Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Debbie and the Dentist

Most people I know and meet have no idea who I am in the pop culture or Mystery Science Theater world because it's not relevant to those relationships. I am not recognizable in public and don't carry a sign identifying myself as the little kid from Manos The Hands of Fate.

A couple years ago when I was a special guest at Crypticon Seattle, a woman came to my table and kept looking at the banner on the wall above me with a photo of me as 6 year old Debbie.  She would study the photo and then look at me curiously.  After the third time of her looking back and forth from the banner to me, I said casually with a shrug, "It's an old photo".

On occasion, the Manos subject works into a conversation in the real world as it did last week at my dental cleaning appointment.

The dental hygenist and I were discussing her move to Oregon from New York and me telling her I had never been East but was traveling to Cleveland soon for the first time.  She asked if it was for business and I playfully said, "I'm a pop culture icon in a limited world".  She gave a clear "Go on" look so I continued by saying that as a kid, I was in a movie that many describe as the worst movie ever made.  Next was another questioning but now slightly skeptical look. "What's it Called?"  I replied, "Manos: The Hands of Fate"  (Normally, I would ask if the person has heard of Mystery Science Theater first, but we had a dental cleaning to get to.)  Her eyes flew wide open. "Wha!?  I know that movie!"  All in all, an enjoyable experience for me, which is more than many can say about a dental cleaning.  She wants to see me again in four months to check on a couple things and we'll have a few Manos happenings to catch up on too.

I am headed to Cleveland and Cinema Wasteland on Thursday
Cinema Wasteland

Then to Crypticon Seattle for the World Premiere of our new film, Manos Returns
Crypticon Seattle

The weekend after that will be Meadowlark Comic Con in Medford Oregon
Meadowlark Comic Con

San Diego Comic Con to promote the upcoming comic book that we will be talking about very soon.
San Diego Comic Con