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Articles by Andy Ross
UNDER THE MARQUEE: Fun 1967 film 'Mad Monster Party' deserves attention
A viral post on Instagram caused several people to ask me the same question. “Andy, do you know about this movie? Why haven’t you talked about it?” The movie in question is 1967’s “Mad Monster Party,” a stop motion animation feature produced by Rankin/Bass, the same producers who are best know for their TV Christmas specials in the same style, most famously the version of “Rudolph” we all know and love. To answer the questions posed to me this month, yes, I do know about the movie.
UNDER THE MARQUEE: Remembering the late, great Tim Curry
Loosing Dolly Parton, our queen, wasn’t enough. Nope, the universe decided there needed to be a one-two punch. As were all still reeling from the loss of Dolly, it was announced the following day that Tim Curry, the iconic actor, had passed away as well. Where does one begin to sum up the singular force that was Tim Curry? There’s the obvious place, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” but more on that a bit later.
UNDER THE MARQUEE: A personal plea, go see 'Coyote vs Acme'
Let me begin this month by stating that I have yet to have seen the movie “Coyote vs. Acme,” which releases to theaters on Friday. I have read about the film, watched trailers, looked at early critical reviews, and am very excited about the film. So why am I writing a column where I’m asking you to go and see a movie that I, myself, haven’t actually watched yet? There are several reasons, but first, some background. I love Looney Tunes. I have loved Looney Tunes pretty much my entire life.
UNDER THE MARQUEE: The 70s was a golden era for disaster movies
On Wednesdays last month, Turner Classic Movies did a nightly series on disaster movies, largely focusing on the genre’s heyday of the 1970s.
Port Juniors boss expresses gratitude after running ultramarathon in memory of dad
PORT Glasgow Juniors boss Jamieson has expressed his gratitude for the phenomenal support that helped him and his brother-in-law Liam complete the gruelling Great Glen Ultra Marathon in honour of his dad. Running the 45-mile event only days after the passing of his father John, Tam found inspiration in the most difficult of times to cross the line in a time of 10 hours and five minutes.
Morton find out their Premier Sports Cup fate as group stage draw is completed
Morton will face St Johnstone (pictured), Inverness, East Fife and Linlithgow Rose in Group F of the Premier Sports Cup. (Image: Gary Bradley) Morton will take on Championship winners St Johnstone and League One champions Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the group stage of the Premier Sports Cup. Ian Murray’s side were handed a trip to McDiarmid Park in Wednesday’s draw, while they will also travel to Bayview to face East Fife.
UNDER THE MARQUEE: The inadvertent influence of Ted Turner
When Ted Turner passed away recently, my thoughts immediately turned to Turner Classic Movies, the venerable cable staple he founded in 1994 with the mission to show “the greatest movies of all time, uncut, and commercial free.” I had always enjoyed watching older movies as a child, but watching TCM heavily during my high school years is when things really began to explode with my passion for, and advocacy for, classic film. I’m not alone in that.
Legend McMaster slams 'disgraceful' Parkhead scenes after Celtic title win
John McMaster (Image: George Munro) Former Morton assistant boss John McMaster has slammed the scenes that followed Celtic’s last-gasp Premiership title win. Moments after Callum Osmand’s goal sealed the title for the Hoops, a number of home fans ran on to the pitch to celebrate. In the aftermath, Hearts said their players and staff reported “serious physical and verbal abuse”, describing the scenes as “unacceptable” and “disgraceful”.
UNDER THE MARQUEE: The state of the modern movie theater
The news that our local theater was closing for a month for renovations was timed with an article in Variety that I found most interesting and related to that news. I realize this makes for two months in a row where I’ve used a piece of news from another paper as a jumping off point, but stick with me. When it comes to the modern day movie going experience there appears to be, largely, one of two minds about it.
UNDER THE MARQUEE: Embracing the DVD again
A few weeks ago there was an article in the Los Angeles Times about how Gen Z is embracing the DVD and the VHS tape. The story focused on Vidiots, an LA-based video store, both for sales and rentals. Yes, rentals. It’s a fascinating read and heartening. This isn’t just a phenomenon limited to a major city like Los Angeles, it’s happening all over the country, even here in Greeneville. I’ve not seen this happen just with movies, but also with music.
UNDER THE MARQUEE: 'Send Help' Is A Good Time
The other evening my friend Kate sent me a message, “Do you like Sam Raimi?” I do like Sam Raimi, the director best known for creating the “Evil Dead” franchise, and directing the first run of “Spider-Man” movies in the early 2000s. Raimi has a style that is all his own, though he’s worked in many different genres, his calling card is the way he blends horror and comedy together.
