A Monster Memories Special: The Legend of Ghetty Chasun the Twenty-Year Vampire Mystery

I have long retained an interest in monsters and horror movies, and for a short time in the early 1990’s developed a particular fascination with vampire movies resulting in my obtaining this signed photograph which has now been in my possession for the last twenty years. Despite all that time I never actually knew who the lady was, I wasn’t familiar with her work and I couldn’t make out the name so her identity eluded me. Guesses would be made from time to time and typed into Internet search engine but to no avail. I didn’t even know what the photo actually promoted until one evening, when I decided to post the photo on my Facebook page to see if anyone knew who she was. I was delighted to learn that she was in fact one Ghetty Chasun. Armed with a name I turned to Google to find out more about her but frustratingly, the Internet yielded very little information. IMDB informed me that she was born January 19, 1970 in Erie, Pennsylvania and that she had starred in six movies between 1993 and 1997 and Scottish band Sawyer named a song after her in 1994. Never one to give up I kept digging in my quest to find out more about Miss Ghetty Chasun and the origin of the photo!

Ghetty Chasun interview in Killing Moon #2 1994

My research began with issue#2 of Killing Moon magazine from 1994, Miss. Chasun’s first movie credit was for Hugh Gallagher's 'Gorotica' (1993) playing Carrie a necrophiliac that stole corpses from graveyards for her own means... She took part in a short interview for the magazine to promote the movie and in the interview in which she names Elvira as one of her personal heroines, editor Alex J Low asked her what her personal interests where, she replied that when she wasn’t acting she created. Elaborating that she was part of a two-woman “hyperactive performance” art group called Sister Nagster and that they specialised in acts involving nudity and sexuality “We have always got a project in the works. We write create, produce, direct perform, publicise and finance every thing on our own.” When asked if she had other video or film credits to her name she answered that she had a “very, very small nude scene” in an independent art film called ‘Tut’s Small Ballad’ and that she had hosted a (unreleased) video documentary by Donald Farmer (director of 'Demon Queen' and 'Vampire Cop') who she acknowledged again when asked how she was cast in Gorotica. He was a friend and regular at Sister Nagster performance pieces and after various video projects fell through he, introduced her to Hugh Gallagher who was looking for an actress and she was cast. When asked about future roles she explained that comic book artist John Michael McCarthy had been co producer on Gorotica and that he planed to make a movie adaptation of his Cadavera comic.  (This was not to be however, as she was instead cast as Candy in 'Damselvis, Daughter of Helvis' (1994) based on another John Michael McCarthy comic) Along with a sequel to 'Truth or Dare' she mentioned a long-term project that she had been working on with Donald Farmer, she in fact went on to work on three movies with him 'Vicious Kiss' (1995) 'Red Lips' (1995) 'Demolition Highway' (1996)

Making of Red Lips feature Scream Queens Illustrated #7 1995

Suspecting that the photo I had was from Red Lips I concentrated my efforts there, Scream Queens Illustrated #7 ran a making of Red Lips feature which was written by Donald Farmer himself with photographs provided by photographer Mike Manikowski. In this movie (also staring Michelle Bauer of 'Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers' and 'Dinosaur Island') Miss. Chasun played Caroline a woman down on her luck that accepts a hundred dollars to participate in a experimental drug trial only to develop a slight ‘side effect’… the need to feed on blood!
Having explained the premise of the film Farmer expressed his hope that the film would follow in the footsteps of other great lesbian vampire movies, such as 'The Vampire Lovers' and 'Lust of a Vampire'. Believing that the timing was perfect, as Hollywood seemed to have revived its interest in vampires with the release of 'Bram Stoker’s Dracula' and 'Interview with the Vampire'. When discussing his association with “rising horror star” Miss. Chasun, the before mentioned abandoned video project crops up, being described as a film about "psychotic abortion clinic protesters”. We learn that after working on Gorotica Miss. Chasun had co-stared in a Nashville production of the B-Movie inspired play Women Behind Bars. Rounding out 1994 playing the sole female role in a Pensilvania run of Vampire Lesbians of Sodom! Movie and stage work aside he called her a radical performance artist, mentioning Sister Nagster and relaying that both Miss. Chasun and her partner were once arrested by the Nashville Police Department after an outdoor performance violated a Tennessee ordinance on public nudity! As the article draws to a close, Farmer shared his enthusiasm for Miss. Chasun’s portrayal as Caroline. Adding that she could be “a bit overzealous in her vampire mode” as she would bite through the foam latex neck pieces as planned, but would also tear prosthetics, gnaw on the blood bladders beneath them, and begin on the actor under the latex! Adding that she had once managed to snap off a dental acrylic fang on fellow actor Danny Fendley’s neck! Closing with “Needless to say, the actress was really into her part!” Now with no doubts that the photo was connected to Red Lips

