Stanley Sheff

About

Stanley Sheff is a Los Angeles-based director, editor, and writer whose career spans network television, cult cinema, live theater, radio, and experimental storytelling.

He collaborated with Orson Welles on The Orson Welles Show, Welles’ final completed work, and is the only person to ever share a directing credit with Mr. Welles.

Biography

Sheff's early film Sinister Flesh gained a cult following, leading to Lobster Man from Mars, which premiered at Sundance. Sheff directed TV specials including Hollywood Outtakes, Amos 'n' Andy: Anatomy of a Controversy, and Vincent Price: The Sinister Image.

Beyond film and television, he created the comedy radio show The Young Marquis and Stanley, still portrays his alter ego Maxwell DeMille on stage, and directed major vintage theater events across Los Angeles. He continues to develop projects blending storytelling with new technologies like AI-driven visuals and LED virtual stage production.

Film and Television

• Return to Babylon (2013) – Douglas Fairbanks (as Maxwell DeMille), Editor, Dialogue & Titles, Producer, Writer
• The Oviatt Building (2008) – As Maxwell DeMille
• Broadway Confidential (2000)
• The Plush Life TV Show (1997) – as Shelldrake, Director, Writer
• Waxwork II: Lost in Time (1992) – Speaker for Jury, Special Thanks
• America Confidential (1990) – as Coco Lewis, Director, Writer
• Lobster Man from Mars (1989) – as Brainex (Itself), Director, Editor, Writer
• Vincent Price: The Sinister Image (1987) – Director, Editor, Producer
• KGB: The Secret War (1985) – Editor (as Stanley J. Sheff)
• Motown Returns to the Apollo (1985) – Editor
• Amos 'n' Andy: Anatomy of a Controversy (1983) – Director (as Stanley J. Sheff), Editor (as Stanley J. Sheff)
• The Orson Welles Show (1979) – as Gypsy Violinist, Editor, Co-Director
Note: Both Orson Welles and Stanley Sheff were uncredited for their directing work on The Orson Welles Show. Welles used the pseudonym "G.O. Spelvin."
• HBO: On Location – Chevy Chase & Friends (1978) – Editor
• Hollywood Out-Takes (1978) – Editor
• TV: The Fabulous Fifties (1978) – Editor
• Hey, Abbott! (1978) – Editor
• Sinister Flesh (1976) – Director, Supervising Producer (as Maxwell DeMille), Writer

Theater and Stage Productions

• On With The Show (2025)
• The Lullaby of Broadway (2014)
• The Wizard of Oz Costume Parade (2012)
• A Salute to Our Armed Forces Past and Present (2009)
• Broadway Rhythm (2005)
• Some Like It Hot with Tony Curtis (2004)
• Hollywood Revisited Fashion Show (2004)
• The Hollywood Fashion Parade (2002)
• Waltzing at the Wiltern (2001)
• Broadway Confidential (2000)
• The Time Machine 40th Anniversary Celebration (2000)
• The Broadway Follies (2000)
• Jazz Babies on Broadway (1999)
• Dancing Extravaganza (1999)
• Forbidden Planet Cast Reunion (1999)
• Dancing Cavalcade (1998)
• Queen of Outer Space: The Musical (1998)
• Vaudeville Comes Home (1997)
• The Black Pirate Musical Spectacular (1996)

Other Work

Producer, director, and performer of "The Young Marquis and Stanley" radio show (KROQ-FM). Live Master of Ceremonies appearances as Maxwell DeMille at vintage dance and film events. Directed live stage shows for the Los Angeles Conservancy’s "Last Remaining Seats" series, hosting Hollywood legends.

Awards and Nominations

• Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize – Lobster Man from Mars (nomination)
• Editor of the Emmy Award–winning show Motown Returns to the Apollo

