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Samuel Z. Arkoff
Samuel Zachary Arkoff (June 12, 1918 – September 16, 2001) was an American producer of B movies. Life and career Arkoff was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Russian Jewish parents. He was the son of Helen (Lurie) and Louis Arkoff, who ran his Louis Clothing Co. Arkoff first studied to be a lawyer. He began his career in Hollywood as a producer of ''The Hank McCune Show'', a seminal sitcom produced in 1951. In 1954, James H. Nicholson founded the American Releasing Corporation, which later became known as American International Pictures, and made Arkoff the vice-president. AIP films were mostly low-budget, with production completed in a few days, though nearly all of them became profitable. Along with business partner James H. Nicholson and producer-director Roger Corman, he produced eighteen films. Arkoff is also credited with starting a few genres, such as the ''Beach Party'' and outlaw biker movies, and his company played a substantial part in bringing the horror film genre ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fort Dodge, Iowa
Fort Dodge is a city in, and the county seat of, Webster County, Iowa, United States, along the Des Moines River. The population was 24,871 in the 2020 census, a decrease from 25,136 in 2000. Fort Dodge is a major commercial center for North Central and Northwest Iowa. It is located on U.S. Routes 20 and 169. History Fort Dodge traces its beginnings to 1850 when E Company of the 6th Infantry were sent from Fort Snelling to erect and garrison a fort at the junction of the Des Moines River and Lizard Creek. It was originally named Fort Clarke but was renamed Fort Dodge because there was another fort with the same name in Texas. It was named after Henry Dodge, a governor of Wisconsin Territory (which had included Iowa until Iowa became a state in 1846). The fort was abandoned by the Army in 1853. The next year William Willams, a civilian storekeeper in Fort Dodge, purchased the land and buildings of the old fort. The town of Fort Dodge was founded in 1869. In 1872 the long ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Boris Karloff
William Henry Pratt (23 November 1887 – 2 February 1969), better known by his stage name Boris Karloff (), was an English actor. His portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in the horror film ''Frankenstein'' (1931) (his 82nd film) established him as a horror icon, and he reprised the role for the sequels ''Bride of Frankenstein'' (1935) and ''Son of Frankenstein'' (1939). He also appeared as Imhotep in ''The Mummy'' (1932), and voiced the Grinch in, as well as narrating, the animated television special of Dr. Seuss' ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas!'' (1966), which won him a Grammy Award. Aside from his numerous film roles (174 films), Karloff acted in many live stage plays and appeared on dozens of radio and television programs as well. For his contribution to film and television, Karloff was awarded two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 8 February 1960. Early life Karloff was born William Henry Pratt on 23 November 1887, [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dick Miller
Richard Miller (December 25, 1928 – January 30, 2019) was an American character actor who appeared in more than 180 films, including many produced by Roger Corman. He later appeared in the films of directors who began their careers with Corman, including Joe Dante, James Cameron, and Martin Scorsese, with the distinction of appearing in every film directed by Dante. He was known for playing the beleaguered everyman, often in one-scene appearances. Miller's main roles in films included ''Gremlins'', '' Gremlins 2: The New Batch'', ''Explorers'', ''Piranha'', ''The Howling'', ''A Bucket of Blood'', ''The Little Shop of Horrors'', '' Not of This Earth'', '' Chopping Mall'', ''Night of the Creeps'', ''The Terminator'', ''The 'Burbs'', ''Small Soldiers'' and '' Quake''. Early life Miller was born on Christmas Day, 1928, in The Bronx, New York, the son of Russian Jewish immigrants, Rita (Blucher), an opera singer, and Ira Miller, a printer. He served a tour of duty in the United ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arkoff International Pictures