From the same promotional set, Courtesy of Donald Farmer

I contacted Donald Farmer working on his latest movie 'Shark Exorcist' to enquire further about it. He very kindly confirmed his association with Ghetty Chasun informing me that it was in fact Leslie Q who played a night club performer in Red Lips that first introduced him to Ghetty Chasun back in 1992. (Interestingly he also told me that Leslie Q’s performance in the movie was filmed at Lucy's Records in Nashville however the shots of Chasun and Michelle Bauer watching her perform were filmed in Brooklyn!) When I enquired about the photo that I had, he confirmed that it was indeed from Red Lips and that it was one of a series of shots taken by Mike Manikowski to promote the movie at the 1995 Chiller Convention in New Jersey. Seemed that Miss. Chasun had been in attendance at the event, meeting fans, signing photos, VHS’s and apparently there was even a limited edition action figure! But, what happened after that? What become of Ghetty Chasun after 1995? What was she up to as this photo hung on my wall? Having made her last movie with Donald Farmer 'Demolition Highway' she worked on a movie missed out by IMDB, Raoul Vehill’s independent short film ‘Horrorgirl’ (1995) before working with John Michael McCarthy one more time, this time being made up as an old woman for 'The Sore Losers' (1997) and this was to be here final movie. Miss Chasun then opted for working behind the scenes instead, achieving a MFA in Cinematography from the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, Ca. and a BA in film/video from Columbia College Chicago later becoming a freelance Director of Photography. Shooting independent, narrative film shorts working as both a camera operator, gaffer and lighting technician. So there we go, a Twenty-Year Vampire Mystery solved. I hope this humble attempt to document Miss Chasun’s career proved to be a little more insightful than a vague IMDB page and that it shed a little light on her work. If only to right the Internet’s wrong and help out anyone that happens to ask the same question I did about the legend of Ghetty Chasun.

My sincerest thanks to David Rutter, John Michael McCarthy, Donald Farmer and Ghetty Chasun.








© Arfon Jones 2014. All images are copyrighted throughout the world.

New Book! Ghostwatch: Behind the Curtains

A very Happy New Year to you all! Yes… I realise that we are already fifteen days in BUT seeing as it took me twenty-eight days to post something last year I think improvements are definitely being made! I do (as ever) have a perfectly good excuse; I am (as always) very busy, currently working on the second issue of Slaughterhouse Farm for Hellbound Media. Despite being so busy however I have allowed myself two luxuries this month one is turning thirty-five and the other is finishing Rich Lawden’s Ghostwatch: Behind the Curtains book. This companion book backs the well-received retrospective documentary of the same name released back in March and it’s simply marvellous, as it not only provides us with the making of the documentary it also further educates us about the legendary ‘Hallowe’en Hoax’ itself.  Backed with rare behind the scenes photos, production notes and news clippings crammed between a foreword by the series creator/writer Stephen Volk and his sequel story, "31/10"! Oh it also features two of my Ghostwatch paintings in it!
Whether you recovering from the trauma left from first viewing the programme back in 1992 or you just want to learn more about this great television moment, order your copy here.

© Arfon Jones 2014. All images are copyrighted throughout the world.

