(as of September 28, 2007)
As many of you already know, JOSIE & THE PUSSYCATS: THE COMPLETE SERIES was finally released on Sept. 18th. This package contains the full first season of the TV series on 2 DVD's; actually it's 3 DVD's as the second disc is double sided. The only special feature included here is the long rumored documentary on Josie creator, Dan DeCarlo.
The digital transfer of the old shows is quite good, though thanks to the high quality, you can clearly see the occasional light reflections on the original animation cells. Good old Hanna-Barbera!
As for the documentary, it was quite good and informative. They interviewed friends and colleges like Bill Morrison, Scott Shaw, Stan Lee, Casey Kasem and, the inspiration of it all, Dan's widow, Josie DeCarlo! The big shocker was that they even interviewed Archie Comics president Michael Silberkleit! For those of you who kept up with recent Josie/Jozine history, you might know all about the crap Silberkleit gave DeCarlo during the 2001 movie and towards the end of Dan's life.
Still, fanboy grudge aside, I can't complain much. I'm just glad that the thing got released and Dan and the real Josie got some deserved credit.
No word as to if/when the 'Outer Space' episodes will see similar treatment.
Really sad news to report: JOZINE had just found out that singing Pussycat member, PATRICE HOLLWAY, had passed away of a heart attack in October 1, 2006 and was laid to rest on the 16th in Los Angeles, CA.
This announcement was a shock as, outside of CHERYL LADD, very little is known (or documented) of the rest of the Pussycats after they were let go by Capitol Records. While Cathy Douglas was never to be heard in the entertainment industry again, Ms. Holloway continued with her multi-talented career as background singer and writer, though her solo recordings slowly ended after 'Josie'.
Stuffed Animal, who also wrote the Josie article for the late and great Cool & Strange Music Magazine, has written a well researched and lengthy obituary on Ms. Holloway for the pop music web site SPECTROPOP. We thank the writer and the web site for "finding" Ms. Holloway, though this was under very sad circumstances.
Also read Stuff's other "obit" on her at his blog.
In April 2006, Fantagraphic Books, who also put out 'The Pin Up Art of Dan DeCarlo' over a year ago, had released more comprehensive DeCarlo art book called 'Innocence & Seduction: The Art Of Dan DeCarlo'. The book was written and edited by DeCarlo friend, Bill Morrison, who wrote the introduction for the Pin-Up book.
Compared to the pin-up book, this one has fewer pages (208), but it is much bigger in page size (12 x 9). The scope is just as big, too. You get the usual pin-up and Archie material (though some of which hasn't been re-printed before), but this title is a much more comprehensive reach, going to far back just before his army days and well into his personal life.
Thanks to his close friendship with Dan and the full cooperation from his family, Morrison has put together more though story of Dan's personal and professional life than imagined, even for 'Jozine's standards. Brilliant text, art and production all around!
As per usual, a must for any and all Josie/DeCarlo fans! Check the publisher's web site or your local bookstore near you. Just don't expect to see this offered though Archies Comics web site anytime soon.
'The Pin-Up Art Of Dan DeCarlo', written & edited by Alex Chun and designed by Jacob Covey with an introduction by Bill Morrison, is still in print and published by Fantagraphics Books. The 5 3/4 x 7 3/4 216-page paperback is crammed with many of the best pin-up art DeCarlo has produced for the Humorama line of digest publications like Joker, Fun House, Zip, Laugh Riot and Comedy from 1953 to 1963.
Check your local comic book store or the Fantagraphics web site to get your copy.
9/28/07: FINALLY had something to report on the NEWS page!!
8/07/06: put a belated news item on this here 'News' page.
4/02/06: put up a STARCHIE/GOODMAN BEAVER page
4/13/06: put up ANTHROCOON PICTURES page