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Monster Study Group

Monster Study Group

By Mark Matzke

It’s all about monsters and fun.
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Son of Dracula

Monster Study GroupJul 31, 2021

00:00
30:15
Invasion on Chestnut Ridge/The Legend of SasWhat

Invasion on Chestnut Ridge/The Legend of SasWhat

Small Town Monsters’ “Invasion on Chestnut Ridge” comes to YouTube May 3rd for Squad members and May 7th for everyone else. This episode takes you behind the scenes of Invasion’s production, and explores the history of STM’s audio podcasts, SasWhat and Monsteropolis.
May 04, 202335:45
EXTRA CREDIT: Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein

EXTRA CREDIT: Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein

Jeepers! The Creepers are after Bud & Lou! In this concise entry, I share an article I wrote for Nostalgia Digest (Autumn 2015) about one of my favorite films.
Apr 28, 202314:01
The Peninsula Python
Apr 21, 202331:13
Ohio’s Out-Of-Place Animals/Bigfoot Bibliography

Ohio’s Out-Of-Place Animals/Bigfoot Bibliography

Lions, tigers, and kangaroos. And Bigfoot. All in the Buckeye State. It’s all here, plus information on Monster Fest, coming to Canton, Ohio June 3rd, 2023, plus my list of 21 books about Bigfoot and The Unexplained that You Must Read! Find Monster Study Group on Instagram and get all the updates!
Apr 14, 202339:21
EXTRA CREDIT: The First Fifty Years of Godzilla
Apr 07, 202338:22
Godzilla’s Classmate, Akira Takarada

Godzilla’s Classmate, Akira Takarada

New Godzilla and Gamera on the way; remembering Return of Ultraman’s Jiro Dan; my review of Mike Bogue’s “Atomic Drive-in;” exciting G-FAN updates and a full-length Akira Takarada interview! Please support our resource partner, G-FAN magazine, by visiting www.g-fan.com & find Monster Study Group on Instagram. Thanks for listening!
Mar 31, 202301:04:41
Boggy Creek Studies/We Found Finding Bigfoot
Mar 24, 202330:46
Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932)

Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932)

Produced in the shadow of Frankenstein, this movie contains one of Bela Lugosi’s most striking performances. For reference, we highlight “Angels and Ministers of Grace Defend Us!” by Greg Mank, “It’s Alive” by Julian David Stone, and The Lost Films Fanzine. Plus, G-FEST, Monster Kid Radio, and Monster Fest news! Find us on Instagram at monster_study_group
Mar 17, 202325:22
Our First G-FEST (2009)

Our First G-FEST (2009)

Join Mark as he raids the Monsterland Ohio archives for information about his first G-FEST with his family.
Mar 10, 202344:04
Totally 80’s Godzilla

Totally 80’s Godzilla

Join Mark for a tubular review of Godzilla 1985 and Allen Debus’ new book, “Kong, Godzilla, and the Living Earth.” Plus, there’s exciting G-FEST news! On Instagram? Check out @monster_study_group
Mar 03, 202356:12
New Discoveries in Bigfoot Media

New Discoveries in Bigfoot Media

Monster Study Group returns with reviews of the new book “Sasquatch Discovered: The Biography of Dr. John Bindernagel” by Terrance N. James and the 4K BluRay release of “Creature from Black Lake.” There’s also a secret extra credit session that rounds out the episode. Find Monster Study Group on Instagram and catch my Beta Capsule Review each week on Monster Kid Radio, wherever you listen to podcasts!
Feb 24, 202343:52
Scary Stories for a Spooky Yule

Scary Stories for a Spooky Yule

Continuing the tradition established by the Monsteropolis podcast, I offer you two chilling short stories: “The Horror Horn” by E. F. Benson and “Just Before Dawn” by Eugene Johnson. You can find me on IG at monster_study_group
Dec 20, 202201:02:24
Dracula’s Daughter

Dracula’s Daughter

This is the final installment of our “Son of…Summer,” and we’re flipping the script with a look at “Dracula’s Daughter,” a Universal Studios production from 1936. Keep an eye on Monster Study Group’s Instagram for news about Season Three, as well as weekly updates regarding Monster Kid Radio. Thanks for listening this summer!
Aug 28, 202124:49
Son of Godzilla

Son of Godzilla

The “Son of…Summer” marches on with a retrospective look at 1967’s “Son of Godzilla.” As you, the listener, might expect, our access to the G-FAN Vault will provide invaluable resources for our examination of this tropical tale. Book your ticket to Sollgel Island and listen today! Those of an arachnophobic bent may want to exercise caution, however…
Aug 14, 202101:20:58
Son of Dracula
Jul 31, 202130:15
Son of Ingagi

Son of Ingagi

Monster Study Group’s “Son of…Summer” is in full swing with this mini-sode, the first ‘mystery movie’ of Season Two. It’s “Son of Ingagi,” a thriller from 1940 featuring an all-black cast led by Spencer Williams (TV’s Andy Brown in “Amos & Andy), who also wrote the screenplay. I’ll give you my thoughts on the film and its relationship to 1930’s exploitation blockbuster “Ingagi,” as well as the latest Ultraman and Small Town Monsters news. Follow monster_study_group on IG for the latest info, and thanks for listening!
Jul 17, 202119:29
Son of Frankenstein

