Bradford Tatum: The Monsters Muse

The Immaculate Tryst Of Grandpa Kingfish

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 20:47:26 -0400

The new novel is out for Amazon for Kindle and Kindle Apps!

Her husband’s suicide is quiet: a sixty-milli equivalent injection of sodium potassium on the eve of what was supposed to be predictable cocktails with the Shorensteins.

But Claire Goldman’s mind is not only on the neat and rapidly cooling corpse of her husband, or the bias-cut Michael Kors that has begun to cling uncomfortably to her toned frame. She’s worried about her future, her life without her husband Gerald. He has after all rescued her from the dry basin of the Southern California valley and taken her to a gorgeous home in an exclusive enclave of San Francisco. He gave her sense of style, a sense of herself as something more than the pretty but vacuous daughter of Basque immigrants. But then why, mere moments after her husband’s funeral, is their family accountant implying she’s broke? And who the hell is this “Precious” her husband had on speed dial?

In an attempt at self empowerment, Claire decides to confront the secrets of her husband’s past. But nothing can prepare her for the surprise that awaits her. And what begins as a strained business arrangement develops into a redemptive friendship as Claire and “Precious” realize they have far more in common than the love and money of the same man.

NEW Interview About The Monster's Muse!

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 15:33:00 -0400

Actor/author Bradford Tatum joins Midnight Corey to talk about his work, his novel The Monster’s Muse, and finally Lon Chaney.

Click here to watch or click here to listen.

The Monster's Muse now available for The NOOK!

Thu, 31 May 2012 22:07:19 -0400

You can pick up a digital copy of The Monster's Muse for your Nooks at the Barnes and Noble website here.

101 degrees in the shade

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 15:41:12 -0400

from the collection of Miss Ulm:

"This shot was taken during a line up for Billy's entrance, each increasing close up requiring a lens and lighting change for less than a second of film. I remember the crew being extremely uncomfortable that day, none more so that quietly suffering Billy, 98 degrees outside and easily breaking 100 on stage. It would have had to have been sweltering for Mr. Whale to remove his natty tie and vest. That man behind the camera looking like he might break into a dash is Robert Pierce the camera operator. I remember he smelled of grilled onions."

Universal Sun Arc 23

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:32:43 -0400

"It was typical of Bela, " Miss Ulm recently told me, "to be fully aware of the camera at all times. Even between takes." As this photo of the actor with his ubiquitous stogie confirms. "I especially like the idea," she continued, "of a vampire lounging on a Sun Arc. I can assure you Bela was in on the joke, and probably suggested the composition up to whatever set photographer was on the set that day. That kind of humor was very much like him."

Horror Palace Podcast

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 22:12:33 -0400

I recently was asked to do a podcast/ movie review for Horror Palace, an online horror magazine. I had a lot of fun and suggested we review the 1944 thriller THE LODGER with Laird Gregar. It was a film none of the hosts had seen and it was very cool turing them on to it. I was also able to speak pretty extensively about my book THE MONSTER'S MUSE.

You can listen to and comment on the podcast at The Weekly Horror Movie Podcast 022: Probing Eyes.

INTERVIEW FROM 1951 UNRELEASED HORROR DOCUMENTARY

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 22:34:00 -0400

I recently came across this fragment of 16mm footage while rummaging around in a Burbank junk shop. The clip comes from the never completed 1951 documentary "Legends Of Hollywood Horror" commissioned by Stan Garson at KTLA, the station responsible for the classic Southern California horror anthology "Creature Feature." This footage, an interview with Universal contract writer Stan Rose seems to have been cut very early from the first assembly. A note, still attached to the film can read: DISCARD SEGMENT, ULM MENTIONED". Even as late as 1951, certain entities at Universal were still making efforts to minimize Miss Ulm's contributions to the horror cycle of previous decades.

LA MONICA BALLROOM

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 21:21:56 -0400

Here is a photo of the Santa Monica Pier circa 1929. At the far end one can see the LA MONICA BALLROOM where Miss Ulm, with Lon Chaney, first met Tod Browning.

Crikey! Not Another Filthy Biscuit!

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 13:18:58 -0400

Among Miss Ulm's myriad mementos, none is more telling as to the warm humor of her friend "Billy Pratt" than this publicity still from the late thirties. Forced to pose with any number of thin nourishments during his tenure as the creature, this mocking pose with cup and bit toast conveys the comical tedium of the studios continued efforts to portray Mr Karloff as the classic English gent.
Misidentified as a behind the scenes shot from The Bride, Miss Ulm informed me that this pictures was actually taken in the Dodger's locker room during the 1938 World Series. "Frankenstein" threw the first pitch that year.

HOLLYWOODLAND

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 15:53:48 -0500

After Miss Ulm's "removal" from Universal, she retreated to the hills that surround Beachwood Drive. Many had preceded her: Bogart, Busby Berkley, Baby Peggy. This is the brochure that introduced her to her "human garage".