Ghost of Dragstrip Hollow

I guess my brain removal has finally kicked in, but I enjoyed this slice of teen-age nonsense. The r&r seldom stops along with the twirling teens catching the beat. Add the humorous asides from an array of eccentric characters, including a nerdy duo, a wacky spinster with a winged hat, and a parrot from heck. Sure there's no plot, just a blast in a haunted house with a monster in need of employment. But it's a good chance to catch up with the lingo and styles of the day. Of course, for some of us, it's also a tour down memory lane. The cast may be no-names, still they do well enough, even the killjoy dad (Smith). And, oh yeah, catch how the canny producers loaded the first part with dragsters and road racing. That's a good action hook, but turns out to be different from the rest. Then too, I'll bet Tommy Ivo's dragster he so proudly shows off was really his own since he was a dedicated drag racer and designer (IMDB). Anyhow, give your brain a rest and join the nonsensical fun of drive-in 1959.

Obviously, any movie called GHOST OF DRAGSTRIP HOLLOW, can't be expected to be even remotely serious, and it's not. It is a lot of fun to watch, though! The rockin' music alone makes it worth a viewing or ten.

In addition, there are several beautiful women, an ultra-annoying parrot, a kooky old lady, and an amazing, sentient, talking car!

Annnd, a costume party in a haunted house!

Plot? Well, no, there isn't one of those. However, there is a band that not only plays their instruments, but also fires guns into the air at random intervals! Where else are you gonna see that?...

This is my all time favorite 50s drive-in flick! If youre researching the 1950s, then this is the film you want to see! Even during the dance party, there are two "guest monsters" from other 50s drive-in films...see if you can spot them! My favorite part of this film is the girl drag racer/mechanic! In the days when women working on their own cars or racing their own cars was a HUGE no-no, this gal gets to do it all...a true pioneer! The music, the cars, the costumes, the clothes and even the pajama party certainly adds fun and flavor to this funny, spooky classic! But, if you dont watch this film for any other reason, you have GOT to watch it for that smart-alecky talking *bird*!! He'll have you rolling with laughter!

Released in 1959 and shot in B&W, "Ghost of Dragstrip Hollow" chronicles the events of a group of hot rod drag racers who are forced to move into a deserted mansion as their new headquarters, which appears to be haunted. To celebrate their new home and make money, they throw a Halloween costume party. The festivities are interrupted by a monster who's hogging the dances with the best-looking gals!

This is an eminently entertaining 50's hot rod/non-horror movie highlighted by petite cutie Jody Fair as the main protagonist and, believe it or not, one of the top hot rodders; not to mention the stunning statuesque beauty, Sanita Pelkey, who appears to be around 6'2". Several of the girls have a slumber party at one point. As for the "horror" shenanigans, they're essentially the blueprint for the Scooby Doo, Where Are You! cartoon, which debuted a decade later.

The film runs 65 minutes and was shot in Southern California.

GRADE: B

This is one of THE perfect "drive-in movies"! It's really "neat-o" to see the 50's as they actually WERE, not as TV shows like "Happy Days" pretends they were like!

This film abounds with humorous (& unintentionally humorous!) scenes; I guess you could say "it's so bad, it's GOOD"....er, GREAT!

The film brings back the hot-rodders, malt shops, & the twangy guitar music of the 50's.

The slumber-party scene was a "gas"! The Old Man goes outside and finds a couple doing some heavy necking. They quickly break up, and the boy says, "we were just going out for some 'fresh air', sir!", to which the old man replies, 'where did you think you'd find it? Down her THROAT?!".

Other amusing moments are ridiculous appearances of the "ghost" (wearing a costume right out of "She Demon"), and the "spook party"!

One amusing thing is the newspaper reporter saying (to the old man) "everything is so fast-paced today; kids have to grow up in a hurry, 'cos there might not BE a Tomorrow!" (Referring to the A-bomb). Kinda funny, when you consider those "idyllic times"!

It's a VERY rare film: Go see it, Daddy-o!