Arch Hall Jr.

Arch Hall Jr. (born December 2, 1943) is a memorable, fresh-faced teen actor and musician who graced the silver screen in a number of films in the 1960s, all of which were produced by his father Arch Hall Sr. Most of Arch Hall Jr.'s films feature his considerable musical talents, particularly an aching teenage tenor and stinging, swamp blues inflected, guitar riffs. Not coincidentally Arch was also the frontman for the swinging rock n' roll combo Arch Hall Jr. and the Archers. The band played Sunset Strip clubs such as the Whisky A Go-Go and Pandora's Box.

Related Topics:
December 2 - 1943 - 1960s - Arch Hall Sr. - Swamp blues - Sunset Strip - Whisky A Go-Go

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For the most part the films produced by the Halls and their associates, which at one point included maverick cult director Ray Dennis Steckler, may justifiably be considered B-movies. Arch's roles ran the gamut from dunebuggy-driving pop star to a rock n' roll singing spy in a white dinner jacket.

Related Topics:
Ray Dennis Steckler - B-movie

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It is perhaps Arch's second movie, 1962's Eegah, which has won him the most recognition. Arch starred as Californian teenager Tom Nelson; his most notable co-star is 7'1" Richard Kiel who played the eponymous Eegah, a prehistoric caveman who happened to live in California's Palm Desert. One night Eegah met Tom's upper class girlfriend Roxy Miller (Marilyn Manning) on a lonely stretch of highway near the desert, setting in motion a chain of events that must be seen to be believed. In 1993 Eegah! was satirized on an episode of the long-running television show Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Related Topics:
1962 - Eegah - Richard Kiel - Prehistoric - Caveman - California's - Palm Desert - Marilyn Manning - 1993 - Mystery Science Theater 3000

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Widely regarded as his strongest acting performance, in 1963's The Sadist Arch won critical plaudits for his portrayal of a psychopathic killer based in part on teenage murderer Charles Starkweather.

Related Topics:
1963 - The Sadist - Psychopathic - Charles Starkweather

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After his acting career Arch went on to become an airline pilot. In 1967 he went to work for Flying Tiger Airlines, the industry's foremost all-cargo carrier. Hall started as an apprentice co-pilot on the L-1049H and eventually became a Captain flying the Boeing 747. In 1989 Flying Tiger was purchased by FedEx and Arch flew the DC-10 until he retired in 2003. He is now flying again for a private company with businesses in the U.S. and Japan.

Related Topics:
1967 - Boeing 747 - 1989 - FedEx - DC-10 - 2003

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As if he hadn't accomplished enough, Arch has also written an action-packed novel Apsara Jet (ISBN 0970886209), which was published in 2001 under the pen name Nicolas Merriweather (a name often used by his father). The book draws on Arch's intimate knowledge of both commercial airlines and South East Asia in telling the story of a Vietnam War vet who gets involved in the illegal drugs trade.

Related Topics:
Novel - Pen name - Airlines - South East Asia - Vietnam War - Illegal drugs trade

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Fans of Arch Hall Jr.'s brand of music will be thrilled with Wild Guitar released on Norton Records http://www.nortonrecords.com/. This twangy anthology, with liner notes and biography, collects the original 60's output of Arch Hall Jr. and the Archers, much of which was unreleased until now.

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