After Dark July 2010

You’re probably asking yourself, “2010”? Well, I’m sure you realize this isn’t a real issue. This special issue of After Dark is dedicated to the 14th day of July. Being a little self-indulgent, it happens to be an important day in the life of Hilly Blue. More specifically, the beginning of life for Hilly Blue. But a little about me later…let’s spotlight some other birthday buddies.

One of my favorites is Sid Haig, born July 14, 1939. If you don’t know his name, I’m sure you’d recognize his face.

He has appeared on my favorite TV shows and in some of my favorite films. I never realized until preparing for this post how many things Sid appeared in that I own.

He has starred in many cult films like Spider Baby…

…and Galaxy of Terror with Erin Moran.

He frequently appeared in Pam Grier films including The Big Doll House, The Big Bird Cage, Coffy, and more.



Being a big TV buff, I could see Sid in just about anything where he usually played bad guys. He has guest starred on Here’s Lucy with Lucille Ball and Gale Gordon…


…The Rockford Files with James Garner…

…The Dukes of Hazzard with James Best and Sorrell Booke…



…and, of course, one of my favorites, Charlie’s Angels. He and Jaclyn Smith were very graceful dancing together.

He guest starred on two episodes of Buck Rogers. He played two different characters. On the season finale of Season One, he played the henchman to Julie Newmar and then turned around on the season premiere of Season Two, he returned as a different character.


Sid played on one of those TV Shows that not many people remember or have heard of, but I remember like it was yesterday (actually, it was yesterday since I own the DVD). The show was Jason of Star Command and he was the regular villain named Dragos.




Sid has had a resurgence in popularity because the directors who grew up watching his 70’s exploitation films are now casting him in their films.

He has been in Jackie Brown, House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil's Rejects, the Halloween remake and Kill Bill, Vol. 2.



Harry Dean Stanton, born July 14, 1926 , is another actor who has appeared in many films and television shows.

Credited early as Dean Stanton, he appeared in The Big Valley.

Harry Dean Stanton also appeared in popular sci-fi flicks like Alien with Sigourney Weaver…

…and Escape From New York with Adrienne Barbeau.

He also appeared with Michael McKean in Young Doctors in Love.

In my collection of photo stills, I found some featuring Harry Dean Stanton in Paris, Texas with Dean Stockwell and Karen Black’s son Hunter Carson.




There are many actresses I love not just because of the way that act, but also because of the way they sound. Ladies like Lauren Bacall, Tallulah Bankhead, Carrie Nye, Tammy Grimes, Eartha Kitt and Kathleen Turner are some, but only one was born July 14, 1930. Miss Polly Bergen.

She appeared on the Allen Ludden hosted Password with Janet Leigh, Sammy Davis Jr., and Peter Lawford.


One of those TV movies that were trying to capitalize on the disaster film genre was Murder on Flight 502. It featured Hugh O’Brien, Farrah Fawcett, and Sonny Bono along with Fernando Lamas and Polly Bergen.

In 1984, Polly played Mrs. Vance, the leader of a secret organization of female agents who use the cover of aerobics instructors. The show, Velvet, also featured Shari Belafonte, Sheree J. Wilson, Micheal Ensign, Leah Ayers and Mary-Margaret Humes. I have to say right now, that it will be featured in an upcoming What’s On? post.


Two current stars that have been popular in recent months have been Matthew Fox, born July 14, 1966 and Jane Lynch, born July 14, 1960.


Matthew first became popular in Party of Five, but it was the TV show, Lost, that really made him a household name.



He appeared in the big screen version of Speed Racer as Racer X.


You can’t go anywhere these days without seeing Jane Lynch. Whether she is appearing on TV in Glee or in the papers for her recent same-sex marriage, Jane is popular. I’m not a huge fan, but I enjoyed her in Best in Show with Jennifer Coolidge.



Former President Gerald Ford was born July 14, 1913. Interesting bit of trivia for you: President Gerald Ford was never elected either Vice President or President. He was appointed his vice-presidency under Richard Nixon and then became president when Nixon resigned.


July 14th is also Bastille Day. Celebrating the end of the French Revolution and calling it Bastille Day on the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, a French fortress and prison.

William H. Bonney AKA Billy the Kid was shot and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett on July 14, 1881.

On July 14, 2003, the U.S. Government admitted the existence of Area 51!

That’s about it…oh, yeah…I was born on this same day in 1968. Mr. & Mrs. Blue were very happy when Hilly came into their lives and they showered their only child with a lot of love.










I currently live in a quiet home on the outskirts of Atlanta with Mom Smackley. We’ve been together almost 11 years.





Our girls, Pyewacket, Susu, Mischa and Ursula, are the center of our lives and we dote on them like any proud parents.


Life is good and when it’s this good, you’ve just got to let people know.