Michael Copner

Michael Copner was born in 1954 in Seattle, Washington. A proud member of the baby boomer generation of enthusiastic movie fans, Michael was an avid lover of Bela Lugosi and Forrest J. Ackerman's "Famous Monsters of Filmland" magazine. In 1973 Michael got a job as a film projectionist at the adult picture theater The Green Parrot Theatre in Seattle, Washington. He had previously managed theaters for the Sterling Recreation Organization and worked in the radio, newspaper and television advertising department for Connor Theatres in Tacoma. In addition, Copner worked as a projectionist at The Embassy theater. He became a member of the Motion Pictures Operators Union in 1977. Michael eventually moved to Los Angeles, California. In 1990 he launched the film magazine "Cult Movies;" the first issue was a tribute to Bela Lugosi. "Cult Movies" ran for fifteen years and 41 issues altogether. Copner made the documentary "On the Trail of Ed Wood" in 1990 and was a camera operator on the documentary "Ed Wood: Look Back in Angora." Moreover, Michael appears as a vampire in the fun short fright feature "The Vampire Hunters Club" and was interviewed in the excellent documentary "Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies." Unfortunately, Copner's life took a turn for the worse in the mid 2000's; he suffered serious health and financial problems because of epilepsy and a brain tumor. His mental state deteriorated as the years went on and he wound up living in poverty in various Hollywood flophouses. On April 18, 2008 Michael attacked Hollywood Book and Poster memorabilia store owner Eric Caidin with a screwdriver. Copner was arrested on multiple charges which included assault with a deadly weapon and subsequently put in jail. Michael was released from jail after serving a two year sentence.