Superargo

Italian actor Giovanni Cianfriglia, under the Americanized name "Ken Wood," starred as superhero SUPERARGO in two films of the Batmania era, the first coming out in '66, the second in '68.

The first is SUPERARGO VS DIABOLICUS. Its equally entertaining sequel is SUPERARGO AND THE FACELESS GIANTS.

 

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I Put a Spell On You-Screamin' Jay Hawkins

From a 1966 episode of MERV GRIFFIN.

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Spec

As I understand it, SPEC was apparently the title of 16 Magazine's seasonal "Spectacular" issues. Eventually, SPEC became a regularly published mag all its own, cloning 16. I didn't start buying it until '69. Here are two issues from '66. 

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Dr. Satan

This Mexican horror film from '66 led to an oddly Bond-like sequel later on!

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Little Man-Sonny & Cher

Although Sonny Bono was never really a hippie, he and Cher were America's idealized hippie couple in '66. They appear here in an odd French TV appearance with Sonny weirdly doubletracked on his solo bits.

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Marvel Golden Records

Golden Records teamed with the increasingly popular Marvel Comics in '66 to release these three kids records. Although they were remaindered and still selling as late as the early seventies in various department stores, the albums themselves were slow, stodgy and virtually unlistenable--even when I was a kid! The real selling point, however, was the accompanying comic book, in each case a near facsimile edition of the first appearances of, specifically, The Fantastic Four, The Mighty Thor and the Amazing Spider-man!

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Nancy Sinatra-Bang Bang-My Baby Shot Me Down

Sonny Bono's depressing song was Cher's biggest solo hit of the decade but Nancy Sinatra's '66  cover version (with Billy Strange on guitar) became popular many years later when it was used in KILL BILL, PART 1.

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Single Room Furnished

SINGLE ROOM FURNISHED was Jayne Mansfield's first starring role in a few years and her last starring role ever. She mad e a few more film appearances after this but not in the lead roles. The director here--oddly NOT credited on the poster at all--was her then husband Matt Cimber. Although no longer the icon she once was and miscast as a teenager, Jayne offers up a good performance covering a wide range of emotions. The film was made and briefly released in '66 but shelved until after her death the following year and released widely only in 1968.

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Batstuff # 55

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