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Directed by Irvin Yeaworth
Starring Steve McQueen and Aneta Corsaut

A terrifying hunk of space gelatin crash lands on Earth in a meteorite and instantly begins consuming the denizens of small town U.S.A. in one of the best known sci-fi/horror films of the 1950s. "The Blob" follows a teenage "gang of ne'er-do-wells" led by a young Steve McQueen (billed as Steven McQueen in his first lead role), as they discover the threat posed by the invader and try to warn the townsfolk of the impending danger. Sadly, no one will listen as people continue to disappear and the blob grows ever bigger. In one of the most iconic scenes from the "drive-in cinema" era, the otherworldly ooze terrorizes the local movie house as the unstoppable substance chases moviegoers out into the street before squeezing through the theater's doorways. Eventually, the blob traps people inside the local diner and the local authorities must figure out a way to stop it before it consumes the entire planet (or something equally sinister)! "The Blob" is, by far, one of the best science fiction films of the 1950s. Everything from the acting, directing and special effects—to the truly disturbing and often frightening story—are top notch. If you're looking for a way to introduce new people to the wonders of cheesy 1950s cinema, this film is a safe place to start! I heartily recommend it!

The Weird Weird West!

While fans wait for Mihm to get on (or off) his horse and make a western, let's celebrate those cheesy combos—Horror/Sci-fi Westerns—from those golden days of yesteryear!

1. (1935) Gene Autry starred as—well, Gene Autry—in this film about a rancher who discovers that an ancient race of people from the lost continent of Mu have been living in the caves below his Radio Ranch. Their high-falutin' technology includes ray guns and something called "television," much of it created by using their rich supply of radium. Once the townsfolk find out, the peaceful Muranians are corrupted by greed and an all out war over the radium is about to break out. Can Gene stop the war and make it to his weekly radio broadcast in time? Will he sing a few tunes? Will someone be able to name the movie?

2. (1956) Well I'll be darned...it ain't the coyotes that are eatin' the cattle...it's a dad-blamed DINOSAUR! It's up to an American cowboy living in Mexico (played by Guy Madison) to stop the madness—and not by building a wall. Name the film!

3. (1958) In 1880, a young boy in a western town is affected by radiation from a meteor, which turns him into a hairy teenaged psychopathic monster. His mom (played by Anne Gwynn) hides him in the basement. It doesn't end well.

4. (1959) Hey, sidewinder! That hired gunslinger is bloodthirsty for a reason: he's also a vampire! It's up to Preacher Dan Young to stop the bloodshed—in more ways than one! Eric Fleming plays the preacher, and co-stars include John Hoyt (who later went on to have featured roles in everything from "Hogan's Heroes," to "The Virginian," and finally, Grandpa Kanisky on "Gimme a Break.") Name the film!

5. (1966) A legendary outlaw from the old west is on the run from Marshall McPhee, so he hides out in an old Mexican castle, where he meets Maria—who turns Hank (his slow-witted accomplice) into a bald zombie she calls "Igor." John Lupton plays the outlaw. Narda Onyx plays Maria. Both the story and the title are ridiculous. Can you name it?

6. (1966) This one is just as ridiculous. A famous vampire moves to the American west where he sets his sights...and his teeth...on the girlfriend of a famous outlaw who isn't about to let this happen without some bloodshed—if you know what I mean. At least this one featured a bona fide horror legend: John Carradine. Name it!

...and then there was that western about some kid named Marty and his friend Doc Brown who time traveled back to 1885...I think Mary Steenburgen was in it...

It's July, a time when a lot of people in America watch the skies. I'm going to tell you about an important moment in science that occurred in a July sky! No, it's not the Apollo 11 moon landing (this time) but something you can still see if you know where to look: Telstar 1!

Back in 1962, NASA launched the communications satellite on July 10th. Owned by AT&T, this was the first launch of a privately-owned satellite and paved the way for the current private-public partnership in space between NASA and companies like SpaceX. Telstar 1 could transmit telephone calls, television signals, pictures, data from one side of the world to the other and made many firsts in history (1st telephone call via satellite, 1st transatlantic television broadcast, et cetera). It paved the way for the modern world of communicating quickly all over the world.

Telstar was the first active communications satellite but it was soon joined by many more...which was a good thing for AT&T. Unfortunately, Telstar 1 was not "long for this world," so to speak. Because of high altitude nuclear testing from both the USA and the Soviet Union, Telstar's delicate electronics were fried and it went out of service in February of 1963. It may be a dead satellite now but you can still see it if you know where to look, because it is still orbiting 55 years later. It's hard to see with the naked eye but, when you're watching the fireworks this Independence Day, cast your eye a little further and remember this pioneer. If not for this little 3 foot long ball (that kind of looks like a big version of the light saber training drone from "Star Wars"), we wouldn't be able to watch the finale of "Doctor Who" at the same time as our friends in Britain! If that's not a worthy cause for SCIENCE, I don't know what is.

"The Monster of Phantom Lake," "It Came From Another World!," "Cave Women on Mars," "Terror from Beneath the Earth," "Destination: Outer Space," "Attack of the Moon Zombies," "House of Ghosts," "The Giant Spider," "The Late Night Double Feature," "Danny Johnson Saves The World," "Weresquito: Nazi Hunter" and "The Monster of Phantom Lake: The Musical" DVDs are now available at SaintEuphoria.com, the online home of the films of Christopher R. Mihm.

In addition, exclusive movie posters, collectibles and other merchandise are now in stock. Everything is available in extremely limited quantities, so get yours today before they run out!