The King (of the Monsters) Is In The Building!

Haruo Nakajima and his daughter Sonoe have arrived in Charlotte!

Above, Sonoe Nakajima (far left) and her father Haruo "Mr. Godzilla" Nakajima chat with convention organizer Eben McGarr.

Mad Monster Party Schedule

The Mad Monster Party convention in Charlotte, North Carolina will be held this week (March 22-24) at the Blake Hotel.

The convention's official website now has the schedule up with a map of the convention (click on image to see larger):

The panel discussion with Haruo Nakajima is set for Sunday, March 24 at 11:00 am in the Carolina Ballroom.  The discussion will be led by yours truly.

To view the schedule page, go here.

"Godzilla" Cast Set

The Warner Bros./Legendary Pictures production of Godzilla has finalized its cast and principal photography has begun.

The Fort Mill Times reported:

BURBANK, Calif. --Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures announced today the final principal cast for the upcoming tent pole “Godzilla.” Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen, and Juliette Binoche are starring in the film, with David Strathairn and Bryan Cranston. 

The companies also announced that principal photography began today on location in Vancouver.

To read more, go here.

David Strathairn Joins "Godzilla" Cast

Dread Central.com has posted latest casting news for Legendary Pictures' Godzilla:

More casting news has come in for Legendary Pictures' upcoming remake of the Toho classic Godzilla as the great David Strathairn is in talks to help fend off the ginormous fire-breathing behemoth from Japan! 

He joins the previously announced Aaron Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Juliette Binoche, and Bryan Cranston, who are also currently in talks, with Gareth Edwards attached to direct.

To read the full article, go here.

Haruo Nakajima

by Armand Vaquer

Above, Haruo Nakajima in 2008.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When people think of the “Godfathers of Godzilla,” they usually think of three men: Tomoyuki Tanaka, Ishiro Honda and Eiji Tsuburaya. However, there is also a fourth Godfather: Haruo Nakajima. His importance in making Godzilla a fifty year-plus success story cannot be denied.

Nakajima, an actor and stuntman, first donned the Godzilla suit in Godzilla (1954) and continued to play Godzilla and other creatures, including King Kong in King Kong Escapes, Rodan in Rodan, Gaila in War of the Gargantuas, Varan, Moguerra, Mothra and many others. He played Godzilla in twelve features and monsters in twenty six movies, in addition to TV appearances. His skills as a suit actor became so important that he gained the additional responsibility of becoming the choreographer of titanic monster battles in Toho’s daikaiju eiga epics.

When Nakajima was offered the chance to work in Hollywood productions, Eiji Tsuburaya (angrily) asked him to turn down the offer because, as he said, they couldn’t make giant monster movies without Nakajima.

Above, Nakajima donning the Godzilla suit in 1954.  Note the miniature of the Wako Dept. store in the background.  Photo courtesy of Sonoe Nakajima.

Haruo Nakajima was born on New Year’s Day in 1929 in Yamagata, Japan. He began his career acting in samurai movies. “I was always the one who got killed in a sword fight,” Nakajima says. “One day, I played a pilot in Eagle of the Pacific by Ishiro Honda. In the Midway battle scene, my plane is hit by a bomb. I’m on fire and jump out.  Nowadays, stuntmen specialize in those things, but at the time I was the first Japanese actor to perform such a stunt. This role established my reputation. When they were looking for an actor for Godzilla, they felt I was ideal for it.”

He adds, “They probably thought, ‘He does anything without getting hurt.’” Not always. “When I played the monster Varan,” he said, “a squad of kamikaze planes approached me [to attack]. The explosion [from a special effects bomb] occurred under my thighs. I was burned all the way up to my tummy, but I couldn’t tell anybody during the shoot. Actors didn’t complain at the time (laughs).”

Efforts are now in progress to have Haruo Nakajima inducted into the Rondo Hatton Classic Monster Awards "Monster Kid Hall of Fame."

The Mad Monster Party 2013 will mark the first time in two years that Nakajima-san has attended a North American fan convention. His previous appearance was at Monsterpalooza in Hollywood, California in 2011.

This year, he is accompanied by his daughter, Sonoe Nakajima.  Although Mr. Nakajima does not speak fluent English, fans have found him to be a warm and funny man ready to discuss his monster experiences. He is always happy to greet his public and sign autographs. Please take advantage of this opportunity to honor and meet the man who brought Godzilla and other monsters to life.

Vote Haruo Nakajima To Monster Kid Hall of Fame

by Armand Vaquer

The 2012 Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards ballot is now up.

Now is the time to submit your votes.  I personally have nothing on the ballot, but you can place a write-in vote for the following:  Haruo Nakajima as an inductee into the Monster Kid Hall of Fame.

35. And finally, help us  again: Who do you think should be this year's inductees into the Monster  Kid Hall of Fame?



ALREADY INDUCTED ARE: Bob and Kathy Burns, Forrest J Ackerman  and James Warren, Zacherley and Vampira, Ray Harryhausen, Ray Bradbury, Alex and  Richard Gordon, William K. Everson, Rick Baker, Basil Gogos, Roger Corman, Dick  Klemensen, Gary and Sue Svehla, James Bama and Bobby 'Boris' Pickett, Paul and  Jackie Blaisdell, Joe Dante, Don Glut, Jack Davis, German Robles and Frank  Frazetta; Bernie Wrightson, Ben Chapman, Cortlandt Hull and Dennis Vincent, Ed  'Big Daddy' Roth, Archie Goodwin and Ghoulardi.Ken Kelly, Jim and Marian  Clatterbaugh, Bob Wilkins, Calvin Beck, Paul Naschy, Lux Interior, Bob Lemon and  Ray Meyers, Bill Warren, Dennis Druktenis, Sammy Terry and Frederick S. Clarke;  Tim and Donna Lucas, William Stout, Ron Borst, George A. Romero, Tom Weaver and  Verne Langdon. Last year: Julie Adams, David Skal, George Stover, Michael Stein,  Morgus, Mark Frank. 

Who should join them? 

Tell us your suggestions. We'll pick six more.

This is your chance to vote for (as a write-in, of course) Haruo Nakajima.    To vote, go here and follow the directions.

Mad Monster Party News Release

by Armand Vaquer

The following news release has been sent out:

Armand Vaquer, author of "The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan," will be  attending the Mad Monster Party convention March 22-24 at the Blake Hotel in  Charlotte, North Carolina.

Vaquer will be selling "The Monster Movie  Fan's Guide To Japan" in the vendors room. He will also moderate panels  featuring the original Godzilla suit-actor, Haruo Nakajima.

Nakajima  played the "King of the Monsters" from the original movie in 1954 to 1972's  "Godzilla vs. Gigan."

"Haruo Nakajima has been a great convention guest  in past years. He began his career as an actor and stuntman in samurai and war  movies and the producers of Godzilla movies took note of his stamina when they  were looking for someone to don the heavy rubber monster suits," said Vaquer.  "He and I will have adjoining tables in the vendors room where fans can obtain  autographed photos from him and get "The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To  Japan.""

"The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan" is the world's first  and only Japan travel guide to monster movie locations and landmarks.

For  additional information on the Mad Monster Party convention, go to the official  website at TheMadMonsterParty.com.

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