Arkoff International Pictures was a film production company set up by Samuel Z. Arkoff, co-founder of American International Pictures (AIP). Arkoff sold AIP to Filmways in 1979, which he later described as "a giant mistake... heywanted to change everything AIP stood for." Arkoff stayed on for a time as consultant but eventually sold the rest of his stock and retired. AIP did not last long afterwards. Arkoff decided to come out of retirement establishing a new company which was run along similar principles to AIP. Its first film was ''Q – The Winged Serpent'' entirely financed by Arkoff himself. "People always ask me if it's difficult for me at my age to keep up with trends", said Arkoff in 1982. "What they don't understand is that I'm not older today. I was already older before." In 1987 it was announced Arkoff had secured funds from a Canadian investor "reported to run into nine figures". Arkoff announced a series of films to be made in Canada, the US and Mexico with his so ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Filmways
Filmways, Inc. (also known as Filmways Pictures and Filmways Television) was a television and film production company founded by American film executive Martin Ransohoff and Edwin Kasper in 1952. It is probably best remembered as the production company of CBS’ “rural comedies” of the 1960s, including ''Mister Ed'', ''The Beverly Hillbillies'', ''Petticoat Junction'', and ''Green Acres'', as well as the comedy-drama ''The Trials of O'Brien'', the western ''Dundee and the Culhane'', the adventure show ''Bearcats!'', the police drama ''Cagney & Lacey'', and ''The Addams Family''. Notable films the company produced include ''The Sandpiper'', ''The Cincinnati Kid'', ''The Fearless Vampire Killers'', ''Ice Station Zebra'', ''Summer Lovers'', '' The Burning'', ''King'', Brian De Palma's '' Dressed to Kill'' and ''Blow Out'', and ''Death Wish II''. Filmways acquired famous companies throughout the years, such as Heatter-Quigley Productions, Ruby-Spears Productions and American Inter ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Amityville Horror
''The Amityville Horror'' is a book by American author Jay Anson, published in September 1977. It is also the basis of a series of films released from 1979 onward. The book is based on the claims of paranormal experiences by the Lutz family, but has led to controversy and lawsuits over its truthfulness. Historical basis On November 13, 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr. shot and killed six members of his family at 112 Ocean Avenue, a large Dutch Colonial house situated in a suburban neighborhood in Amityville, on the south shore of Long Island, New York. He was convicted of second-degree murder in November 1975 and sentenced to six terms of 25 years to life in prison. DeFeo died in custody in March 2021. In December 1975, George and Kathy Lutz and their three children moved into the house. After 28 days, the Lutzes fled the house, claiming to have been terrorized by paranormal phenomena while living there. Plot The book describes the house at 112 Ocean Avenue as remaining empty f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jay Anson
''The Amityville Horror'' is a book by American author Jay Anson, published in September 1977. It is also the basis of a series of films released from 1979 onward. The book is based on the claims of paranormal experiences by the Lutz family, but has led to controversy and lawsuits over its truthfulness. Historical basis On November 13, 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr. shot and killed six members of his family at 112 Ocean Avenue, a large Dutch Colonial house situated in a suburban neighborhood in Amityville, on the south shore of Long Island, New York. He was convicted of second-degree murder in November 1975 and sentenced to six terms of 25 years to life in prison. DeFeo died in custody in March 2021. In December 1975, George and Kathy Lutz and their three children moved into the house. After 28 days, the Lutzes fled the house, claiming to have been terrorized by paranormal phenomena while living there. Plot The book describes the house at 112 Ocean Avenue as remaining empty f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dennis Hopper
Dennis Lee Hopper (May 17, 1936 – May 29, 2010) was an American actor, filmmaker and photographer. He attended the Actors Studio, made his first television appearance in 1954, and soon after appeared in ''Giant'' (1956). In the next ten years he made a name in television, and by the end of the 1960s had appeared in several films, notably ''Cool Hand Luke'' (1967) and ''Hang 'Em High'' (1968). Hopper also began a prolific and acclaimed photography career in the 1960s. Hopper made his directorial film debut with ''Easy Rider'' (1969), which he and co-star Peter Fonda wrote with Terry Southern. The film earned Hopper a Cannes Film Festival Award for "Best First Work" and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay (shared with Fonda and Southern). Journalist Ann Hornaday wrote: "With its portrait of counterculture heroes raising their middle fingers to the uptight middle-class hypocrisies, ''Easy Rider'' became the cinematic symbol of the 1960s, a celluloid an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bruce Dern
