Ray Dennis Steckler (January 25, 1938 â€" January 7, 2009), also known
by the pseudonym Cash Flagg, was an American film director, producer,
screenwriter and actor best known as the low-budget auteur of such
cult films as The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and
Became Mixed-Up Zombies. In addition to Cash Flagg, Steckler was also
known by the pseudonyms Sven Christian, Sven Hellstrom, Harry Nixon,
Michael J. Rogers, Michel J. Rogers, Wolfgang Schmidt, Cindy Lou
Steckler, R.D. Steckler, Ray Steckler, and Cindy Lou Suttersâ€"the
last being his "porn name".Ray Dennis Steckler was born in Reading,
Pennsylvania where his grandmother, who largely raised him, nurtured
his love of movies. At 15, upon receiving an 8mm home movie camera
from his stepfather, Steckler shot an amateur pirate film with
friends. Ray served three years in the United States Army from 1956 to
1959, being discharged as a Sergeant. He was an Army photographer, and
served in Korea and spent a year at the Kaufman Astoria Studios in
Astoria, Queens with the Army Pictorial Service of the Signal Corps.
In 1959, Steckler and a friend drove to Hollywood, California to enter
the film industry.Steckler worked as a prop man before becoming
assistant cameraman on the film, The World's Greatest Sinner, directed
by and starring Timothy Carey. When the initial director of
photography was fired, Steckler replaced him.Continuing to work in
cinematography in the Los Angeles area, Steckler acquired a union card
and established himself at major studios, including Universal Studios.
When he was reportedly fired for almost knocking an A-frame onto
Alfred Hitchcock, Steckler turned to the B-movie circuit. Working with
Arch Hall Sr.'s Fairway Pictures, Steckler started as cinematographer
and sometimes actor in the vehicles for Hall's son, Arch Hall, Jr.
Steckler made his directorial debut in the Hall vehicle Wild Guitar.
When Arch Hall Senior was worried whether his film would play when the
original choice of the heavy was black, Steckler told his friend he
had to go and took the role under his onscreen name, Cash Flagg.
by the pseudonym Cash Flagg, was an American film director, producer,
screenwriter and actor best known as the low-budget auteur of such
cult films as The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and
Became Mixed-Up Zombies. In addition to Cash Flagg, Steckler was also
known by the pseudonyms Sven Christian, Sven Hellstrom, Harry Nixon,
Michael J. Rogers, Michel J. Rogers, Wolfgang Schmidt, Cindy Lou
Steckler, R.D. Steckler, Ray Steckler, and Cindy Lou Suttersâ€"the
last being his "porn name".Ray Dennis Steckler was born in Reading,
Pennsylvania where his grandmother, who largely raised him, nurtured
his love of movies. At 15, upon receiving an 8mm home movie camera
from his stepfather, Steckler shot an amateur pirate film with
friends. Ray served three years in the United States Army from 1956 to
1959, being discharged as a Sergeant. He was an Army photographer, and
served in Korea and spent a year at the Kaufman Astoria Studios in
Astoria, Queens with the Army Pictorial Service of the Signal Corps.
In 1959, Steckler and a friend drove to Hollywood, California to enter
the film industry.Steckler worked as a prop man before becoming
assistant cameraman on the film, The World's Greatest Sinner, directed
by and starring Timothy Carey. When the initial director of
photography was fired, Steckler replaced him.Continuing to work in
cinematography in the Los Angeles area, Steckler acquired a union card
and established himself at major studios, including Universal Studios.
When he was reportedly fired for almost knocking an A-frame onto
Alfred Hitchcock, Steckler turned to the B-movie circuit. Working with
Arch Hall Sr.'s Fairway Pictures, Steckler started as cinematographer
and sometimes actor in the vehicles for Hall's son, Arch Hall, Jr.
Steckler made his directorial debut in the Hall vehicle Wild Guitar.
When Arch Hall Senior was worried whether his film would play when the
original choice of the heavy was black, Steckler told his friend he
had to go and took the role under his onscreen name, Cash Flagg.
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