“Svengoolie” to present his big broadcast premiere of “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman” (1958), this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie SvenPals from coast-to-coast will be jumping for joy for his big broadcast premiere of a cult classic sci-fi thriller feature.

“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast premiere of “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman” (1958)

Original 1958 Allied Artists theatrical trailer for “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman.”

Original 1958 Allied Artists poster art for “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman,” designed by Reynold Brown.

The legendary Berwyn/Chicago-based sci-fi film host will present his big broadcast premiere of “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman” (1958), this Sat., June 15 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.  According to Svengoolie’s official Twitter page, his upcoming big broadcast premiere of “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman” will be shown on the eve of Sven’s 40^th anniversary in the television broadcast airlanes!

“Attack of the 50 Foot Woman” (1958) was directed by veteran film director Nathan H. Juran, who was credited under the name of Nathan Hertz in the film (Hertz was Juran’s middle name).  Juran’s other features include “20 Million Miles to Earth” (1957, Ray Harryhausen’s “Dynamation” stop-motion creature sequences), “The Deadly Mantis” (1957),  “The 7^th Voyage of Sinbad” (1959, with Harryhausen’s “Dynamation” creature scenes)  and “The Boy Who Cried Werewolf” (1973).

Juran (Hertz)’s 1958 feature was produced by cinema exhibitor-distributor-producer Bernard Woolner.  The screenplay was written by Mark Hanna, who wrote the screenplay for Bert I. Gordon’s sci-fi thriller for James H. Nicholson and Samuel Z. Arkoff’s American-International Pictures; “The Amazing Colossal Man” (1957).

“Attack of the 50 Foot Woman” was released theatrically from coast-to-coast by Allied Artists Pictures (the former Monogram Pictures), according to IMDB.

 

Who was in “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman” (1958)?

The players who appeared in “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman” (1958) were Allison Hayes (as Nancy Fowler Archer), William Hudson (as Harry Archer), Yvette Vickers (as Honey Parker), Roy Gordon (as Dr. Isaac Cushing), Eileen Stevens (as a nurse, Stevens was credited under the name of Eileene Stevens in the film), Ken Terrell (as Jess Stout), George Douglas (as Sheriff Dubbitt), Otto Waldis (as Dr. Heinrich Von Loeb), Frank Chase (as deputy Charlie), Dale Tate (as a TV commentator) and Michael Ross (in the dual roles of bartender Tony and the space giant).

Born Mary Jane Hayes, the future Allison Hayes won the 1949 Miss Washington D.C. (Miss D.C.) pageant competition.  Hayes previously appeared in the role of Lt. Dickson in in Arthur Lubin’s Universal “Francis the Talking Mule” comedy, “Francis Joins the WACS” (1954); with Donald O’Connor, Julie Adams of “Creature from the Black Lagoon” fame, Chill Wills, Zasu Pitts, Mamie Van Doren, Mara Corday and Olan Soule).  Seven years after “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman,” Hayes returned to Allied Artists for her appearance in the role of Mabel in Norman Taurog’s romantic musical comedy; “Tickle Me” (1965), featuring Elvis Presley and Julie Adams.

The original working title for “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman” (1958)

Original 1958 Allied Artists lobby card/publicity still for “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman.”

According to the American Film Institute’s database article on “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman” (1958), the original working title for the Juran (Hertz)/Allied Artists sci-fi thriller feature was “The Astounding Giant Woman.”

Filmed in a brief timeframe

Original 1958 Allied Artists lobby card/publicity still for “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman.”

The Juran (Hertz) production of “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman” was filmed in eight days with a production budget of $89,000; according to details from Richard Harland Smith’s Turner Classic Movies article on “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman.”   Juran (Hertz)’s Allied Artists feature grossed over $480,000 at the box office.

Reynold Brown’s famous poster art design for “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman”

Original 1958 Allied Artists lobby card rendition of the poster artwork for “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman,” with Reynold Brown‘s artwork of Allison Hayes.

The iconic poster artwork of Allison Hayes’ characterization of Nancy Fowler Archer for Juran (Hertz)’s Allied Artists production of “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman” was designed by veteran artist and movie poster designer Reynold Brown.  According to IMDB,  Brown also designed the poster artwork for Universal Studios’ popular monster, sci-fi and horror features throughout the 1950s; including “Creature from the Black Lagoon” (1954), “Revenge of the Creature” (1955), “This Island Earth” (1955), The Creature Walks Among Us” (1956) and “The Monolith Monsters” (1957).

Released as a sci-fi theatrical double-feature presentation with an additional Roger Corman sci-fi feature by Allied Artists

“The world’s biggest sensation!” “The ultimate in scientific monsters!” Original 1958 Allied Artists sci-fi double-feature exhibitors’ ad for Nathan H. Juran (Hertz)‘s “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman” and Roger Corman’s “War of the Satellites.”

According to the July 1958 edition of Motion Picture Daily, Allied Artists Pictures released Nathan H. Juran (Hertz)’s “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman” as a double-feature presentation with an added sci-fi feature.  The additional Allied Artists sci-fi feature in the double-feature showcase was Roger Corman’s “War of the Satellites” (1958, featuring Dick Miller, Susan Cabot, Richard Devon, Michael Fox, Mitzi McCall and Robert Shayne).

Be sure to watch/record Svengoolie’s big broadcast premiere of “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman” (1958), this Sat. on Me-TV on the eve before Sven’s anniversary!

