Classic Movies With Ron MacCloskey and Steve Vertlieb

By Steve Vertlieb: Ron MacCloskey’s Classic Movies television program has been airing on New Jersey Public Access TV since 2013. Ron is a delightful conversationalist, actor, and comedian whose affectionate weekly look at movie history has become a beloved staple of state-run television.

Ron was kind enough to invite me to join him as a guest on Classic Movies quite recently and, on Thursday evening, February 6 we shared a thoroughly delightful half hour or so talking about special effects legend, Ray Harryhausen, horror/science fiction, fantasy films, comedy teams such as Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, Bud Abbott & Lou Costello, Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis, Charlie Chaplin, Hammer Films star Peter Cushing, Forbidden Planet (MGM, 1956), Forrest J Ackerman and Famous Monsters of Filmland Magazine, The Monster Times, and the early days of television.

Interspersed between ongoing conversational exchanges was a presentation of Kid Dynamite featuring Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Gabe Dell, and “The Bowery Boys.” Here is a window to the program. Simply click on the Edison TV link below, then upon the large promotional photograph of Classic Movies With Ron MacCloskey.

You can, should you wish to, watch the feature length film in its entirety … or, should you prefer, watch only the book ended conversation both preceding and following the film. In any event, I’d like to thank Ron MacCloskey for a wonderful, and wonder filled, television interview.