The Hands of Fate Wish You a Great Thanksgiving Day

Happy Thanksgiving to all, whether you celebrate for traditional reasons or make your own traditions.
Today I am thankful for many many things and before this day passes I want Manos fans to know how thankful I am for how great you all are.  I've met the most interesting people through this experience of being part of Manos: The Hands of Fate.  You come from every demographic.  Young, old, rich, poor, conservative, liberal and everything in between and yet you have a common link in "off the main path film".  You are quirky with a great sense of "Cosmic Humor".  I love your insights, observations and conversations.  You have enriched my life and infused it with more joy than I thought possible.  You are a fun crazy extended sort of family and I thank you.

For fun, I wanted to share a couple questions that came my way through a MST3K Discussion Board


 A lot of folks, J&TBs included, were squicked-out by the sight of you becoming one of the Master's Wives despite being a cute little child. In the movie, was the Master supposed to be a pedophile or was he simply saving little Debbie for later when she grew up?

I will have an opportunity to read the original script soon and I hope to find much enlightenment there.  It certainly does freak people out when they see sweet little Debbie dressed as a wife.  I'm thinking the idea was purely for shock value and that Hal wanted to leave that to the audience to decide, which displays an odd sort of genius...or, just a sick mind.  Lol.


Also, didn't it feel kind of weird having that happen to your character when the nefarious Master was played by your dad. I know it's just acting and two were playing different imaginary people but as a CHILD, did it seem kinda...weird?

I was accustomed to my dad playing many roles in theater so it was no different this time.  I was just happy to be there and spending time around my dad.  Also, truth be told, I loved that mini wife dress.  The other dress I wore came out of my closet and was nothing special.  I was pretty excited to have something like what the big girls were wearing.
 

Finally do you think Mr. Warren was a weirdo for coming up with that? I'd also imagine he had issues with women.

  I think that the 60's allowed many ideas to cross previously held boundaries, and in an artistic bohemian context, no subject would be off limits.  I have heard various private stories that indicate Hal had certain views of women that many might find offensive but I don't think he was any sort of weirdo concerning children. 


Have a great Holiday and travel safe!  See you next week.
 

Happy Birthday, The Master!

November 23rd is my dad's 78th birthday and I must say, he looks pretty great, even if he doesn't always feel so young any more.  He's my dad, but out amongst cult film fans and most anyone reading this, he is The Master from Manos, The Hands of Fate, the 1966 independent amateur earnest worst movie ever made film.  Or so it's been said.

Me and my dad 

To celebrate his birthday I would like to share a couple interesting things about his life

 before he became famous for being an evil polygamist Master.

This is a photograph of little Tommy Neyman at 2 years old on the beach at San Padre Island near Brownsville Texas on the Gulf of Mexico.  His mother, my grandmother took this shot and when she sent it in to be developed, she was contacted by Kodak.  They wanted to know if they could use the photo of the little girl on the beach for their National ad campaign in 1935.  My grandmother was so incensed that they called her son a girl that she refused...Never mind the Shirley Temple curls and one piece bathing suit.

Fort Worth Nurtures it's Place in History

On the morning of November 22 1963, President John F. Kennedy was  in Fort Worth Texas where he had stayed the night before heading on to Dallas.  We lived in Fort Worth at that time so my dad got up early and went to join the crowds to catch a glimpse of the President while thinking "What a great early birthday present to myself".  He would be turning 28.  He felt fortunate to see even if he couldn't get close.  It was no more than an hour after getting back home that the phone rang.  It was one of my dad's college friends calling to say that the President had just been shot and though I was only 4 years old, I do remember that day.

Tom Neyman is a gentle, kind and humble man.  Quite the opposite of The Master character he portrayed in Manos.  How ironic to be known so widely for something so different from yourself. and yet how appropriate for someone so private.  Happy Birthday dad!  May you have many more and in good health.

Happy 47th Anniversary Manos!!

Today, November 15th is most certainly a notable day for cult movie fans.  Well, at least the Manos: The Hands of Fate Fans.  November 15th marks the  47th anniversary of the 1966  World Premiere of Manos: The Hands of Fate at the Capri Theater in downtown El Paso, Texas.

