Fellow Svengoolie SvenPals will be jumping for joy for his big broadcast of a classic Columbia Pictures stop-motion sci-fi creature masterpiece.
“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast of “It Came From Beneath the Sea” (1955)
The legendary Berwyn/Chicago-based creature/thriller film host will present his big broadcast of “It Came From Beneath the Sea” (1955), this Sat., Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.
The 1955 Columbia classic sci-fi creature masterpiece was directed by Robert Gordon and was produced by veteran studio producers Charles H. Schneer and Sam Katzman (Katzman served as executive producer on the feature). Stop-motion animation and visual pioneer Ray Harryhausen created the Dynamation stop-motion creature effects for “It Came from Beneath the Sea.” This marked the first collaboration between Harryhausen and Schneer, the two worked on numerous sci-fi and fantasy feature productions, including “Earth vs. the Flying Saucers” (1956), “20 Million Miles to Earth” (1957), “The 7th Voyage of Sinbad” (1958), “Jason and the Argonauts” (1963), “First Men in the Moon” (1964), “The Valley of Gwangi” (1969) and “Clash of the Titans” (1981).
“It Came from Beneath the Sea” (1955) was originally released by Columbia as a double-feature theatrical presentation with Edward L. Cahn‘s sci-fi creature thriller, “Creature with the Atom Brain” (1955, with Richard Denning of the 1954 Jack Arnold–Universal monster production of “Creature From the Black Lagoon” and Angela Stevens); according to IMDB. According to additional details from the American Film Institute, similar stock footage elements were utilized in both “It Came From Beneath the Sea” and “Creature with the Atom Brain.”
This will mark Sven’s second big coast-to-coast broadcast of the 1955 Harryhausen-Columbia Dynamation classic on Me-TV. He previously showcased “It Came from Beneath the Sea” from coast-to-coast back in March 2019. According to additional details from IMDB, Sven previously aired the 1955 Harryhausen-Columbia Dynamation sci-fi creature thriller on his hometown television station in Berwyn/Chicago, Illinois; WCIU-TV 26/”The U”* back in June 2010.
Who was in the 1955 Harryhausen-Schneer-Gordon-Katzman Columbia sci-fi “Dynamation” creature entry?
The players who appeared in the 1955 Harryhausen-Schneer-Gordon-Katzman-Columbia sci-fi “Dynamation” underwater sci-fi creature production were Kenneth Tobey (as Cmdr. Pete Matthews; Tobey previously appeared in previously appeared in Howard Hawks’ 1951 RKO sci-fi thriller with a pre-“Gunsmoke” James Arness, “The Thing from Another World” and in the 1953 Harryhausen-Eugène Lourié’-Warner Bros. sci-fi “Dynamation” creature thriller; “The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms”), Faith Domergue (as Prof. Lesley Joyce; Domergue previously appeared in the 1955 Joseph Newman-Universal sci-fi thriller, “This Island Earth”), Charles H. Schneer (in an uncredted on-screen cameo appearance as an extra), Donald Curtis (as Dr. John Carter; Curtis also appeared in the 1956 Harryhausen-Schneer-Fred F. Sears-Columbia sci-fi Dynamation feature, “Earth vs. the Flying Saucers”), Dean Maddox Jr. (as Admiral Norman), Harry Lauter (as Dep. Bill Nash, Lauter also appeared in Sears’ 1956 Columbia monster-creature production with Steven Ritch; “The Werewolf”), Ian Keith (as Admiral Burns), Chuck Griffiths (as Naval Lt. Griff), and Richard W. Peterson (as Capt. Stacy) and William Woodson (in an uncredited role as the opening/introductory narrator, Woodson also provided the uncredited opening narration for “Earth vs. the Flying Saucers”).
Original working titles for “It Came From Beneath the Sea” (1955)
According to additional information from the American Film Institute, the original working title for the 1955 Harryhausen-Schneer-Gordon-Katzman-Columbia Dynamation creature entry were “Monster of the Deep” and “The Monster Beneath the Sea.”
