NY Ska Memories w/ Marco on the Bass!

I got the opportunity to talk on some Ska memories with the amazing blogger and bassist,  Marco on the Bass (also known for his integral affiliations w Bigger Thomas, Rude Boy George and Heavensbee) His new podcast Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Podcast is getting us amped up his new book, Ska Boom: An Oral History About the Birth of American Ska & Reggae which should be dropping in 2021. From talking to him I realized that Checkerboard Kids will be 25 in September. We should definitely do something about that in the future. But for now take a listen to this!!

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1336366/5708557-ska-boom-episode-004-the-checkerboard-kids-show-phil-dejean

I get Interviewed by the Questionable Personalities Podcast

If you could talk to me for an hour at this particular moment in time this is what exactly what it would look and sound like. I talked about, the Quarantine, catching COVID,  My friendship with Suzanne Muldowney (Underdog), Mr. Rogers, Multiple Quantum Realities,  Checkerboard Kids, Paz de la Huerta, Veganism, The state of Education, Cults, Beyond Vaudeville, Howard Stern and a bunch more.




I seriously sit on Zoom all day in a space outfit because I feel like I'm in outer space with no clue of what time or day it is. Ask anyone, This is really how I roll.

Check out the Questionable Personalities Podcast! Like and subscribe!

Underdogs 55th Anniversary

There’s no need to fear: Underdog is here! This TV - cartoon canine is the cartoon equivalent of Superman is ceaselessly involved in rescue missions, crime fighting and acts of goodwill . Currently he is donating blood in conjunction with his 55th (emerald) Anniversary this October 3. The distinguished persona, Suzanne Muldowney of Delran, NJ, will [process in the following midstate and oceanfront Halloween Parades Williamstown/ Monroe Township on Sat 19th, Cape May on Sunday the 20th, Ocean City Thursday the 24th and Cape May Courthouse Weds the 30th. Please be respectful when approaching Underdog.

Suzanne has depicted Underdog through dance stage, television and parades since 1966, in 14 states. She has been on television many times including a performance on worldwide TV (Jimmy Kimmel Live In May 2006.)

Here is the full celebration video.



You can also read her Underdog fanfic:
UNDERDOG: INTERPLANETARY OLYMPIC HORROR
by clicking on the link.

Suzanne Muldowney's Christmas Carols in Latin (Volume 2 )

Suzanne Muldowney contacted me because she wanted to do another episode of Checkerboard Kids that would be a sequel to her "Latin Christmas Carol" episode so who was I to say no? I now proudly present to you the 2018 second installment. Please enjoy! Merry Christmas or should I say "felicem natalem Christi!"






also here is a separate clip of her doing "Go Tell It On The Mountain"





and just in case you missed the first installment of Christmas Carols in Latin from 2016:

The Ghost of Christmas Past

"I AM THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST." This immortal character bids us to recall a specific Christmas past - 1843, The Year that Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol was published. This year is the books 175th anniversary! The ghost , aka Suzanne Muldowney of Delran, New Jersey will appear at Wildwood Dec 7th and Lower Township December 8th, 2018. She also performed at Cape May and in Baltimore she appeared at the Mayor's Christmas Parade which she has been in every year since 1989! (Photos by David Check)

Dracula Giving Blood?

Dracula giving blood!? This isn't the vampire; it's the true-life Dracula, aka Vlad the Impaler! At this lifepoint, he's in his early 20's and a VIP's guest. He is not yet into mass impalements or bloodshed.

The donor, Suzanne Muldowney, of Delran, New Jersey, has portrayed Dracula through interpretive dance, in historically authenticated costumes, since 1973.

It was the time of rediscovering Dracula's true story and times by historians Radu Florescu and Raymond McNally. Suzanne read their books and created four solo dances portraying both the real and imaginary Draculas, with more attention to the former. She learned about the period clothes, resulting, in four re-creations. Her first public Dracula performance was in Philadelphia in 1976 - the 500th anniversary of his death.

Following this debut, Suzanne continued to dance Dracula single-handed on stage and television in 19 states plus Montreal, Canada. In 1982 she created the Dracula Fashion Show, for modeling the costumes. Her greatest performance was in Los Angeles, in 1997- the 100th anniversary of the vampire novel. She did "The Dracula Archives" and the Dracula Fashion Show before the aforementioned historians-world authorities!

But ever since, especially with the historians deaths, Suzanne's appearances were rare. She never received a prestigious award, commendation, or citation for her work. She feared fading into oblivion and dying forgotten unlike other celebrated and perpetuated "Draculas." She always danced other themes, but they, too, have faded. Having seen a 1978 news photo of another "vampire" at a blood bank, Suzanne was inspired to make this first Dracula appearance since 2007!


