Calcasieu Serialfest 2023!

Chapter 9!

Calcasieu Serialfest returned to the Brimstone Museum Annex for its ninth year on July 29th! This year’s theme was science fiction and the robots, mad scientists, and space invaders were in full force! Flash Gordon was front and center, having two chapters from Flash Gordon’s Trip To Mars (1938) and one colorized chapter of Flash Gordon Conquers The Universe (1940) presented to the audience. Buster Crabbe starred as Flash and he also appeared in as Buck Rogers in a chapter of the 1939 serial entitled Buck Rogers. A free lobby card reprint was given to all attendees featuring Crabbe as Flash Gordon and visitors also got to pick up an 8 x 10 of Crabbe and Jean Rogers as Dale Arden. There was also a Flash Gordon’s Trip To Mars poster given out to fans as well. Exclusive trading cards, a sticker, a Ming The Merciless button, and a decoder dial were also available for anybody that wanted them.

Other serials showcased at the event included chapters from The Crimson Ghost (1946), The Lost Planet (1953), Captain Video (1951), The Phantom Empire (1935), The Mysterious Doctor Satan (1940), and King Of The Rocket Men (1949). A classic Max Fleischer Superman cartoon, The Mechanical Monsters (1941), was also shown to the audience. Don O’Malley wowed the crowd via Zoom as he spoke about his serial, Hop Hopkins, and discussed other serial-centric things with our fearless leader, Patrick Bennett. Yours truly presented a panel on the connection between The Crimson Ghost and the Fiend mascot of The Misfits horror punk band. Cosplayer Daniel O’Neill showed off his Commando Cody suit complete with helmet, rocket pack, and gun! The mysterious Crimson Ghost made an appearance for my panel as well! Fans got to take photos with both cosplayers and appeared to have a fun time at the event.

Next year is the tenth anniversary and the Tenth Chapter of Calcasieu Serialfest! The theme will be superheroes, so get ready to watch amazing chapters of some of your favorite comic book and pulp novel adaptations. As soon as the date of the event is released, I’ll share it here on my blog. We plan on having more cosplayers as your favorite heroes. Are there any heroes in particular that you’d love to see at the event? Let me know in the comments section!

Thanks for checking out my post! The Houston Horror Film Festival is coming up in less than two weeks! I’ll be there and I’ll be posting over the three day event! Stay tuned, true believers!