From Zombos' Closet

The Tiger Woman (1944) Mexican Lobby Card

By now you probably have gotten the feeling I'm into Republic Pictures Serials, and jungle movies. Now, if Linda Stirling had actually worn the outfit shown in the illustration for this Mexican lobby card, well, I'd have liked that too. Of course, there are social considerations to discuss and argue in these older jungle movies and serials: how white men and women always seem to find themselves ruling over native tribes, and unlikely stuff like that. Or how the prop and art departments kept coming up with mismatching wardrobes for the culture and time period (yes, budget, I know). I wouldn't mind, though, wearing those puffy pants (see the inset scene). Those are awesome. And don't forget the boots.

Undersea Kingdom (1936) Mexican Lobby Card

A fun Republic Serial, Undersea Kingdom is one of my favorites, with ray gun-toting robots, a rocket submarine, and a cool armored vehicle called the Juggernaut. And with Ray "Crash" Corrigan leading the way, how can you go wrong. Visually, for a budget serial, it still packs a retro and hodgepodge stylish wallop.

Horror Hotel (1960)Mexican Lobby Card

Here's a fantastic Mexican lobby card for Horror Hotel (aka The City of the Dead), a little gem of a movie. They used a lot of fog to cover up the budget sets. Works like a charm. Creepy and spooky. And with Christopher Lee perfectly placed in his element.

Poltergeist (1982) Pressbook

Not sure why they bothered making a remake when the original is so darn good.

Comic reader version:  Download Poltergeist Pressbook

See more movie pressbooks From Zombos' Closet.

The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb (1964) Mexican Lobby Card

Nicely done Mexican lobby card that simply borrows the illustration from the English poster art.

The Phantom of the West (1931) Mexican Lobby Card

I'm not certain, but I believe this is the Mexican lobby card for The Phantom of the West. The style is colorful and simple, similar to this Chandu lobby. An original photograph was pasted onto the card (I'm assuming by hand), which gave way to printing the scene later. The early Mexican lobbies with the pasted on photographs are quite novel and always a favorite find for collectors like me.

Zombies of the Stratosphere (1952) Mexican Lobby Card

Here's the Mexican lobby card for Zombies of the Stratosphere serial. I still want that jet pack and helmet and leather jacket and...

Invisible Agent (1942) Pressbook Ad Mat Insert

Here's the ad mat insert to the Invisible Agent pressbook. These are the newspaper ads that would be used by the movie theater for promotion. The ads shown here would simply be cut out and sent to the newspaper, along with the theater's location and show times. Now, of course, you just open Fandango or another app on your phone. But seeing these ads in the newspaper was a lot more visually exciting, if not as convenient.

See more movie pressbooks From Zombos' Closet.

Necromancy (1972) Mexican Lobby Card

Bert I. Gordon directs a horror movie with Orson Welles. Need I say more? Okay, Pamela Franklin is in it too.

Salem's Lot (1979) Mexican Lobby Card

It still gives me goosebumps.

Rubie's Dracula and Werewolf Halloween Teeth

Yes, there are many who while away the summertime on beaches and at barbecues, but others, even as they may scrunch their toes in the hot sand or wrap their tongues around warm hot dogs and cold ice cream, yearn for the rustle of dry leaves across tombstones, and the smell of candy, pumpkins, and the Autumn breeze. Honestly, the best thing about summer is that it brings us all that closer to Halloween. 

Pistol Packing Cowpoke Mexican Lobby Cards

I grew up watching Westerns, being a child of the 1960s. Of course, the space race was well kicking in at that point, so I grew up watching space operas too. The only difference between a raygun-toting astronaut or alien (you know, the bad hombre kind) and a pistol-packing cowpoke is -- not much difference. Something Gene Roddenberry (and lots of pulp writers) knew pretty well. Here's a gun-toting sampling of Mexican lobby cards from my saddlebag.