Don Dohler
Encyclopedia
Donald Michael Dohler was an American
film director
known for making low-budget science fiction and horror films as well as work in underground comix
and publishing.
style fanzine called WILD. MAD had Alfred E. Neuman
as a mascot so Dohler used his middle school creation, ProJunior as WILD’s mascot. In WILD’s peak it had contributors such as Jay Lynch
, Art Spiegelman
, and Skip Williamson
, who later went on to be famous in the underground comix movement of the late 60’s and early 70’s.
friends Dohler set off to publish the Magazine on his own. The magazine featured articles by industry professionals and went on for 11 issues before being purchased by Starlog
in 1979. Cinemagic inspired several young filmmakers who later went on to have successful careers in Hollywood, including J.J. Abrams, Tom Sullivan
, Ernie Farino and Al Magliochetti
.
”, was released in 1976 and is a B-grade science fiction film. The story begins with a young teenage couple making out in a car when an insect looking monster attacks. Local sheriff must find out what's causing the killings while the mayor is breathing down his neck to keep a lid on the deaths so a multi-million dollar amusement park can be built nearby. Featuring special f/x from Ernest Farino, John Cosentino and Larry Schelecter, this sci-fi thriller had a long run on TV throughout the 80's, including Ted Turner's Superstation.
, "Nightbeast
", "Blood Massacre" and “Fiend”, a serial killer film with a supernatural twist.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
known for making low-budget science fiction and horror films as well as work in underground comix
Underground comix
Underground comix are small press or self-published comic books which are often socially relevant or satirical in nature. They differ from mainstream comics in depicting content forbidden to mainstream publications by the Comics Code Authority, including explicit drug use, sexuality and violence...
and publishing.
Early life
Dohler was born in Baltimore, Maryland. As a child, his mother bought him a film projector and one day he drew stick figures on a piece of scotch tape. He ran the tape through the projector and just before the tape burned up inside of the projector, he saw the animated figure dance on the wall and that’s when he knew he wanted to make films.Early publications
In 1961 at the age of 15, Dohler started a MADMad (magazine)
Mad is an American humor magazine founded by editor Harvey Kurtzman and publisher William Gaines in 1952. Launched as a comic book before it became a magazine, it was widely imitated and influential, impacting not only satirical media but the entire cultural landscape of the 20th century.The last...
style fanzine called WILD. MAD had Alfred E. Neuman
Alfred E. Neuman
Alfred E. Neuman is the fictional mascot and cover boy of Mad magazine. The face had drifted through American pictography for decades before being claimed and named by Mad editor Harvey Kurtzman...
as a mascot so Dohler used his middle school creation, ProJunior as WILD’s mascot. In WILD’s peak it had contributors such as Jay Lynch
Jay Lynch
Jay Lynch is an American cartoonist who played a key role in the underground comix movement with his Bijou Funnies and other titles. His work is sometimes signed Jayzey Lynch. He has contributed to Mad, and in 2008, he expanded into the children's book field.-Early life and career:Born in Orange,...
, Art Spiegelman
Art Spiegelman
Art Spiegelman is an American comics artist, editor, and advocate for the medium of comics, best known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning comic book memoir, Maus. His works are published with his name in lowercase: art spiegelman.-Biography:Spiegelman was born in Stockholm, Sweden, to Polish Jews...
, and Skip Williamson
Skip Williamson
Skip Williamson is an American underground cartoonist and central figure in the underground comix movement.Williamson is known for being the most political and satirical cartoonist of the underground comix movement.- Childhood :...
, who later went on to be famous in the underground comix movement of the late 60’s and early 70’s.
ProJunior
In the early 70’s Jay Lynch and Art Spiegelman were fooling around and they started drawing WILD’s mascot, ProJunior, again, but this time in a leopard skin leotard. Robert Crumb saw ProJunior and decided to draw a comic about him. As a result, Jay Lynch rounded up 22 underground comix artists, including Dohler, to draw their own interpretation of ProJunior, which was published in a comic in 1971.Cinemagic Magazine
In the mid 60’s Dohler came up with an idea for a magazine for filmmakers. It would feature illustrated step-by-step articles for amateur special effects filmmakers. Inspired by his underground comixUnderground comix
Underground comix are small press or self-published comic books which are often socially relevant or satirical in nature. They differ from mainstream comics in depicting content forbidden to mainstream publications by the Comics Code Authority, including explicit drug use, sexuality and violence...
friends Dohler set off to publish the Magazine on his own. The magazine featured articles by industry professionals and went on for 11 issues before being purchased by Starlog
Starlog
Starlog was a monthly science-fiction film magazine published by Starlog Group Inc. The magazine was created by publishers Kerry O'Quinn and Norman Jacobs. O'Quinn was the magazine's editor while Jacobs ran the business side of things, dealing with typesetters, engravers and printers. They got...
in 1979. Cinemagic inspired several young filmmakers who later went on to have successful careers in Hollywood, including J.J. Abrams, Tom Sullivan
Tim Sullivan (director)
Tim Sullivan is an American film director, producer, actor, and screenwriter.-Early career:His interest in film began as a teenager when he landed a job as a production assistant on the 1983 cult horror film Return of the Aliens: The Deadly Spawn...
