1. Antony Balch was an English film director and distributor, best known for his screen collaborations with Beat Generation author William S Burroughs in the 1960s and for the 1970s horror film, Horror Hospital.
18 Facts About Antony Balch
1. 2.
Balch's fixation for horror and exploitation movies began early in life, culminating in a school-aged Balch meeting his idol Bela Lugosi in Brighton, England in the early 1950s.
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In Paris, Antony Balch became friendly with radical artists such as William Burroughs and Kenneth Anger.
4.
Burroughs and Antony Balch met at Madame Rachou's Beat Hotel, and the two quickly became collaborators.
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Antony Balch gets a "special thanks" credit in Burroughs' novel The Ticket That Exploded and directed the Burroughs-influenced experimental film, Towers Open Fire among other short works.
6.
In 1963, Antony Balch attended a showing of the 1930s horror film, Freaks and decided to become a distributor in order to open the film in London.
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Freaks had been banned in Britain since 1932, but, with the help of Anger, Antony Balch bought the British rights to the film.
8.
Antony Balch released Freaks and Towers Open Fire as part of a triple-bill.
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Antony Balch did everything from choosing what films played, to organizing the front-of-house displays, to keeping an eye on projectionists and janitorial staff.
10.
Meanwhile, Antony Balch carried on his career as a distributor, eventually releasing films such as The Corpse Grinders, Kenneth Anger's Invocation of My Demon Brother, Paul Bowles in Morocco, and Russ Meyer's Supervixens.
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Antony Balch was one of the first people to embrace art, horror and exploitation films with equal enthusiasm, a view that was hardly shared by many film critics of the time.
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Antony Balch then added his own personal touch, giving the films tongue-in-cheek English titles and eye catching campaigns like "No photographs permitted of this controversial X Film".
13.
Antony Balch worked out of an office in Golden Square, Soho and lived in Dalmeney Court on Duke Street.
14.
Antony Balch found a more committed investor for his plans to make feature films in producer Richard Gordon.
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Gordon had a long history in horror cinema, and had been partly responsible for the stage version of Dracula that had allowed Antony Balch to meet Lugosi.
16.
Antony Balch then spent his time locked in a hotel room with co-writer Alan Watson until the script was complete.
17.
Antony Balch spent most of the time walking across the furniture.
18.
In 1978, Antony Balch was diagnosed with stomach cancer, and died on 6 April 1980 aged 42.