The Sid Haig Interview
"Howdy folks, do you like blood, violence, freaks of nature? Well then come on down to Captain Spaulding's museum of monsters and madmen!" Captain Spaulding's opening line and what a character he is. Only a great actor can play him and that man is Sid Haig. I was able to call the veteran actor and got to see what makes him tick. He may play a hard ass, sarcastic, wise cracking clown in House of 1,000 Corpses, but Sid is one of the NICEST and FRIENDLIEST people you will ever meet. So sit down and enjoy the Sid Haig interview so I won't have to shove my boot up in your ass!!!
It was 8 o'clock my time when I dialed Sid's number and after a quick sound check, we had begun...
Marcus: Hi Sid?
Sid: Yes?
Marcus: Hey, this is Marcus.
Sid: Yeah hi how are you doing?
Marcus: I'm doing pretty good! How are you?
Sid: Excellent!
::At this point, I had to do a sound check and then the interview had begun!::
Marcus:: Ok! We're good! So how are you doing tonight?
Sid: Excellent. Excellent. Where are you calling from?
Marcus:: Massachutes
Sid: Oh alright.
Marcus: Yeah its pouring outside right now.
Sid:: (chuckles)
Marcus:: Ok, So I have about 14 questions for you so let's begin.
Sid: OK.
Marcus:: Let's start from the beginning, where did your love for acting begin?
Sid: Oh my God...I started actually as a dancer
when I was just a little kid. Uhh I was like 6, 7 years old and clumsy 
cause I
was cause I was growing to fast and things weren't working out right. So my
parents just signed me up for dance class and I really enjoyed it. And then the
first time I stepped out in front of an audiance and did my thing and got that
instant gratification, that was it! Ok? And from there I went from dancing to
music and then into acting.
Marcus:: Oh wow, so who was your biggest inspiration through of this?
Sid:: Oh well I grew up in the 40's, almost every week a new musical comedy was coming out from MGM or Warner or Paramount or somebody ok? Thats how the whole thing set itself in, I just had that enjoyment from the music and the dancing and the acting and the whole thing.
Marcus:: Oh wow that's pretty cool. You have been a lot of things, an actor, director, musician even a hypnotherapist. So tell me, what is the real Sid Haig like, Behind-The-Scenes?
Sid:: I aint talkin! ::laughes::
Marcus:: ::laughes::
Sid:: I am pretty much what you see is what you get....ok? I can't keep all the different personalities that I'm supposed to be straight in my head so I am what I am. I really don't get along with pretencious people well. Thats probably one of the reasons why I never really caught on in terms of doing alot of starring roles because that whole Hollywood, phony bullshit party scene and all that stuff just wasn't happenin for me. So I never did it.
Marcus:: Makes sense.
Sid:: Yeah.
Marcus:: House of 1,000 Corpses this was Rob
Zombie's directorial debut, were you at all nervous knowing that this was his
first film?
Sid:: No. Not at all. Cause I knew his music.
Marcus:: Oh you did? Were you a fan of his music?
Sid:: See I'm not really a "fan" ok? I don't know. I just enjoy people's work, sometimes I enjoy everything they do and then again, sometimes I just like one or two things they done. But what you are musically, is what you're gonna be artistically no matter what it is you do. And Rob is so totally tight with his music that I knew that everything would go ok.
Marcus:: Yeah, I have been a fan of his for a while, he really does know what he is doing and he is really dedicated to his work.
Sid:: Oh yeah, when you take a look at a guy's
fame if you will, you can't look at just the last thing he did. You have to look
at the whole body of work. He's not a flash in the pan, he's been around a long
time. So you don't last, it's like the Rolling Stones didn't just decide
"Oh yeah! Let's go do this! We'll be stars!!!" ::laughs:: you know,
it's almost 40 years!
Marcus:: ::laughs:: That's true... Now, I have admit, Captain Spaulding was my favorite character in the movie. What was it like playing him?
Sid:: It was cool. It was fun. It was like a giant game ya know? It was "let's see how I can screw with people's minds" It was just cool.
Marcus:: Did you feel like you had alot of artistic control over him?
Sid:: Only in so far as I knew that if I went
to far in one direction or another, Rob would pull me back. Ok? See I am kind
of a just "drop your pants and go for it" kind of actor, ok? And
I leave it up to the director to say "woah that was to much!" But I
don't leave anything in the gym, I am gonna put it out there. Evidently it
worked and I am glad people enjoyed it. Cause I sure as hell had a good time
doing it.
Marcus:: Yeah alot of people loved it. You must of heard about all the fans dressing up as Spaulding, Otis, Baby, and other characters from the movie.
Sid:: Yeah, people were sending me photographs of tattoos they were having done on there body ya know? There's probably by now there's a dozen people walking around with my face on there arm. But hey...it's cool.
Marcus:: ::laughs:: Would you say thats the craziest thing a fan has ever done for you?