Original 1958 Allied Artists lobby card/publicity still for “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman,” featuring Allison Hayes as Nancy Fowler Archer.

Svengoolie (portrayed by Rich Koz), Kerwyn and all fellow SvenPals are all jumping for joy for his upcoming big broadcast premiere of “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman” (1958), this Sat. on Me-TV!  Celebrating four decades of Sven (“Son of Svengoolie”) on the Berwyn airlanes!

With Allison Hayes, William Hudson, Yvette Vickers, Roy Gordon, Eileen Stevens, Ken Terrell, George Douglas, Otto Waldis, Frank Chase, Dale Tate. Michael Ross and Jacques R. Marquette‘s cinematography; you will not want to miss out on Svengoolie’s upcoming big broadcast premiere of “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman” (1958), this Sat. on Me-TV!  A perfect treat for the entire crowd of fellow super Svengoolie SvenPals on the eve of (son of) Sven’s 40^th anniversary with Sven’s extra fun facts, Doug Graves’ evening parody song, Kerwyn’s “mail call” segment and many surprises (including cameo appearances by legendary cartoon voice-over artists Rob Paulsen and Maurice LaMarche, according to Sven’s official Twitter site/feed)!  You will not be disappointed!  Highly recommended!

And a happy early 40^th anniversary to (son of) Svengoolie and to Sven’s alter-ego, Mr. Rich Koz on behalf of the entire crowd of fellow super Svengoolie SvenPals from coast-to-coast from the writer of “Silver Screen Reflections!”  Keep up the wonderful work, sir!  Here’s to many more Sat. night film classics from Berwyn!–C.H.

Svengoolie presents his big broadcast premiere of “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman” (1958)

Sat., June 15 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV (part of “Super Sci-Fi Sat. Night”)

Me-TV’s official coast-to-coast affiliation finder

In the Frederick, Maryland/Washington, D.C. area: WTTG-5.3/Cable 196/FiOS 489/Antietam Cable 194 (also on QAM digital 68.6 for Antietam cable subscribers)

In the Baltimore, Maryland area: WBAL-TV 11.2/Cable 208/FiOS 460

In the Hanover/Gettysburg/York, Pennsylvania area: WGAL-TV 8.2/Cable 248/FiOS 460

Live-tweet with all fellow super SvenPals from coast-to coast this Sat. during #Svengoolie’s big broadcast premiere of “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman” (1958) on Me-TV!

Extra! Extra! Extra!  Fellow super Svengoolie SvenPal Jamie Lee has recently announced a new Indiegogo fund campaign of an upcoming local Chicago/Berwyn/Lake Villa, Illinois theatrical stage edition of the Reduced Shakespeare Company (Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield)’s “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)!” A collaborative effort between the acting trio Jamie Lee, Dean Griffiths and Tara Petrozelli, the upcoming Chicago/Berwyn/Villa Park production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” will take place in July 2019 at the Terminus Theatre (121 Grand Ave., Lake Villa, IL, 60046), directed by Jim Behr!   Jamie and the Terminus players are currently looking to secure funding for their upcoming stage production via Indiegogo before the July performances; several premiums (“perks”) are offered for certain funding levels!  And any amount helps for the production!

Extra! Extra! Extra! Fellow Chicago/Berwyn/Antioch super SvenPals and beyond!  Third/finale big week of the PM&L players rendition of Christopher Durang’s Tony Award-winning play, “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike;” featuring fellow super Svengoolie SvenPal Jamie Lee and the PM&L troupe!  Directed by Mark Badtke, Jamie is reprising her role of Nina in the current PM&L rendition of Durang’s play!  The third big week of performances will occur on Fri., June 14 at 8 p.m. (local time), Sat., June 15 at 8 p.m. (local time) and the finale show on Sun., June 16 at 2:30 p.m. (local time)! !  Ticket information is available online and through the PM&L box office for purchase (according to the  PM&L Theatre website, ticket prices are $15 and $18).  Purchase yours today!

The entire league of fellow coast-to-coast super SvenPals from coast-to-coast are applauding and cheering for Jamie and the entire PM&L players ensemble on their upcoming third big week/finale week “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike!”  You got this!  And congrats to Jamie, Dean, Tara, Jim & the Terminus players!  Be sure to spread the word/give generously to support Jamie, the Terminus players and the local Chicago/Berwyn/Lake Villa performing arts scene!  Three cheers, two thumbs up and kudos!  All of us are proud of you! –C.H.

And be sure to give generously /spread the word to help one of Jamie’s friends from the PM&L troupe through her friend’s official “GoFundMe” website (to help offset costly health costs)! –C.H.

In connection to “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman” (1958):

“Attack of the 50 Foot Woman” (1958) is also available on DVD through Warner Home Video’s “Warner Archive” line of classic and rare titles (from Warner Bros. & Warners’ ownership of the Monogram/Allied Artists/Lorimar, Turner/pre-1986 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer holdings & RKO Radio Pictures titles).  The film is also available for streaming from Warner Bros. through participating streaming/video-on-demand providers.

Note: Warner Bros. acquired the rights to the Allied Artists/Lorimar library as part of Warner Communications’ 1989 acquisition of Lorimar-Telepictures.   Lorimar originally acquired the library of Allied Artists Pictures shortly after Allied Artists went bankrupt in 1979. –C.H.

 

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