Son of Frankenstein

The “Son of…Summer” continues with my look at 1939’s “Son of Frankenstein,” an underrated entry in Universal’s Monster canon. From a screenplay written on the fly, Rowland Lee and the incredible talent of Basil Rathbone, Lionel Atwill, Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff made movie magic in this classic that deserves another look. In this episode, I also update my plans for Monster Bash and talk about my partnerships with Monster Kid Radio and Small Town Monsters—basically, all the monsters! Follow Monster Study Group on Instagram & Twitter & write me at monsterstudygroup@outlook.com
Jul 03, 202153:19
Son of Kong and the Legacy of Willis O’Brien
Jun 19, 202101:10:40
SEASON TWO REVEAL

SEASON TWO REVEAL

It’s the “Son of...Summer!” Monster Study Group is back beginning June 19.
Jun 05, 202102:33
Ep. 12: Halloween Movie Marathon feat. Andy Matzke

Ep. 12: Halloween Movie Marathon feat. Andy Matzke

It’s a Monsterland Ohio Radio/SasWhat reunion, as I welcome my son Andy to MSG for a discussion of Halloween horror movies and the fun of spending the 31st of October in front of the TV. Thanks for listening to all of Season One!
Oct 24, 202044:06
Ep. 11: Giant Humanoids Attack! Frankenstein & the Gargantuas

Ep. 11: Giant Humanoids Attack! Frankenstein & the Gargantuas

Season One of Monster Study Group, “Titans of Japan,” comes to a dramatic close with episode ten, devoted to “Frankenstein Conquers the World” and “War of the Gargantuas,” two of Toho’s most audacious monster movies. As always, full credit goes to G-FAN magazine, the official publication of the Godzilla Society of North America. Visit g-fan.com to learn more. This is the last episode to post before October 24th, when I return with a special guest to run down Halloween movie marathon choices as a spooky postscript to MSG’s inaugural season. I will continue to contribute to both Monsteropolis and Monster Kid Radio, so feel free to check out those podcasts as well! Monster Study Group will continue to maintain a presence on Instagram and Twitter, so you can follow if you like. And last but not least, please drop a rating and review wherever you listen! Thanks!
Oct 10, 202001:16:41
Ep. 10: Triple Crown: Ghidorah

Ep. 10: Triple Crown: Ghidorah

Episode Ten offers an in-depth look at “Ghidrah, the Three-Headed Monster,” as well as an overview and filmography of the character. That is preceded by a brief rundown of Mill Creek Entertainment’s Ultraman releases. Ep. 10 draws on articles from G-FAN magazine; visit g-fan.com for more information. Monster Study Group is on Twitter & Instagram. Be the first to send a message to monsterstudygroup@outlook.com and please take a moment to rate and review the show on your podcatcher of choice. Thanks for listening!
Oct 03, 202001:23:42
Ep. 9: Mothra’s Day
Sep 26, 202001:01:47
EXTRA CREDIT: Rodan Anatomy
Sep 23, 202014:03
Ep. 8: Giant Monster of the Sky
Sep 19, 202001:17:44
Ep. 7: Kong at Toho
Sep 12, 202001:02:10
Ep. 6: Gamera Is Really Neat
Sep 05, 202057:24
EXTRA CREDIT: Kayama’s Godzilla
Sep 02, 202028:07
Ep. 5: Godzilla Number One
Aug 29, 202056:05
Ep. 4: Beastman Snowman

Ep. 4: Beastman Snowman

This Special Edition of Monster Study Group is a presentation of the article “Abominable Snowman: Honda’s Hidden Gem” by Peter H. Brothers. It was published in G-FAN magazine issue # 69. To learn more about G-FAN please visit g-fan.com. Feel free to send your correspondence to monsterstudygroup@outlook.com and look for us on Twitter & Instagram.
Aug 22, 202001:29:43
EXTRA CREDIT: Making Smog
Aug 19, 202029:18
Ep. 3: How Japan Shaped Cryptozoology

Ep. 3: How Japan Shaped Cryptozoology

Japanese monster movies and cryptozoology are inextricably linked. Allow me to explain...This episode takes a look at Loren Coleman’s book “Bigfoot! The True Story of Apes in America.” Then we look back at a film from 1958 called “Half Human” and it’s Japanese antecedent “Beastman Snowman” (1955). What’s the connection? Listen in and find out—and find us on Twitter & Instagram and write us at monsterstudygroup@outlook.com & please visit g-fan.com for all things Godzilla!
Aug 15, 202028:54
Ep. 2: Toho Champion Festival

Ep. 2: Toho Champion Festival

It’s Monster Study Group’s first ‘normal’ session! The topic is Toho’s Champion Festival, a film festival for children that ran from 1969 to 1978. Understanding the Champion Festival helps give context to the Godzilla films of the 1970s. You’ll hear about two books, “Ultraman Testimony” and “Pure Invention;” the first episode of “Return of Ultraman;” 1971’s “Godzilla vs. Hedorah/the Smog Monster;” and the feature article “Godzilla Gets a Trim: The Toho Champion Festivals,” from G-FAN #122. Please visit g-fan.com for more information. Find Monster Study Group on social media! On Twitter: @MonsterStudy and Instagram: monster_study_group & we also welcome correspondence at monsterstudygroup@outlook.com. Please let us know if your letter can be included in a future episode. Thanks for listening, and keep studying monsters!
Aug 08, 202049:55
Episode One: Why Monsters? Why Now?
Aug 01, 202042:50
July 31, 2020

July 31, 2020

Jul 31, 202000:59