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...

World Without End (1956) Mexican Lobby Card

One of my favorite science fiction movies. As a young boy I was fascinated by the costumes and storyline.  Here's the pressbook.

The Monster and the Girl (1941) Pressbook

A fascinating and entertaining blend of crime, noir, gorilla, and horror. Paramount's The Monster and the Girl starts off as a noir in tone and camerawork, but then ignores that and moves on to an ape-murdering-for-vengeance storyline. It gets my vote for the best man-in-gorilla-suit movie produced in the 1940s and possible the best, period. The story plays all the emotional angles, and tosses in a faithful dog for good measure (like in Man-Mad Monster, also released in 1941). There's something simply mesmerizing, odd, and sometimes head-scratching with the mad-scientist and gorilla cycle of horror movies, but this movie works it's magic and makes it, well, work! I highly recommend it. As for this pressbook, my word, it's amazing! The amount of promotion and article coverage reaches twenty packed pages. 

Comic reader version:  Download Monster and the Girl Pressbook

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein Pressbook

Here's a great movie to watch on Halloween. Forget that the Wolf Man was cured earlier or that Dracula was dispatched in House of Dracula.  Or even that Frankenstein's Monster got bogged down in House of Frankenstein; here they romp with mirth and madness, and contrary to the naysayer purists who lambaste this movie for its treatment of the classic monsters, this is an essential and worthy entry to the Universal Horror Mythos. 

Download Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein Pressbook (comic reader version)

Halloween Pirate Flashlight Gun

I looted this pirate flashlight gun from eBay. Arghh!

The Uninvited (1944) Pressbook

     One of the best haunted house movies ever made, watch this one late at night with the lights off. At 32 pages, this pressbook is almost as impressive as the movie. Of note is the Your Radio Campaign page, which reminds us of a time before social and commercial digital media. And of very special importance, this is the first movie to depict ghosts as real. Before this, there was always a rational reason to explain away the supernatural proceedings, usually fostered by criminal intent and delivered with comedy. Within the context of the Universal Monster horrors, it's also an interesting contrast: when Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Wolf man were seeking scientific cures for their "ailments," in other words, when Universal made their monsters rationally-existing as opposed to supernaturally, The Uninvited scared audiences with the real deal: No jokes, no slapstick, just good old-fashioned scares to chill the bones; and no explanation at the end to eliminate the supernatural as the cause, or leaving the audience with uncertainty such as in The Cat People (1942).

Comic reader version:  Download The Uninvited Pressbook

Henry Aldrich Haunts a House (1943) Pressbook

Henry Aldrich steps into it again. That tag line, "got haunts in his pants!" wouldn't work today, I'm sure. But crazy fun, 1940's movie style.

Comic book reader version:  Download Henry Aldrich Haunts a House Pressbook

Scream Queenathon for Breast Cancer Charity 2018

Here's the press info on the Boobs and Blood 2018 event...

Fundraising For Breast Cancer Charity, 10 of Horror’s Greatest Actresses Party for a Festival Unlike Any Other! 

 

 

Fundraising for Breast Cancer Charity, the BOOBS & BLOOD Film Festival opens on Oct. 5th with the 1st annual, celebrity packed and party-themed SCREAM QUEEN-ATHON.

 

   10 of the best Scream Queens and horror actresses in the business make up the remarkable SCREAM QUEEN-ATHON. With red carpet photo ops, table signings and an exuberant Q&A promised from journalist Pat Jankiewicz, SCREAM QUEEN-ATHON features Naomi Grossman (American Horror Story’s ‘Pepper’), Anulka Dziubinska (Vampyres - 1974), Asun Ortega (Nude Nuns With Big Guns - 2010), Max Wasa (Scarface, House of Manson, Death House), Hilari Scarl - (Wishmaster), Christine Nguyen (Edgar Allen Poe's Decapitarium 3-D - 2018), Lar Park-Lincoln (House II, Friday the 13th VII, Freddy's Nightmares), Elissa Dowling (Bus Party to Hell, Tales of Halloween), Holly Fields (Wishmaster 2, Seedpeople) and Beverly Randolph (Return of the Living Dead, Death House).

