From Zombos' Closet

Zombos' Closet...a vast trove of endearingly cheap thrills, including movie and book reviews, and scans of his collections of cinema pressbooks, goofy paper-cutout Halloween decorations, and his amazing collection of Mexican lobby cards from B-grade films. If you have time to descend into a serious rabbit-hole of marvelous trash-culture nostalgia, visit that site just as soon as you possibly can. (DangerousMinds.net)

about this blog From Zombos' Closet...

Hopalong Cassidy Mexican Lobby Card

By now you may have noticed I'm a horror AND western movie fan. (Well, toss in science fiction, fantasy, film noir...) Here's a tidy Hopalong Cassidy Mexican lobby card, with the requisite  gun and tussle illustration. This one's unusual in that the English title isn't mentioned. While Hasta el Ultimo Cartucho translates to "until the last cartridge," I'm not sure which Hopalong movie this lobby relates to. I haven't watched all of them, so I can't match up the scene to its movie.

Outlaw Treasure (1955) Mexican Lobby Card

Lively colors, bared shoulder with a little bit more, and a rough and tumble wrestle with guns drawn. What more can you want from a rip roarin' western movie? Or lobby card? Although I doubt the seductive skin baring in this lobby card ever made it into the movie.

Aventuras del Latigo Negro (1962) Mexican Lobby Card

A thrilling Mexican lobby card for The Black Whip.

Treasure of Gen. Yamashita (1956) Pressbook

Treasure of Gen. Yamashita is based on the legend of the treasure supposedly stolen during World War II and hidden in the Philippines. 

Comic reader: Download Treasure of Gen Yamashita Pressbook

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Call Northside 777 (1948) Mexican Lobby Card

One of James Stewart's best performances. Straightforward illustration with Stewart's face commanding attention makes this Mexican lobby card effective.

Sangaree (1953) 3D Movie Pressbook

I picked up this pressbook because it is Paramount's first 3D movie. Unfortunately, someone actually cut out some of the ad mats to use them. Go figure! But it's a hefty pressbook for a period costume romance drama, nonetheless. From a period in movie history when the 3D process was a novelty; now it's just an excuse to charge higher ticket prices. On another note, this pressbook is appropriate for Valentine's Day. So let the kissing begin.

Comic reader version: Download Sangaree Pressbook

Murder on the Roof (1930) Pressbook

Here's the silent and talkie versions pressbook for Columbia's pre-code mystery movie, Murder on the Roof. I can only imagine how exciting it must have been to attend a talkie when sound was just hitting the movie theaters. Great melodramatic poster art and article coverage, with local product tie-ins, make this pressbook quite a nostalgic trip.  

Comic reader version: Download Murder on the Roof Pressbook

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The Big Noise (1944) Mexican Lobby Card

Laurel and Hardy pretend to be detectives. The usual mayhem ensues. My favorite L&H movie? Babes in Toyland (1934). The wedding scene is priceless. What's yours?

The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973) Pressbook

With Caroline Munro and Tom Baker, The Golden Voyage of Sinbad is a lot of fun. Add in Ray Harryhausen's stop motion effects and it's quite a fantasy delight.

Comic reader version: Download Golden Voyage of Sinbad Pressbook

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Zombies of Mora Tau (1957) Pressbook

Not quite Dawn of the Dead, but hey, its got zombies.

Comic reader version: Download Zombies of Mora Tau Pressbook

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The Witching Hour (1934) Pressbook

A clairvoyant gambler hypnotizes someone who later murders somebody else. Cue the crime and mystery drama. Early pressbooks were often printed on newsprint paper, so they don't hold up too well and brown with age. But that gives them a certain charm, don't you think? What's also charming are the promotional ideas for The Witching Hour. For instance, take this one: "In every town there are large clocks displayed, on the sidewalk or in windows, which are daily consulted by large numbers of persons for the correct time. For example, there is usually such a clock in a telegraph office or jeweler's window..." Then there's the ambulating street clock that chimes as it goes. Ah, the good old days--of promotion, that is.

Comic reader version: Download The Witching Hour Pressbook

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Juvenile Jungle and Young and Wild (1958) Double Bill Pressbook

Punk-hoodlums cause mayhem with hot rods and more punk hoodlums turn to kidnapping. Quite a 1950s drive-in's worth of teen angst and misbehavior. 

Comic reader version: Download Juvenile Jungle and Young and Wild Pressbook