Third-Generation Italian-American San Franciscan. Japanese Cult Movie Writer. Promoter. Raconteur. Man About Town. Jack-Of-All-Trades. Semi-Retired Luchador Enmascarado. Full-Time Smart-Ass. The Head Honcho behind "The Greaseball" Rockabilly Weekender and the "Shock It to Me!" Classic Horror Film Festival, one of the founding fathers of "Incredibly Strange Wrestling." Also Known As "Augie," "The Amazing Caltiki," and "ABD."
AUTHOR! AUTHOR! My first book, EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS , should be available at better book retailers near you right now (October on the West Coast and November on the East Coast) from the world-renown Chronicle Books . "Who is Eiji Tsuburaya," you might ask? Tsuburaya (1901-1970) was one of the technical pioneers of Cinema in the Silent Era, who went on to create the visual effects for GODZILLA and ULTRAMAN. This 208-page, heavily-illustrated (200 photos), coffeetable hardcover, is the first fully-authorized book of its kind published outside of Japan, and was produced in cooperation with Toho Motion Picture Company (the makers of Godzilla), Tsuburaya Productions (the makers of Ultraman) and the Tsuburaya family, under the banner "Eiji Project."
Already on sale in Canada, EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS , is receiving positive reviews: "The difference between this book and other coffee table volumes that have covered daikaiju before, though, is the staggeringly researched detail that Ragone has put into the text itself. This is not just a picture book to flip through, nod approvingly at and stick on the shelf; this is a record easily in scale with the monsters Tsuburaya created—a critical and historical look at the creation and output of an industry that spanned (and has continued to span) the decades." - Tooth & Dagger.com
Tim Lucas, publisher and editor of the award-winning Video Watchdog magazine had this to say about the author, "There is so much writing in English on Japanese cinema that can't be accepted at face value--not because the writers are careless, but because the differences in culture and language are just too intricate. When I see August Ragone's name on a piece of writing, it gives me permission to place my faith in it completely. Among Japanese fantasy film historians, he's the best working in English."
EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS also made quite a splash at the Chronicle Books booth at the San Diego Comic Con this past July, and has become one of their most anticipated and pre-ordered books of the Fall Season! When I finally received my advance copy in August, I was amazed that it far was better than when we did the Galley Proofs back in March. But, you should see the book for yourselves!
SCHEDULED BOOK SIGNINGS: This coming Sunday, November 4th, I will be appearing at an in-store signing for the release of my book from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm at Borders Books in the Stonestown Galleria (233 Winston Drive, San Francisco, CAÂ 94132). Former "Creature Features" host, author John Stanley , will be joining me to sign copies of his latest book, "I Was a TV Horror Host." More signings to be announced in the near future - stay tuned!
UPDATE: The San Francisco Chronicle has contacted me for a feature story in an upcoming issue of the paper - more later...
BREAKING NEWS: This afternoon (October 30th), I went to lunch with a friend to discuss working on his photography book, and being at Japantown in San Francisco, we stepped in to check out the newly-remodeled Books Kinokuniya (1581 Webster St., San Francisco, CA 94115). While we were browsing, I went to check out the Film/Arts section, and was surprised to see, there on the counter, six copies of my book, EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS - this is the first time I have actually seen the book on sale, and it was really exciting seeing this project, which started talking about five years ago, actually on store shelves! It makes it all seem so... real.
Now, you can order your copy today from Amazon.com!
Johnny Genocide (aka Hugh Patterson), singer of the seminal San Francisco band, No Alternative, has been through a recent hellish experience with cancer, and needs our support. Johnny has been invaluable to our punk rock community and No Alternative was one of the great innovators in the early SF punk music scene. So please come down and support Johnny with this stellar line-up benefitm which is not to be missed: Saturday November 3rd at Lennon Studios 3:00-10:00 pm.
There will be great music, food, drink, art auction/sale and an awesome raffle.The proceeds benefit the family of Johnny who was diagnosed with squamous cell cancer of the soft palate earlier this year, and the bills just keep rollin on in! He will be unable to sing for several months and will be a long road for therapy to get him strong again...
GODS & MONSTERS: Earlier this year, I was commissioned by Ronin Entertainment (BCI/Eclipse) to research and write the exhaustive 20-page Liner Notes Booklets, as well as edit the English subtitle scripts, for their upcoming DVD releases of the Japanese superhero series SILVER MASK (1971), IRON KING (1972) and SUPER ROBOT: RED BARON (1973). IRON KING has been completed (although I did not edit the English Subtitle scripts for this release) and will be available on November 6th at Best Buy stores nationwide (as well as a number of online retailers). The 26-episode complete box set is retailing for $39.95 (MSRP), or you can get it from Deep Discount DVD for only $22.11 (including free shipping) — IRON SHOCK!
CHANGEE, SWITCH ON! This past Spring, I completed intensive work on the KIKAIDA 01 Complete Series DVD Box Set for Honolulu-based JN Productions . The 1973 series (fully subtitled in English) features the exciting exploits of android hero from the '70s! My work included translation work, writing the detailed behind-the-scenes factoids and synopses for all 46 episodes, and even the ad copy for the jacket! My previous work for JN Productions includes DVD releases of KIKAIDA and KAMEN RIDER V3 ! For more details and information on how to order, please visit the official Generation Kikaida website!
BIGGER THAN BIG: Forget Michael Bey's upcoming and soulless TRANSFORMERS movie, Go Nagai's Super Robot, MAZINGER Z, would kick their automaton arses all the way back to Cybertron (or wherever they came from) with his wicked Rocket Punch! Just don't mention "Tranzor Z," or you'll find yourself on the wrong end of a Photon Beam!
Eurasian actor and singer Jerry Ito (born Gerald Tamekichi Ito) passed away in his Los Angeles home on July 7, 2007 at 8:00 PM, due to complications of pneumonia, while undergoing treatment for stomach cancer. He was 79 years old. A famous MC and entertainer in Japan, Mr. Ito is best remembered around the world for his role as the vile Clark Nelson in Ishiro Honda’s 1961 epic, MOTHRA. He is survived by his wife, Sakae. I was privileged to know Mr. Ito; he will be missed.
R.I.P. Dennis "Denz" Smith. Denz was a big man with an even bigger heart, who was not ashamed to proudly wear it on on his sleeve. With a world filled with backstabbers and fifth columnists, Denz was a real rare gem among us. He will be greatly missed. Denz' Obituary in the SF Chronicle
Stompin' Steve and Denz (dressed as Dead Elvis) at DeMarco’s 23 Club for Halloween ’02.
One of my oldest friends, Guy Mariner Tucker, author of "Age of the Gods: A History of the Japanese Fantasy Film," passed away on November 17, 2006. He was a great friend and an excellent writer, with incredible insight into Japanese Cinema, and made friends with many of the principals involved in the Golden Age of the post-war era. Guy was a great friend, who was honorable, stedfast and true. I will miss him terribly.
The late Guy Tucker (circa 1988) during happier days in Tokyo with producer Fumio Tanaka (left) and visual effects director Teruyoshi Nakano (right).