UNDER THE MARQUEE: Starting The New Year with Nick and Nora
Often as way to end or kick off a new year, Turner Classic Movies will run a marathon of all six films in the beloved “Thin Man” series, which starred one of the greatest pairings in film history, William Powell and Myrna Loy as husband and wife sleuths Nick and Nora Charles. Though Powell and Loy were both terrific actors and made several films together outside of the “Thin Man” series, making them not only perfect for Nick and Nora, but one of the all-time great screen duos.
UNDER THE MARQUEE: Remembering The Late, Great Rob Reiner
Like every movie lover I was absolutely devastated by the news of the shocking, tragic murder of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michelle Singer Reiner. The news left me upset and shaken, as did some of the reaction to it. Reiner, was, of course, the son of one of America’s great comedy minds, the late Carl Reiner.
UNDER THE MARQUEE: It's Been A Year Of Thankfulness For This Movie Lover
Today is the day before Thanksgiving — how are your preparations going? If I know myself, I am, right now as you read this, in the kitchen frantically trying to keep up with a list of things, probably playing some loud jazz and/or punk rock. Seeing as this is Turkey Day Eve, I thought I would share some things I’m thankful for — movie-related things, that is — as his has been a year with many, pleasant surprises when it comes to the home video world.
UNDER THE MARQUEE: Passing Of Robert Redford Stirs Memory Of Dad
Like many, I was saddened and surprised to hear about the passing of Robert Redford. Redford was a movie star with a capital “M.” A giant, marquee name who seemed like he would be with us forever. In addition to being a fine actor, Redford was equally adept behind the camera as a director. Beyond his talents in cinema, he was also a passionate, caring activist, and an ardent supporter of independent filmmaking through his founding of the Sundance Institute and subsequent film festival.
UNDER THE MARQUEE: It's A Bird! It's A Plane!
The success and great reception of the new “Superman” movie has me thinking this month about the history of the character on the silver screen. Superman’s celluloid roots can be traced back, as can many heroes from comic books, to the 1940s. In the pre-TV era, and even right around the start of it, the go to Saturday kid event was the Saturday matinee down at the local movie house.
UNDER THE MARQUEE: The Joy of Weird Movies
There’s a quote by the great John Waters, which I’m going to edit slightly to share with you: “Get more out of life, see a screwed up movie.” There are two kinds of weird. There’s good weird, and there’s bad weird. We love good weird. Good weird is the best and the greatest example of good weird is “Weird Al” Yankovic. One of the most enjoyable ways to maximize the amount of good weird in your life is with a weird movie.
Kristof Rasovszky puts Hungary at the top of the world, wins men’s 10K in Paris over Klemet & Betlehem
Open Water #PARIS2024 | Hungarian double delight in the Seine Experience paid off for Hungary’s Kristof Rasovszky as he bided his time in winning the men’s 10K, holding off Germany’s Oliver Klemet. Much like the women’s 10K race yesterday in the River Seine, the conditions favored those with the most experience.
Bobby Finke, USA women smash World Records to conclude swimming in Paris
Swimming #PARIS2024 | Two World Records fall on the final night of swimming at La Defense Arena Two world records fell Sunday night at the La Defense Arena from Paris as the Americans won eight golds and 28 total medals to close out the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Kristof Rasovszky Sprints away from the Field, Wins the 10km Title in Doha over Marc-Antoine Olivier
Open Water #AQUADoha2024 | Hungary wins Men’s 10km open water swimming The Hungarian took advantage of the choppy conditions at the Old Doha Port as he won the 10km World title in Qatar over France’s Marc-Antoine Olivier and Great Britain’s Hector Pardoe. Olivier and Pardoe officially qualified for the Olympics with their medals.
Under The Marquee: Remembering The Legendary Burt Bacharach
The word “legend” tends to get overused, but if there is one instance where the word applies it’s to the great titan of American music, Burt Bacharach, who sadly passed away earlier this month at age 94. Bacharach was one of my all-time favorite songwriters, he co-wrote 52 songs that appeared in the top 40. That love for him was a direct result of the movies.
