From Zombos Closet

JM Cozzoli

A horror genre fan with a blog. Scary.

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) Pressbook

I've always wanted a Baby Jane doll. She would make a nice display along with Chucky and Billy the puppet from Saw. I've been hankering to grab this pressbook for some time, as I'm a huge fan of the movie. Each time it came up for auction, the price would reach triple digits, which is crazy. Sure, it has the cool Charles Adams cartoon, and it is a creepy movie, but at those prices, I'd rather wait and hope to get lucky. And I did. I found a dealer/collector, in the Netherlands of all places, selling it for 40 bucks plus 20 for postage. I ordered it, got it in less than two weeks (from the Netherlands, no less), and the copy arrived in fine condition. Sometimes, waiting pays off.

Comic reader version:  Download What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Pressbook

See more movie pressbooks From Zombos' Closet.

Whatever Happened to Baby Jane Pressbook_01

Monster Mania Issue 1, 1966

In the first issue of the short run (3 issues) of Monster Mania, the first part of The Peter Cushing Story, a great on the set (House of Dracula) photo with Lon Chaney Jr. and his sons, and The Reptile snag some paper.  A way too short interview with Jack Pierce only whets the fangs,  but the abundance of photos without corny captions does satisfy. A shame that Monster Mania didn't last for a longer run. 

Comic reader version:  Download Monster Mania Issue One

Monster Mania Issue One_000102

War of the Worlds (1953) Pressbook

Another George Pal movie that inspired genre-lovers everywhere. And still the most visually impressive, with its Martian spaceship and creature designs. And those sound effects! You can feel the searing heat of those death rays by just hearing them shoot forth from those serpentine, metallic stalks sweeping in all directions. I bet you didn't know the key Martian words mentioned in this pressbook (page 19). Or that Paramount cartoons were part of the complete theater package (page 17). And maybe it's just me, but that Outer Space Background Paper is to die for. So are the impressive theater promotional items to dress up the marquee and the lobby.

Comic reader version:  Download War of the Worlds Pressbook

See more movie pressbooks From Zombos' Closet.

War of the Worlds Pressbook01

When Worlds Collide (1951) Pressbook

This planetary-sized pressbook for When Worlds Collide (1951) is by special request of ZC reader, pressbook nut, and George Pal fan, Terry Michitsch.  His other request, the pressbook for War of the Worlds (1953), will land tomorrow. (And whoever the bozo who made the small clipping on the color page, a pox on you.)

2024 update: Terry provided new images for some pages, now included. One of these days I’ll rescan the pressbook for better images overall. Thanks Terry!

Comic reader version: Download When Worlds Collide Pressbook

 

When Worlds Collide Pressbook 001

Captive Wild Woman (1943) Pressbook

Another great find courtesy of pressbook (and Acquanetta) lover Tony Rivers. And what a pressbook it is for a quality B-lister: the ape's face on the color cover flips over to reveal catchy "Again!" promotion blurbs. Red text highlights throughout the pressbook entice the theater owner, while the promotion items for the theater lobby make this a must-see movie. Thanks Tony!

Comic reader version:Download Captive Wild Woman pressbook

See more movie pressbooks From Zombos' Closet.

Captive wild woman06

Ghostober Halloween 2017
On Destination America

And another press release of particular interest for spookophiles…like me.

Spooks

DESTINATION AMERICA LINES UP TRICKS AND TREATS

THROUGHOUT MONTH-LONG “GHOSTOBER” HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION

This October – make that GHOSTOBER! – it’s Halloween all month long on Destination America with a celebration of all things that go bump in the night with premieres and extra content so spooky viewers will never want to leave the safety of their living rooms.

The all-new series TERROR IN THE WOODS premieres Tuesday, October 10 at 10/9c with stories from real people whose wilderness retreats were cut short by paranormal encounters. A special two-hour episode airs on Halloween: Tuesday, October 31 at 9/8c. Leading into Halloween is also the world premiere of the two-hour special HELLTOWN on Sunday, October 29 at 9/8c, revisiting the mysterious evacuation of a small Rockwell-esque town in 1974.

But first, kicking off GHOSTOBER are the season finale of HAUNTED TOWNS on Tuesday, October 3 at 10/9c, the return of fan favorite A HAUNTING for season 9 beginning Monday, October 9 at 10/9c, and ongoing new episodes of PARANORMAL WITNESS on Sundays at 10/9c.

“Destination America, delivers all the chills and thrills in October leading up to Halloween and serves up stories of the paranormal all month long on every platform,” said Jane Latman, general manager of Destination America. “We are especially excited about our two new shows that are sure to elicit spine-tingling reactions, HELLTOWN and TERROR IN THE WOODS, tapping into nostalgic nightmares much like Stranger Things and It.

On air and off, Destination America has lined up a goody bag of ways to celebrate the scariest season of the year. For a daily dose of special digital extras, check TheHauntist.com, the online destination for paranormal investigation, entertainment and news about all things creepy, spooky, and odd.