Suzanne Muldowney as Vlad The Impaler
Pictures from the Dracula fashion show
http://muldowneyville.tripod.com/vlad_dfashion.htm

Dance Dracula Dance... 
An article written by Suzanne Muldowney
http://muldowneyville.tripod.com/ddancd.htm


Suzanne Performs Vlad the Impaler and Dracula the Vampire

Spectrum the Ghost King

Spectrum the Ghost King

Photo by Christine Back

If you look over an empty beach on Halloween night, and see a white shape floating around or twirling, so that sparkles of light sometimes appear, you see a ghost! But it's no ordinary ghost; it's a King! He's Spectrum the Ghost King, identifiable not by a crown but by a large, high-necked collar lavished with diamonds that twinkle in the colors of the spectrum!

Interpretive dancer Suzanne Muldowney, of Delran, NJ, created this character in 1968.

She was inspired by classical musics, notably Danse Macabre by Saint-Saens, depicting supernatural beings making merry at Halloween. There were also examples of dance corps in white costumes, resembling clouds or a fog bank, en masse. The name Spectrum derived from the traditional spectre. Ms. Muldowney's first ballet tutu, with several panels of multi-color sequins, was named Spectrum in the catalog. The faceted diamonds, sparkling in the light, gave off different colors of the spectrum.

In the summer of 1968, the Muldowney family stayed in a hotel on the margin of the beach. Each night Suzanne went onto the empty beach, and one night she realized it was a perfect place for myriads of ghosts to dance on Halloween night! She memorized Danse Macabre so that she could hear it in her mind when she went onto the beach to dance secretly.

Suzanne created a scenario in which spectrum flew, on Halloween night, above many adjoining beaches, looking down at party after party.

Appearances by this ghost are most atmospheric at night. Aforementioned musical and dancing examples all are set at night, as are many real-life Halloween parades.

Because the costume is white, it is safest for night. The long-sleeved robe conceals thermal undergarments worn in case of cold. The headdress leaves the face exposed for unlimited visibility. The collar, a belt, the hemline, and the outer sheer cape all bear sparkles.

Since Spectrum was "born" in 1968, this year marks his 50th (Golden) Anniversary. To celebrate the occasion, creator Suzanne Muldowney appears as him in four Halloween parades she is booked for.

Photos by Checkerphil of Spectrum the Ghost King at the Beyond Vaudeville Live @ Carolines Oct 28th 1993

http://muldowneyville.tripod.com/spectrum.htm

The Superhero Underdog Turns 50

As a child I watched the exploits of the superhero, Underdog. I never thought I would get the opportunity to actually hang out with the living embodiment of him. Enter performance artist, Suzanne Muldowney. I'd seen her at the Old Creation Comic conventions and thanks to the great folks at the Beyond Vaudeville Program (an old school public access staple that inspired my show Checkerboard Kids) I not only got to meet Suzanne but I got to travel with her to many parades, talk and hang out with her and even after over twenty plus years call her a friend. Before this year is over she would like would like to be on Jimmy Kimmel Live again as well as make the rounds on all the news media. (all except one, if you know who I mean.)

If you'd like to read some of Suzannes writings about Underdog you can check out the old Muldowneyville website. Theres all a bunch of old photos and stuff about Suzanne.

In 1994 we celebrated Underdogs 30th together. Twenty years later, Oct 3rd 2014 Underdog the Superhero Turns 50. She has been looking forward to this day for as long as I've known her. So I'm so pleased to air the Checkerboard Kids: Underdog 50th Anniversary special. In (Hi-Definition no less!)



Right now I'm awaiting the statement Suzanne wrote for this day. Watch this spot. I should post it within the day.

Teaser for Suzanne Muldowney: Underdog's 50th Anniversary

I have been friends with Suzanne Muldowney since May 11th 1992 when I met her at a live performance of the public access show Beyond Vaudeville. She even sang at my wedding. Since June 1993 I have escorted her to the Coney Island Mermaid Parade for 21years straight. Rain or shine. Incidentally this year she took top honors for best Sea Creature. Suzanne has been on my public access show Checkerboard Kids for many years performing as Underdog, Dracula and various other clips. You can catch a play list here and here It is now Underdogs 50th Anniversary and she has returned to celebrate. So here is a behind the scenes clip of the upcoming episode we shot at MNN. For a time Suzanne was doing a show on Sirius XM I hope they'll give her another one. She has so much to bring.
Special thanks to Joe, Errol and Scott of the SFS who came to the set to meet Suzanne!