SHATFEST '09: Where No Lounge Lizard Has Gone Before

Written By Will Viharo



My first SHATFEST - Thrillville's ever popular annual tribute to that unique thespian, William Shatner - made a spectacular splash for its first post-Speakeasy/San Francisco gig, at Frank Lee's 4 Star Theater in the Richmond District on July 23. It was a thrilling debut....


Since this was my first "above ground" show in the West Bay (not counting my "underground" gigs at the sadly defunct Werepad years ago), I booked a "double shot of Shat" from my pal Scott at the Vortex Room (the present home for the Werepad archives): the ultimate Shat-flick, the swingin' psycho killer camp classic IMPULSE (1974) with creepy-crawly cult favorite KINGDOM OF THE SPIDERS (1977).
The Twilight Vixen Revue kicks up their heels



For the live part of the show I called on popular Thrillville burlesque regulars The Twilight Vixen Revue and my pals, Kitty and Lene, "the Shatner Butt Girls." It was very gratifying to see so many familiar faces make the "trek," too. I purposely chose Shatfest for my first full-fledged San Francisco Thrillville show since its one of my most popular events. It didn't draw quite as well as my Parkway/Cerrito shows (which always sold out) but all things considered, a terrific turnout and the show itself went off splendidly, and we got some good press, too. I look forward to more shows at the 4 Star, stay tuned. I'm beat and I need a drink! Cheers, Will the ThrillLene (left) and Kitty (right), "the Shatner Butt Girls" kick some ass
Will Viharo

WILL "THE THRILL" VIHARO is a freelance writer and the author of several "gonzo pulp" novels including "A Mermaid Drowns in the Midnight Lounge," "Freaks That Carry Your Luggage up to the Room," "Chumpy Walnut," "Lavender Blonde," "Down a Dark Alley," and the “Vic Valentine, Private Eye” series, the first of which, "Love Stories Are Too Violent For Me," has been optioned for a film by Christian Slater, reissued in 2013 by Gutter Books, which also published the new Vic Valentine novel "Hard-boiled Heart" in December, 2015.

Two science fiction novels, "It Came from Hangar 18" and "The Space Needler's Intergalactic Bar Guide," were written in collaboration with Scott Fulks, who added real science to Will's pulp.

Will's own imprint, Thrillville Press, has issued a three volume anthology series featuring all of his standalone novels called "The Thrillville Pulp Fiction Collection," along with another omnibus called "The Vic Valentine Classic Case Files," which include four novels from the 1990s, "Fate Is My Pimp," "Romance Takes a Rain Check," "I Lost My Heart in Hollywood," and "Diary of a Dick," plus a recent short story, "Brain Mistrust."

More recently published books include the Vic Valentine "Mental Case Files" trilogy comprised of "Vic Valentine: International Man of Misery," "Vic Valentine: Lounge Lizard For Hire," and "Vic Valentine: Space Cadet"; the original story collection "Vic Valentine, Private Eye: 14 Vignettes"; the erotic horror noir novella "Things I Do When I'm Awake"; and a collection of erotic horror noir stories, "VIHORROR! Cocktales of Sex and Death."

Additionally Will has had stories included in a variety of anthologies including "Fast Women and Neon Lights: Eighties-Inspired Neon Noir"; "Mixed Up!"; "Long Distance Drunks: A Tribute to Charles Bukowski"; "Deadlines: A Tribute to William Wallace"; "Dark Yonder: Tales and Tabs"; "Knucklehead Noir" and "Weird Winter Wonderland" (both Coffin Hop Press); and "Pop the Clutch: Thrilling Tales of Rockabilly, Monsters, and Hot Rod Horror."

Viharo's unique brand of "gonzo pulp fiction" combines elements of eroticism, noir, fantasy, and horror. For many years he has also been a professional film programmer/impresario and live music booker. He now lives in Seattle, WA with his wife and cats

https://www.thrillville.net
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