Along with paranormal activities, UFOs and unexplained phenomena (such as the Bermuda Triangle disappearances), mythical monsters like Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster and the Yeti (aka the Abominable Snowman) became a big pop culture talking point during the 1970s. Whether it was covered on TV (in shows like In Search Of..., hosted by Leonard Nimoy), in cheap mass-market paperbacks or documentary films (such as the low-rent classic The Mysterious Monsters), the world became obsessed with what was hiding deep beneath the waters of Scotland, of high up within the woods of the American Pacific Northwest.
One television movie which cashed-in on all the hysteria, as well as riding the coattails of popular movies like JAWS, was Snowbeast, a 1977 movie directed by Herb Wallerstein and starring Bo Svenson, Yvette Mimieux and Robert Logan. Written by Psycho and The Outer Limits scriptwriter Joseph Stefano, Snowbeast has a strange Bigfoot/Yeti hybrid picking off skiers at a popular Colorado ski resort, just as it is about to host its 50th Annual Winter Carnival (these monsters sure know when to pick the right time to attack).
Snowbeast is one of the movies which I will be discussing at the upcoming Made for TV Mayhem panel event happening at Monster Fest on the evening of Saturday, November the 26th. Joining myself will be Amanda Reyes, Kier-La Janisse and Lee Gambin, as well as Marneen Fields (actress and former stuntwoman who worked on a number of TV movies in the 1970s/80s). We will be discussing the world of American TV movies (mostly from the 1970s/80s), showing lots of clips and using the event as the launch for the upcoming Headpress book Are You in the Hous Alone?, which was edited by Amanda and features written contributions from Kier-La, Lee and myself. Special advance hardcover copies of the book will be available to purchase and have signed at the event, which will be followed by a screening of Buzz Kulick’s bizarre cult classic TV movie from 1974, Bad Ronald.
Should be a fun and informative evening, and one of the many cool highlights of this year’s Monster Fest!
