The Far-Out Adventures of Brad and Janet

Mom Smackley and I are doing an art project called People, Places, and Things. Each week, we pick items out of a "hat" and create an image incorporating these items. The items we got from our "hat" this week were David Bowie, Outer space and a vampire bat.

I decided to do a sequel to The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Brad and Janet follow Riff Raff and Magenta to the planet Transexual in the galaxy of Transylvania. When they arrive at the planet, Riff Raff and Magenta are there with their leader the Goblin King and his associates Igor and Renfield. They are waiting in orbit on asteroids floating in front of the ship called the USS Denton. When Brad and Janet use the viewscreen, they are shocked by how much the Goblin King looks like David Bowie...



Mom Smackley did his this week in less than two hours, yet I think it may be my favorite one. I just love the colors and concept. It may have to be my new desktop picture.



Next week will be Lucille Ball, Spaceship and a baby crib. Should be interesting.

After Dark May 1978

Here's Bette Midler appearing on her third cover of After Dark! This issue also happens to be the Tenth Anniversary Issue! There is so much going on in this issue, I am going to have to break it up into multiple posts. There are the regular features, plus a look back at some of their favorite moments, films and people. In William Como's "Speaking Out" column, he talks about the demise of Ballroom Dance Magazine and how it was reinvented as After Dark. I really need to post that first issue of After Dark. Maybe next weekend.

Bette Midler interviews The Divine Miss M. That's right! It was a cute little piece that shows the natural humor of Miss Midler.



There was a bit on the Ruby Awards, which I mentioned in an earlier post. It had a photo of the previous seven winners that included Bette Midler,

her former accompianist and friend and star in his own right, Barry Manilow,

Peter Allen,

Ann-Margret,

Lucille Ball,

Mae West,

and Ruby Keeler (here with Dorothy Collins) for whom the award was renamed.

That's right, the Ruby Award was originally called the Starry Night Award, but more on the award and the parties that were given in other posts.
Back to the issue. Since it was the 10th anniversary, William Como and the staff got together for a group shot to show you the faces behind the monthly madness of After Dark.

In continuing their retrospective, they talked about some of the movies that made an impact with the newcomers of yesteryear now being the stars of today. Nudity in mainstream films like The Strawberry Statement which featured Bruce Davison,

Midnight Cowboy with Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman,

Jane Fonda as Barbarella,

David Bowie who appeared in The Man Who Fell to Earth and was going to be starring in Just a Gigolo,

Myra Breckinridge star Raquel Welch who would soon be appearing in The Sin and The Animal.

Who else is going to be featured in this issue? I'm afraid you'll just have to wait and see. Check back this week for more from this double-size issue.
Until then, will somebody order me a Gay Bob doll? I really, really want one.