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{{short description|1985 science fiction-horror film}}
{{for|the band|Blood Circus (band)}}
{{redirect|Santo Gold|the singer|Santogold}}
{{about||the band| Blood Circus (band)|the singer formerly known as Santogold| Santigold}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Blood Circus
| image = Blood_Circus_"scream_bag".jpg
| alt =
| caption = Promotional "scream bag" produced for film
| native_name = <!-- {{Infobox name module|language|title}} or {{Infobox name module|title}} -->
| director = {{plainlist|Santo Victor Rigatuso {{small|(as Bob Harris)}}<ref name=bfi>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6f663e08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428193538/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6f663e08|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 28, 2022|work=[[British Film Institute]]|title=Blood Circus Wrestling|access-date=April 4, 2018}}</ref>
*John Corso
*Joseph Ryan Zwick<ref name=allocine>{{cite web|work=[[AlloCiné]]|language=French|title=Blood Circus - film 1985|url=http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=232508.html|access-date=April 4, 2018}}</ref>
}}
| producer =
| writer =
| screenplay =
| story =
| based_on = <!-- {{Based on|title of the original work|creator of the original work|additional creator(s), if necessary}} -->
| starring = {{plainlist|Victor Santo Rigatuso<ref name=allocine/>
*[[Ox Baker]]<ref name=allocine/>
*Jon Harris (III)<ref name=allocine/>
*Vinnie Valentino<ref name=albright/>
}}
| narrator =
| music =
| cinematography = John Corso<ref name=albright/>
| editing =
| studio = Santo Productions<ref name=bfi/>
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|1985}}
| runtime =
| country = United States
| language =
| budget =
| gross =
}}


'''''Blood Circus''''' (also known as '''''Blood Circus Wrestling''''')<ref name=bfi/> is a 1985 independent [[United States|American]] [[science fiction film|science fiction]]-[[horror film|horror]] film about intergalactic [[professional wrestling]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/123720642.html?dids=123720642:123720642&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Feb+11%2C+1985&author=By+Richard+Harrington+Washington+Post+Staff+Writer&pub=The+Washington+Post++(1974-Current+file)&edition=&startpage=B1&desc=The+Fans+Cry+for+%27Blood%27!|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090709080034/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/123720642.html?dids=123720642:123720642&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Feb+11%2C+1985&author=By+Richard+Harrington+Washington+Post+Staff+Writer&pub=The+Washington+Post++(1974-Current+file)&edition=&startpage=B1&desc=The+Fans+Cry+for+%27Blood%27!|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 9, 2009|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=February 11, 1985|title=The Fans Cry for 'Blood'!}}</ref><ref>Stein, Joe. "Airwaves replace carnival midway for pitchmen," ''[[The San Diego Union-Tribune|The Tribune]],'' 1987-03-25, p. E1.</ref> It was produced by [[Baltimore]]-native Santo Victor Rigatuso, also called Robert "Bob" Harris, who promoted it through [[infomercial]]s for his mail-order "Santo Gold" [[jewelry]] business. Though it had a brief regional release funded by Rigatuso, the film never received distribution.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/feb/12/santogold-becomes-santigold|title=Santogold changes her name to Santigold|date=February 12, 2009|author=Michaels, Sean|access-date=April 4, 2018}}</ref>
'''''Blood Circus''''' is a [[1985]] science-fiction wrestling movie. The movie was produced by [[Baltimore]]-native Santo V. Rigatuso (Bob Harris), who promoted it through [[infomercial]]s for his mail-order "Santo Gold" jewelry business.


==Plot==
==Plot==
The movie revolves around aliens from the planet Zoran who are sent to [[Earth]] to fight against professional wrestlers from the [[United States]] and the [[Soviet Union]]. The aliens are actually man-eaters who devour their opponents upon defeating them in a wrestling match. Some of the [[Earth]] wrestlers were actual professional wrestlers from the then-[[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]]. (WWF, now [[WWE]]).
[[Extraterrestrial life|Alien]]s 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 [[Human cannibalism|man-eaters]] who devour their opponents upon defeating them.


==Cast==
One of the key moments in Blood Circus was filmed at the Baltimore Civic Center, where Rigatuso, playing a character called Santo Gold, performs a song before the climatic wrestling match. The song lyrics have nothing to do with the movie; instead, the song promotes Rigatuso's "Santo Gold" jewelry:
*Santo Victor Rigatuso as Santo Gold<ref name=albright/>
*[[Silo Sam|John Harris (III)]]<ref name=albright/>
*Jerry Reese (as Voodoo Malumba)<ref name=albright/>
*Vinnie Valentino<ref name=albright/>


⚫
==Production==
:''I got chains, I got charms''
Filming for ''Blood Circus'' began in 1985 on a purported budget of $2 million,<ref name=albright/> largely financed by Rigatuso's Credit Card Authorization Center business.<ref name=albright/> 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).<ref name=albright/>
:''(Santo Gold Santo Gold)''
:''I got bracelets for your arms''
:''(Santo Gold Santo Gold)''
:''Money back guarantee!''
:''Five Year Warranty!''
:''Santo Gold Santo Gold''
:''(We know you're going to like it)''
:''Santo Gold Santo Gold''
:''(We know you're going to like it)''
:''24 karat Santo Gold!''


