The highlight for this issue 17 of The House of Hammer (volume 2, number 5) is the Vampire Circus comic, followed by Van Helsing’s Carnival of Fear. Dangerous children and Castle of the Living Dead add the movie-related info, along with Fairgrounds of Horror and Media Macabre. The artwork by Brian Holland and Goudenzi is splendid.
Comic reader version: Download House of Hammer Issue 17
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This is the movie that introduced the name for the Wilhelm Scream. Used in countless movies and television shows since Distant Drums (1951), including Star Wars, and Indiana Jones, you’ll recognize it immediately when you hear it. It’s like that solitary wolf-baying you hear in The Munsters and countless other movies and television series, one sound effect used over and over again; though, I’m not sure if that wolf howling has a specific name attached to it. In this movie the Private Wilhelm character gets an arrow in his leg and screams (well, sound effect added, of course) the Wilhelm Scream.
Other interesting things to note about this movie were the use of a View Master display to sell the 3D effect, and the cheesecake (and beefcake) used in promotion. The 3D color-in mat was creative, and the feather headband theater giveaway provided something for the matinee, drop the kids off at the theater, audiences.
Comic reader version: Download Charge at Feather River Pressbook
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Interesting that the leading lady doesn't receive top billing in this 1953 Western, Woman They Almost Lynched. She does get an embellished bosom, however, in this Mexican lobby card (and also in the American poster art). Of particular note is how she's holding two guns (again, also in the American poster art), but has only one holster. Hmm.
Here's a pdf copy of Dyna-Mite! Entertainment's press kit for Count Dracula and His Vampire Bride (The Satanic Rites of Dracula). This Dynamite Entertainment is not related to the comic book publishing imprint of Dynamic Forces.
A very ominous Mexican lobby card for Damiano Damiani’s The Witch in Love (La strega in amore). This is a good example of how a simple layout can add subtle and not so subtle themes: the main scissor illustration showing violence and death; the younger woman on the left showing erotic fantasy but also foreboding as she faces toward the woman on the right; and the flaming passion or ill-intent shown by that older woman on the right. The eyes are drawn to each of these three visual statements in that order. The inset scene is one of action, too, which keeps the level of tension across this lobby card quite high.
On a trip to Adamstown, Pennsylvania, on a collectible hunt with my wife (a big Wizard of Oz fan), she found this magazine clipping. I believe it's from an issue of Life, circa 1950s.
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Amando de Ossorio (he did the Blind Dead movies and other horrors) serves up a tale of sorcery and warlocks, decapitation, and leopard skin clad women. This Mexican lobby card incorrectly lists his name as "Armando."
A truly terrifying movie in so many ways. And, of course, there’s Britt Ekland’s slappy nude dance, too. Instead of trying to remake an already excellent movie, the Nicolas Cage Wicker Man should have gone for a sequel instead. Who wouldn’t want to see Lord Summerisle burn bright when the harvest fails again the following year? Download The Wicker Man Pressbook (Comic Reader Version). See more pressbooks From Zombos’ Closet.
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Intense, gritty, and playing-for-keeps film noir; here’s the pressbook to warm you up.
Download The Big Heat Pressbook (Comic Reader Version)
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At 32 pages, this 12.25 x 15 inches pressbook for The Lost Weekend, directed by Billy Wilder, is quite a promotional statement. This is one of the first movies to use the theremin, which would become a notable musical accompaniment to science fiction movies of the 1950s. Wikipedia notes the movie toned out the homosexual overtones in the book.
Comic reader version: Download The Lost Weekend Pressbook
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This fragile 16 x 21.5 inches, 12 pages, pressbook for Chandu the Magician, starring Bela Lugosi as the sinister villain, is very impressive. Unfortunately, the pulpy paper has taken a beating. I was surprised when the dealer and collector I purchased this from sent the pressbook folded sharply to a quarter of its size, which caused further damage to the interior pages. I expected saner handling, especially from a fellow collector. Oh well, at least I have it. Here’s the Return of Chandu pressbook portfolio that was also impressive, and the Mexican lobby card.
Comic reader version: Download Chandu the Magician Pressbook
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Their house is a museum, and one I’d certainly be at home with, but the Addams Family would have really been something else if done in color, as shown on this cover for Monster World issue 9. I fondly remember building the Aurora Addam’s Haunted House kit and playing with the holy grail of monsterkid-dom: Famous Monsters Photo Printing Set. And I did send away for the Creepy Fan Club and just about most of everything else shown in these wonderful ads. Oh, wait, about the magazine itself…Sir Cedric Hardwicke finally gets some love in Memories of a 30 Year Veteran of Horror Films. The Fang Mail this issue is also especially interesting. Kind of a love/hate relationship going on with FM Issue 37, but check our FJA’s response.
Comic reader version: Download Monster World Issue 9
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