Under The Marquee: Cult Classic Santo Vs. Doctor Death Makes It To Blu-Ray
Since 2012, home-video label Vinegar Syndrome has been on a mission to preserve, restore and release to the public long-neglected cult and underground movies. The fringe of the fringe is often overlooked and neglected. Their namesake comes from the term for the chemical reaction that happens when acetate-based motion picture film begins to break down. The film will shrink, warp and give off a vinegar-like smell that eventually causes the film to solidify and become unsalvageable.
Under The Marquee: A Look Back At My Favorites Of 2022
Are you like me and shocked that here we are and 2022 is almost over? Wasn’t it just June? It seems that this year has been overwhelmingly busy for everyone. For me, it’s been a year with a lot of good, something I hope for you as well. One of the best things I did this year kicking it off by signing up for Letterboxd. Letterboxd is a social media platform that allows you to keep a diary of movies you’ve watched.
Under The Marquee: 'Weird: The Al Yankovic Story'
Two weekends ago I sat through one of the funniest movies I’ve seen in a long time, and hands down the funniest movie of the year. Matter of fact, something happened during this movie that has never happened to me before watching a movie. I laughed so hard, laughed so much, my throat was actually a little hoarse the next day. The movie is “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” and it’s available for free to watch on The Roku Channel.
Gubecka and Paltrinieri wins at FINA Marathon World Series
Photos - FINA Despite finishing second, Ana Marcela Cunha claimed the women’s overall title for the FINA Marathon World Series while Gregorio Paltrinieri and Kristof Rasovszky tied for the men’s overall title based on their final positioning in Eilat. The pace was hot in the final stop of the FINA Marathon World Series in Eilat, Israel as it was Gregorio Paltrinieri coming out on top on the final sprint with a 1:46:41.80.
Under The Marquee: 'Elvira: Mistress Of The Dark' Makes My Heart Happy
I often will describe things that I enjoy, that hits all the right buttons in my brain, and that leaves me feeling elevated and better about life as it “makes my heart happy.” If there is one seasonal favorite that I can truly describe as a movie that makes my heart happy, it’s 1988s “Elvira: Mistress of the Dark.” I’m very glad to be alive in a time when the character of Elvira exists. The creation of performer and writer Cassandra Peterson, Elvira has been a Halloween staple for 40 years.
5 Ways to Calm Your Nerves at Championships
There is no swimmer on Earth who has never had nerves before a big championship meet. And if there is a swimmer who has never gotten nervous, then I want to meet them. Nerves are typical with any swimmer at any meet.
Under The Marquee: Star Trek: The Director’s Edition
The 1970s were an interesting time for “Star Trek.” The TV series ended in June 1969 after three years on NBC where it struggled for ratings. The show’s devoted fanbase had successfully lobbied NBC for a third year after they canceled the show in 1968, but this time it was finally over. “Star Trek” soon entered syndication, the long-standing practice of offering reruns of network TV shows to local stations to air at their choosing.
A Look At the Ups and Downs of Being a Coach's Kid
Being the coach's kid can bring both positives and negatives. Here is a list of the ups and downs of having a coach for a parent.
Under The Marquee: A Surprising Upgrade
I’ve often talked about how for all the calls of the demise of physical media being brandished it’s a boom time for movie nerds as so many studios are more than willing to work with niche home video labels to put out deluxe editions of movies that once would have been little more than a pipe dream. Take for instance the label Vinegar Syndrome, so named for the chemical breakdown that can happen to film when it’s not stored properly, giving off a vinegar-like scent.
Under The Marquee: 'Cold War Creatures' - A Chilling Pleasure For Summer Viewing
It seems almost every summer I manage to talk about 1950s, low-budget, sci-fi/horror movies as one of my favorite seasonal pastimes. Though movies like “Creature from the Black Lagoon” work well at Halloween, there is a certain charm in those types of films that conjure up images of the classic American drive-in theater that makes them perfect summer fare to me. It helps too that I’ve spent the last week diving into perhaps the best home video collection of such type films I’ve ever come across.
Under The Marquee: Guilty Pleasure Movies
My best friend and I have a deep affection for the 1995 summer action movie “Congo.” You might, in all possibility, be saying to yourself, “‘Congo?’ The really bad movie with the talking gorilla?” Yes, that movie. “Congo,” which did very well at the box office, was based on a novel by “Jurassic Park” author Michael Crichton. Considering that “Jurassic Park” dominated the movie world in the summer of 1993, you can do the math and see why a rush was on to make another movie from one of his novels.
