Ray Dennis Steckler 1938-2009

One of the masters of drive-in schlock passed away this week, a man whose career was revitalized as a cult hero after the release of RE/SEARCH Publications' well known 1986 treatise Incredibly Strange Films. In fact the title of that book (and its sister books Incredibly Strange Music Volumes One and Two) took their titles from Ray Dennis Steckler's most famous picture, The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies (1964). Steckler not only directed entertaining B films but often appeared in them under the pseudonym Cash Flagg. Other than Creatures, Steckler's most well known pictures are Rat Pfink A Boo Boo (1966) and the classic Arch Hall Jr. programmer of rock n' roll rags to riches to rags - Wild Guitar (1962). That's what's posted above: The entire movie Wild Guitar. R.I.P. Ray Dennis Steckler - Variety obit is here.

Comments

[Mike H]

I loved his movies, and his enthusiasm. Very entertaining and wacky stuff!

I'll keep watching 'em Ray! Thanks a lot!

[Holland Oats]

bbc's excellent 'incredibly strange film show' profiled him circa late '80s - host jonathan ross even ended up in one of steckler's films

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWDPKAIYP5M

[Chris Acklin]

I really like Ray's films. "The Incredibly Strange Creatures..." made a huge impression on my hungry adolescent mind.

Part of Ray's 'Incredibly Strange Films' ep was shot at an LA Steckler film fest sponsored by Hollywood Book and Poster in 1989. Ray was apparently impressed by my enthusiasm for his films--especially 'The Thrill Killers', which I saw (and loved) for the first time that night--and we kept in touch for a couple of years thereafter. Ray was a warm and generous guy and a unique--and I mean that as a compliment--filmmaker. I'm going to miss him.

[Steven F. Scharff]

I attended his funeral in Las Vegas. It was a very moving experience and there were many present to say their farewells, including one young man who wore a t-shirt with a reproduction of the poster for "Incredibly Strange Creatures" on the front. For those who wish to do so, there is an entry for him at Findagrave.com where you can leave virtual flowers and express a few words in his memory.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=32853322

Thank you, Ray, not only for the quirky films, but for serving the US Army in Korea, for being a loving husband, father and grandfather, and for encouraging generations of young film-makers to simply pick up a camera and start shooting.