travail through the shocking story behind the films rapid creation, tremble with them as they sift through a plot that’s both of its time and timeless, giggle along as they analyze the supreme humor found from the film’s script, and finally follow t...

Zach welcomes back Amy Cornell (Hammer Fan/ Ballyhoo Correspondant, ‘The War of the Worlds’) as the two take the BallyBOO across the pond and into the depths of Bray Studios as they unpack the terror unleashed there by Hammer Films in 1957: THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN!

Join our monster loving hosts as they asses the status of Hammer in a pre-gothic world, shudder with them as they learn of the many hoops and hurdles taken to get the film made, gasp as they do when finding immense depth and characterization backed into less than 90 minutes, and finally depart with...

The BallyBOO returns this week to kick off a month of spooky programming in podcast land.

To kick things off, Zach welcomes podcaster and pun-master Frankie Pellatt (‘The Labours of Hercule’ & ‘Read and Buried’) onto the program for the rigin of a terrifying grin that launched a sea of cosplay as they dive into Paul Leni’s 1928 gothic melodrama chiller, THE MAN WHO LAUGHS.

Shudder in terror as you learn more about the make up process that gave Claude Veidt the permanent grin!

Become aghast at the long process it took for this Victor Hug...

Zach welcomes aboard film fan Robert Stroude for a short film bonanza centered around Hollywood’s legendary bowler-hatted Cuckoo’s, LAUREL & HARDY!

Tune in as the boys explore the respective origins of Stan and Ollie, learn more about their entry into film and how they came to be a comedy team, analyze and pontificate about the brilliance of their comedy through a curated list of short films starring the pair, and finally settle upon the many ways their work has shaped the world of cinema today!

Films Discussed:
THE LUCKY DOG (1921)
WITH LOVE AND...

This week the Ballyhoo becomes a part of a new universe as Zach and Matt Willocks begin their journey through the Golden Age of Hollywood’s dense and magnificent PULP CINEMATIC UNIVERSE!

This journey through pulp and comic characters from yesteryear begins with a return to the world of Lamont Cranston with a deep dive into Columbia’s 1940 serial, THE SHADOW, followed by a look at its more modern adaptation, 1994’s THE SHADOW!

Settle in as the boys trace the characters origins and many mythologies, learn more about how the serial managed to stay fairly loyal...

Zach welcomes film professional and podcaster Michael Holland (From Out of the Past) aboard a stagecoach that’s about to enter a town filled with daring, action, and self aware hilarity as they take a closer look at David Butler’s 1945 Technicolor western, SAN ANTONIO!

Kick up your feet in the Ballyhoo saloon and listen as the boys trace the production history of the film, learn more about director David Butler’s insights on how production flowed from acting to stunt coordination, marvel at the deft balance of comedy and action, revel in the technicolor glory, and finall...

Zach and Rashmi conclude their journey through Japanese Horror Cinema with a leap forward in time to that terrifying new metal world as they deep dive Shinya Tsukamoto’s 1989 cult classic, TETSUO: THE IRON MAN!

Join them as they get lost in Shinya’s whirlpool of madness and the many ways this cyber-punk terror piece has shaped the world of horror and cinema at large.

PLUS: A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!

Zach welcomes back podcaster Henry Jarvis (Reel Nerds Podcast) to help him navigate a groundbreaking German film from up and comers destined for film history greatness as they unpack Edgar G. Ulmer & Robert Siodmak’s 1930 new objectivity classic, People on Sunday!

Hop on the train to a relaxing day in the Berlin sun as the duo learn more about how the film came about, go through the early histories of a crew of young German filmmakers who would become Hollywood titans, marvel at the film’s docu-drama prowess in capturing Weimar Era Germany, discover the lives and afte...

Zach and Rashmi learn how to get ahead (or two) in life as they unravel the 1975 whirlpool of madness that is Masahiro Shinoda’s UNDER THE BLOSSOMING CHERRY TREES.

Tune in to hear us pontificate about this dreamy-looking but terrifying horror tale!

The Brothers Marx are back and…. oh boy, its a doozy as Tyler Maybee (Podcaster, ‘Surrounded by A**holes) returns to help Zach sift through the final three films Groucho, Chico, and Harpo made made in their return to MGM.

Settle in as the two trace the timeline and reasoning for the brothers return, wrestle with the less than quality scripts, analyze the abilities that Edward Buzzell as director can bring to his entries, find the silver linings within each troubled film, reckon with outdated elements in the trio of pictures, and finally asses the reputation and stan...

Zach and Rashmi find themselves amid the haunted susuki grass as they settle in for an unnerving tale courtesy of Kaneto Shindō AS THEY UNPACK HIS 1964 opus, ONIBABA.

Tune in to hear how Shindō and his independent filmmaking skills came to bring about a timeless horror classic.

Zach welcomes back Erin Mullane (Filmmaker, ‘The Other Lemming’) for a show to pay tribute to filmmaking legend Roger Corman as they dive deep into his 1963 Poe-film outing, THE RAVEN!

Settle in as the two share their own unique Corman entry points, thrill as they learn more about how Roger climbed the ladder to B-Movie royalty, laugh along as they unpack Richard Matheson’s humor laced plot, marvel at how it’s sorcerer themes have carried into this recent filmmaking era, and finally reflect upon how Corman’s immense influence as a whole has shaped film culture for the be...

Zach and Rashmi get invited to a spinster aunt’s abode where terrifying and darkly hilarious things lurk as they take a deep and crazy dive into Nobuhiko Obayashi’s 1977 horror hit, HOUSE.

Tune in to learn how a surreal story from the imagination of Nobuhiko’s daughter became an adored and legendary tale of terror whose impact is still being felt to this day!

Zach welcomes author and historian Lara Gabrielle (Captain of her Soul: The Life of Marion Davies) onto the Revue to review an actual revue as they dive into the creation and legacy of MGM’s star fueled extravaganza, THE HOLLYWOOD REVUE OF 1929!

Settle in and listen as the two delve into the trajectories of actors moving from silent film two sound, journey with them on the trajectory of Marion Davies and Jack Benny and how they ended up in the film, marvel with them at the revelation of a grand exhibition format long forgotten, triumph with them as...