The Orson Welles Show

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Main Title

Camera

Editor

Director

Orson Welles Welcome

Orson Welles intros Burt Reynolds

Burt Reynolds

The Interview

Orson Welles and his cigar

The interview ends

Orson's Magic Theater Intro

A problem with cue cards

Orson's Magic Theater

Kermit the Frog

Fozie Bear

Sam the Eagle

The Audience

Frank Oz, Jim Henson, and friends

JIm Henson

Frank Oz

Frank Oz and Jim Henson

The Interview

Orson Welles makes an introduction

Orson Welles, the interview ends

The Gypsy Band

Magic at Ma Maison

Angie Dickenson Magic Trick

Stanley Sheff - The Gypsy Fiddle Player

Orson Welles Intros Russian Roulette

Russian Roulette

The Chair

Dangerous Illusion

Strapped in

Angie Dickenson Returns

The Death Bullet

The Blindfold

Prepare to Fire

Orson Welles Farewell

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Lobster Man from Mars

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Main Title

Tony Curtis as Shelldrake

Billy Barty as Mr. Throckmorton

Deborah Foreman as Mary

Patrick Macnee as Professor Plocostomos

Tommy Sledge as the Private Eye

Anthony Hickox As John

Fred Holliday as Col. Ankrum

M.G. Kelly as the Reporter

S.D. Nemeth as the Lobster Man

Shelldrake's Screening Room

Book of Endless Credits

The King of Mars

Royal Astrologer

Spaceship heads for Earth

Watch the skies

Saucer flies over

The Cave

Rufus and Mr. Zip

Mary and John

The Lobster Man Speaks

The Space Bat Attacks

Ankrum, Plocostomos, John

Skipper Bruce

Something went wrong

John, Plocostomos and Mary

Mr. Throckmorton appears

The Seance

A New Plan

Final Countdown

Mombo, Mary, Lobster Man

Hello Space Bat

Lobster Man and Mombo

Quicksand

Rabid Lobsterman

Last Chance to Escape

The Chase - Lobster Man and Mary

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Bombshells

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Robert Picardo Secret Headquarters

Robert Picardo Secret Headqurters Observation

Robert Picardo, Kelsey Deanne, Stanley Sheff

Secret Headquarters - Robert Picardo

Secret Headquarters - Stanley Sheff and Kelsey Deanne

Stanley Sheff takes a break with Samantha Mumba

Stanley Sheff, Peter 'Bob' White, Robert Picardo

The Fight - Samantha Mumba

The Fight

The Fight

The Fight

The Fight - Kelsey Deanne

The Fight

The Fight - Samantha Mumba

The Fight

The Fight

The Fight

The Fight

B-17

The Fight

B-17

The Fight - Kelsey Deanne

B-17

B-17

B-17

B-17

B-17 - Samantha Mumba

B-17

B-17.jpg

B-17 with Kelsey Deanne - Peter 'Bob' White, Samantha Mumba

B-17

Near the Super Gun Complex

Spying on the Super Gun Complex

Inside the Super Gun Complex

Super Gun Complex - Digitaly enhanced vehicle

Super Gun Complex - Gate Guard

Super Gun Complex - Power Room

Super Gun Complex - Sabotage

Super Gun Complex - Underground Tunnel

Super Gun Complex - underground tunnel explosion

Underground Tunnel - explosion green screen

Ft. MacArthur location

Ft. MacArthur location

Ft. MacArthur vehicle storage

Evil Mastermind - Clement Von Franckenstein

The enemy makes plans

Nightclub - Samantha Mumba takes to the stage

Nightclub sequence

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Scrapbook

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Working wth Orson Welles

With George Takei and Paul Bunnell

In The Time Machine

In the Captain's Chair with the Doctor on the Starship Voyager

With Michael Part filming at Auto Expo '75

With Tony Curtis

As himself in 'Stardust' (1974)

As himself in 'Stardust' (1975)

Behind the camera filming Sinister Flesh (1976)

Ready to Renew! Logan's Run (1978)

Ready to Renew! Logan's Run (1978)

An assortment of evil Plush Life Characters

KROQ - one of many personal appearances with Doc Nemo

KROQ - with Lucious Lore and Doc Nemo

Alan Young and George Takei - Time Machine Anniversary Legends

Alice Cooper - Shock Rock Royalty

DeLorean - The Ride to the Future

Dita Von Teese - Vintage Glamour Reborn

Ewan McGregor - A Modern Leading Man

George Chakiris - Dancing Through Cinema History

Hugh Hefner and Dita Von Teese - Old Hollywood Dreamers

Johnny Holiday and Keely Smith - Swing’s Last Serenade

La Toya Jackson - Pop Royalty in Motion

Marty Ingels, Adam Tunney, and Shirley Jones - Three Generations of Stardom

Michael Feinstein - The Great American Songbook Keeper

Michael Sarne - The Rebel Behind Myra Breckinridge

Mickey Rooney - From Mickey to Legend

Natalie Portman - Grace on and off the Screen

River Song - The Doctor’s Time-Tossed Muse

Rusty Frank and William H. Macy - Jazz Steps and Movie Magic

Samantha Shelton and Zooey Deschanel - Indie Spirit, Vintage Heart

Growing up in Hollywood

Carthay Center School (1959)

Dad's band The Latinaires - late 1940s

Mom and Dad

Mom in the center with Grandpa (right)

Mom as a kid back in the Old Country

Uncle Myron (far right)

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Contact