For the new year, I thought I'd try something a bit different here on the Side Show Review. Since I hang around some pretty cool people, I thought I'd do a few Featured Friends posts to introduce you to them. I asked them an array of questions, ranging from their occupation to movies to just randomness that I hope will not only educate, but entertain you. So, my first guinea pig for this experiment was my friend Bryce.
I’ve known Bryce since high school, and we even played freshman baseball together, well, he played, and I rode the pine with other friends. Last year, we reconnected through that wonderful thing called Iruleyourlifebook, err, I mean Facebook, and I found out some interesting things about my old friend. He’s not only a big horror movie fan, but he makes custom novelty caskets. Whaaaaat? Yeah, my interest was definitely peaked too, so let’s delve into the mind of this maniac.
After high school, where did your diploma take you?
I worked for the sheriff's department for a while, then left law enforcement to run Har-Bell Athletic Goods for ten years.
What do you do now to make a living?
I work for Lindbergs Tavern, it is Springfield's oldest bar. It served as a whore house, a bank, and a bar in the 1920's. There's a lot of history in the building, I miss the whore house aspect of it!
What’s the worst part about this job?
I hate after we are closed and are cleaning for the next day, the girls bathroom is disgusting! They are worse than men, then they leave their bloody corks in the trash can. There should be some kind of rule about this.
How do you deal with drunk people?
For most that know me, I get irritated very easily… But for the most part it doesn’t get too out of hand, but I do have the occasional dumbass that goes a little overboard. I give them one chance to get in line, and if they don’t, I physically remove them whether they like it or not.
What’s the wildest thing you've witnessed in the bar business?
Rumor has it, that the bar is haunted and we have heard that for years. Myself and Eric were cleaning one night and it was only the two of us in there and I turned to see what looked like a black outline of a person standing at the bottom of the stairs looking at us (A Shadow Person). I said, "What the fuck is that?" and turned to Eric and he was looking at it as well. It just kind of drifted back up the stairs. I went up the stairs to look for it but it was gone. It literally gave me goosebumps and Eric doesn’t like talking about it. I thought it was pretty cool, I want to see something that scares me so bad I pass out.
What other job would you like to do?
I wish I knew more about special effects make up, I really like the fact of being able to turn someone into a bloody brain eating zombie. I really like watching (Face Off), just to be as creative and messed up as you can.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to spend a lot of time on the rivers, fishing and drinking beer. Just taking it easy with friends, and I do a lot of grilling and cooking.
Tell us about how you came up with the idea of Rottbox Caskets (what is it, pricing, etc)?
I thought of it while watching a life insurance commercial. They were talking about the expense of being buried and coffins, and I thought I could do them cheaper and a lot cooler looking. I was originally going to call them (To Go Boxes), but thought RottBox sounded better.
RottBox Caskets are decorative toe pincher style caskets, made of treated pine and built to your request. I then paint them with any horror theme you would like. I have done everything from Pinhead to Clockwork Orange. I start them out at about $300 and they go up in price depending on what all you want done.
How many have you sold and what’s the oddest casket request you’ve had?
I have sold about 50 to date, and have sent them from Beverly Hills to Germany. As far as odd, not too many odd requests, built one in a child’s size which I thought was pretty cool because I find anything to do with kids creepy. I actually own a child’s casket that was originally used back in the 1890's. A cemetery was over crowded and they dug up all the old ones and needed to get rid of them, so I bought it.
Are there any requests you won’t do?
Not at all, if you can think it, I can build it. I built one with a hidden liquor cabinet in it, and that was pretty cool.
Why do you like horror movies?
I like horror movies for the fact you never know what’s coming. You have the good ones and the bad ones, but either way they are just fun to watch.
Do you have a favorite sub-genre?
I do like zombies, but only if it is a good Zombie movie! Too many people are making really shitty zombie movies these days. Even Romero is making shitty films now. I think film makers could learn a lot from the Walking Dead series.
What’s your favorite horror and non-horror movie?
Favorite horror movie, I'm not real sure you would call it a horror movie or not, but the original (When A Stranger Calls) is pretty crazy and freaks me out. The Devils Rejects is a solid favorite of mine as well, a family that is by far worse than the Manson family.
Non-horror movie, probably (Chopper), The life story of Mark Brandon Reed, [he’s] One crazy bastard.
Best movie of 2011? Most anticipated title for 2012?
There really wasn’t a movie in 2011 that I wanted to see, kind of hard to want to see anything when all that comes out are pieces of shit like Paranormal Activity. Most anticipated movie for me, (Lords of Salem) just to see Sid Haig in another film.
Who’s your favorite actor/actress/director?
Favorite actor - Sid Haig - I like him just for the creep factor as he brings, he was great in The Devil’s Rejects as Spaulding, and I even liked him as the alcoholic clown in Little Big Top.
Favorite director - Lucio Fulci - His movies really don’t make much sense, but they are blood soaked.
What’s your favorite horror collectible and why?
I would have to say my "Pigo The Clown" figure from Quarantine studios. I have a weird fascination with clowns, I guess I can say I owe it all to John Wayne Gacy.
What’s your favorite color and why?
I would have to say Black, I don’t really know why, but 90% of my shirts are black. Maybe because black is supposed to be slimming.
What kind of animal would you be?
Probably a sloth, because they aren’t very good looking and neither am I. They try to avoid a lot of other animals in the same manner I try to avoid a lot of people.
What’s your favorite candy/candy bar and why?
Probably the Mr. Goodbar, who doesn’t enjoy a chocolate covered peanut?
Favorite kind of food and why?
Anything cooked in a smoker or on a grill, the smell of the smoke and the flavor of the food is just a delight.
Favorite drink (alcoholic and non)?
Non-alcoholic - unsweet tea.
Alcoholic - red beer - beer with clamato juice, not tomato, but clamato.
What’s the oddest thing (quirks, etc) about you that only your closest friends would know, or maybe no one knows (until now)?
I am deathly afraid of heights and airplanes, I don’t like shirts with wide necks, [and] I have to rub my eyebrows about 20 times before I put a hat on.
What’s your fondest memory of me/us?
Probably have to go back to the days of hide and seek, just two broke kids playing in the yard and making Kool-Aid.
Well, there you have it, that's Bryce in a (pea)nutshell. Thanks, buddy, for taking the time out to answer my questions! I hope all who read this, not only found it informative, but maybe even got a laugh or two. Bryce is quite the character, and most nights you can catch him working the door at Lindbergs Tavern, located on the corner of Campbell and Commercial Street in Springfield, MO. For those who want more info on Rottbox Caskets, visit their Facebook page HERE.
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