“It Came From Beneath the Sea:” The brainchild of Ray Harryhausen and Charles H. Schneer
According to on Ray Harryhausen’s accounts in Richard Schickel’s retrospective documentary, “The Harryhausen Chronicles” (1998); he recounted that producer Charles H. Schneer was interested in a proposed film project about a larger-than-life octopus that wanted to tear the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California. Harryhausen admitted that he was up for Schneer’s idea. Though San Francisco city officials forbade Harryhausen and Schneer from filming the actual bridge for their Columbia Dynamation production of “It Came from Beneath the Sea;” the two came up with the ingenious idea of putting a hidden camera in a bakery truck for the background plate sequences that were filmed along the actual Golden Gate Bridge. With a tight budget, a model replica Golden Gate Bridge was built by Harryhausen for the Dynamation sequences.
“It Came From Beneath the Sea:” Charles H. Schneer’s final collaboration with Sam Katzman
After the box-office success of “It Came from Beneath the Sea,” Charles H. Schneer decided to part ways with Sam Katzman due to conflicts between the two veteran film producers. Schneer decided to form his own production company; Morningside Productions to co-produce Ray Harryhausen’s Dynamation features. Columbia handled distribution for the majority of the latter Harryhausen-Schneer-Morningside features, according to additional details from Richard Harland Smith’s TCM article.
Be sure to watch/record Svengoolie’s big broadcast of Ray Harryhausen’s “It Came From Beneath the Sea” (1955); this Sat. on Me-TV!
Original 1955 Columbia Pictures theatrical trailer for Ray Harryhausen’s “It Came From Beneath the Sea.”
With an ensemble cast featuring Kenneth Tobey, Faith Domergue, Ian Keith, Donald Curtis, Dean Maddox Jr., Chuck Griffiths, Charles H. Schneer, Harry Lauter, Richard W. Peterson, William Woodson and Ray Harryhausen’s famed Dynamation octopus creature creation; you will not want to miss out on Svengoolie’s big broadcast of “It Came from Beneath the Sea” (1955), this Sat. on Me-TV! A perfect treat for all fellow super SvenPals from coast-to-coast with Sven’s extensive fun facts, maestro Doug Graves’ parody song and Kerwyn’s “mail call” segment! You will not be disappointed! Highly recommended to all fellow super SvenPals and aficionados of Ray Harryhausen’s classic Dynamation feature masterpieces!
Svengoolie presents his big broadcast of Ray Harryhausen’s “It Came From Beneath the Sea” (1955)
Sat., Nov. 9 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 coast-to-coast super #Svengoolie SvenPals everywhere via Twitter this Sat. during Sven’s big broadcast of Ray Harryhausen’s “It Came from Beneath the Sea” (1955)!
(Have no fear, LED lights were used for my indoor Sven Halloween 2019 Sven-O-Lantern due to rainy conditions on Halloween night)! for my From Halloween 2019: A “Silver Screen Reflections” glimpse of my 2019 Svengoolie Halloween pumpkin creation with extra photos! Note: My pumpkin photos were originally going to be posted via Twitter, but was changed to my “Silver Screen Reflections” blog site due to Twitter tech. difficulties that took place that evening. –C.H.
Released in in honor of Sven/Mr. Rich Koz’s 40th anniversary in television, the official Svengoolie 40th anniversary surprise fan box is available for purchase on the official Sven/Me-TV online store! The Svengoolie 40th anniversary surprise fan box contains a 40th anniversary official Sven T-shirt, an authentic Archie McPhee autographed by Sven & Sven’s alter-ego, Mr. Rich Koz and eight surprise Sven items! Note: Less than 1,000 are remaining (as of this writing); purchase yours before supplies run out! Makes a perfect gift/present! And to quote the official Sven/Me-TV online store motto, “no personal checks!” And only purchase official/authentic Sven items through the official Sven/Me-TV online store!
Extra! Extra! Extra! “Chicago’s very own” meets “Berwyn’s very own!” Svengoolie/Mr. Rich Koz’s Halloween eve 2019 WGN radio appearance with Roe Conn and his “News or Ruse” segment and Sven/Mr. Rich Koz’s Halloween 2019 morning WGN radio appearance with Bill Leff and Wendy Snyder, including Sven’s executive producer; Jim Roche!
