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Joe Karlosi wrote:

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mmarquee wrote:

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Upset????

No, Joe, just disappointed in the quiet
apathy of people who were ignoring the great work
of a very talented author, who put his work
"out there" for public reflection and received
not one comment in return. How impolite is that?

Well, Gary -- I think YOU were being impolite. You've got a lot of nerve in thinking that anyone owes you or your author any type of comment or anything if they don't want to respond. And then pretty much implying that people are not true fans if they don't reply:

"...of keen interest to both Universal
classic horror movie fans and fans of Abbott
and Costello.
And NOT one reaction????!!!!!!!!"

Rest assured I am a big fan of Universal Horror -- that's why I've bought books like GOLDEN HORRORS (Bryan Senn) and two editions of UNIVERSAL HORRORS (Weaver and Brunas). I like Abbott & Costello too, which is why I have a couple of books on them including ABBOTT AND COSTELLO IN HOLLYWOOD (Furmanek and Palumbo). Hell, I have even bought many of your Midnight Marquee Press books, Gary -- too many to list here, but among them would be the actor series on Karloff, Lugosi, Chaney Jr.

But the thing is personally I don't give a bat's feather about a fictional fairytale story about Bela Lugosi chatting with Lou Costello. I focus my attentions for these movies primarily on real interviews, reference books, things like that.

A lot of hard-working authors get their work met with indifference or even negative criticisms of their work. Times are economically rough for everyone out here today, not only you and MidMar, so it's not appreciated when you're trying to turn a buck by insulting people and questioning their "keen interest" if they don't respond and help put money into your pocket.

I think Rakshasa said it VERY well in his post:

Gary, you need to work on your people skills, my man. You need to learn how not to berate people for not commenting and perhaps say something along the lines of "Hey guys, not sure if you saw this thread, so I'm bumping it up again for those who missed it. Check it out, it's pretty cool and I think you may be interested".

Speaking solely for myself, I didn't happen to see this thread until today. You have to remember that not everybody looks at every thread. They may have missed it, they may not feel like posting, or they may not ever see it. That's the risk you take when posting on a public message board.

By the way Gary, I can't recall the last time I saw you posting or commenting in ANY thread that wasn't about you, your magazine, or your wife's films, so you have a hell of a nerve calling out the members of CHFB on "not participating". How dare you.

Indeed. And to tell you the truth, I've often wondered too why someone with a "keen interest in Universal Horror and Abbott and Costello" like yourself never posts anywhere to participate in movie discussions other than to promote his own personal projects. I never came out and said it, but now that Rakshasa has, I will say I agree and have always felt the same. Shame, shame.

Fanex was still my favorite convention, though. This year marks 10 years already since the Monster Rally (with Christopher Lee), which I also went to. And if I recall, you were also calling people out for not attending that show as well (though at least in that case, given the plethora of actual stars in attendance, I understood your bewilderment).

After publishing for 45 years and teaching public school for 37 years, here I am being called out for my
lack of people skills and insensitivity of only posting about things that are self-serving to me and my company.
Oh boy, and I am still not upset!

It is very clever to turn the focus around from a shameful neglect of an artist's work (and it does not depend whether I am the
publisher, a friend of Dwight's, or just a concerned third party) to the so-called rudeness of the poster who exposed such
apathy. Remember, I posted FIVE DAYS after the chapter was put online here and not one comment appeared.
So instead of dealing with the woeful neglect of Dwight's chapter, it is far easier to jump all over my post calling people on
their apathy. Turn it around and divert the focus folks. And I THANKED the people who commented. And I am the
one who is rude here?!!!!!! How dare me expect a public message board on horror films to react to a chapter from a
forthcoming book involving Bela Lugosi, Lou Costello and the making of ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET
FRANKENSTEIN!!!!!

What difference does it make when I post and upon what specific topics I post? Why should
anyone care? Who has the right to question my motives of why I post and what I post?
As the person said, this is a public message board, right?

When I post upon topics such as small press or indie movie production or fanzines from the past or
methods of magazine reproduction, these are topics in which I am interested. I am a indie
movie producer (of both feature films and documentaries), I am a writer, I am a magazine
and book publisher, I am a blogger, I am an editor so ANYTHING pertaining to horror movies involves some aspect of
what I do. The charge that I only post about things that involve my business is both true
and false. EVERYTHING involving horror movies is my business. When I add to posts
created or started by Dick Klemensen or Jim Clatterbaugh or others, I respond because
this is what I love and care about. When I defend Dwight it is not about JUST defending
or selling one copy of my book, but it's about defending a friend, whether it is one of my
projects or not. But you see, such agenda-shifting posters only try to create an insidious
motive of why I would post. Does it occur to people who post such mean-spirited and uncalled
for comments that I simply may be posting as a FAN to escape the rigors of my day as
teacher who comes home and works hard on my publishing company to continue
to publish both books and magazines in tough economic times? Is it fair to assume what my
motives are, when in fact my motives might be simply to express my love and joy
of all areas of horror cinema. Most times I post as Gary the fan, but a few people insist I always
have the motive of selling a book or magazine behind everything I do and say. This is
grossly unfair and just not true. But then again, at times I do post to support and promote
my products, just as others on this board do. But to presume to know my motives and
attempting to make them sinister or profit-oriented is simply insulting, unfair
and presumptuous.

My pet peeve for years has been people on this board declaring themselves a community
of monster kids that come together to support each other's efforts. Yet when I get steamed
over the apathy sometimes in evidence, there's always people out there who scream my motive is always self-serving
and how dare you expect people to respond to a new piece of artistic expression pertaining to horror films
when, oh horror upon horror, I haven't posted to 1,000 other threads.

Let's return the focus where it should be... on ideas and opinions expressed and not upon the person who posted those ideas.

And now for some shameless promotion... our web site has been updated and BELA LUGOSI AND THE
HOUSE OF DOOM can be preordered. It might ship as early as next week or so. http://www.midmar.com

Just wanted to mention that many of our new Midnight Marquee titles,
including the biography of CARLA LAEMMLE
and BELA LUGOSI AND THE HOUSE OF DOOM, etc., as well as the print version
of MIDNIGHT MARQUEE #76, will be available and shipping either NOW or within
the next two weeks. Remember, with only Sue working the mail room, processing of
orders takes at least two weeks. So to receive your new books when they are fresh from
the printers, now is the time to order (many people have emailed and asked me to mention
when the right time to order would be).

We would appreciate any support you can offer our independent publishing house
in tough times such as these. We feel the new products (and revised older ones, including
eagerly sought-after out-of-print titles updated, many with new covers) are worthy of the horror film
community.

Check us out!

http://www.midmar.com