Debbie Does Seattle

I had the privilege of traveling  to Seattle in August to participate in cool Manos adventures.  The train from Portland was relaxing and beautiful.  What a great way to travel.

In Seattle, I stayed downtown just blocks from the Space Needle and the EMP Museum  of Entertainment, Music and Pop Culture.  Turns out a friend from High School works for the museum and gave me a personal tour.  Amazing place if you ever have the opportunity.

Jackey Raye in the Blue Room at the EMP

The first evening, August 7th, I went to a Manos Restoration screening at The Uptown Theater sponsored by SIFF, the Seattle Independent Film Festival.  Fabulously engaging audience.  Most hung around for a Q and A with me and had some great questions.  I got a bonus and personal thrill from seeing my name in lights. Could totally get used to this.

Jackey Raye with SIFF Cinema Programmer, Clinton McClung

On August 8th, after touring Seattle and attending a local art exhibit, I arrived at Scarecrow Video to check it out and hang around to visit with any Manos fans who wanted to stop by.  This store is most probably the largest independent video store in the country if not the world.  They carry over 117,000 titles.  Mind blowing place.  If you can't find any movie you're looking for, I would strongly suggest you contact  Scarecrow Video

On August 9th I attended the opening night of  Manos: The Hands of Felt and again on August 10 as a special guest for an after show talkback.  Rachel Jackson along with cast and crew created an overwhelmingly funny show.  I belly laughed till I cried...and I have to say, I love the Debbie portrayal. The Hands of Felt audiences were the most enthusiastic yet. Over the top laughing and foot stomping to boot.  

Throughout the visit, I had the pleasure of spending time with old Manos friends Ben Solovey of  The Manos Restoration and Bryan and Wanda Jennings.  Bryan is the original Sheriff's son.  Reconnected with other friends, made lots of new ones and had a wonderful time all around.

Thanks for reading.  If you are new(er) at reading my posts, go check out the early posts for the behind the scenes stories of the making of Manos in the summer of 1966.

Stay tuned.  Next post begins a new series of stories.

Debbies Seattle Appearances

Packing my bags and getting ready to head to Seattle for some awesome events and the opportunity to connect with  Manos: The Hands of Fate fans.  Talking Manos with fans is truly one of my favorite things.  Here is my schedule, so if you are in or around Seattle Washington later this week, I would love to meet you and answer those burning Manos questions that have been keeping you up at night.

August 7th at 9.00 pm, Seattle Independent Film Festival
http://www.siff.net/cinema/manos-the-hands-of-fate   is screening the completed Restoration of Manos: The Hands of Fate.  Does seeing it more clearly make it a better film?  No.  It makes it's horribleness better...Much better.  Look for the can of lighter fluid left in the shot or the bottle of beer.  You get the picture.  I will be there for the show and for a Meet and Greet after.

August 8th 5 to 7 pm.  Scarecrow Video     https://www.scarecrow.com/
This store is the largest Independent Film stores in the country with many rare, out-of-print, foreign and independent films and they actually have heard of Manos.  They were very kind to allow me to come hang out for a couple hours on MST movie day and be available to anyone who cares to come hang out with me.  So come on.  Hang out with me.

August 9th and 10th  8 pm  Manos: The Hands of Felt  https://www.facebook.com/events/1378447732375658/  The Worst Movie Ever Made Brought To Terrifying Puppet Life.  Think Sesame Street with a disturbing twist.  I'll attend the show both nights and will stay for a Meet and Greet after.

See you there!!

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ormally from 5 to 7i

Debbie Answers a Few Questions

I was asked to record answers to a few  questions from a MST3K panel at CTCON 2013 who also happen to be Manos fans.  This is the first request of this type and my first attempt at filming myself.  It an amateur attempt, I know, but when you are more famous in your own mind than reality and have to do it all yourself, you become a jack (Jackey) of all trades.  I like the idea however, of talking to fans this way and answering questions so if anyone else has something Manos related that they would like an answer for, let's give this a try.

The Questions

The Answers

I'm headed to Seattle next week as a special guest for a Screening of the Restoration of Manos The Hands as Fate on Aug 7th and staying for the awesome puppet theater 

Manos : The Hands of Felt on Aug 9th and 10th. 

 If you are in Seattle for either, please be sure to say hi.  It's no secret that I love talking Manos with fans.

The Restoration Screening

http://www.siff.net/cinema/manos-the-hands-of-fate

Manos: The Hands of Felt

http://puppetmanos.brownpapertickets.com/

Tom and Jackey Raye Neyman Present Day

I interviewed last week with "Talk to the Hand" Podcast Host, Keith McCaffety.  I think it's the best and most comprehensive interview I've done so far where I begin to test the waters in sharing more personal experiences in which the Hand of Fate has touched my family.  I've said it before and I'll say it again.  Manos has become so much more than a bad film.

