Happy Birthday H.G. Lewis, Here He is Talking Shock Tactics with John Waters in 1997

Herschell Gordon Lewis, born on this date in 1929, is known as the Godfather Of Gore for a reason. At a time in the ’60s when independent exploitation filmmakers were trying to find the next big thing, Lewis decided to give blood and guts a try. It went over big, literally breaking attendance records at drive-in theaters. One of the impressionable young people forever scarred by the experience of watching Lewis’ films was John Waters.

Here, on John Pierson’s 1997 television show SPLIT SCREEN, Waters and Lewis reminisce about the films and Lewis tells some of his best stories. Enjoy. The action begins at 1:50.