I really have no idea where this came from… Ever heard of the 1980 movie "Forbidden Zone?" Neither have I. Still, it's pretty strange and wonderful…
UPDATE: Generous commenter Scott Mercer, of B Movie Books, gives us the lowdown on this clip and its wider cultural significance. Says Scott:
"Cast your line unto the Internet, and the information comes back to you:
The movie, "Forbidden Zone" was the first appearance of what would become Oingo Boingo. Danny Elfman should be in there somewhere. Also features Herve Villechaize, aka Tattoo from "Fantasy Island."
The song "Pico and Sepulveda" was recorded in the 1940's by bandleader Freddy Martin. Clearly meant as a novelty number, but still danceable by the standards of the day. However, it was released under the name "Felix Figueroa and His Orchestra." That psuedonym comes from a car dealer on Figueroa Street (right across the street from USC, actually), Felix Chevrolet, which in turn was named after the cartoon character Felix the Cat, and has a GIANT Felix the cat neon sign on top of the building, which is something of a Los Angeles landmark. It is still there, (both car dealer and sign), but there have been rumblings recently about a "renovation."
I did NOT look any of this up on Wikipedia or anywhere else on the internet. I knew most of this because Dr. Demento used this song as the theme song of his radio show (which I listened to for 20 years) and probably still does, though the version he used was a more uptempo version and was an instrumental. However, he would bust out the Felix Figueroa version about once a year and play it on the show. Of course, each time he would have to give this massive backstory, and I heard it so many times that I committed it to memory.
As you can see, I have devoted so many brain cells to arcane knowledge that it is absolutely no wonder that I can't remember where my glasses are."
Cast your line unto the Internet, and the information comes back to you:
The movie, “Forbidden Zone” was the first appearance of what would become Oingo Boingo. Danny Elfman should be in there somewhere. Also features Herve Villechaize, aka Tattoo from “Fantasy Island.”
The song “Pico and Sepulveda” was recorded in the 1940’s by bandleader Freddy Martin. Clearly meant as a novelty number, but still danceable by the standards of the day. However, it was released under the name “Felix Figueroa and His Orchestra.” That psuedonym comes from a car dealer on Figueroa Street (right across the street from USC, actually), Felix Chevrolet, which in turn was named after the cartoon character Felix the Cat, and has a GIANT Felix the cat neon sign on top of the building, which is something of a Los Angeles landmark. It is still there, (both car dealer and sign), but there have been rumblings recently about a “renovation.”
I did NOT look any of this up on Wikipedia or anywhere else on the internet. I knew most of this because Dr. Demento used this song as the theme song of his radio show (which I listened to for 20 years) and probably still does, though the version he used was a more uptempo version and was an instrumental. However, he would bust out the Felix Figueroa version about once a year and play it on the show. Of course, each time he would have to give this massive backstory, and I heard it so many times that I committed it to memory.
As you can see, I have devoted so many brain cells to arcane knowledge that it is absolutely no wonder that I can’t remember where my glasses are.
I didn’t know all that stuff, but I also remember the song well from my demented youth. I once saw him host a special show at the Rialto in Pasadena, where he showed a Gene Autry serial about battling a futuristic underground civilization, all strung together into a full-length movie with a cliffhanger every 10 minutes. I also have postcard he sent me after reading a poem I wrote him on the air, which I remember ended with the words “That’s why I watch Dr. Demento.” Sic.
Wow, Scott. I’m re-posting your comment in the post so anyone that stumbles across this post won’t miss it. Oingo Bongo’s genesis! The phylogeny of Felix! Fantastic!
this is why people shouldn’t have blogs. “Look at Me, I don’t know anything!”
Indeed. I actually used to have a blog, vdsffvgsdfgdsfg, and I can assure you, that’s not an original observation.
Thanks for the linkback, and thanks for posting the clip in the first place.