 

   "SCREAM QUEEN-ATHON is our big opening night celebration. It’s a party. It’s a festival. It’s a convention. It’s pure BOOBS & BLOOD,” states Festival founder Miles Flanagan. “Since this is a fundraiser we’ve been lucky to attract many actresses who normally don’t do the horror convention circuit. We’ve been blessed by incredible support from all our wonderful friends in the business.”

 

   Star of 1974’s cult erotic vampire classic ”VAMPYRES,” Anulka Dziubinska makes a rare appearance for what should be a revealing and fun Q&A. She’s had an amazing career and life so far, going from cult actress and star to touring with David Bowie & Iggy Pop’s during their Berlin years. Like the other actresses, Anulka will be available for table signings after the Q&A.

“We’re all big AHS Pepper fans so are excited to have Naomi Grossman with us too. She’s an incredibly funny actress and performer and we expect lots of laughs all evening. Not sure if we’ll get any Pepper cosplayers, but there’ll be cosplayers and makeup demonstrations too.”

 

   The evening is packed with horror and psychotronic-themed entertainment in one intimate club setting - North Hollywood’s unique Mayflower Club. Exotic Go-Go dancing, Swiss DJ HiJinx, and live retro-rock band WYLDEWOOD GREEN keep the party vibe going strong as vendors showcase everything from Free psychic readings to selling horror merchandise and horror-themed snacks. 

 

   “We have lots of photo-ops for fun selfies, including a cool mini horror film-set and of course the de rigueur festival step and repeat. Who doesn’t love a photo on the red carpet. In our case we have it inside the actual club!”

 

   For those who like a drink or two there’s the Mayflower Club’s beautiful, and some say haunted, 1920s wood-paneled full bar.

 

   But there’s also a serious point to the event and festival.

 

   “All BOOBS & BLOOD events raise money for Breast Cancer Charities - this is an important mission for the festival. We’ve seen too many friends suffer form this dreadful disease,” continues Flanagan.

 

   “We also expect to have lots of celebrity guests from the horror community turning up over the evening and helping out with our celebrity raffles and fundraising. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

 

   A third of the Box Office from BOOBS & BLOOD Friday Oct 5 evening party event will be donated to registered Breast Cancer Charity, FEEL YOUR BOOBIES. Money is also raised through charity raffles throughout the weekend.

 

   FEEL YOUR BOOBIES is a breast cancer non-profit organization whose mission is to utilize unexpected and unconventional methods to remind women, especially those under 40, to “feel their boobies”. Getting in the habit of knowing what is normal for you increases the chances of noticing a breast lump or other changes when they occur.

 

SCREAM QUEEN-ATHON Opening Night Party - Fri. Oct 5 - 6.00pm - 11.00pm, tickets: https://screamqueen.bpt.me.

BOOBS & BLOOD Film Festival Oct 5-6, The Mayflower Club, 11110 Victory Blvd., N. Hollywood, CA 91606

For more go to www.boobsandblood.com.

Warner Bros. Castle Rock 4K on Blu-ray Oct. 15th, 2018

Look what the bat dragged in...I haven't binged this yet, so looking forward to it.

   The first season of Castle Rock, from Bad Robot Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, will be available to own on Digital October 15, 2018. Consumers can enjoy all 10 episodes in high definition and standard definition (retail $24.99/$18.99) along with never-before-seen bonus content.

   From Stephen King (Mr. Mercedes, It, 11.22.63) and J.J. Abrams (Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Westworld, 11.22.63), Castle Rock is a new psychological-horror series set in the Stephen King multiverse. Castle Rock, which first premiered on Hulu, is an original story that combines the mythological scale and intimate character storytelling of Stephen King’s best loved works, while weaving an epic saga of darkness and light that’s played out on a few square miles of Maine woodland. Castle Rock has been picked up for a second season on Hulu.