Talk to the Hand Jackey Interview

Many more cool Manos things coming soon.  I will be in Seattle in August for both a screening of Ben Solovey's Manos Restoration and to see Rachel Jackson's Puppet Theater Show Manos Hands of Felt.  

Click the links below for details.

Manos Hands of Fate The Restoration

Manos: The Hands of Felt

...And lastly for today... a teaser from an up coming documentary by Ben Solovey...I present, The Master!

https://vimeo.com/manoshd/manosuncut1

As always.  May the Hand of Fate Bless you and Yours.

"Recasting Manos" A Graphic Novel

An awesome new Manos project is in the works and I'd like to share it with you all and ask you to consider pitching in to make it happen.  Keith McCaffety  is a huge Manos fan and a very talented artist.  I met Keith in El Paso at a screening of the Manos Restoration last August.  He drove all the way from Florida to El Paso for the event at the El Paso Classic Film Festival and even had an awesome sweater to wear like Micheal's from Manos.  Keith told me about an idea he has to create a Graphic Novel of Manos with new characters and a much deeper fuller story line.  He had a couple preliminary drawing to show which I found very impressive.  Since then, Keith has been airing a podcast titled "Talk to the Hand" which I interviewed for along with other Manos related folk.  Here is my interview  "Talk to the Hand" Jackey's interview
Be sure to checkout some of the others too with Rachel Jackson of Manos Hands of Felt fame, Sam Beddoes, the Manos Game creator, Ben Solovey the Manos Restoration genius and more.

Keith is now doing a fund raising promotion to go to VidCon where he will meet and connect with many of the real life personalities that he is using for the Manos characters.  It will be an opportunity to raise awareness of his novel and to build support so he can get it done and make it available to all past, present and future Manos fans.  He's not asking for much.  Just enough to build the momentum to take it the next step.  If he goes beyond his minimum goal, I will also be able to go and can help him with promotion and do a bit of self promotion as well.  Oh yes, I have Manos goals also and will soon reveal them to you all.  So, you see, you would be helping me too.  A bit here and there adds up, so come on, skip a few lattes and help Manos mania to continue building.  http://www.gofundme.com/ManosVidCon

Thanks for visiting!  May the Hand of Manos Bless You and Yours.

Diane Mahree is Very Much Alive.

Hello all,
Long time between posts.  We're all so busy these days.  Home projects, Yard work, Gardening, Art shows.  I figured you wouldn't miss me much since you all are just as busy.

A Facebook friend just alerted me to a post on this site http://www.ilxor.com/ILX/ThreadSelectedControllerServlet?showall=true&boardid=40&threadid=46705&bookmarkedmessageid=19

with this message on it

Diane Mahree - April 12, 1940 - December 30, 2007

I just wanted to write a few words about my mother, Diane Mahree. My Mom was one in a million, a very well respected and proud woman, with good values who was dedicated to her family and loved life.

Most people on the Web will remember her as the character Margaret in the cult classic film Manos the Hands of Fate. While many laughed at aspects of this film, I always felt her performance was the redeeming quality, and that she brought tenderness to what many said was just a "B-Movie" role.

The outpouring of support from fans of Manos and of the show Mystery Science Theater has been tremendous. I wish Mom was around to see how many fans have sent flowers and given well wishes to my family. Thank You for keeping us in our thoughts. We appreciate everything you've done. Mom would be proud.

Love,
Ruth Mahree Fletcher
January 5 2008

Whoever this Ruth Mahree Fletcher is (if that's even her real name), she is lying.  Diane is very much alive and I spoke with her on the phone this last Saturday for about an hour.  I also saw her in person and spent a week with her in December 2010.  I realize that public figures can't control the terrible things people say about them but you can be sure that when it comes to Manos, I will do my best to ferret out and expose these lies.  I welcome any questions or referrals to other questionable statements about Manos.  

Breathe easy folks.  Diane is alive, still gorgeous and a whole lot of fun to know.  You may just get the chance yourself to know her down the road a little ways.

Until next time.  May the Hand of Manos Bless You and Yours

Manos Hands of Felt Kickstarter

The Manos: Hands of Felt puppet show will be appearing on stage in Seattle Washington for two weeks starting August 9th.  There are so many of you that won't have the opportunity to see the show live but you will have the opportunity to get a DVD of this awesome event.  Rachel Jackson, the creator of Hands of Felt     plans to have the show professionally filmed and will offer it for purchase.  She has begun a Kickstarter to raise the needed funds and is already doing great in such a short time.  More than halfway to her goal, in fact.  There are some cool items for backers including dinner with me before the show on August 10th. Well, I think it's cool. Lol.  Anyhow, Check it out and pitch in if you can and come to the show if you can.  It'll be a blast!

Manos: Hands of Felt Kickstarter