Bruce MacLeish Dern (born June 4, 1936) is an American actor. He has often played supporting villainous characters of unstable natures. He has received several accolades, including the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor and the Silver Bear for Best Actor. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for '' Coming Home'' (1978) and the Academy Award for Best Actor for ''Nebraska'' (2013). He is also a BAFTA Award, two-time Genie Award, and three-time Golden Globe Award nominee. A member of The Actors Studio, he rose to prominence during the New Hollywood era, through roles in films such as '' They Shoot Horses, Don't They?'' (1969), ''The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant'' (1971), ''The Cowboys'', '' Silent Running'', and ''The King of Marvin Gardens'' (all 1972). Other notable films include ''The Great Gatsby'' (1974), ''Posse'' (1975), '' Family Plot'' (1976), '' Black Sunday'' (1977), ''The Driver'' (1978), ''Tattoo'' (1981), ''That Championship Seas ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jack Nicholson
John Joseph Nicholson (born April 22, 1937) is an American retired actor and filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of all time. In many of his films, he played rebels against the social structure. He received numerous accolades throughout his career which spanned over five decades, including three Academy Awards. His most known and celebrated films include '' Chinatown'' (1974), '' One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'' (1975), '' The Shining'' (1980), and ''The Departed'' (2006). He has also directed three films, including ''The Two Jakes'' (1990), a sequel to ''Chinatown''. His twelve Academy Award nominations make Nicholson the most nominated male actor in the Academy's history. He has won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice, once for ''One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'' (1975) and once for ''As Good as It Gets'' (1997); he also won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for ''Terms of Endearment'' (1983). He is one of only three male actors ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Diane Ladd
Diane Ladd is an American actress. She has appeared in over 120 film and television roles. For the 1974 film '' Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore'', she won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She went on to win the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television for '' Alice'' (1980–81), and to receive Academy Award nominations for '' Wild at Heart'' (1990) and '' Rambling Rose'' (1991). Her other film appearances include '' Chinatown'' (1974), ''National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation'' (1989), ''Ghosts of Mississippi'' (1996), ''Primary Colors'' (1998), '' 28 Days'' (2000), ''American Cowslip'' (2008) and '' Joy (2015 film) '' (2015) . Ladd is the mother of actress Laura Dern, with her ex-husband, actor Bruce Dern. Personal life Ladd was born Rose Diane Ladner, the only child of Mary Bernadette (née Anderson), a housewife and actress, and Preston Paul Ladner, a veterinarian wh ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nick Nolte
Nicholas King Nolte (born February 8, 1941) is an American actor. He won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for the 1991 film ''The Prince of Tides''. He received Academy Award nominations for ''Affliction'' (1998) and ''Warrior'' (2011), and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for the 1976 miniseries '' Rich Man, Poor Man''. His other film appearances include '' The Deep'' (1977), ''Who'll Stop The Rain'' (1978), ''North Dallas Forty'' (1979), '' 48 Hrs.'' (1982), ''Teachers'' (1984), '' Down and Out in Beverly Hills'' (1986), ''Another 48 Hrs.'' (1990), ''Three Fugitives'' (1989), '' Everybody Wins'' (1990), '' Cape Fear'' (1991), ''Lorenzo's Oil'' (1992), '' I Love Trouble'' (1994), ''Blue Chips'' (1994), '' The Thin Red Line'' (1998), '' The Good Thief'' (2002), '' Hulk'' (2003), ''Hotel Rwanda'' (2004), ''Over the Hedge' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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