Mystery Science Theater 3000
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| - | '''Ray Dennis Steckler''' ([[January 25]], [[1938]] – [[January 7]], [[2009]]), widely known by the pseudonym '''Cash Flagg''', was a [[United States|American]] [[film director]], born in [[Reading, Pennsylvania|Reading]], [[Pennsylvania]]. | ||
| - | Steckler served briefly during the late 1950s in the [[United States Army|Army]] as a photographer. When he left the service, he spent a year at the [[Kaufman Astoria Studios]] in Astoria, Queens. It was in 1962 that Steckler moved to Los Angeles, to become assistant cameraman on the [[Timothy Carey]] film, ''[[The World's Greatest Sinner]]''. When the initial director of photography was fired, Steckler became the DP by proxy. | + | '''''Mystery Science Theater 3000''''' is an [[United States|American]] [[cult television]] comedy series created by [[Joel Hodgson]] and produced by [[Best Brains|Best Brains, Inc.]] that ran from [[1988 in television|1988]] to [[1999 in television|1999]]. |
| - | From this point, he then began working with cinematography in the Los Angeles area, garnering a union card and establishing himself at major studios, including [[Universal Studios]]. When he was reportedly fired for almost knocking an A-frame onto [[Alfred Hitchcock]], Steckler turned to the then fledgling B-movie circuit. Joining forces with Arch Hall Sr.'s Fairway Pictures, Steckler started as Cinematographer and sometimes actor in the vehicles for Hall's son, [[Arch Hall Jr.]]. Steckler made his directorial debut in the Hall vehicle ''Wild Guitar'' and co-starred under his on-screen name Cash Flagg. | + | The series features a man and his [[robot]] [[sidekick]]s who are trapped on a satellite in space by an evil scientist and forced to watch a selection of [[Films considered the worst ever|terrible movies]], especially (but not initially limited to) [[science fiction]] [[B-movies]]. To keep sane, the man and his robots make a running commentary on the film, making fun of its flaws and wisecracking (or "riffing") their way through the film in the style of a movie theater [[peanut gallery]]. Series creator Hodgson originally played the stranded man, [[Joel Robinson]], for five-and-a-half seasons. When he left in 1993, series head writer [[Michael J. Nelson]] replaced him as new [[B-movie]] victim [[Mike Nelson (MST3K)|Mike Nelson]], and continued in the role for the rest of the show's run. |
| - | In 1963 he co-produced his first solo film, ''[[The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies]]!!?'', co-starring his then-wife, [[Carolyn Brandt]]. Reportedly filmed for a budget of $38,000, the film was photographed by then newcomers [[László Kovács]] and [[Vilmos Zsigmond]], a fact that both men acknowledged as their first big break. Initially distributed on the lower half of a double-bill by Fairway, Steckler took ''Creatures'' on the road himself and made it a success under a number of titles, including ''Diabolical Dr. Voodoo'' and ''The Teenage Psycho Meets Bloody Mary''. Falling into semi-obscurity past its eccentric title, the film gained notoriety once again in 1997, when it was featured on ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]''. | + | The format proved to be popular. During its eleven years, 198 episodes and one [[Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie|feature film]], ''MST3K'' attained a loyal fan base and critical acclaim. The series won a [[Peabody Award]] in 1993, and was nominated for writing [[Emmy]]s in 1994 and 1995. |
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| - | Steckler's next film was his answer to ''[[Psycho]]'', entitled ''[[The Thrill Killers]]'', released in 1964. The film marked the first effort between Steckler and [[Ron Haydock]], who would be Steckler's creative partner up until the latter's death in the 1970s. | + | |
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| - | Steckler continued to produce a number of low-budget but fanciful films which soon attained cult status, including ''[[Rat Pfink a Boo Boo]]'' (a spoof of [[Batman]]) and ''[[Lemon Grove Kids Meet the Monsters]]'' (an homage to the [[East Side Kids]] films). By the late 1960s, he also directed the video for [[Jefferson Airplane]]'s "[[White Rabbit (song)|White Rabbit]]." | + | |
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| - | Steckler's low-budget often meant working for little to nothing, but his comradeship was often reflected in his productions. In his 1969 film ''Body Fever'', Steckler created a bit part for then destitute fellow director [[Coleman Francis]], who, by coincidence, also achieved belated fame via ''Mystery Science Theater 3000''. Francis passed away not long after the making of the film. | + | |
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| - | With the decline of drive-in horror films of the nature Steckler was producing in the 1960s, and following his divorce from Brandt, Steckler dabbled with producing [[pornography|porn films]] during the 1970s and 1980s. | + | |
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| - | In the late 1980s Steckler opened Mascot Video in [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]] and sold it in 1995 to local businessman Dan Wayman. Up until his death in 2009, Steckler continued to sell videos of his works via the web, including six volumes of young actresses and dancers in nude auditions for Steckler's camera. Steckler says these auditions were shot in 1991 for ''The Hollywood Strangler in Las Vegas'' (a.k.a. ''Las Vegas Serial Killer''), but that film was finished by 1987. | + | |
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| - | In addition to Cash Flagg, Steckler was also known by the pseudonyms Sven Christian, Sven Hellstrom, Harry Nixon, Michael J. Rogers, Michel J. Rogers, Wolfgang Schmidt, Cindy Lou Steckler, R.D. Steckler, Ray Steckler, and Cindy Lou Sutters -- the last being his "porn name." | + | |
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| - | In 2008, Steckler announced production of his new film ''One More Time'', a sequel to ''The Incredibly Strange Creatures'', and launched two MySpace pages and website for casting actresses for his upcoming films. | + | |
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| - | Steckler completed post-production of ''Incredibly Strange Creatures: One More Time'' shortly before his death. It was filmed on location on the [[Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk]] and Las Vegas on a budget of $3,800 using two [[Digital 8]] cameras. The film is a follow up to the 45 year old film and will be released straight to DVD in mid June 2009. | + | |
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| - | Steckler died of cardiac arrest shortly after returning to [[Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]], on January 7, 2009, aged 70.{{GFDL}} | + | |
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Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc. that ran from 1988 to 1999.
The series features a man and his robot sidekicks who are trapped on a satellite in space by an evil scientist and forced to watch a selection of terrible movies, especially (but not initially limited to) science fiction B-movies. To keep sane, the man and his robots make a running commentary on the film, making fun of its flaws and wisecracking (or "riffing") their way through the film in the style of a movie theater peanut gallery. Series creator Hodgson originally played the stranded man, Joel Robinson, for five-and-a-half seasons. When he left in 1993, series head writer Michael J. Nelson replaced him as new B-movie victim Mike Nelson, and continued in the role for the rest of the show's run.
The format proved to be popular. During its eleven years, 198 episodes and one feature film, MST3K attained a loyal fan base and critical acclaim. The series won a Peabody Award in 1993, and was nominated for writing Emmys in 1994 and 1995.
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Mystery Science Theater 3000" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
