Dracula (1931) Movie Herald
Here’s a colorful herald for Dracula (1931), currently up for auction on eBay from seller cvtreasures1. Dr. Gangrene has another version here. Heritage Auctions auctioned off another version too.
Prom Night (1980) Pressbook
While critics mostly hated Prom Night on its first release, I’d watch this on a double bill with Terror Train anytime.
Comic book reader version: Download Prom Night Pressbook
If you’re not back by midnight, you’re probably reading more sharp pressbooks From Zombos’ Closet.
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Gun Crazy (1950) Pressbook
When your honeymoon starts with your wife telling you she’s bad, but will try to be good, you know you’re in for a wild ride. The poster art says it all. An intense thrill ride toward a dead end, Gun Crazy is a must-see noir film.
Comic book viewer version: Download Gun Crazy Pressbook
See more crazy pressbooks here.
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House of Dracula (1945) Spanish Pressbook
My guess is this is somewhat rare. While the Spanish pressbooks for notable old movies are usually small (this one is 8.5 x 6.5 inches), they are neatly laid out and use imagery well. Of course, being House of Dracula, I couldn’t pass it up. While Frankenstein creates a monster from the the bodies of the dead, House of Dracula imagines vampirism as an affliction curable by medical means as opposed to the historic supernatural foundation. Instead of being undead, Dracula is ill, contaminating his victims with his disease. House reflected the growing American optimism for medicine and science as important tools to combat societal and personal problems.
It’s this medical help both werewolf and vampire receive in House of Dracula that makes this movie a pivotal and historically important notation in the transition from the supernatural horrors of the 1930s and 1940s to the scientific hubris (and its subsequent faux pas), and the technological fears of space alien confrontations and mass biological infections of the 1950s and 1960s sci-horror cycle. (From Zombos’ Closet review)
Singing Guns (1950) Pressbook
In this Western the bad guy goes straight and has time to sing three songs along the straight and narrow path.
Comic book reader version: Download Singing Guns Pressbook (See more crooning pressbooks From Zombos’ Closet)
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Voodoo Woman and The Undead
Double Bill Pressbook (1957)
The pages had separated in this double bill pressbook for Voodoo Woman and The Undead, so I’m not sure if it is complete. A double bill, by the way, was two movies released to be shown together. You could see lots of double bills playing in the 1950s and 60s, especially for drive-ins. I’ve not seen Voodoo Woman yet, but I admit to a strong fondness for The Undead, a low budget, but very atmospheric and engrossing supernatural tale. And once again, a good portion of the budget for both of these movies appears to have been spent on the poster art.
Comic book reader version: Download The Undead and Voodoo Woman DB (See more deathless pressbooks From Zombos’ Closet)
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Voodoo Woman and The Undead
Double Bill Pressbook (1957)Read More »
War of the Satellites
and Attack of the 50 FT. Woman
Double Bill Pressbook (1958)
Needless to say, the poster art for both of these movies is a lot more exciting than what was shown onscreen. But Attack of the 50FT. Woman is a classic, not so much for its shoddy special effects, but because it was a monsterkid staple that could stand up to (or was that more like provide fodder for?) repeated late-night viewings on a flickering black and white television set. Corman’s cheapie, War of the Satellites, gave us Dick Miller. What more do you need?
Comic book reader version: Download War of the Satellites DB (See more out of this world and BIG pressbooks From Zombos’ Closet!)
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War of the Satellites
and Attack of the 50 FT. Woman
Double Bill Pressbook (1958)Read More »
Scandal Street (1938) Pressbook
Ah, the good old days, when gossipy neighbors could ruin your reputation and ruin your weekly bridge-playing get togethers. Now everyone can pretty much chime in on Twitter or Facebook or whatever gossipy website there is on the Internet. Would I really want to watch this movie? No. But this pressbook, with its die cut silhouette and the overall design of the pages, is pretty nifty.
Comic book reader version: Download Scandal Street (see more scandalous pressbooks From Zombos’ Closet)
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Blood of the Vampire (1958) UK Pressbook
Not a Hammer movie but inspired by Hammer (Jimmy Sangster wrote the screenplay), Blood of the Vampire received the X certificate (given to horror movies by the British Board of Censors, during that time, to limit the audience to 16 and above). It boasts yet another evil hunchbacked sidekick and some gore “for adults only…with nerves of steel!”
Comic book reader version: Download Blood of the Vampire (see more pressbooks From Zombos’ Closet)
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Jet Job (1952) Pressbook
I haven’t seen this movie, but I liked the pressbook design. Hotshot pilots and fast flying seemed all the rage in the 1950s cinema. The poor man’s space opera. The “curvaceous” Elena Verdugo, from House of Frankenstein, puts in an appearance. Playing up the eye-candy aspect of female actors in 1950s movies was also another, thankfully abandoned, selling point of that decade’s movies too.
Comic book reader version: Download Jet Job Pressbook (see more high-flying pressbooks From Zombos’ Closet)
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Black Arrow (1944) Pressbook
This is the 1955 re-release pressbook for the 24th serial, Black Arrow, released by Columbia.
Comic book reader version: Download Black Arrow Pressbook (see more thrilling pressbooks From Zombos’ Closet)
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Voodoo Island and Pharaoh’s Curse (1957)
Double Bill Pressbook
Not a bad double bill to while away a midnight afternoon, given that Voodoo Island can boast Adam West’s first movie appearance.
Comic book reader version: Download Voodoo Island DB (see more cursed pressbooks From Zombos’ Closet)
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Voodoo Island and Pharaoh’s Curse (1957)
Double Bill PressbookRead More »