I would like to pay tribute to Hal Warren, the imaginer of this film that has delivered in equal measure,
disbelief, confusion, and joy without clear focus.  Hal is a man who, until now has been a mystery to fans of his work.  All that is about to change.  I had the greatest thrill yesterday when I had the opportunity to talk with Hal's daughter and granddaughter on Skype. Beautiful, charming women and a real pleasure to chat with.  We have many talks to come, and between us we will unveil the wonder of Hal Warren.  For now, just a taste.

Hal Warren was a Renaissance Man of high standards.  He loved the theater, acting and consorting with the creative crowd and yet he was a shrewd business man.  Although it is a common Manos legend that Hal was a Texas fertilizer salesman, the truth is that at the time of Manos he was selling insurance.  He went on to other business dealings with a goal of alway moving ahead to better things.  He was a visionary who enjoyed making a big production of everything.  His daughter says he staged and filmed family movies to the extent of one Christmas when he made the kids get up at midnight and come down the stairs as though it was a joyous Christmas morning so he could film it.  Then they were sent back to bed until the real morning happened.

Hal's daughter was a teen at the time of Manos and remembers that one goal her dad had in doing Manos was to have the opportunity to cast himself as a hero and good guy.  In theater, because of his "look" he was always cast as the  less savory characters such as General Bullmoose in Li'l Abner and Mr van Daan in Diary of Anne Frank.  I'll leave the discussion of whether he achieved that goal, to you, the fans.

She recalls his description of the night of the premiere.  She recognized my story of the one limo and driver that circled the block picking up the cast and crew from the back alley and delivering them to the entrance and onto the red carpet.  The difference between his story and mine is that he made it sound a lot better and more fun. Like "Yeah, I meant to do that." His view was always brighter and had more potential than many folks view may have agreed with.  He succeeded and he failed as anyone who is willing to step out and take risks.  The funny thing here is that, what appeared to fail in 1966 and stayed buried for the next 27 years until it somehow surfaced, got dusted off and presented to the public, is now cherished by so many.  Somehow Hals spirit comes through and resonates.  When viewers get it they really get it.  He had a dream.  He had little idea of how to achieve it so he found similar thinking people with various resources and skills and brought it to life.  Simple and yet profound.
 Hal Warren reminds us to Dream.

Manos Happenings

Hope you all had a great Halloween this year.  As always, the Manos fans are uber creative and dedicated to expressing Manos love in so many ways.  Here are two fantastic paintings found on Deviant Art

Deviant Art

...and something else

Manos The Animated Series

Here is my little dog Shanka, named after my doberman who played the  Manos hell hound.  I made a Masters Robe for him for Halloween but made it warm and cozy for the whole winter.  As you can see, he adores it.  If you would like a robe for your little Master, they are available on my Etsy store and are made to order.

Jackey Raye's Etsy Store

This show just performed in Wichita, Kansas. 

 Hoping it was recorded so the rest of the world can see it too.

Manos: Rock Opera of Fate

and Manos: The Restoration is doing great.  It has started screening around the country and will be leaving these shores to show at the Night Visions Festival in Helsinki, Finland

Night Visions Festival

To keep up with where the Restoration is going next ,check out the website and if you want a screening at your own local theater, let the theater know about it.  Fans have the power!

If you want Debbie there for a visit and some Q and A, let the theater know that too.  

I would love to come see you.

Manos in HD

Manos Podcast Interviews

As you all should know by now, get me talking on the subject of Manos and you can hardly shut me up.  Very fortunate for me, there are now enough Manos fans out there, that when some of you start to feel you've heard enough, there are new ones to step in and give you a rest without me ever having to break stride.  But then again, you folks are resilient and perhaps a bit masochistic.  You are Manos fans, after all.
Todays post delivers a challenge to the most devoted of you.  Three, one hour Podcast interviews about Manos. Can you do it?  They cover some of the same material with a different twist and each have unique insights and stories.  Thanks to all who's interest and questions have fueled the growing databank of knowledge we now have for this film, and for providing me so much pleasure in sharing it.

Monster Kid Radio Podcast

Forgotten Horrors Podcast

The Cult Movie Podcast

The One and Only Master

Tom Neyman became the one and only Master of Manos: The Hands of Fate when he immortalized the iconic role in an unforgettable film, and seared his image into the minds of fans and detractors alike.

