What ever Happened to Des Mangan?
Des, Wherefore Art Thou? & Why Hast Thou Forsaken Us?
Some of the fondest memories I have of my life have been beamed at me on the blueish light from the box in the darkened corner. There is not a moment that when I look back I cannot find a memory or experience quite as diabolical, intoxicating or impulsiveley lustful as those that radiated upon my young mind as I lounged somnolent in the darkened hours. The best of which, (those that had the greatest & longest lasting effects within me) were shepherded by a master. Des Mangan, truly a key figure in the world of cult cinema. As he would appear before my eyes, heralded in by the jilted, jaunty orcestral ballyhoo of the Saturday Night Cult Movie opening music, I would open my ears & absorb what knowledge he would depart unto us, his audience;the aberrant, before he disapeared into a viewer discresion & then into the flickering action of that Saturdays cult movie, a gift to us all.
A man of true appreciation for alternative/pop/sub culture, he held a love for Eurovision. The many essentricities that translated english & local euro rythem/beats can effect upon the human body (similar to a less-than-lethal weapon), fueled his contaigous enthusiasim. Despite an ill-recieved term hosting the Australian broadcast, the embers that he held for Eurovision could not be dampened. What knowledge & spirit he held for Eurovision he scribed into the book 'This is Sweden calling - everything you ever wanted to know and didn't want to know about Eurovision' a text I recomend for anyone who feels that same fire for Eurovision.
In terms of cult cinema treasure, Des is responsible for the bright diamond 'Hercules Returns'. There is not much that I can say for this movie as a hummble follower, but I will sure as hell try to jam a few phone books under its already towering cult pedistal.
In short, Des was a true master. An invariable King of The Nerds, drawing on the endless wonders in the deep,dark archaic halls of the SBS archives to empart powerful knowledge of kung-fu skill, Sci-fi sagacity, spiritual mysticicm & Anime astutness upon us all so that we too could experience the same Cult Wisdom.
Which is why it came as such a shock when he disapeared from our lives.
Your disappearance was so swift.
From cult greatness into darkness. You are out there somewhere Des Mangan.
Where are you now? Who are you now? Will you return?.....When?
These are questions that need answering. Does anyone know anything ?