Extra! Extra! Extra! Svengoolie/Mr. Rich Koz and Sven executive producer Jim Roche’s appearance on the Halloween 2019 edition of the “Pop! Goes the Culture” podcast for Sven/Mr. Rich Koz’s 40th anniversary in television, including an interview with actor and Sven guest David Dastmalchian and his recent Dark Horse “Count Crowley” comic! And speaking of David Dastmalchian, he recently appeared on Chicago’s WGN-TV 9 and their morning news program with his official Svengoolie T-shirt!
Extra! Extra! Extra! Cameo mentions of fellow super Svengoolie SvenPals!
Extra! Extra! Extra! Shortly before Halloween at the home office/headquarters of “Silver Screen Reflections,” a fantastic surprise package arrived! Via fellow super Svengoolie SvenPal David Fuentes (of “Terror From Beyond the Dave”), I received a pre-release limited edition copy of installment #1 of “Svengoolie Meets the DC Universe,” autographed by Svengoolie himself! I shared this with the my fellow coast-to-coast super SvenPals on the eve before Halloween (Oct. 30, the date of the official coast-to-coast release of the Sven-DC crossover installment)!
I received the Sven-autographed edition of “Svengoolie Meets the DC Universe” through the courtesy of David when I recorded/sent copies of his two recent cameo Sven appearances during Sven’s big Oct. 2019 broadcast of “The Mummy” (1932, with David’s “Flashback Weekend” 2019 “rubber chicken costume” cameo appearance with Sven and David’s cameo “Scary Monsters” magazine Sven/Mr. Rich Koz 40th retrospective article appearance on Svengoolie & Kerwyn’s “Mummy” mail call segment)!
According to official correspondence from David, the Sven-autographed edition of issue #1 of “Sven Meets the DC Universe” was a limited edition copy that was published by DC Comics for Sven’s recent personal appearances and was signed by Sven at the 2019 “Nightmare on Chicago Street” festival in Elgin! David recently published his “Terror From Beyond the Dave” highlight article on his 100th Sven appearance with Sven during Sven’s Chicago (Countryside) Ghost-Con 2019 appearance (“The Ghosts and Mr. Goolie”)!
A big thank you to David and a big thank you to Svengoolie for the autographed limited edition copy of “Svengoolie Meets the DC Universe” issue #1! Very wonderful, cool, fantastic, neat and awesome! I highly appreciate the thoughtful and kind gestures, David, Sven/Mr. Rich Koz & to the entire crowd of fellow super SvenPals everywhere! Congratulations from the entire crowd of fellow super SvenPals everywhere on your 100th Sven appearance! All of us are jumping for joy! We’re all proud of you! Keep up the wonderful & excellent work! Here’s to many more Sven appearance adventures in “Terror From the Dave!” Three cheers, two thumbs up, peace, kudos & “Hi-Keeba,” David, Sven & all fellow super SvenPals everywhere! –C.H.
Extra! Extra! Extra! On the morning of Sat., Nov. 2, 2019; fellow super jammers and fellow super SvenPals everywhere celebrated fellow super Svengoolie SvenPal Jamie Lee and her 200th “Jammin’ with Jamie” big broadcast jam session radio show cavalcade celebration on the airlanes of Northwestern University Radio/WNUR-FM 89.3 Evanston-Chicago-Berwyn/WNUR.org from coast-to-coast and around the globe! Highlights of the cameo vocal audio/visual appearances were posted by Jamie throughout her 200th WNUR big broadcast jam session celebration for all fellow jammers to see!
Jamie’s recent 200th big jam session broadcast celebration contained highlights of the origins and moments of Jamie’s Sat. morning big broadcast radio show jam sessions along with fun facts, wisdom and celebratory shout-out greetings from the entire crowd of fellow super jammers/fellow super SvenPals and cameo celebratory pre-recorded guest appearances by Too Slim of “Riders in the Sky” fame, Jamie’s highlights of her exclusive interview with actor Dean J. Griffiths, an appearance by Svengoolie and Kerwyn and a cameo celebratory guest vocal appearance by myself in commemoration of Jamie’s 200th big broadcast jam session celebration!
