Tag: karl stern - Page 4

DragonKing Dark Podcast: 1971 and the Manson Family trial

Posted on August 2, 2020 by Karl Stern

I celebrate my birthday all week long with a look back at the year I was born: 1971.

On this episode, we look back at the insane circus that was the Charles Manson Family trial. While the killings took place in 1969 and the trial began in 1970, it wasn’t until 1971 that a verdict could finally be reached.

The Manson Family trial was a media circus and the cult played continuous mind games with the court including some outrageous antics. Hear all about that and more on this week’s DragonKing Dark.

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DragonKing Dark: Roald Dahl’s ‘Tales of the Unexpected’

Posted on June 7, 2020 by Karl Stern

On this episode of DragonKing Dark, I take a look at an amazing show written by Roald Dahl, Tales of the Unexpected.

It’s a wonderful show that ran for nine seasons from 1979-1988 and can be found on Tubi (free) or with an Amazon Prime subscription. (It’s also getting rebooted.)

Similar in many ways to The Twilight Zone but with a more sinister undertone, I look at the very first episode, an often repeated tale of a bet made between a teenage sailor and a mysterious, eccentric, older gentleman. But, the wager is a strange one and the twist ending is also bizarre. This retro television episode is one that will stick with you and make you uncomfortable, but is yet enjoyable.

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DragonKing Dark: Avenging Angels

Posted on May 24, 2020 by Karl Stern

We continue our look at supernatural aspects as presented in comic book stories and this week, I investigate the theme of avenging angels, angelic beings sent by a high power to right wrongs and serve justice.

Obviously, they are vastly powerful and are based on archetype biblical angels. The Spectre, Angela, and other powerful beings sent to serve justice are explored in this episode of DragonKing Dark.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Spring 1981 in pro wrestling

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Karl Stern

The spring of 1981 saw Harley Race continue his run as NWA World champion, Ron Fuller losing his smile and going home, Junkyard Dog cranking it up in Louisiana, Hulk Hogan battling Jerry Lawler in Memphis, a big name wrestler appearing on a game show, Sgt. Slaughter becoming a force in WWF, Don Muraco heading to WWF, and Dusty Rhodes and Andre the Giant forming a impressive tag team.

In this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I look at all that and more that was happening in the pro wrestling scene in 1981 as the scene was heating up.

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DragonKing Dark: Smithsonian Channel ‘Sphinx’ documentary review

Posted on March 29, 2020 by Karl Stern

This week on DragonKing Dark, I review the 2013 documentary from the Smithsonian Channel called Secrets: The Sphinx.

Of all the ancient monuments in Giza complex in Egypt, one stands out as different from the others ss the great Sphinx seems out of place, out of scale, and older than the rest. The official archaeological story says different but one can see with their own eyes that the head is out of scale to the body and there are clear signs of water erosion. What’s up with that?

We discuss the age and theories of The Sphinx on this episode of DragonKing Dark.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: History of the NWA title, pt. 2

Posted on March 26, 2020 by Karl Stern

In part two of my look at the history of the NWA World heavyweight title, I start with the decision in 1948 to form the National Wrestling Alliance, why Orville Brown was the first NWA World champion, why he was set to face Lou Thesz who also held an NWA World title, and everything you need to know about the car wreck (pictured above) that nearly killed Brown and derailed that big unification match.

Enjoy this look at the the early days of the NWA title and be sure to listen to part one in case you missed it.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: A look at Dave Meltzer’s Andre The Giant bio

Posted on March 24, 2020 by Karl Stern

One of Dave Meltzer’s first mega obituaries is the subject of this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show.

When Andre The Giant died while attending his father’s funeral in France, Dave wrote a near book length synopsis of his life in the February 8, 1993 edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, packed full of tons of trivia about Andre.

Also on this episode, I do a quick bio of Joe Dusek of the Dusek Family Riot Squad who died around the same time.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Old Tyme Wrestling Hour with Dave Wills

Posted on March 17, 2020 by Karl Stern

On this brand new Old Tyme Wrestling Hour on the Dragon King Karl Classic Wrestling Show, I talk about something I have been working on for a couple of months: the secret history of pro wrestling.

The history of pro wrestling isn’t what a lot of people think it is and a lot of the bickering today between thought leaders is coming from the wrong perspective like how kayfabe really evolved. The sport of Gotch isn’t what you think.

Following that, our special guest is one of the most positive people in wrestling: Dave “It’s still real to me, dammit” Wills. He talks about the trials and tribulations of being one of the first people to go viral in the crazy internet world.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: ICW 1986 TV review

Posted on February 25, 2020 by Karl Stern

Have I got a special treat for you today: an episode of Joe Savoldi’s International Championship Wrestling from a winter 1986 TV taping.

Watch along on YouTube.

I call this episode “Daddy Issues” because it is full of sons and fathers and various issues. Cpl. Terry Daniels (apparently promoted from Private) is looking for his deadbeat dad and needs your help (I’m not making this up), Angelo Savoldi wants you to know about his sons who are helping him run this joint, and the one and only George Gulas bought commercial time on this very program to tell about his dad. And when Daddy says sell, you better get to selling.

Also, you’ll see wrestling with Ron Sexton, Austin Idol, Kevin Sullivan, Purple Haze, and Ken Timbs, hosted by this very website’s Les Thatcher.

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DragonKing Dark: 1977’s ‘In Search of…Bigfoot’

Posted on February 2, 2020 by Karl Stern

My DragonKing Dark retro TV review this week goes back into the ‘In Search Of…’ collection and tackles an icon of the 1970s: Bigfoot!

In this episode of the series, the one and only Leonard Nimoy navigates us through the usual Bigfoot stories: men trapped in a cabin under siege from a group of creatures, the Patterson film story, and many other close encounters with a giant ape man in the Pacific Northwest.

If you’re a Bigfoot enthusiast, this show produced during the height of 1970s Bigfoot-mania is for you.

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DragonKing Dark: 1972’s Future Shock

Posted on January 26, 2020 by Karl Stern

Orson Welles.

We all know the name as one of the greatest directors and minds of the last 100 years. He narrates the focus of this week’s DragonKingDark: the amazing 1972 documentary Future Shock based on the book of the same name.

Unlike so many other futurism documentaries and books, this one gets it right. In fact, frighteningly so. There’s no flying cars or homes of the future here. Instead, it presents a society shocked into depression over the rapid advancement in technology. With 50 years of perspective since Future Shock aired, it actually seems more relevant than ever.

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 1986 WCCW retro TV review

Posted on January 21, 2020 by Karl Stern

On last week’s Dragon King Karl show, I reviewed an episode of WWF TV from the first week of July 1986, so I thought we would see what World Class Championship Wrestling from Texas was doing the same week.

Well, Kerry Von Erich was wrecking his motorcycle, so that’s what. So, it was Mike Von Erich to the rescue. Plus, we got Rick Rude, Percy Pringle, Jerry Allen, Skip Young, and Matt Borne and Buzz Sawyer make friends.

Enjoy the latest Dragon King Karl show.

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DragonKing Dark: ‘Unacknowledged’ documentary review

Posted on January 19, 2020 by Karl Stern

This week on Karl Stern’s DragonKing Dark podcast, I review a 2017 documentary currently available on Netflix, Unacknowledged.

It is an explosive expose on UFOs and what the world governments know. Interviews with very credible insiders leave little doubt that UFOs have been here, are currently here, and those facts are known inside the halls of power.

Join me for a review on this excellent documentary on UFOs.

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