Mark H
@blackhole.bsky.social
Horror movies, 1970s paperbacks (especially New English Library), building original Lego models, synthesizer music, movie locations, Blade Runner, Lon Chaney, Peter Cushing, Amicus films, David Lynch…
Gay, and in the UK.
Gay, and in the UK.
Terry Harknett them started several more western series, under yet more pennames (because he didn’t think his own sounded authentically american). Apache and Adam Steele also ran for dozens more novels.
For someone not invested in westerns or violence, Terry at least found something that sold.
For someone not invested in westerns or violence, Terry at least found something that sold.
November 30, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Terry Harknett them started several more western series, under yet more pennames (because he didn’t think his own sounded authentically american). Apache and Adam Steele also ran for dozens more novels.
For someone not invested in westerns or violence, Terry at least found something that sold.
For someone not invested in westerns or violence, Terry at least found something that sold.
Drop something mirrored…
November 29, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Drop something mirrored…
What's missing are all the Brilliant singles 1982-1984 that track the change from Youth, still in Killing Joke mode, to getting a band getting more punky/funky.
There was even an unreleased album Escape From New York (1985), that finally had a limited vinyl release (in 2019).
There was even an unreleased album Escape From New York (1985), that finally had a limited vinyl release (in 2019).
November 29, 2025 at 6:39 PM
What's missing are all the Brilliant singles 1982-1984 that track the change from Youth, still in Killing Joke mode, to getting a band getting more punky/funky.
There was even an unreleased album Escape From New York (1985), that finally had a limited vinyl release (in 2019).
There was even an unreleased album Escape From New York (1985), that finally had a limited vinyl release (in 2019).
Arrived today!
Cherry Red Records' 2CD expanded release of Brilliant's album from 1986. June Montana, Youth and Jimmy Cauty (!) pop band, working with SAW but still producing some tracks themselves. Highlights - It's A Man's Man's World, Love Is War and Somebody - all bangers!
Cherry Red Records' 2CD expanded release of Brilliant's album from 1986. June Montana, Youth and Jimmy Cauty (!) pop band, working with SAW but still producing some tracks themselves. Highlights - It's A Man's Man's World, Love Is War and Somebody - all bangers!
November 29, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Arrived today!
Cherry Red Records' 2CD expanded release of Brilliant's album from 1986. June Montana, Youth and Jimmy Cauty (!) pop band, working with SAW but still producing some tracks themselves. Highlights - It's A Man's Man's World, Love Is War and Somebody - all bangers!
Cherry Red Records' 2CD expanded release of Brilliant's album from 1986. June Montana, Youth and Jimmy Cauty (!) pop band, working with SAW but still producing some tracks themselves. Highlights - It's A Man's Man's World, Love Is War and Somebody - all bangers!
In closing, the man really should have a biography, simply titled 'From Dracula and the Virgins of the Undead to Star Test'.
From four tiny letters on the back of an old paperback I bought fifty years ago, a fun deep dive connecting many books, albums, pop videos and TV programmes.
Thanks, Keith!
From four tiny letters on the back of an old paperback I bought fifty years ago, a fun deep dive connecting many books, albums, pop videos and TV programmes.
Thanks, Keith!
November 29, 2025 at 5:31 PM
In closing, the man really should have a biography, simply titled 'From Dracula and the Virgins of the Undead to Star Test'.
From four tiny letters on the back of an old paperback I bought fifty years ago, a fun deep dive connecting many books, albums, pop videos and TV programmes.
Thanks, Keith!
From four tiny letters on the back of an old paperback I bought fifty years ago, a fun deep dive connecting many books, albums, pop videos and TV programmes.
Thanks, Keith!
The history of recent British TV lies mostly undocumented (unless it's cult), hidden on the paper pages of Broadcast and Televisual's archives.
As far as I can tell, Keith 'Keef' MacMillan may have invented the format for ITV's The Chart Show and is credited on Star Test and Network 7!
As far as I can tell, Keith 'Keef' MacMillan may have invented the format for ITV's The Chart Show and is credited on Star Test and Network 7!
