On the Town: Dark Delicacies keeps its events screaming
They’re the monarchs of the macabre and the empresses of the eerie — they’re “scream queens” — those darling damsels of the screen who, in the writhing wake of Fay Wray, always seem to find themselves in the deepest and darkest of distress.
This past week saw an impressive assemblage of this aristocratic hierarchy of horror gather as the prolific dark fantasy, action and horror filmmaker David DeCoteau presented his third annual Day of the Scream Queens at Burbank’s horror hot spot Dark Delicacies.
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DeCoteau, who has been working in film production since the legendary horror master Roger Corman hired him as a production assistant when he was just a teenager, produced and directed his first feature film when he was just 24. Since then he has made more than 90 films and has become a cult hero with horror fans.
Hosted by Del and Sue Howison, the proprietors of the Magnolia Boulevard shop that stands as the only brick-and-mortar retailer in the country dedicated solely to horror, the event last Sunday saw hundreds of fans brave the rain for the opportunity to meet and get photos and memorabilia signed by the gathering of distressed damsels and femme fatales.
“This event has always been one of our most popular, “said Del Howison as lines formed at the two rows of tables that served as the signing stations for actresses Brinke Stevens, Donna Wilkes, Hilary Shepard, Jill Jacobson, Vanessa Angel, Rae Dawn Chong, Monique Parent, Cynthia Rothrock and Jennifer Rhodes.
The event also gave fans the chance to meet actress and musician Cherie Currie, who was the lead singer of the Runaways, and Omarosa from “The Apprentice,” who appeared in DeCoteau’s 2014 horror comedy “Knock ‘em Dead.”
“The criteria to be involved in this event is that each actress had to have appeared in at least one of David’s films,” explained Del Howison, who is now preparing for another big day at Dark Delicacies. “On Feb. 27, [we’ll] be hosting a fundraiser that will present women directors, producers, cinematographers, screenwriters and actresses who have contributed to the horror genre.”
Staged as a fundraiser, proceeds from this event will benefit the charity Reel Grrls, an organization that empowers young women from diverse communities to realize their power, talent and influence through media production.
The event, which will take place from 2 to 5 p.m., will also raise funds for Celeste Yarnall, who starred in the 1970 film “Beast of Blood” and 1971’s “The Velvet Vampire,” who is currently undergoing treatment for stage three ovarian cancer.
Among the many filmmakers who are well-known names to horror film fans and are scheduled to attend are Sandy King Carpenter, Jackie Kong, Jace Anderson, Rena Riffel, Jennifer Blanc, Deborah Brock and Kristina Klebe.
Dark Delicacies is located at 3512 W. Magnolia Blvd. For more information about the Feb. 27 fundraiser, call (818) 556-6660 or visit darkdel@darkdel.com.
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DAVID LAURELL may be reached by email at dlaurell@aol.com or (818) 563-1007.