, Ernie Farino and Al Magliochetti
Al Magliochetti
Al Magliochetti is a film visual effects artist.He was born in Hamden, Connecticut. As a child he had a strong interest in movies, even making his own short films with an 8 mm camera. In 1975 he attended Columbia College of Chicago, Illinois.- Accident :...
.
First feature film
Dohler’s first film, “The Alien FactorThe Alien Factor
The Alien Factor is a 1976 B-grade science fiction film directed and written by Baltimore low-budget filmmaker Don Dohler. The film begins with a young teenage couple making out in a car when an insect looking monster attacks. The local sheriff must find out what's causing the killings. Meanwhile,...
”, was released in 1976 and is a B-grade science fiction film. The story begins with a young teenage couple making out in a car when an insect looking monster attacks. Local sheriff must find out what's causing the killings while the mayor is breathing down his neck to keep a lid on the deaths so a multi-million dollar amusement park can be built nearby. Featuring special f/x from Ernest Farino, John Cosentino and Larry Schelecter, this sci-fi thriller had a long run on TV throughout the 80's, including Ted Turner's Superstation.
Other films
Dohler made a several more ultra low-budget films during the 1980s, including The Galaxy InvaderThe Galaxy Invader
The Galaxy Invader is a 1985 direct-to-video sci-fi film directed and co-written by Baltimore filmmaker Don Dohler. The monster in the film bears a resemblance to the titular entity from Creature from the Black Lagoon...
, "Nightbeast
Nightbeast
Nightbeast is a 1982 science fiction/horror film directed by cult director Don Dohler. It is a remake/sequel of sorts to Dohler's first film The Alien Factor. The story concerns a small town sheriff who must stop a rampaging alien from killing the residents of Perry Hall. Most of the cast of The...
", "Blood Massacre" and “Fiend”, a serial killer film with a supernatural twist.
Later life
After an 11 year self-imposed hiatus, Dohler returned to filmmaking with Alien Rampage where Dohler met actor/cop Joe Ripple. Dohler never cared for directing, so he asked Ripple to direct his films, and he concentrated on cinematography and editing. Together they made five films including Harvesters, Stakes, Vampire Sisters, Crawler and Dead Hunt. Dohler's life is chronicaled in a documentary by John Kinhart titled Blood, Boobs & Beast.Motion pictures
- The Alien FactorThe Alien FactorThe Alien Factor is a 1976 B-grade science fiction film directed and written by Baltimore low-budget filmmaker Don Dohler. The film begins with a young teenage couple making out in a car when an insect looking monster attacks. The local sheriff must find out what's causing the killings. Meanwhile,...
(1976) (Dohler’s First Feature) - Fiend (1980)
- NightbeastNightbeastNightbeast is a 1982 science fiction/horror film directed by cult director Don Dohler. It is a remake/sequel of sorts to Dohler's first film The Alien Factor. The story concerns a small town sheriff who must stop a rampaging alien from killing the residents of Perry Hall. Most of the cast of The...
(1982) - The Galaxy InvaderThe Galaxy InvaderThe Galaxy Invader is a 1985 direct-to-video sci-fi film directed and co-written by Baltimore filmmaker Don Dohler. The monster in the film bears a resemblance to the titular entity from Creature from the Black Lagoon...
(1985) - Blood Massacre (1988)
- Alien Rampage (1999) (A.K.A Alien Factor 2: The Alien Rampage)
- Harvesters (2001) (Remake of Blood Massacre)
- Stakes (2002)
- Vampire Sisters (2003)
- Crawler (In Post-Production)
- Dead Hunt (2006)
External links
- http://www.toonopedia.com/projnior.htm – ProJunior in Don Markstein's Toonopedia
- TimeWarpFilms.com – Official site of Time Warp Films
- DonDohler.com – Official Don Dohler Site
- Blood, Boobs & Beast – A documentary about Don Dohler's life and career by director John Paul Kinhart
- Story on Dohler in Bmore Live