Azteca/Mexican Lobby Cards
Mexican Lobby Card: Silent Night, Bloody Night
Silent Night, Bloody Night (Night of the Dark Full Moon, 1972) Mexican lobby card. I'm always reminded of the Night Gallery episode with Patrick O'Neal and that spider…I hate spiders, too.
I met Patrick O'Neal at a daylong seminar given by some Guru, at some institute in upstate New York, quite some years ago. I forget much of the event. Beyond the uncomfortable sitting posture for hours on end (no chairs), the tasteless vegan lunch (lots of sprouts and green things), and me and Mr. O'Neal standing in an interminable line to get to those sprouts and green things, I've buried much of the experience deep beneath my subconscious. I was dragged to it by a friend, who was motivated to do the dragging by her friend, who liked me a lot. I wonder where they are now.
I recall Mr. O'Neal seemed as perplexed as I was, but I don't know which friend of his dragged him to the event.
Mexican Lobby Card: Blood and Black Lace
Blood and Black Lace (1964). Fashion models are killed with gusto. Wish I could speak to Sigmund Freud about Mario Bava's unconscious motivations on this one.
Mexican Lobby Card: The Monster Walks
What's interesting here for the Mexican lobby card of The Monster Walks (1932), aside from the giant drooling ape holding the provocatively dressed woman and being shot at by the short-sleeved guy, is how the original poster art isn't used here, but it looks like a local artist stepped in to spice up an otherwise dull movie. And perhaps steal a little influence from King Kong.
Mexican Lobby Card:
El Terrible Gigante De Las Nieves
Two things I like about this Mexican lobby card for El Terrible Gigante De Las Nieves (1963): the giant is so damn furry cute I want to cuddle him, and the requisite screaming woman motif is in full force. I'll toss in a third thing for good measure: the slick, simple illustration that looks deceptively commercial artish, but really zings you with its tableau. Personally, I think the terrible giant just wanted to warm his paws over the fire, but I'll let you make the call.
Mexican Lobby Card: First Man into Space
First Man into Space with Marshall Thompson, who also starred in It! The Terror From Beyond Space. This straightforward Mexican lobby card is colorful and provides enough information to interest the potential movie-goer.
Mexican Lobby Card: El Fistol Del Diablo
Note the noirish tone, even through the color, in this Mexican lobby card for the crime drama El Fistol Del Diablo (1961). The greenish-inked devilish mastermind creates a moody contrast to the other colors.
Mexican Lobby Card:
La Sombra Vengadora Contra La Mano Negra
Another dynamic Mexican lobby card, this one for La Sombra Vengadora Contra La Mano Negra (1956). The plunging knife, the determined look on the masked wrestler, and the shadowy man dressed in black holding the unconscious female victim promise thrills and chills; which is backed up by the movie scene.