   The first season of Castle Rock follows Henry Deaver (André Holland, American Horror Story), a Death Row attorney who returns to Castle Rock, Maine, his hometown, after he receives an anonymous phone call from the infamous Shawshank State Penitentiary. The call is about a nameless young man (Bill Skarsgård, It) who is found locked in an underground cage that’s located in a long-abandoned cell block beneath the prison. Upon his discovery, the mysterious young man, with a sinister and unnerving presence, whispers Henry’s name. Curious about how and why someone left this boy imprisoned, Henry is drawn into the case and attempts to help him. But there are reasons why “The Kid” was imprisoned.  And reasons why he should never be set free. 

   Permeated with a sense of foreboding and dread, the haunting small town of Castle Rock is not willing to let Henry leave. Aside from now having to deal with the strange young man found in the prison, Henry is faced with the fact that his adoptive mother (Sissy Spacek, Carrie), who lives in Castle Rock with retired Sheriff Alan Pangborn (special guest star Scott Glenn), is struggling with the onset of dementia. Reluctantly, Henry stays to figure out just who “The Kid” is and how he wound up imprisoned under such appalling circumstances.  

   In addition to Holland, Skarsgård and Spacek, the series also stars Melanie Lynskey (Two and a Half Men) as Molly Strand, Jane Levy (Suburgatory, Shameless) as Jackie Torrance and recurring guest star Terry O’Quinn (Lost) as Shawshank’s Warden Dale Lacey.

Dead of Night (1945) Pressbook

What else can be said about this classic horror anthology (or portmanteau if you prefer)? A movie, it is said, that influenced Fred Hoyle's input into the Steady State Theory. Not too shabby for a horror movie. Of course, I know, you just want to be scared this Halloween. So watch this movie. In the dead of night. You may be able to sleep afterwards. With the lights on. Maybe. (Read my review.)

Comic reader version:  Download Dead of Night Pressbook

The Artistry of the Mexican Lobby Card

Here are beautiful examples of the artistic depth of illustration to be found in Mexican lobby cards.

Dark Shadows on Decades TV for Halloween 2018

News Flash! Here's the press release I received.

DECADES TV NETWORK PRESENTS DARK SHADOWS, A TRICK AND TREAT STARTING HALLOWEEN WEEK. BARNABAS COLLINS RETURNS IN 260 EPISODES

STARTS MONDAY, OCTOBER 29 AT 12 AM ET

Chicago, IL (September 25, 2018) –  Relive the first gothic soap opera television series Dark Shadows when Vampire Barnabas Collins arrives on DECADES TV Network every weeknight at 12 am ET beginning Monday, October 29.  DECADES will start airing 260 episodes of the drama featuring the guilt-ridden, 175-year-old vampire as he made his first appearance, which originally aired on April 18, 1967. To find out where to watch DECADES click https://decades.com/

Since first airing on ABC-TV from 1966-71, the soap opera found its own unique place in TV immortality that had fans running home from school to catch each episode. With its alluring tales of Gothic mystery and supernatural intrigue, Dark Shadowsearned the reputation as being one of the most unusual and enduring programs in broadcasting history. Now, viewers can relive the thrills and chills every weeknight on DECADES.

Mixing together high camp and gothic horror into the moribund soap formula, Dark Shadows quickly gathered a fanatical audience so large that TV Guide called the series one of the 25 greatest cult shows of all time (5/26/2014).

The creation of legendary producer Dan Curtis, Dark Shadows tells the tragic tale of the Collins family, a seemingly white lace patriarchal dynasty that ran a dark New England town out of their family estate, appropriately called Collinwood. Into this world enters young nanny Victoria (Alexandra Moltke), who soon learns there is a lot more to this family than initially meets the eye. Mysterious relative Barnabas (Jonathan Frid), moves into the dilapidated estate next door. Soon the household is beset with all manners of classic monsters, including werewolves, witches and ghosts.

Deadline-U.S.A (1952) Pressbook

Humphrey Bogart tackles lies, criminal activity, and a struggling newspaper in Deadline-U.S.A. At least he didn't have to deal with the effects of the Internet and 24/7 newsy views dumping. Here's the hard-hitting 16-page pressbook.

Comic reader version:  Download Deadline-USA Pressbook