Wonderments and Atrocities: Mounted Furby Trophy

For ten years I managed to steer clear of the sold-out Christmas toy scenario reminiscent of Jingle All the Way but last Christmas my preparation plans went somewhat awry and I found myself trying to locate a Furby two weeks before Christmas. It seemed to be that year’s ‘must have’ toy and as I searched the Internet I was struck by how many refered to the process as “hunting”. I would look through eBay sales and most of the sellers taking advantage of the rush would write “happy hunting” underneath their extortionate asking prices. In one instance I visited a toyshop and a staff member wished me “good hunting” as I left! So, I gladly excepted the challenge and went ‘hunting’ for a Furby and managed to successfully “bag” one of the beasts. Although it was in no way as comical as  Jingle All the Way I did however manage to successfully secure one a week before Christmas at a fraction of the cost and frankly I was quite pleased with myself. This feeling was highlighted and underlined by my daughter’s happy face on Christmas morning when she found Furby under the Christmas tree. True the memory of her happy face was reward enough, but I decided to mark that December ‘hunt’ the only way I knew how… Adding it to the ever growing collection of Wonderments and Atrocities.
Merry Christmas everyone!

My sincere thanks to Rachel White for helping me track down this particular specimen.
© Arfon Jones 2013. All images are copyrighted throughout the world.

Ultimate Greeting Cards

As the rush to get Christmas cards out to people before the 25th rages on I thought I would mention that it’s not too late to order some of my Ultimate Greeting Cards because unlike other cards on the market these can be used 12 months of the year!

Inventor Sir Henry Cole introduced the world's first commercially produced Christmas card back in 1843 and now I Arfon Jones bring you the Ultimate Greeting Card designed to cover all greetings and special occasions for anyone that is constantly on the go! Why commit to just the one special occasion? These cards allow you the luxury of sending them out any time of the year and they are easy to use! Simply tick the appropriate occasion(s) (save even more time and money by ticking several in one go!) add any additional messages at your own discretion in the comment section below and sigh! No fiddly envelopes that won’t stick, just add an address and a stamp to the back of card itself and post! Order a pack of six here or here.


© Arfon Jones 2013. All images are copyrighted throughout the world.

Mystery Painting

This post has a loose art theme to it but it mostly regards television. I have become somewhat disillusioned with TV of late, I can’t really explain why but I find that they rarely make programs that interest me these days. So now I turn to my dvd’s for my evening television fix. Immersing myself in classic television shows, programs that I feel “got it right” case in point Columbo, the undisputed classic. It seldom gets better than this, I have been a fan of this show for as long as I can remember. I love everything about it, the premise, the stories, casting and above all the character of Columbo, Peter Falk’s gift to the world. As far as I’m concerned Falk’s acting was flawless and his devotion for the character shined through. BUT this post is not about that.
I would instead like to direct your attention to the season 3 episode "A Friend in Deed" from 1974. In which Columbo matches wits against a deputy police commissioner (played Richard Kiley). When Columbo visits him in his office, you will note that there is a painting hanging on the wall behind him. I believe it to be Westminster Bridge (a nod to Season 2’s "Dagger of the Mind" from 1972 in which Columbo visits London perhaps?) “So what?!” I hear you ask well let me move on from a well loved Universal Studios classic to a horribly under rated one…

Kolchak: The Night Stalker, Darren McGavin plays Carl Kolchak a Chicago newspaper reporter who investigates mysterious crimes involving the supernatural or the unexplained. Sadly the series only had one season and it’s only claim to fame was that it was cited as the inspiration for The X-Files.
But if we watch episode 13 "Primal Scream" from 1975 in which Kolchak tries to uncover the truth behind rampaging prehistoric primates we see one particular scene involving the reception area of a PR’s office… See it? It’s the same painting as the one we saw in Columbo! Different frame but without a doubt it’s the same painting. Some of you may well be still asking “So what?!” both shows were made by Universal and so their props must come from the same warehouse. Well I love this sort of thing! It connects my favourite shows.  Since making this discovery both Mrs Jones and I have been looking out for it in other episodes, didn’t take long though, as a matter of fact it only took six more episodes…

Episode 19 "The Youth Killer" Helen of Troy drains the youth from the unsuspecting people that sign up for her dating agency and in her office we see the painting again! So, was it used in any other Universal programs? I will keep this post open in the hope that some of you out there might be able to name other Universal Television show’s or movies in which this painting featured! Perhaps even provide some information on the painting itself or the artist? (I hope so because I have a perfect spot to hang a print of it!) Any information or comments leave them at the bottom of the page or contact me directly and I will update accordingly!