November 29, 2025 at 5:23 PM
The history of recent British TV lies mostly undocumented (unless it's cult), hidden on the paper pages of Broadcast and Televisual's archives.
As far as I can tell, Keith 'Keef' MacMillan may have invented the format for ITV's The Chart Show and is credited on Star Test and Network 7!
As far as I can tell, Keith 'Keef' MacMillan may have invented the format for ITV's The Chart Show and is credited on Star Test and Network 7!
(Sorry, I should have been calling him 'Marcus Keef' all along)
On IMDB there's a glorious entry for 'Keef' for some of the music videos he directed (1977-1986)
Most of Kate Bush's early singles!
Blondie's 'Denis' and (gasp) 'Rapture'. RAPTURE!
Blancmange, lots of Paul McCartney, Simple Minds...
On IMDB there's a glorious entry for 'Keef' for some of the music videos he directed (1977-1986)
Most of Kate Bush's early singles!
Blondie's 'Denis' and (gasp) 'Rapture'. RAPTURE!
Blancmange, lots of Paul McCartney, Simple Minds...
November 29, 2025 at 5:04 PM
(Sorry, I should have been calling him 'Marcus Keef' all along)
On IMDB there's a glorious entry for 'Keef' for some of the music videos he directed (1977-1986)
Most of Kate Bush's early singles!
Blondie's 'Denis' and (gasp) 'Rapture'. RAPTURE!
Blancmange, lots of Paul McCartney, Simple Minds...
On IMDB there's a glorious entry for 'Keef' for some of the music videos he directed (1977-1986)
Most of Kate Bush's early singles!
Blondie's 'Denis' and (gasp) 'Rapture'. RAPTURE!
Blancmange, lots of Paul McCartney, Simple Minds...
Thanks to the New English Library page on Facebook who linked NEL's 'Keef' to photographer/designer 'Keef Marcus' creator of dozens, if not hundreds of record covers in the 1970s, after being talent spotted while he was still a student, by Olav Wyper creative director of Philips/Phonogram Records.
November 29, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Thanks to the New English Library page on Facebook who linked NEL's 'Keef' to photographer/designer 'Keef Marcus' creator of dozens, if not hundreds of record covers in the 1970s, after being talent spotted while he was still a student, by Olav Wyper creative director of Philips/Phonogram Records.
Almost all of the dozen Keef photo covers are for horror fiction from 1974.
Effective camera techniques make Plastic Man surreal.
The lone Glam rock cover and the only exterior, a misty gothic church for Village of Fear, both make more sense when we link him to his main occupation at that time…
Effective camera techniques make Plastic Man surreal.
The lone Glam rock cover and the only exterior, a misty gothic church for Village of Fear, both make more sense when we link him to his main occupation at that time…
November 29, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Almost all of the dozen Keef photo covers are for horror fiction from 1974.
Effective camera techniques make Plastic Man surreal.
The lone Glam rock cover and the only exterior, a misty gothic church for Village of Fear, both make more sense when we link him to his main occupation at that time…
Effective camera techniques make Plastic Man surreal.
The lone Glam rock cover and the only exterior, a misty gothic church for Village of Fear, both make more sense when we link him to his main occupation at that time…
Most of Keef’s NEL photographic covers are shot in a studio.
The memorable ‘Horror’ and ‘Specialist’ series begged to be collected. The Tigerman was the earliest one published (December 1973) that I could credit.
It appears he was hired for his affinity for the gothic…
The memorable ‘Horror’ and ‘Specialist’ series begged to be collected. The Tigerman was the earliest one published (December 1973) that I could credit.
It appears he was hired for his affinity for the gothic…
November 29, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Most of Keef’s NEL photographic covers are shot in a studio.
The memorable ‘Horror’ and ‘Specialist’ series begged to be collected. The Tigerman was the earliest one published (December 1973) that I could credit.
It appears he was hired for his affinity for the gothic…
The memorable ‘Horror’ and ‘Specialist’ series begged to be collected. The Tigerman was the earliest one published (December 1973) that I could credit.
