My Life with Count Dracula

I hope someday whatever problems are keeping Dustin Lance Black's deeply sympathetic but honest portrait in the can be solved and more people will see this extremely fascinating and poignant slice of Hollywood esoterica.

Circa 1976-77, I was the teenage president of The Junior Count Dracula Society, a completely forgotten organization put together by a young Pacific Palisades teacher who has since dropped off the grid, possibly on purpose. We published one issue of a fanzine, "Young Blood," which I recently was reminded had a cover penciled by Jim Starlin and inked by one of our gang, along with an interview with a then still somewhat dangerous Harlan Ellison. I co-edited this but my partner went on to become Falling James Moreland. (James is a whole other story. Look them up.)

Dr. Reed, as we called him, was a fascinating side character in my journey through this geeky demimonde and, while he did treat us in a slightly high-handed way -- and I'm pretty sure he'd decide who won awards based on who he thought he could get to show up -- I realize now that we weren't entirely fair to him. His achievements were real.

It looks like board this won't allow me to post links but if anyone wants some more detail, look up the Film Threat article about "My Life with Count Dracula" written by a guy named Bob. The main event is an interview with filmmaker Dustin Lance Black, who was then, I think, just starting to work on his Oscar-winning screenplay for "Milk." He's had quite a career since. It also includes more of my own reminiscences about Dr. Reed.