"The number of nominations from B-Movie lovers far surpassed last year's inaugural efforts," said Ron Bonk, president and founder of the B-Movie Hall of Fame. "This year, we had a large number of votes for expected choices, such as George Romero and "The Toxic Avenger," but we also enjoyed some happy surprises. We were flabbergasted by the huge outpouring of support for Emil Sitka, the comic actor who co-starred in many Three Stooges shorts, and we were intrigued that a contemporary feature like the 1994 film "Clerks" would generate a high number of votes for a Hall of Fame."

The newest members of the B-Movie Hall of Fame, categorized by artists and classics, are listed in alphabetical order:

B-MOVIE ARTISTS

SAMUEL Z. ARKOFF & JAMES H. NICHOLSON. Founders of American International Pictures, the primary B-Movie producer/distributor from the 1950s through the 1970s.

WILLIAM CASTLE. Prolific director/producer of perverse cult favorites including "The Tingler" (1959), "Mr. Sardonicus" (1961) and "Strait-Jacket" (1964).

BRUCE LEE. The first superstar of the martial arts genre, best known for "Fists of Fury" (1971), "Return of the Dragon" (1972) and "Enter the Dragon" (1973).

JAYNE MANSFIELD. Buxom bombshell who decorated such unique productions as "The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw" (1958), "Hercules and the Hydra" (1960) and "Promises! Promises!" (1963).

RUSS MEYER. Indie filmmaker who pioneered the "nudie" genre with "The Immoral Mr. Teas" (1959) and helmed bosom-proud films including "Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" (1965), "Vixen!" (1968) and "Cherry, Harry and Raquel!" (1969).

VINCENT PRICE. The grandiloquent star of many classic B-Movies including "The Fly" (1958), "The Raven" (1963), "Masque of the Red Death" (1965) and "Theatre of Blood" (1973).

GEORGE ROMERO. Director/producer best-known for this zombie trilogy: "Night of the Living Dead" (1968), "Dawn of the Dead" (1979) and "Day of the Dead" (1985).

EMIL SITKA. Comic character actor who appeared in 90 films, but is best regarded as the bedraggled justice-of-the-peace who repeatedly chimes "Hold hands, you lovebirds" in the Three Stooges short "Brideless Groom" (1947).

BARBARA STEELE. British-born queen of the B-Movies whose films include "Black Sabbath" (1960), "The Pit and the Pendulum" (1961), "Crimson Cult" (1968) and "Caged Heat" (1974).

JOHN WAYNE. American icon who rose to fame via dozens of 1930s B-Westerns including "Riders of Destiny" (1933), "The Lawless Frontier" (1934) and "Pals of the Saddle" (1938).

B-MOVIE CLASSICS

CLERKS (1994), directed by Kevin Smith. Critically-acclaimed indie comedy focusing on the agonies and ecstasies of malcontented video store clerks.

FACES OF DEATH (1978), directed by Conan le Ciliare. Gruesome cult favorite highlighting numerous extreme examples of life being extinguished.

FLASH GORDON (1936), directed by Frederick Stephani. Classic serial with Buster Crabbe as the eponymous hero saving the universe from Ming the Merciless.

GODZILLA (1954), directed by Inoshiro Honda. Japan's most popular export, which launched Toho Studio's celebrated monster mash.

HALLOWEEN (1978), directed by John Carpenter. Michael Myers swings his knife in the film which set-off the popular slasher series.

KENTUCKY FRIED MOVIE (1977), directed by John Landis. Irreverent, free-wheeling, no-holds-barred sketch comedy.

THE KILLING (1956), directed by Stanley Kubrick. The celebrated director's breakthrough hit focused on a racetrack heist gone awry.

MONDO CANE (1963), directed by Gualtiero Jacopetti. The grand-daddy of the shockumentary genre, detailing excessive and outlandish behavior across a wide geographic spectrum.

SHAFT (1971), directed by Gordon Parks. The blaxploitation landmark starring Richard Roundtree as the tough-talking Harlem private eye.

THE TOXIC AVENGER (1985), directed by Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman. A dip in chemical goo turns a 98-pound weakling into the biggest hero of the B-Movies.