Sid:: Uhhhhh yeah probably...and I don't know if it's crazy you know what I mean? People that are into body art, that's there for of expression. They just chose to put my face on there I honor that. I'm flattered. Cause thats a pretty lasting thing ya know? They can't look at that and go "Oh well I guess I will take this off tomorrow!" ::Laughs:: Cause thats not happenin!
Marcus:: Thats for sure! ::Laughs:: You once said that you don't know what it is that scares people so much with clowns. If not clowns...what scares you 0r scared you growing up?
Sid:: What scares me? ::laughs:: People in
power scare me because they don't know there limits, ok? That's scary. Just
people doing what's normal for them to do sometimes is really scary. I mean look
at this whole middle eastern thing alright? All of the weirdness and all that
stuff. All those people are just doing what they feel they should do. But that's
scary! They are killing millions of people, we're killing millions of people,
everybody dropping right and left! And all in name of what? Who knows!
Marcus:: Of one man's insanity...
Sid:: Yeah well...they aren't getting it from me!
Marcus:: Yeah! So what are your favorite horror films?
Sid:: I think the one that had an immediate reaction...cause I used to go to horror films all the time when I was a kid. All the Lon Channey Jr. stuff...all the Boris Karloff, Bela Legosi...all the classic stuff. I'm an old mother fucker ok?
Marcus:: ::Laughs::
Sid:: I got all of those things first hand on
the big screen! 
While all you guys are looking at it on television. I saw the
real deal! So I saw all of that stuff but one that had like a really BIG impact
because it was so in-your-face "House Of Wax".
Marcus:: Oh I remember that one.
Sid:: Yeah but in 3-D and on the big screen! You gotta check it out...in 3D...on a BIG screen cause when shit jumps out at you...it jumps out at you! Ok? Like you spend 90 minutes DUCKING!
Marcus:: (laughs) I heard that Dark Castle was actually remaking it and were thinking of putting it back into 3D.
Sid:: Yeah well that would be cool...but why remake....this is the thing that pisses me off! Ok? There is NO creativity in Hollywood anymore. Nobody can think past "who made the most money doing what?" ok? And I will just go copy that shit and I'll be a millionare! There is no creativity! All of the remakes of all the classic stuff...go do your own, ya know? Just go do your own!
Marcus:: Yeah exactly! Like with the Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake...that was just SO unneeded!
Sid:: YEAH!
Marcus:: The original still has such a STRONG effect on people I mean I watch that one and it still scares the crap out of me! I watch that remake and it's like, why bother doing that when you could be putting the same talent to something else!
Sid:: Big studios say "Oh I guess horror films are back in! Let's see, what was a successful horror film? Oh! Texas Chainsaw Massacre...yeah! We'll just do that again...for what? Ya know, there is no entertainment value in it. Nobody is gonna get scared about anything. It's just pretty pictures and every once and a while somebody goes boo! Alright cool.
Marcus:: See, the thing that gets to me is the fact that most of the people that go and see these films, DON'T even know they are remakes!
Sid:: Right. I know, they don't know what the
"real deal" is. I am actually very proud of having been asked to
participate in a 
documentary that we are doing on Jack Hill. Who the hell was
Jack Hill? I will tell you who the hell Jack Hill was...or is. Texas Chainsaw
Massacre, Hills Have Eyes, Last House On The Left, Rocky Horror Picture Show,
House of 1,000 Corpses, are all basically reworked versions of "Spider
baby". If you haven't seen "Spider baby" you haven't seen the
original ok? Spider Baby was the first to start dealing with these whacked out
families living out in the middle of no damn where killing, and eating people,
ok? That was it! (laughs) That was it! Have you ever seen "Spider
baby"?
Marcus:: Actually I haven't but it seems
interesting!
Sid:: Get the DVD man, it will knock your socks off! We made that over 35 years ago. We made that in 1964 ok? And you'll see...all the films that I just mentioned...in that film. He was the first. He was also the first guy to make the women's prison pictures fashionable and everyone started copying his shit there. He was also the FOUNDER basically of black exploitation...I know cause I was there and I did the first ones with Pam Grier and Judy Brown and all of those people.
Marcus:: What was the name of it?
Sid:: The first was the "Big Doll House" and that was with Pam Grier, Judy Brown, Roberta Collins....
Marcus:: OH YEAH!!! I remember reading about alot of those like Coffy and...
Sid:: Yeah...Ok. Coffy, Foxy Brown, The Big
Bird Cage, all that stuff. Those were the first, black exploitation films. As a
matter of a fact, that term was something they stuck on it years after word. But
at any rate, I'm working on the documentary with a couple of guys from Minnesota
who decided that Jack Hill has gone unnoticed for long enough and decided to do
this documentary and along the way they asked for my help. So I am acting as
producer on the project.
Marcus:: And you guys are filming this now?
Sid:: It's been in the process of getting stuff done for...God...couple of years. We get interviews as we can...or as we can hook them up. Roger Corman who is the "king" of B-films, the guy who has never lost a dime, spent a half a day with us.
Marcus:: Oh wow. Is there any kind of release date for this?