Halloween Television 2017

Amityville the awakening_From the press release I saw this morning…

Fall is officially here, which means it is time for some “scary” good TV.  For your readers with an appetite for anything and everything Halloween and horror-centric, we wanted to share the following spooktacular series and videos from Indigenous Media’s 60 Second Docs; Eli Roth, Jason Blum and Jack Davis’ Crypt TV; Stage 13; Google Play; and SYFY:

  • 60 Second Docs and Crypt TV Present Profiles in Fear, a Social Docu-Series” – Each 60 second documentary from 60 Second Docs and Crypt TV will profile unique stories about the cultures around the strange and unexplainable.
  • “Amityville: The Awakening” – The terrifying revival of the popular franchise will debut exclusively for free for a limited time on Google Play.
  • “Channel Zero: No-End House”  Inspired by Brian Russell’s “creepypasta” tale, this Nick Antosca-created anthology series tells the story of a young woman named Margot Sleator, who visits the No-End House, a bizarre house of horrors that consists of a series of increasingly disturbing rooms.  When she returns home, Margot realizes everything has changed.  Episodes air Wednesdays on SYFY.  Series trailer: http://bit.ly/2fqSZ9y.
  • “Two Sentence Horror Stories” - A fresh and provocative anthology series inspired by the viral fan fiction, each episode is inspired by its own horror story told in two sentences and taps into universal primal fears — death, abandonment, and loneliness. The series is from Stage 13, part of Warner Bros. Digital Networks, and will post episodes every Tuesday on go90.  Series trailer: http://bit.ly/2flLzVd.

Schedule is as follows:

  • Tuesday, October 3 -  “Ma” (directed by Vera Miao)
    • “Two Sentence Horror Stories” on go90
    • When Mona falls for Erica, the new neighbor next door, she learns how far Ma will go to keep her “perfect” Chinese daughter home.
  •  Tuesday, October 3 – “Fear Engineer"
    • “Profiles in Fear” on 60 Second Docs and Crypt TV
    • “Terror Behind the Walls” is Philly’s #1 haunted house attraction, with visitors from 26 countries and all 50 states coming to experience a night of fright. Amy Hollaman, as the Creative Director, oversees all preparation, design, production, and performance elements of it.
  • Wednesday, October 4 – “Channel Zero: No End House”
    • 10/9c on SYFY
    • Margot flees The Father with the help of Jules, Seth and JT. Meanwhile, Dylan attempts to deprogram Lacey and Jules falls deeper under the spell of a sinister influence.
  • Tuesday, October 10 - “Snap” (directed by Danny Perez)
    • “Two Sentence Horror Stories” on go90
    • A notoriously cruel celebrity blogger dismisses a mysterious foe as harmless…until he wakes up to a video of himself sleeping on his own phone.

 

  • Thursday, October 12 – “Amityville: The Awakening”
    • Available for FREE for a limited time on Google Play and released by Dimension Films in select theaters on October 28.
    • The film follows Belle (Bella Thorne) and her family after they move into their new home, but when strange phenomena begin to occur in the house, Belle begins to suspect her mother (Jennifer Jason Leigh) isn’t telling her everything. She soon realizes they just moved into the infamous Amityville house where between illusion and reality lies evil.
  • Friday, October 13 – “Monster Maker”
    • “Profiles in Fear”
    • Kevin McTurk of Spectral Motion is making monsters real. With his team of monster makers, he’s helped bring some of the most recognizable monsters to life. You’ve seen his work in movies like Birdman, Looper, Pacific Rim, and X-Men.
  • Tuesday, October 17 - “Guilt Trip” (directed by JD Dillard)
    • “Two Sentence Horror Stories” on go90
    • After picking up a victim of police brutality, a Good Samaritan is forced to rethink her decision on the dark and isolated road with the stranger in her car. 
  • Wednesday, October 18 – “Senior Tattooed Couple”
    • “Profiles in Fear” on 60 Second Docs and Crypt TV
    • In Melbourne, Florida, Charlotte and Chuck Guttenberg are septuagenarians with edge. Like “normal” old folks, they retired to Florida, dote on their grandkids and nourish their bones with proper diets. And, they are covered head to toe in tattoos.

 

  • Monday, October 23 – “Crime Scene Artist”
    • “Profiles in Fear” on 60 Second Docs and Crypt TV
    • Photographer Sarah Sudhoff takes illuminating pictures of bedding, carpet and upholstery marked with the remnants of death. She attempts to slow the moments before and after death into a single picture before the stains are quickly removed by cleanup crews.
  • Tuesday, October 24 -  “Singularity” (directed by Vera Miao)
    • “Two Sentence Horror Stories” on go90
    • After a transgender biohacker implants revolutionary technology into her own body, she is terrified to discover she can tap more than just the internet. 

 

  • Monday, October 30 – “Horror SFX Artist”
    • “Profiles in Fear” on 60 Second Docs and Crypt TV
    • 17-year-old Tiffany Baze of Santa Rosa, California works two jobs and is your all American girl, except for her mastery of extreme special effects makeup. Tiffany is succeeding despite using materials that are household items (coffee beans for road rash looks and bananas for flesh), proving that breaking through is a matter of persistence.
  • Tuesday, October 31 - “Second Skin” (directed by Ryan Spindell)  
    • “Two Sentence Horror Stories” on go90
    • When a street-smart young woman accepts an invitation to a luxurious spa, she discovers just how far the powerful patrons will go to stay on the cutting edge of beauty.

 

Universal Monsters at Target
Halloween 2017

The last time I felt this giddy, hunting for Halloween swag, was with Spencer Gifts, when they were carrying cool stuff for Halloween. You know, before they got all weird and changed their stores some years ago, dropping the monster toys and novelties. While the Universal movies may be lacking, this Halloween is a Universal Monsters feast. Target has these nifty must-haves (well, okay, I saw them and realized I must-have-them) for your Halloween haunts. For an old Universal Monsters lover like me, it was paradise. The hard to find items are the adorable Mummy and Creature from the Black Lagoon dolls (you can see the Mummy in the photo). Um…I mean action figures.

Frankenstin light up