“Movies, Music, and Monsters”: A Fun Podcast

Are you a fan of old school pop culture? If you’re looking to take a deep dive into the fascinating behind the scenes stories of movies such as Planet of the Apes, Jaws and Star Wars, or learn about the history of television series like Lost In Space, Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica, look no further than Movies, Music and Monsters, a fabulous YouTube channel which features an ongoing series of videos hosted by Dan Monroe, a New York based documentary filmmaker and musician. There are over 175 videos on the site, covering a wide variety of topics from coverage of bands like The Beatles and Boston, to the lowdown on vintage TV series including The Twilight Zone and Columbo, and behind-the-scenes information on movies ranging from The Day The Earth Stood Still to An American Werewolf In London.

Like many of us, Dan grew up watching classics like King Kong, The Wizard of Oz, and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, and beloved genre TV shows like The Outer Limits and The Six Million Dollar Man.

His videos are informative, entertaining, and a lot of fun to watch. Dan has an easygoing, relaxed style, which allows his genuine enthusiasm for the films, TV shows, and music that he talks about to really shine through during his videos. What’s most refreshing about him is that, like us, he’s a fan of these TV shows, movies and music, and Dan strives to keep things light and positive in his presentations. There’s no negative commentary or bashing of the material he covers, even when a film or TV show might not be considered a classic by some fans.

Dan’s co-hosts (or is that cohorts?) for Movies, Music, and Monsters are the Robot from Lost In Space and Robby the Robot from Forbidden Planet, who appear with a little help from the “robotman” Fred Barton. The repartee between Dan and his mechanical pals is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the series. Speaking of robots, another interesting aspect of Dan’s posts is that they also delve into what happened to the models, props, costumes and vehicles from the TV shows and films that he covers. He provides the details regarding if any of these items still exist, were restored, or have gone up for auction, as he noted in a recent video about The Wizard of Oz.

Movies, Music, and Monsters recently celebrated its second anniversary, and Dan shows no signs of slowing down, as he continues to produce delightful and enlightening content. On Sundays, Dan occasionally posts Q&A videos, where he answers questions posted by fans of the channel.

 

For those of us who consider ourselves fans of classic cinema, TV, and music, Dan Monroe and his excellent videos at Movies, Music and Monsters provide us with a place to look back on the films, TV shows, and music that helped define us and continue to enthrall, engage, and inspire us.

-John Visconti

Photo: Pexels.com