Sid:: We are still in the process of getting something's done.
Marcus:: I'll definetly be looking out for that one. I am always looking for things that show where all of these horror films get alot of there ideas from. It always interests me.
Sid:: Then go to your video store and get "Spider baby". You'll see what I'm talking about!
Marcus:: I plan on it.
Sid:: Alright.
Marcus:: Due to alot of reasons, House of 1,000
Corpses got pushed back and landed on the shelf for over 3 years. How 
did that
make you feel knowing that something you worked so hard on, couldn't get
released?
Sid:: Well it pisses you off! Ya know and the reason it couldn't get released is so stupid. It's one person's opinion...just so happens that person is in charge of production and has the power to say whether it gets released or it doesn't. Thats the kind of stuff you have to put up with.
Marcus:: Has the success of the movie shocked you at all?
Sid:: No. I knew it was gonna be a success when we were shooting it.
Marcus:: I heard that the sequel's script has been finished...
Sid:: Yes.
Marcus:: Is there anything such as story, characters anything that you can tell.
Sid:: Nope. Cause I don't know. I haven't seen the script yet.
Marcus:: Captain Spaulding will be in it right?
Sid:: Oh yeah!
Marcus:: Will he have a bigger part?
Sid:: Oh yeah.
Marcus:: Sweeeeet. Ok enough about House of 1,000 Corpses! (laughs)
Sid:: (laughs)
Marcus:: Now you have played alot of roles in your 43 years in the business...Out of all the roles...which is your all time favorite?
Sid:: Thats....hard to tell. Thats so hard...cause it's like what was your favorite meal? (laughs)
Marcus:: (Laughs) I see your point!
Sid:: Ok? That's really tough cause you like
things for different reasons. You know, I like being in the first black
exploitation film. I liked being in Spider Baby which was the first of it's
kind. We didn't know that people were going to catch on to that storyline and
really start exploring it in different directions and stuff. But I like doing
it. First of all, I grew up watching Lon Channey Jr. like every Saturday being
the wolfman or whatever....and all of a sudden, there I am being on the set with
him, working with him ya know? So that was very special to me. "Mary
Hartman, Mary Hartman" was a total blast!!! That was like...they shouldn't
of paid us we were having so much fun! It's hard to lock down and
say..."Bam! This was my favorite!" ya know?
Marcus:: I understand. I read in a 1965 movie called "Beach Ball", it said you were the drummer for the Righteous Brothers. What was it like?
Sid:: What was it like? They were doing lip
sync stuff....they didn't have a band...ok? And so the producers and director
thought it would be funny if I got in there and played drums behind them! And I
had these huge drumsticks they were like 3 feet long and like, 2 inches thick!
So I was syncing up to the drums on the record. It was a spoof...it was a joke!
And I mean, I got along great with them as a matter of fact you know....we
weren't like...long time friends or anything but you know we were cool with one
another. It wasn't like they were pissed off I was doing this thing in back of
them, ok? It was fun.
Marcus:: Did you hear what happened to Bobby Hatfield?
Sid:: Yeah. I know...it sucks.
Marcus:: Speaking of being the drummer, I read that you were the drummer for a band. It was called the T-birds.
Sid:: Yep
Marcus:: How long were you guys together for?
Sid:: Couple of years. But ummm crooked managers, crooked record companies, just...everybody got pissed off and we just kind of moved out of it. But it was fun while it lasted. Then we were doing...one nighters and traveling around on the bus....and not knowing where the hell we are ya know?
Marcus:: You still keep in touch with everyone from the band?
Sid:: Not really...not really...and its not that we all left pissed off at each other. It was just time to move on and do different stuff.
Marcus:: Ahhh I see. So whats next on your plate?
Sid:: Just...waiting to start House of 1,000 Corpses 2!
Marcus:: Is there date for filming to begin?
Sid:: Uhh no. They haven't set a firm date yet.
We were supposed to start sometime in January.
Marcus:: Before we go, do you have anything you want to say to your fans out there?
Sid:: I...ummm...yeeaaaahh. It's just so cool that after all these years ya know, people have taken to what it is I do and have been really cool. It's a little weird for me cause I have never been here before, ya know? And I REALLY appreciate how everybody's treated me and I sure as hell hope I don't let you guys down!
Marcus:: I don't think you will. You've been doing great so far! (chuckles)
Sid:: (chuckles) yeah...so thats about it.
Marcus:: I want to thank you again for doing the interview with me. I have had a blast!
Sid:: Yeah!! No problem! No problem! So...have a good time! Stay dry...if that's possible. (laughs)
Marcus:: (laughs)
Sid:: And I will talk to you soon...ok? Bye!
Marcus:: Bye!!!
And there you have it folks! Sid Haig one hell of a nice guy who's been here for a while and knows his stuff. If you want to learn more, go to his website at "Http://www.sidhaig2003.com" As for me...I am off to find "Spider Baby" and pick it up! And I can't wait for House of 1,000 Corpses 2 and to see Sid back in the Captain Spaulding outfit all over again.