THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 6, 1994 TAG: 9410060074
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: [Mal Vincent]
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
EDWARD D. WOOD JR. grew up in Pennsylvania and loved B-westerns, horror movies, comic books and radio dramas. He was a Boy Scout and began making home movies at age 11.
At 17, he enlisted in the Marines, just six months after Pearl Harbor. He became a corporal and a decorated war hero.
Upon returning home, he joined a carnival. He left the tour in California and directed a play called ``The Casual Company.'' It had an unsuccessful run.
In 1948, he undertook making a Western movie, called ``The Streets of Laredo.'' It was never finished.
In 1952, he made his first feature, ``Glen or Glenda?'' starring himself in the double title roles and co-starring his girlfriend, Dolores Fuller. The theme, about a cross-dressing man obsessed with angora sweaters, was shocking in its day. It played drive-ins and sometimes required police approval before bookings.
Following his break-up with Dolores Fuller, he was briefly married to Norma McCarty and then to Kathy Wood, who remained his wife for 20 years, until his death in 1978 at age 53.
So why would any Hollywood studio invest millions in a movie biography of his life? Because his movies, including ``Plan Nine from Outer Space,'' were so unspeakably bad that they have attracted a cult following - a cult that includes eccentric moviemaker Tim Burton. Wood is canonized at science-fiction conventions and inspired an online computer organization of fanatics who quote lines from his movies.
Wood's determined attempts to make his cheap little movies against all odds are an example of how to make something, if not much, out of nothing. His artistic spirit is honored in the new film.
His threadbare cast of players included a has-been wrestler, a chiropractor who wanted to be in a movie, TV horror hostess Vampira, and Bela Lugosi, the only star name he could afford. Lugosi, famous for ``Dracula,'' died while filming an Ed Wood film. Wood kept the death secret and used the back of the head of a stand-in to complete the film. It was primarily Lugosi's name, even though faded, that raised the money for several Ed Wood films.
Where Are They Now?
(As taken directly from the new film's epilogue)
Kathy Wood (played by Patricia Arquette) - Married to Ed for over 20 years. After his death, she never remarried.
Bela Lugosi (Martin Landau) - Never rose from the grave, but after appearing in 103 movies, he is more famous than ever. Today, his movie memorabilia outsells Boris Karloff's by a substantial margin.
Bunny Breckinridge (Bill Murray) - Despite much talk, never actually had his sex change. He is currently living in New Jersey.
Dolores Fuller (Sarah Jessica Parker) - After leaving Ed, went on to a successful songwriting career. Her compositions include the Elvis Presley movie tunes ``Rock-A-Hula Baby'' and ``Do the Clam''
Tor Johnson (George ``The Animal'' Steele) - Appeared in numerous B-movies before achieving his greatest fame as a best-selling Halloween mask. He died in 1971.
Vampira (Lisa Marie Presley) - Retired from show business to sell hand-crafted jewelry. In the 1980s, she sued Elvira for stealing her act, but lost the case.
Paul Marco and Conrad Brooks (Max Casella and Brent Hinkley) - Still personalities on the Hollywood scene. Paul is the founder and president of the Paul Marco Fan Club. The New York Times recently called Conrad the ``Gielgud of bad movies.''
Criswell (Jeffrey Jones) - Continued making highly inaccurate and bizarre predictions, often as a guest of Johnny Carson on ``The Tonight Show.'' He died in 1982. ILLUSTRATION: Above: Ed Wood, played by Johnny Depp, above, died in 1978.
Left; Tor Johnson, played by George "The Animal" Steele, died in
1971.
Vampira, played by Lisa Marie retired from show business to sell
hand-crafted jewelry.
Bela Lugosi, played by Martin landau, died during the filming of
"Plan 9 From Outer Space."
by CNB