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I believe it was in late 1981 or early '82 that I was introduced to my first vampire. Unbeknownst to co-workers, she had been working the night shift at a Hollywood audio facility. Ildi -- I recall that being her name -- offered up information about her background, when in discussion she discovered my interest in vampires and the occult, and was quite open with the proviso that I not discuss the situation further at her place of employment.
A month or so thereafter, assumedly as her comfort level reached a certain point, I was invited to join her with a few of her friends at a late night spot that I recall being around the McCadden or Las Palmas area, just off Santa Monica. I tried locating it years later, but it was no longer in evidence.
What I discovered was that there was indeed an entire vampire sub-culture in L.A., albeit well hidden because of the level of bigotry and discrimination against their kind. Most apparently fed from blood supplies at local health facilities, and remained clear of affecting (or infecting) the local populace.
After 25 years, leave it to Alan Ball, the creator of the hit HBO series Six Feet Under, to make the situation very public. He has taken the series of Sookie Stackhouse novels, written by Charlaine Harris and released them to the wilds of HBO, now set it in the steamy, humid fictional location in a swampy Louisiana parrish, known to all as Bon Temps.
This is a series that starts off slowly and builds, episode by episode, gaining strength as we learn more about the inhabitants of the small parrish, and their unfortunate mind-set toward vampires, who just want to fit into society.
Much Like L.A. in the '80s, the fictional vampires here are aren't after the locals, as they can depend upon a new blood substitute, Tru Blood, to handle their personal needs of survival.
Those you enjoy a good vampire yarn should take nicely to this series, which updates Mr. Stoker's work, tying it in nicely at least half-way to reality in the backwoods of Bon Temps, while concurrently hitting all the right notes regarding human social issues.
It should go without saying, but I'll make the point anyway, that as usual HBO programming has made its way to the higher resolution world of Blu-ray in the highest of style.
As an aside, the vampire bar, Fangtasia, as represented in the series is well over the top, and a far more other-worldly place than the one that I recall. The vampires themselves were generally much more normal and buttoned-down. As to Ildi, she's apparently moved up in the world. I'm quite certain that late last year I momentarily saw her at an Academy screening. She hadn't changed a bit.
Another gorgeous offering from HBO on Blu-ray.
Recommended.
RAH
A month or so thereafter, assumedly as her comfort level reached a certain point, I was invited to join her with a few of her friends at a late night spot that I recall being around the McCadden or Las Palmas area, just off Santa Monica. I tried locating it years later, but it was no longer in evidence.
What I discovered was that there was indeed an entire vampire sub-culture in L.A., albeit well hidden because of the level of bigotry and discrimination against their kind. Most apparently fed from blood supplies at local health facilities, and remained clear of affecting (or infecting) the local populace.
After 25 years, leave it to Alan Ball, the creator of the hit HBO series Six Feet Under, to make the situation very public. He has taken the series of Sookie Stackhouse novels, written by Charlaine Harris and released them to the wilds of HBO, now set it in the steamy, humid fictional location in a swampy Louisiana parrish, known to all as Bon Temps.
This is a series that starts off slowly and builds, episode by episode, gaining strength as we learn more about the inhabitants of the small parrish, and their unfortunate mind-set toward vampires, who just want to fit into society.
Much Like L.A. in the '80s, the fictional vampires here are aren't after the locals, as they can depend upon a new blood substitute, Tru Blood, to handle their personal needs of survival.
Those you enjoy a good vampire yarn should take nicely to this series, which updates Mr. Stoker's work, tying it in nicely at least half-way to reality in the backwoods of Bon Temps, while concurrently hitting all the right notes regarding human social issues.
It should go without saying, but I'll make the point anyway, that as usual HBO programming has made its way to the higher resolution world of Blu-ray in the highest of style.
As an aside, the vampire bar, Fangtasia, as represented in the series is well over the top, and a far more other-worldly place than the one that I recall. The vampires themselves were generally much more normal and buttoned-down. As to Ildi, she's apparently moved up in the world. I'm quite certain that late last year I momentarily saw her at an Academy screening. She hadn't changed a bit.
Another gorgeous offering from HBO on Blu-ray.
Recommended.
RAH
It's the best blind buy I ever picked up and the show now stands among my all time favourite TV shows ever.