Under The Marquee: This Is Cinerama
By the mid-1950s, Hollywood was thrown into a panic over television. As TV sales went up, film attendance went down. Fearing the ruination of the entire industry, studios soon began to experiment with new ways of presenting movies to get audiences back into the theaters. There was 3D, then came the widescreen boom which did change movies forever. Almost every studio had a wide-screen process of their own.
Under The Marquee: 'Get Crazy'
When you think of a lost movie what comes to mind? A movie from the silent era which no known print exists of? Perhaps an early sound film where all we have left are small fragments of it, not the entire film? What if I told you there was a film from 1983 that was, at one point in time, lost?
Under The Marquee: True Stories
As Christmas was approaching I was feeling a bit ho-hum about it all. Not entirely to the point of being a Scrooge, but not feeling very enthusiastic. Like so many Americans I have been experiencing a good bit of burnout from, well, everything. I knew I needed to watch something to cheer myself up, but I wasn’t looking for anything seasonal. I sat there looking over to my movies shelves and was scanning the titles with my eyes.
Great Races: Michael Phelps and Erik Vendt's WR Duel in 400 IM
Michael Phelps and Erik Vendt had one of the all-time great races in the 400 IM at the 2002 United States Nationals in Fort Lauderdale.
Remembering Andy O’Grady – Former UCLA Swimmer Who Died in the Terrorist Attacks of 9/11
Remembering Andy O’Grady – Former UCLA Swimmer That Died in the World Trade Center on 9/11 September 11, 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of the deadly terrorist attacks that occurred in 2001, where nearly 3,000 people died after two planes hit the World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York City. One of the lives lost on that horrific day was former UCLA swimmer Andy O’Grady, whose story was commemorated in a Los Angeles Times story from late September 2001 written by Helene Elliott.
Swimming World August 2021 Presents - Up & Comers: Coral Springs Swim Club's Brian Hamilton - Sponsored By Spectrum Aquatics
Read about Coral Spring Swim Club's Brian Hamilton, whose current goals are to take down his club team's records in the 50 and 100 free.
Swimming World August 2021 Presents - Guttertalk: Why Did You Decide To Join ISHOF's One In A Thousand Club? - Sponsored By Colorado Time Systems
Swimming World asks some of swimming's top players why they joined The International Swimming Hall of Fame Museum's One In A Thousand Club.
Swimming World August 2021 Presents - GoldMinds: 10 Great Reasons to Get Back in the Pool
The latest issue of Swimming World Magazine is now available for download in the Swimming World Vault! Non-Subscribers Can Download This Issue Here The Swimming World August 2021 Issue
Swimming World August 2021 Presents - Dryside Training: The Gold Medal Workout - By J.R. Rosania
This month's Dryside Training with J.R. Rosania provides several exercises that will help improve a swimmer's strength, power and quickness.
Swimming World August 2021 Presents
A Bison as a student and now as a coach, Nicholas Askew is leading the athletes of historically black Howard University into a brave new world.
Swimming World August 2021 Presents - Special Sets: Energy System Training with Pikes Peak Athletics Coach George Heidinger
George Heidinger, of Pikes Peak Athletics, specializes in long-term athlete development. As such, he is well-schooled in the science of energy systems.
Swimming World August 2021 Presents - A Coaches Guide To Energy Systems Part 3: While They're Young
In Part 3 of our series on energy systems, two age group coaches share how they inform and guide their younger athletes through energy system training.
Swimming World August 2021 Presents - Maximizing Swimming Velocity Part 4 - Minimizing Arm Entry Phase Time In Backstroke and Breaststroke
A swimmer who can further decrease the entry phase time will be able to further increase swimming velocity.
Swimming World August 2021 Presents - Special Sets - TIDE Coach Richard Hunter Talks On Training Kayla Wilson
Coach Richard Hunter of TIDE Swimming in Virginia Beach, Va. discusses goals and workouts for one of his top swimmers, Kayla Wilson.
Swimming World August 2021 Presents - Mental Prep: Before the Beep with Kate Douglass
Read about how Kate Douglass, fresh off her first Olympic Games as a member of Team USA, prepares herself for a big race.
Swimming World August 2021 Presents
To reach your swimming goals, it's important to know what to eat-at what times and in what amounts, which is different for everyone but important to master.
Swimming World August 2021 Presents - The Netherlands' Inge de Bruijn: One of the Greatest Sprinters of All Time
The 2000 Olympic Games served as a redemptive locale for the Netherlands' Inge de Bruijn, who used the stage to define herself as one of the sport's legends
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