One of the key moments in ''Blood Circus'' was filmed at the [[Baltimore Arena|Baltimore Civic Center]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.nvcc.edu/aloutreach/2013/11/26/faculty-spotlight-special-thanksgiving-edition-presenting-liberal-arts-dean-dr-jimmie-mcclellan/|work=Alexandria Campus Community Outreach|title=Blood Circus|author=McLellan, Jimmie|publisher=[[Northern Virginia Community College]]|access-date=April 4, 2018|date=November 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207140559/https://blogs.nvcc.edu/aloutreach/2013/11/26/faculty-spotlight-special-thanksgiving-edition-presenting-liberal-arts-dean-dr-jimmie-mcclellan/|archive-date=December 7, 2013}}</ref> 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.<ref name=albright/> Some of the "Earth wrestlers" were actual professional wrestlers from the [[San Antonio]]-based [[Southwest Championship Wrestling]]<ref>6:05 Superpodcast, "Episode 18: Later, Brotherrr..." March 24, 2016</ref> promotion, including [[Ox Baker|Douglas “Ox” Baker]], an experienced actor in his own right, Vinnie Valentino,<ref name=albright/> and [[Eric Embry]].
⚫
"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" business.


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.<ref name=arizona>{{cite news|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|work=[[The Arizona Republic]]|title=Blood Circus|page=185|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/120162649/|date=June 5, 1985|location=Phoenix, Arizona}}</ref>
⚫
==Production==
Filming for ''Blood Circus'' began in [[1985]]. After spending two years editing it, Rigatuso could not find a distributor for the film. He ended up renting several theaters in the [[Baltimore]] area to show his film. was shown for only a week, and took in far less than the $2 million it cost to make the movie.


==Release==
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.<ref name=albright/> 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.<ref name=albright/> 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 [[poetry|poem]] about ''Blood Circus'' on each side, as well as a coupon for a free [[diamond]] ring from Rigatuso's "Santo Gold" infomercials.<ref name=albright/>


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.<ref name=albright>{{cite book|last=Albright|first=Brian|title=Regional Horror Films, 1958-1990: A State-by-State Guide with Interviews|pages=219–220|publisher=McFarland|location=Jefferson, North Carolina|isbn=978-0-786-47227-7|year=2012}}</ref>
As for ''Blood Circus'', it was never shown to the public after it ended its initial run, and it is believed that the original copy of the film was lost [http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&selm=36346f68.810492633%40news1.bway.net]. The only surviving copies of ''Blood Circus'' are the clips that were shown in the "Santo Gold" infomercials.

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}


==External links==
==External links==
⚫
*{{IMDb title|id=0088824|title=Blood Circus}}

⚫
*{{imdb title|id=0088824|title=Blood Circus}}
*[http://infomercial.tvheaven.com/santogold.htm Santo Gold - Ridiculous Infomercial Review]
*[http://infomercial.tvheaven.com/santogold.htm Santo Gold - Ridiculous Infomercial Review]
*YouTube - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GM6jlqPt9k Archived Santogold infomercials]
<!-- *[http://www.baltolink.org/issues/1/wild/wild6.html ''Blood Circus'' review] /* 404 */ -->
<!-- *[http://www.baltolink.org/issues/1/wild/wild6.html ''Blood Circus'' review] /* 404 */ -->



[[Category:1985 films]]
[[Category:1985 films]]
[[Category:Lost films]]
[[Category:Professional wrestling films]]
[[Category:American science fiction horror films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Baltimore]]
[[Category:Infomercials]]
[[Category:1980s science fiction horror films]]
[[Category:Rediscovered American films]]
[[Category:American independent films]]
[[Category:1985 independent films]]
[[Category:1980s rediscovered films]]
[[Category:1980s American films]]
[[Category:American wrestling films]]
[[Category:1985 science fiction films]]

Latest revision as of 09:42, 25 August 2024

For the band, see Blood Circus (band). For the singer formerly known as Santogold, see Santigold.
Blood Circus
Promotional "scream bag" produced for film
Directed by
Santo Victor Rigatuso (as Bob Harris)[1]
  • John Corso
  • Joseph Ryan Zwick[2]
Starring
Victor Santo Rigatuso[2]
CinematographyJohn Corso[3]
Production
company
Santo Productions[1]
Release date
  • 1985 (1985)
CountryUnited States

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]

Plot

[edit]

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.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

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]

Release

[edit]

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]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Blood Circus Wrestling". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on April 28, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d "Blood Circus - film 1985". AlloCiné (in French). Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "The Fans Cry for 'Blood'!". The Washington Post. February 11, 1985. Archived from the original on July 9, 2009.
  5. ^ Stein, Joe. "Airwaves replace carnival midway for pitchmen," The Tribune, 1987-03-25, p. E1.
  6. ^ Michaels, Sean (February 12, 2009). "Santogold changes her name to Santigold". The Guardian. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 6:05 Superpodcast, "Episode 18: Later, Brotherrr..." March 24, 2016
  9. ^ "Blood Circus". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. June 5, 1985. p. 185 – via Newspapers.com.
[edit]
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