Bill Barounis and Onar Films on DVD

Bill Barounis was a friend of mine in Greece who sadly passed away last year after a long battle with cancer. Bill was, among other achievements, the creator of the Onar DVD label which made many rare Turkish exploitation movies available in English subtitled versions. Below is a post and photo taken from the Mondo Macabro blog by Jared at Mondo Macabro DVD, re-posted here with their permission, on how to get some of these DVDs and, in the process, help Bill's family out.

I can heavily recommend "3 Dev Adam" ("3 Mighty Men" aka "Santo and captain America vs. Spiderman"), one of the most bizarre super-hero rip-off movies ever lensed!

~Brian H.



Last year our good friend Bill Barounis tragically died after a long battle with cancer. He left behind both a family and a large overstock of DVDs from his labor-of-love boutique label Onar Films. Thankfully, his friend Ali Murat Guven has endeavored to come to the aid of his grieving family by selling that overstock. I know there are many people who came late to the Onar party or simply weren't able to to pick up every discs at the time. Here's a chance to complete your collection and help out somone in need at the same time.

Here's Guven's statement on What and How:

ONAR FILMS DVD'S ON SALE
This sale is for the Family of our friend Vasilis "Bill"... The money will be send to his family.

For the orders outside Turkey: buyers add/pay their shipment . All will send to you with PTT (turkish post) Tracking number system. Sending time for Turkey is 1 week and Outside Turkey is 2 weeks. You can contact onarfilms.lastfilms@yahoo.com.
For the signed posters you have to mention your names!.
Ali Murat Guven

PS: I will add details for all your questions...

Prices and the list of the movies
25 lira - 11 euro - 14 dolar
30 lira: 13 euro - 17 dolar

3 DEV ADAM (LAST 85 copy) / Price: 25 lira
With a small poster signed by Aytekin Akkaya

ÖLÜLER KONUŞMAZ Kİ / AŞKA SUSAYANLAR (İki filmli DVD / LAST 80 copy) / Price: 30 TL
With a small poster signed by Aytekin Akkaya

KORKUSUZ KAPTAN SWING (Last 80 COPY) / Price: 25 TL

TARZAN İSTANBUL’DA (Last 90 COPY) / Price: 25 TL
With a small poster signed bu Kunt Tulgar

SÜPERMEN DÖNÜYOR / DEMİR YUMRUK DEVLER GELİYOR (İki filmli DVD / Last 70 COPY) / Price: 30 TL
With a small poster signed bu Kunt Tulgar (director of the Supermen Donuyor)

KİLİNK İSTANBUL’DA (Last 30 COPY) / Price: 25 TL

KIZIL TUĞ: CENGİZ HAN (Last 75 COPY) / Price: 25 TL

ALTIN ÇOCUK (Last 90 COPY) / Price: 25 TL

CASUS KIRAN (Last 15 COPY) / Price: 25 TL

CELLAT (Last 5 COPY) / Fiyatı: 30 TL

KİLİNK UÇAN ADAM’A KARŞI / KİLİNK SOY VE ÖLDÜR (İki filmli DVD / Last 80 COPY) / Price: 30 TL

This statement came sometime (last week) and I'd wager this no longer accurately reflect the numbers still in stock. Email for inquiries.

Bill was a man with a dream. He lived it, and he died with it. Keep that dream alive and order as many Onar DVDs as your wallet will allow.

LINA ROMAY R.I.P.

All of my heroes are dying. I heard the sad news yesterday that Lina had passed away on February 15th, 2012 due to cancer. My prayers go out to Jess Franco who surely must feel lost now without her.


I had the pleasure to work with them both 10 years ago for 1 month. I can tell you that when Lina was away from the acting lights she was very warm and intelligent with a smart sense of humor. It was nice to learn how down-to-Earth she was and that she did not take all of the movie madness too seriously. Having said that, I've never seen anyone so professional. When I first met her in 1996 she seemed to know very little English (and my Spanish was non-existant). By the time I worked with her in 2000 she was acting entirely in English. Not only did she have all of her lines memorized in English, but she seemed to know everyone else's as well! Lina was also an excellent camera person and editor and not too many people are aware of these facts. If you've ever seen the "Killer Barbies" promotional music video that she cobbled together using clips from the movie you can tell that she knew what she was doing. And when I went back over the raw footage that was shot for the "Antena Criminal" documentary I had forgotten just how much of it was shot by her because her photography blended so smoothly.