In a recent interview for Ben Solovey's Manos Restoration, I learned of a previously unknown Tom Neyman contribution to the film.  But first, a little background.
My dad began his professional career in Fort Worth, Texas as a young Christian Minister after graduating from Texas Christian University.  Go Horned Toads!!  He discovered a love of theater in school and participated in University and Church productions until moving to El Paso in 1963 where he became involved with The Festival Theater.  At The Festival he often had lead roles that included notable Characters like Henry the Eighth, The Stage Manager in Our Town, R.P McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
The Festival is also where Hal Warren found much of the cast and crew for his film. Tom Neyman ~ The Master,  John Reynolds ~ Torgo, William Bryan Jennings ~ Sheriff,  Bob Guidry ~ Cinematographer,  Bernie Rosenblum ~ Stunt Coordinator / Kissing Boy in Car and me, Debbie.

The role of The Master was my dad's only film appearance, and the part he became known for.  He played an evil polygamist struggling to remain in control of his world.  An almost Anti Minister, as it were.  I had always felt his previous calling gave him practical experience to playing a Godly man's counterpart and that, as The Master,  he sounded as though he were delivering a sermon.  I then learned something new that expanded that impression.  In the interview with Ben, he casually mentioned that he had written his own "Praise be to Manos" speech.  "Holy Art Thou, Holy Art Thou..." My head whipped around "Wha?"  He then went on to say that he wrote it to give himself something to do for all that time rather than just stand with his arms out displaying the robe, since there had been no dialogue in the original script, and Hal's instruction was to just stand and look imposing.   It does make sense now.  Many of you fans have watched and studied Manos much more than me but if I'm not mistaken, that speech it the longest continuing dialogue in the movie and the most comfortably delivered.

As a side note*  Yesterday, October 16th was the 47th anniversary of John Reynolds death.  He would be 72 years old and I would like to think if he were here now, he would revel in the attention Manos has garnered over the years since MST3K brought it back into the light.  Rest in Peace, dear John.

Coming soon:  Learn about  Manos: Rock Opera of Fate

Torgo as John Reynolds

This is a continuation of a series of stories I started the beginning of Sept that begin to go deeper behind the scenes of Manos and into the lives of some who were there.  I can only write what I know and will only share what I believe to be true.  Stories, like life evolve as more information is revealed, and as I learn more about John Reynolds, I feel a deeper connection to him and a desire to help you, the reader see him as more than Torgo.

I have been flippant in talking about John Reynolds in the past.  Yes, it's true that he was often high during filming and it's true he committed suicide one month before the 1966 premiere.  You can read that in previous blog stories and interviews I've done, but as I attempt to answer fans questions about him I continue to learn more.

John came from a military background.  His father was  Brigadier General John M. Reynolds who had a very successful and illustrious career. General John M. Reynolds Biography This link about the General certainly gave me pause and insight into some of the difficulties John and his dad may have encountered.  My father has told me how John's dad orchestrated having John buried with a military funeral at Fort Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso even though John himself had not been military  John's gravesite.  John never lived up to his father's expectation of a son and as a sensitive artistic type must have been quite a disappointment.  He would have always felt a failure in his family and in the eyes of the man he would most crave approval.  John lived and died in a little house just 2 blocks from where we lived.  He was small of stature shy and withdrawn.  He loved the theater and found the stage one place where he could be a part of something fulfilling. He took it seriously and would have been considered a method actor.  I imagine the release of becoming another person and having the opportunity to escape his own existence for a time was a drug in itself.  He and my dad knew each other initially through the Festival Theatre and became friends.  My dad recognized how tortured and depressed John was and would often invite him to our house to be with the family even though he rarely came, or would check in on him by stopping by.   John lived alone and was never married and had no children.  He was only 25 when he took his own life by sticking a gun in his mouth and pulling the trigger.

On the set of Manos, he was often, if not always, high on something more than pot.  My dad says (and my memories corroborate) that everyone on the set knew things weren't going well.  That this was not going to be a great film and that they should all just get through it and go home.  John may have realized this was far from the opportunity he was hoping for and sadly, my dad says that Manos may have, in some way, contributed to his suicide...or at least the timing of it.  One month after his birthday and one month before the premiere.  One thing that strikes me and I wonder about.  John Reynolds dad retired from a long military career just two weeks after his son's suicide.  What do you think about that timing?  Hmmm.

John Reynolds  September 14th 1941 to October 16th 1966