It appears he was hired for his affinity for the gothic…
The perils of nicknames.
“Keef” was one of the few people to be credited for their book covers during the classic 1970s’ run of New English Library.
The tiny, tiny credit is just visible on the back covers of the paperbacks.
In 1974, Keef shot two of his photographic covers with live rats!
“Keef” was one of the few people to be credited for their book covers during the classic 1970s’ run of New English Library.
The tiny, tiny credit is just visible on the back covers of the paperbacks.
In 1974, Keef shot two of his photographic covers with live rats!
November 29, 2025 at 3:44 PM
The perils of nicknames.
“Keef” was one of the few people to be credited for their book covers during the classic 1970s’ run of New English Library.
The tiny, tiny credit is just visible on the back covers of the paperbacks.
In 1974, Keef shot two of his photographic covers with live rats!
“Keef” was one of the few people to be credited for their book covers during the classic 1970s’ run of New English Library.
The tiny, tiny credit is just visible on the back covers of the paperbacks.
In 1974, Keef shot two of his photographic covers with live rats!
Some nice snaps of actors not acting…
Mark Lester on the set of ‘Gingerbread House’ (retitled Whoever Slew Auntie Roo), Linda Hayden, Judy Cornwell on the set of Robert Fuest’s Wuthering Heights, and The Abominable Dr Phibes’ sidekick Virginia North, smiling!
Mark Lester on the set of ‘Gingerbread House’ (retitled Whoever Slew Auntie Roo), Linda Hayden, Judy Cornwell on the set of Robert Fuest’s Wuthering Heights, and The Abominable Dr Phibes’ sidekick Virginia North, smiling!
November 27, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Some nice snaps of actors not acting…
Mark Lester on the set of ‘Gingerbread House’ (retitled Whoever Slew Auntie Roo), Linda Hayden, Judy Cornwell on the set of Robert Fuest’s Wuthering Heights, and The Abominable Dr Phibes’ sidekick Virginia North, smiling!
Mark Lester on the set of ‘Gingerbread House’ (retitled Whoever Slew Auntie Roo), Linda Hayden, Judy Cornwell on the set of Robert Fuest’s Wuthering Heights, and The Abominable Dr Phibes’ sidekick Virginia North, smiling!
Film Review magazine, October 1971 heralds the first Doctor Phibes movie.
November 27, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Film Review magazine, October 1971 heralds the first Doctor Phibes movie.
Great story. I watched the German 1958 version before The Pledge and preferred it. Gert Frobe landed Goldfinger because of this film.
November 26, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Great story. I watched the German 1958 version before The Pledge and preferred it. Gert Frobe landed Goldfinger because of this film.
Brief back cover summary to Edge number one is amusing.
November 26, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Brief back cover summary to Edge number one is amusing.
The first four Edge books, by Terry Harknett. Don’t usually do westerns, but am keen to see if the Netflix pilot was based on any of these stories.
Arrived today - all reprints (first edition of number 1 has silly prices), a quid each. And this Edge/Adam Steele team-up, one of three joint stories.
Arrived today - all reprints (first edition of number 1 has silly prices), a quid each. And this Edge/Adam Steele team-up, one of three joint stories.
November 26, 2025 at 5:37 PM
The first four Edge books, by Terry Harknett. Don’t usually do westerns, but am keen to see if the Netflix pilot was based on any of these stories.
Arrived today - all reprints (first edition of number 1 has silly prices), a quid each. And this Edge/Adam Steele team-up, one of three joint stories.
Arrived today - all reprints (first edition of number 1 has silly prices), a quid each. And this Edge/Adam Steele team-up, one of three joint stories.
Share the last movie you watched!
Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle (2003)
Fast-moving ‘pop culture’ over substance, with wall-to-wall needle drops.
Still worth it for Crispin Glover’s intense, wordless, screaming haircut fetish and a wonky irish Justin Theroux similarly cranked up to 12.
Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle (2003)
Fast-moving ‘pop culture’ over substance, with wall-to-wall needle drops.
