Blood Circus (also known as Blood Circus Wrestling)[1] is a 1985 independent American science fiction-horror film about intergalactic professional wrestling.[4][5] It was produced by Baltimore-native Santo Victor Rigatuso, also called Robert "Bob" Harris, who promoted it through infomercials for his mail-order "Santo Gold" jewelry business. Though it had a brief regional release funded by Rigatuso, the film never received distribution.[6]
Aliens from the planet Zoran are sent to Earth to fight against professional wrestlers from the United States and the Soviet Union, but prove to actually be man-eaters who devour their opponents upon defeating them.
Filming for Blood Circus began in 1985 on a purported budget of $2 million,[3] largely financed by Rigatuso's Credit Card Authorization Center business.[3] This business offered customers with bad credit histories the opportunity to purchase a fake credit card for $50, with which they could only purchase exclusive "Santo Gold" jewelry (Rigatuso would later serve ten months in prison in 1989 for mail fraud in relationship to the enterprise).[3]
One of the key moments in Blood Circus was filmed at the Baltimore Civic Center,[7] where Rigatuso, playing a character called Santo Gold, performs a song before the climactic wrestling match. The song lyrics have nothing to do with the film; instead, the song promotes Rigatuso's "Santo Gold" jewelry. Extras were paid $10 each to sit in arena and observe the action.[3] Some of the "Earth wrestlers" were actual professional wrestlers from the San Antonio-based Southwest Championship Wrestling[8] promotion, including Douglas “Ox” Baker, an experienced actor in his own right, Vinnie Valentino,[3] and Eric Embry.
On June 5, 1985, it was reported in The Arizona Republic that Rigatuso was planning to release a 30-minute documentary on the production and an album to promote the film.[9]
Releaseedit
After spending two years editing the film, Rigatuso could not find a distributor for the Blood Circus; he ended up renting several theaters in the Baltimore area to show his film.[3] It was shown for only a week, and took in far less than it cost to produce. The film was never shown to the public after it ended its initial run, and the original copy was believed to have been lost.[3] Clips of Blood Circus can still be seen in portions of "Santo Gold" infomercials circulating on the Internet.
"Scream bags" were also provided to moviegoers as a promotional tie-in. The bags had a long poem about Blood Circus on each side, as well as a coupon for a free diamond ring from Rigatuso's "Santo Gold" infomercials.[3]
In 2008, Santo Gold claimed that the 35mm negatives of Blood Circus had finally been found, and that producers were being sought for its release.[3]
Referencesedit
^ abc. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on April 28, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
^ abcd"Blood Circus - film 1985". AlloCiné (in French). Retrieved April 4, 2018.
^ abcdefghijklmnoAlbright, Brian (2012). Regional Horror Films, 1958-1990: A State-by-State Guide with Interviews. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. pp. 219–220. ISBN978-0-786-47227-7.
^Stein, Joe. "Airwaves replace carnival midway for pitchmen," The Tribune, 1987-03-25, p. E1.
^Michaels, Sean (February 12, 2009). "Santogold changes her name to Santigold". The Guardian. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
^McLellan, Jimmie (November 26, 2013). . Alexandria Campus Community Outreach. Northern Virginia Community College. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
^6:05 Superpodcast, "Episode 18: Later, Brotherrr..." March 24, 2016
blood, circus, film, band, blood, circus, band, singer, formerly, known, santogold, santigold, blood, circus, also, known, blood, circus, wrestling, 1985, independent, american, science, fiction, horror, film, about, intergalactic, professional, wrestling, pro. For the band see Blood Circus band For the singer formerly known as Santogold see Santigold Blood Circus also known as Blood Circus Wrestling 1 is a 1985 independent American science fiction horror film about intergalactic professional wrestling 4 5 It was produced by Baltimore native Santo Victor Rigatuso also called Robert Bob Harris who promoted it through infomercials for his mail order Santo Gold jewelry business Though it had a brief regional release funded by Rigatuso the film never received distribution 6 Blood CircusPromotional scream bag produced for filmDirected bySanto Victor Rigatuso as Bob Harris 1 John Corso Joseph Ryan Zwick 2 StarringVictor Santo Rigatuso 2 Ox Baker 2 Jon Harris III 2 Vinnie Valentino 3 CinematographyJohn Corso 3 ProductioncompanySanto Productions 1 CountryUnited States Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Release 5 References 6 External linksPlot editAliens from the planet Zoran are sent to Earth to fight against professional wrestlers from the United States and the Soviet Union but prove to actually be man eaters who devour their opponents upon defeating them Cast editSanto Victor Rigatuso as Santo Gold 3 John Harris III 3 Jerry Reese as Voodoo Malumba 3 Vinnie Valentino 3 Production editFilming for Blood Circus began in 1985 on a purported budget of 2 million 3 largely financed by Rigatuso s Credit Card Authorization Center business 3 This business offered customers with bad credit histories the opportunity to purchase a fake credit card for 50 with which they could only purchase exclusive Santo Gold jewelry Rigatuso would later serve ten months in prison in 1989 for mail fraud in relationship to the enterprise 3 One of the key moments in Blood Circus was filmed at the Baltimore Civic Center 7 where Rigatuso playing a character called Santo Gold performs a song before the climactic wrestling match The song lyrics have nothing to do with the film instead the song promotes Rigatuso s Santo Gold jewelry Extras were paid 10 each to sit in arena and observe the action 3 Some of the Earth wrestlers were actual professional wrestlers from the San Antonio based Southwest Championship Wrestling 8 promotion including Douglas Ox Baker an experienced actor in his own right Vinnie Valentino 3 and Eric Embry On June 5 1985 it was reported in The Arizona Republic that Rigatuso was planning to release a 30 minute documentary on the production and an album to promote the film 9 Release editAfter spending two years editing the film Rigatuso could not find a distributor for the Blood Circus he ended up renting several theaters in the Baltimore area to show his film 3 It was shown for only a week and took in far less than it cost to produce The film was never shown to the public after it ended its initial run and the original copy was believed to have been lost 3 Clips of Blood Circus can still be seen in portions of Santo Gold infomercials circulating on the Internet Scream bags were also provided to moviegoers as a promotional tie in The bags had a long poem about Blood Circus on each side as well as a coupon for a free diamond ring from Rigatuso s Santo Gold infomercials 3 In 2008 Santo Gold claimed that the 35mm negatives of Blood Circus had finally been found and that producers were being sought for its release 3 References edit a b c Blood Circus Wrestling British Film Institute Archived from the original on April 28 2022 Retrieved April 4 2018 a b c d Blood Circus film 1985 AlloCine in French Retrieved April 4 2018 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Albright Brian 2012 Regional Horror Films 1958 1990 A State by State Guide with Interviews Jefferson North Carolina McFarland pp 219 220 ISBN 978 0 786 47227 7 The Fans Cry for Blood The Washington Post February 11 1985 Stein Joe Airwaves replace carnival midway for pitchmen The Tribune 1987 03 25 p E1 Michaels Sean February 12 2009 Santogold changes her name to Santigold The Guardian Retrieved April 4 2018 McLellan Jimmie November 26 2013 Blood Circus Alexandria Campus Community Outreach Northern Virginia Community College Archived from the original on December 7 2013 Retrieved April 4 2018 6 05 Superpodcast Episode 18 Later Brotherrr March 24 2016 Blood Circus The Arizona Republic Phoenix Arizona June 5 1985 p 185 via Newspapers com External links editBlood Circus at IMDb nbsp Santo Gold Ridiculous Infomercial Review YouTube Archived Santogold infomercials Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Blood Circus film amp oldid 1211584235, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
