R.I.P. Bill Landis

[Lee Peterson]

I received word today that Bill Landis, editor of the great '80's 'zine "Sleazoid Express", has died, apparently of a heart attack.

I never met Bill, but I know several people who knew him, and I consider "Sleazoid" one of the seminal exploitation 'zines of the era, responsible for sparking many a fan's interest in "grindhouse" films and the ratty Times Square theaters that played them.

Bill led a colorful life that often intersected with the dark, sleazy worlds he chronicled.

Any thoughts?

[William S. Wilson]

Sad to hear the news. His SLEAZOID EXPRESS book (co-written with partner Michelle Clifford) is required reading that vividly transports readers to various grindhouses of the early 80s in different chapters.

[Tim Lucas]

This is sad news. SLEAZOID EXPRESS was one of the most personality-driven, truly archeological film zines ever published. The book is must reading for anyone interested in exploitation filmmaking.

[Domenick Fraumeni]

Very sad news. Bill Landis was one of the great voices out there who dug up some of the most wonderful treasures of the underground. Yes, SLEAZOID EXPRESS is essential reading, imho.

[Patrick Lefcourt]

As much as I enjoyed Sleazoid Express and respected Landis' writing, I think the 'zine worked best during the short period when Jimmy McDonough was sharing the workload with Landis. They were a dynamite team, and it was sad in the later years to see McDonough dedicate a book to Landis, and then hear Landis blow him off and dismiss his contributions to the 'zine. "All Aboard the Night Train" and "Velour Soul" are terrific pieces. I wonder if McDonough will put up something about Landis' passing on his website. It's very sad news. I was a Landis fan to the end and was hoping more issues of Sleazoid Express would be coming soon.

This post has been edited by Patrick Lefcourt on Dec 23 2008, 01:59 PM

[Chris Neill]

Terrible news. I love his work and he seemed like a decent chap in my brief correspondences with him. RIP.

[James Cheney]

What a shock. I haven't seen him in decades, but travelled in the same crowd in his early days just before and for a while after his dropping out of college (he was enrolled in something like accounting or prelaw) and pursuing his sleazoid dreams. I recall quite a few shared screenings of old Hercules and exploitation bills, and slightly recall (recoiling when I do, gasping in disbelief) one very boozy, druggy and completely mad jaunt with him and Kenneth Anger. Great guy, pioneer film commentator.

[Robert Plante]

Wow, this is terrible. Landis, of all the zine publishers and writers focused on The Deuce, truly captured the squalor and crime of the tenderloin, in a way that made you not want to visit.