Still worth it for Crispin Glover’s intense, wordless, screaming haircut fetish and a wonky irish Justin Theroux similarly cranked up to 12.
November 26, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Share the last movie you watched!
Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle (2003)
Fast-moving ‘pop culture’ over substance, with wall-to-wall needle drops.
Still worth it for Crispin Glover’s intense, wordless, screaming haircut fetish and a wonky irish Justin Theroux similarly cranked up to 12.
Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle (2003)
Fast-moving ‘pop culture’ over substance, with wall-to-wall needle drops.
Still worth it for Crispin Glover’s intense, wordless, screaming haircut fetish and a wonky irish Justin Theroux similarly cranked up to 12.
Today, the Chancellor highlights the £22 billion debt, left by the Tories.
Yesterday, Labour announced a £33 billion plan for Heathrow’s third runway.
There’s an easy fix, right there.
Yesterday, Labour announced a £33 billion plan for Heathrow’s third runway.
There’s an easy fix, right there.
November 26, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Today, the Chancellor highlights the £22 billion debt, left by the Tories.
Yesterday, Labour announced a £33 billion plan for Heathrow’s third runway.
There’s an easy fix, right there.
Yesterday, Labour announced a £33 billion plan for Heathrow’s third runway.
There’s an easy fix, right there.
Possibly a xmas tribute to The Prisoner, in the Lower Gardens’ Mini Golf, Bournemouth today.
November 26, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Possibly a xmas tribute to The Prisoner, in the Lower Gardens’ Mini Golf, Bournemouth today.
Closely based on this novel!
November 26, 2025 at 6:42 AM
Closely based on this novel!
Make-up department knew it was for the big screen, but yes it has held up.
There’s a large glossy full page photo in Denis Gifford’s Pictorial History of Horror Movies that similarly stood up to close scrutiny.
There’s a large glossy full page photo in Denis Gifford’s Pictorial History of Horror Movies that similarly stood up to close scrutiny.
November 25, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Make-up department knew it was for the big screen, but yes it has held up.
There’s a large glossy full page photo in Denis Gifford’s Pictorial History of Horror Movies that similarly stood up to close scrutiny.
There’s a large glossy full page photo in Denis Gifford’s Pictorial History of Horror Movies that similarly stood up to close scrutiny.
Four Square had the rights to this 1931 collection of thriller stories chosen by Dashiell Hammett.
They reprinted ten of the tales in 1965, as The Red Brain (with a bizarre photo cover).
Then the other ten in 1966 as Creeps By Night.
Then a mixture of the two collections as Breakdown in 1968!
They reprinted ten of the tales in 1965, as The Red Brain (with a bizarre photo cover).
Then the other ten in 1966 as Creeps By Night.
Then a mixture of the two collections as Breakdown in 1968!
November 25, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Four Square had the rights to this 1931 collection of thriller stories chosen by Dashiell Hammett.
They reprinted ten of the tales in 1965, as The Red Brain (with a bizarre photo cover).
Then the other ten in 1966 as Creeps By Night.
Then a mixture of the two collections as Breakdown in 1968!
They reprinted ten of the tales in 1965, as The Red Brain (with a bizarre photo cover).
Then the other ten in 1966 as Creeps By Night.
Then a mixture of the two collections as Breakdown in 1968!
Bigger than Steve McQueen!
We’re currently rewatching the surviving Doomwatch episodes, then I’ll watch the film again. As relevant today as it ever was.
We’re currently rewatching the surviving Doomwatch episodes, then I’ll watch the film again. As relevant today as it ever was.
November 25, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Bigger than Steve McQueen!
We’re currently rewatching the surviving Doomwatch episodes, then I’ll watch the film again. As relevant today as it ever was.
We’re currently rewatching the surviving Doomwatch episodes, then I’ll watch the film again. As relevant today as it ever was.
Maybe think of it as an open-matte treat?
November 24, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Maybe think of it as an open-matte treat?
Saw it in the cinema.
Still got the poster!
Still got the poster!
November 24, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Saw it in the cinema.
Still got the poster!
Still got the poster!