Update: 20/02/2014 Well, the mystery painting turned up yet again in another of my favourite TV shows The Rockford Files! The brilliant, James Garner plays Jim Rockford a Los Angeles-based private investigator in a show, which ticks all the right boxes for me! In Episode 2 of Season 5 "Rosendahl and Gilda Stern Are Dead" from 1978, Rockford tries to help his friend Rita Capkovic prove her innocence when she is accused of murdering a prominent doctor and as they sneak into the office of Dr. Russell… There’s the painting again! Albeit very briefly but its undoubtedly the same one and in the very same frame as its previous cameo!
The search continues...

All images belong to Universal Television, no copyright infringement intended, in fact I urge you all to buy Columbo, The Rockford Files and Kolchak: The Night Stalker dvd’s right now!
(everything else however) © Arfon Jones 2013.

My Morgue

Back in 1990 I bought and read ‘The Cartoon Book’ written by Australian cartoonist James Kemsley. Although I was unfamiliar with Kemsley’s work I found the book to be very helpful as it offered hints on drawing caricatures and comic strips. Of all the advice it provided, two stuck with me throughout. No1 “Practice, Practice, Practice!” and No2 “Keep a Morgue” he elaborated on this rule, “As far as a cartoonist is concerned, a morgue is their reference library. Something they can’t do without. From today onwards start a file of photographs, illustrations, cartoons and newspaper and magazine clippings of just about everything.”  “Some lucky people can draw almost anything from memory or imagination. The rest of us aren’t so lucky. But once you’ve set up a complete morgue, your worries are over.” So that was just what I did, each week I collected photographs and clippings from old issues of Your Sinclair Magazine, Look-In, TV Times, Radio Times, Video World Monthly, Doctor Who Magazine, Fangoria, SFX and Games Master Magazine and stuck them in my Morgue for 20 years. As the years passed by a new scrapbook would be started and attached to the last, I amassed thousands of pictures of the obscurest of things over the years, things that must have interested me at the time. Game and video covers, comic panels, celebrity obituaries, Batman movie casting news and a few girlie pictures for good measure. Even the ‘The Cartoon Book’ itself ended up scattered within its pages and then in 2010 I finally excepted that Google image was far superior for sourcing reference images and I closed the Morgue forever. But I refuse to get rid of it though, you never know when you might suddenly need a picture of the Gladiators or a Saga Mega CD system..

Dedicated to James Kemsley OAM (1948 –2007)
© Arfon Jones 2013. All images are copyrighted throughout the world.

"Wonderful chap. All of them" A Doctor Who 50th anniversary special

The amount of hype generated around Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary has been astounding! Between each tantalising still from Mark Gatiss' An Adventure in Time and Space to that epic Doctor Who: 50 Years' trailer. The special online episode The Night of the Doctor marking the return and departure of Paul McGann's 8th Doctor and the discovery of the missing Troughton episodes The Enemy of the World and The Web of Fear have had me, for want of a better expression “geeking-out” for weeks!  Funny how things can change in ten years though when you consider how for the 40th all we had was a weekend special on UK Gold and four alternative covers of the Radio Times to look forward to! (12 Radio Times covers this time round!) It was during the 40th anniversary that I first embarked on my mission to obtain as many Doctor and companion signatures as possible on my ‘Time Gentlemen 1963- ‘ painting. It hasn’t been easy, some continue to elude me a minor set back caused by the series’ global popularity. I’ve travelled many miles, made many friends and enemies along the way, encountered joy and hardship making it a real adventure, one that I have no intention of giving up on just yet. So, to celebrate the programme’s 50th anniversary and the project’s 10th I have created 11 hand drawn/painted replicas of each Doctor as depicted in the painting and scattered them through time and space… Who knows where they will end up?
Happy 50th anniversary Doctor Who!

© Arfon Jones 2013. All images are copyrighted throughout the world.