From Zombos Closet

Pressbooks (Horror, Sci Fi, Fantasy)

Psycho (1960) Pressbook

I already posted the rare The Care and Handling of Psycho companion guide that came with this 32 page pressbook, and the 4 page herald. Taken as a whole, this was an impressive promotional campaign that copied the William Castle zeal for movie promotion and took it into overdrive, tapping into Alfred Hitchcock’s cheeky macabre sense of humor to sell, sell, sell the movie. (Comic book reader version:  Download Psycho Pressbook)

Psycho Pressbook Kit Sheet

The Care and Handling of Psycho (1960)

The Care and Handling of Psycho was a supplement to the regular pressbook. In this guide we can see how much William Castle's impresario and huckster driven movie promotion was embraced by Alfred Hitchcock, who also had a natural and unabashed gift for playing up the terror with his dry humor and physical presence.

Comic book reader version:  Download Care and Handling of Psycho

Care and Handling of Psycho 001

The Three Stooges In Orbit (1962) Pressbook

Making comparatively little money during the original run of their highly popular Columbia short subject movies, the rebirth of the Three Stooges was ignited after their movies played on televisions across the country starting in 1959. Even Zacherley, the Cool Ghoul, hosted The Three Stooges Show for a short time.  The comedic trio still didn't get any money from the television airing of their 190 short movies, but their renewed popularity brought new movie deals and projects for a time, until Larry Fine and Moe Howard passed away in 1975.

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The Amazing Colossal Man (1957), The Cat Girl
Double Bill Pressbook

I love the folder-type double bill pressbooks with separate inserts for each movie (or campaign manuals as they were called, too). Here's one from American International Pictures touting a double bill of The Amazing Colossal Man and The Cat Girl. I have The Cat Girl waiting for me–on my DVR–courtesy of TCM. I don't think I ever caught that one. But who hasn't seen The Amazing Colossal Man?

Amazing Colossal Man and Cat Girl Pressbook 000

Day the World Ended (1955),
The Phantom From 10,000 Leagues
Double Shock Show!

Roger Corman directed fourth movie, Day the World Ended, starred Richard Denning, Paul Birch, and Marty the Mutated Monster courtesy of Paul Blaisdell. Double billed with The Phantom From 10,000 Leagues, the pair made a tidy profit. It was the first double feature offering by American Releasing Corporation, later known by horror fans as American International Pictures. Day is the better of the two movies.

Comic book reader version:  Download Day the World Ended Double Bill

Day the World Ended Pressbook 001