Svengoolie (portrayed by Rich Koz) and Kerwyn’s cameo “Jammin’ with Jamie” celebratory greeting appearance for fellow super SvenPal Jamie Lee’s 200th big WNUR broadcast jam session celebration via Jamie’s official YouTube channel!
My cameo celebratory “Jammin with’ Jamie” shout-out/greeting appearance for fellow super SvenPal Jamie Lee’s 200th big WNUR broadcast jam session celebration! Watch/Hear the connection of how Jamie’s “Jammin’ with Jamie” big broadcast jam sessions inspired my brief 2016-17 weekly Hood College/Blazer Radio online radio show, “Yours Truly, Chris Hamby” w/photos from the May 2017 finale show w/my Sven T-shirt via Jamie’s official YouTube channel!
Jamie’s complete “Jammin’ with Jamie” 200th big broadcast jam session celebration and highlights are available on Jamie’s official YouTube channel, official Twitter site and official website with Jamie’s retrospective article on her 200th big “Jammin’ with Jamie” broadcast jam session cavalcade celebration!
Congratulations to Jamie and to the entire crowd of fellow super “Jammin’ with Jamie” jammers and fellow super SvenPals on 200 big broadcast jam session radio shows on the airlanes of WNUR.org! I enjoyed your 200th big broadcast jam session with the celebratory greetings and your extended in-depth exclusive interview with Dean! Very wonderful, cool, fantastic, neat and awesome! And a big thank you for playing my celebratory shout-out greeting during your 200th big broadcast jam session celebration, Jamie and for adding the photos w/ my Sven T-shirt from my 2016-17 Hood College radio program in the YouTube version! I’m very glad to hear that you enjoyed the celebratory greeting and the drawing in commemoration of your 200th big broadcast! And thank you for the wonderful shout-outs and song requests! I highly appreciate the thoughtful and kind gestures, Jamie & all fellow super jammers! All of us are jumping for joy! We’re all proud of you! Here’s to many more big “Jammin’ with Jamie” broadcast jam sessions on the WNUR.org airlanes, Jamie! Keep up the excellent work! Three cheers, two thumbs up, kudos, peace, “Hi-Keeba” and “keep on jammin’,” Jamie, Too Slim of “Riders in the Sky,” Dean, Svengoolie, Kerwyn, the Jackalope players ensemble, the PM&L ensemble, the Corn Productions ensemble and the entire crowd of fellow super “Jammin’ with Jamie” jammers everywhere and the entire crowd of fellow jammers everywhere! -C.H. (one of many fellow jammers since discovering Jamie’s “Jammin’ with Jamie” show in Sept. 2016)!
Be sure to listen to fellow super SvenPal Jamie Lee’s “Jammin’ with Jamie” big broadcast jam sessions Sat. mornings at 6 a.m. Central/7 a.m. Eastern on the airlanes of Northwestern University Radio/WNUR-FM 89.3 and WNUR.org! The entire crowd of fellow super jammers & fellow super SvenPals everywhere highly recommend listening to Jamie’s big “Jammin’ with Jamie” broadcast jam sessions with fantastic music, fun facts and much, much more! Also be sure to donate generously /spread the word to help one of Jamie’s friends from the PM&L players through her friend’s official “GoFundMe” site (to help offset expensive health costs)! Any amount helps! –C.H.
In connection to Ray Harryhausen’s “It Came from Beneath the Sea” (1955):
“It Came from Beneath the Sea” (1955) is also available on Blu-Ray as part of the Ray Harryhausen-Columbia classic double-feature twinset with “20 Million Miles to Earth” (1957) and is also available on DVD as part of the classic Columbia sci-fi creature feature anthology set, “Sci-Fi Creature Classics: 4 Movie Set” from Mill Creek Entertainment (by arrangement with Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc./Sony Pictures Entertainment/Sony Pictures Home Entertainment).
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