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On Today’s episode:  I talk with Michael J. Weldon publisher of Psychotronic magazine and author of Psychotronic Video Guide a book that I’ve used so much over the years. I know a lot of you have a copy. Michael’s a great guy and I’ve wanted to interview him for quite some time. So I think you will really enjoy this episode.

The Psychotronic Man 1979

Psychotronic

of or pertaining to a genre of low-budget movies that includes horror, fantasy, science-fiction, and underground films.  

Of or relating to a genre of film characterized by bizarre or shocking story lines, often shot on a low budget.

Psychotronic is a film genre made up of horror films, spaghetti westerns, low-budget independent features, exploitation films) that was coined by author Michael J. Weldon, best known for his books, Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film and Psychotronic Video Guide.

Weldon also published the magazine Psychotronic Video, with 41 issues starting in 1989. He has since ended publication due to financial restrictions.

The genre takes its name from the movie

The Psychotronic Man.

After seeing this movie, Michael J. Weldon created an extensive list of reviews of obscure quirky films that he felt were underappreciated by the mainstream and then marketed it as the “Psychotronic Encyclopedia.” The existence of the Psychotronic Encyclopedia prompted the creation of the Psychotronic Film Society at which point the term “psychotronic” fell into generic use for this type of movie.

Great show! Saturday afternoons dropped off at the Fox theatre to spend hours watching old films. Hammer films and anything using Harihousen animation were my favorites. Sitting in the balcony and eating popcorn all day long. One of the first was the Tingler with the jiggling seats - scared us half to death. Sunday they would start with a "good" movies like The Story of Ruth. Drive-ins, WOW the first one I went to without my parents was Beyond the Valley of the Dolls! My eyes nearly popped out of my head. It was a lot of fun. too bad that so much of that is gone now.

Thanks.
Yes how I miss those Saturday afternoons all day at the movies, soda fountains with cheery cokes, and the 5and10 store to pick up a universal monster model to put together on a Sunday afternoon.   I jealous though the  Tingler with the jiggling seats wow I saw it but not with the seats. You gotta love William Castle and gimmicks. I got to do a show about him some time! Drive-Ins yes I saw Clockwork Orange their it blew my mind!
Anyway thanks for listening.