I never expected her to go this soon. Lina was always sweet, always professional and a pure joy to be around. And, of course, I don't have to tell you how beautiful she was. Rest in peace Lina.

BILL HINZMAN, DEAD AGAIN: MY FAVORITE ZOMBIE PASSES ON

Bill Hinzman, the most famous zombie from "Night of the Living Dead" and a really sweet guy, has left us. He will be missed!

I met Bill in 1996 at the Chiller Theatre convention when Date Bait had just gotten off the stage. It was 2am and I had the flu. It took me a few minutes before I realized that the man shaking my hand was the same guy that scared the living shit outta' me in the 7th grade!

from Night of the Living Dead (1968)

2005

Bill with me and Bella Buttons (the Trash Palace pooch) at Zombiefest 2007 in Pittsburgh, PA

Introducing The Ubangis at Zombiefest's Halloween Ball, 2007

~BILL HINZMAN, R.I.P.~

TUNE OF THE MOMENT: THE PERSUASIONS "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)"

This is my favorite a capella track ever, a cover of The Temptations tune "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)" performed by The Persuasions. At least I think it's The Persuasions. The track is taken from the LP compilation "Dangerous Doo Wop volume 2" released in the 1990s. But unfortunately there is no information whatsoever about this recording. The Persuasions did a version of this tune on their 1972 Capitol Records LP "Street Corner Symphony". But this version seems to have been recorded in the 1960s.

UPDATE: Check out the comments below for some information courtesy of Julie Lawson, wife of lead singer Jerry Lawson!

XMAS GREETINGS!

TUNE OF THE MOMENT: "CHICKENS FOR CHRISTMAS" by THE UBANGIS

"Chickens for Christmas" is the Xmas side of The Ubangis amazing holiday 7" single from 1993 on DeCeased / Brutarian Records split label. The b-side is "(She's A) Yamakah Mama (At Hanukkah Time)". "Chickens..." also appeared on a local Xmas CD comp called "It's A Rockin' Christmas" on the Run Wild Records label.

Appearing on this Rockabilly track are yers truly (Brian Horrorwitz) on lead vocals and drums and "Saucy" Randy Manos on guitars, bass and backup vocals. (UMF had yet to join the band but came along soon sfter.) The single was recorded in 1 take on 1/4 inch reel-to-reel tape by Carl Merson at his Beware Of Dog studios in Silver Spring, Maryland. Yes, 1/4 inch reel-to-reel! This is what all Rockabilly should sound like you twerps! Look, even the chicken liked it! Ah... whaddoiknow...

The dancing chicken footage was "borrowed" from the Werner Herzog movie "Stroszek".

And now, the lovely lyrics:

Well I gotta drop that old Kris Kringle a line
My heart's all a-tingle, got a Christmas wish so fine
It's kind of fowl but with a little luck
He'll bring me some brand new friends who go cluck
Come on Santa Claus
I'm asking ya please....
Give me chickens for Christmas

You know I'm gonna love each hen that old Saint Nick sends
I won't eat none of them, not my fine feathered friends
I'll love them so, this is my Christmas wish
I promise Santa they won't end up on a dish
Come on Santa Claus
All I'm askin' is please...
Give me some chickens for Christmas

AAAAW, YEAH!!

(I ain't cluckin' around! etc.)

And when we're out caroling together
In that snowy weather
I'll make each one a Christmas sweater
So they don't get snow on their feathers

Come on Santa Claus
I'm beggin' ya, please...
Send me chickens for Christmas

On Christmas Day we'll have a Jingle Bell wing-ding sing-a-long
Drinkin' egg nog a-pluckin' and a-cluckin' to a Christmas song
They'll be happy as can be
And on New Year's Eve I'm gonna set 'em free
Oh, please, Santa Claus
Won't you hear my plea

And give me chickens for Christmas (x3)

OY VEY! IT'S HORRORWITZ'S "HAPPENIN' HANUKKAH"!

It's here! The best darn Hanukkah music comp in this blog! 20 holiday tunes to get you twisting', swingin' and rockin'! So good you'll plotz! And you don't even need to be Jewish to enjoy it (but it couldn't hurt)! Not available in any music store or deli. Download from this link! And feel free to inflict it, er... share it with someone you like! The download includes all 20 tracks in mp3 file format plus the front and back cover!

(Note: This compilation is G-Rated and is okay for all ages, provided you don't mind tormenting young people slightly.)