Such a time for wonder and movie dreams, the early days of space exploration were filled with possibilities and alien menace; and women who, unlike the men, had the sexiest spacesuits. Riders to the Stars is the second movie in Ivan Tors' Office of Scientific Investigation trilogy: the other two movies are The Magnetic Monster and Gog.
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The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T gave me nightmares when I first saw it. I blame Dr. Seuss, who wrote the script and helped create its wild design. Now I can appreciate it for the fine example of cinema fantasy it is. Shot on 35mm in 3 strip Technicolor, the flat widescreen aspect ratio is 1.85: 1. The pressbook says this as the first Wonderama movie. I think it was the last, too. Here's the comic reader version: Download 5000 Fingers of Dr T Pressbook.
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I still love watching The Munsters, and this movie is a lot of fun. Seeing them in color was a love/hate relationship for me. Gorgeous colors really made their makeup pop; but, given the spookiness and old movie charm that black and white naturally lends to monster stuff, the television series felt a bit more at home for a monsterkid. The banner accessories mentioned in the pressbook made me drool. I've yet to see them. Here's the comic book reader version: Download Munster, Go Home Pressbook. And here is the Munsters, Go Home Mexican lobby card.
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You may call it a B movie, but any film starring Boris Karloff is aces with me. The Man They Could Not Hang was one of 20 titles included in the Son of Shock movie package for television broadcast in 1958.
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With its mystery and suspense building, The Maze can be seen as a transitional movie between the supernatural horror of the 1940s to the scientific and alien horrors of the 1950s. The shock makeup is not quite up to par, not even by 1950s standards. But a little gem of horror it remains. I know YouTube had a 3D copy for view, but you need a big screen to appreciate the depth. This and Night Monster would make an excellent double bill viewing for a midnight show (your home or in the theater 😉 Here's the comic reader version: Download The Maze Pressbook
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Here is the 1958 re-release pressbook for Walt Disney's Peter Pan animated movie. Lots of merchandising (the Disney pressbooks are filled to the brim with it) and a wonderful coloring page for Peter make this a good pressbook promotion to movie theaters. Here is the comic book reader version: Download Peter Pan R58 Pressbook
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Also known as Phantom of the Ferris Wheel and A Cold Wind from Hell, here's another example of hidden disfigurement and revenge. Comic book reader version: Download Pyro-Thing Without a Face Pressbook
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Gamma radiation, space exploration, the 1950s. A perfect match up for date night at the local movie house. Here's the pressbook for First Man into Space. And before you go blasting off, here's the comic reader version for you: Download First Man into Space Pressbook. (See the movie herald here.)
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A fun movie to watch even if not the definitive biography. I don't know what the hell they were thinking with that mini-series with Adrienne Brody, but I recommend you watch this instead. Also read Walter Gibson's book, Houdini's Escapes and Magic if you want to go behind the scenes.
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Continuing my postings on the American International pressbooks for the Vincent Price and Roger Corman collaborations, here's The Pit and the Pendulum, arguably one of the best examples of champagne artistry on a beer budget. The eerie chamber, the encroaching madness, and the razor sharp blade, descending with every swing, is sheer delight for horror fans with a classic leaning, visually and thematically. This pressbook follows the same format as before: contest coloring page (this time a terrifying one), a stylish caricature, tie-ins with Famous Monsters of Filmland and, for additional Barbara Steele coverage, Pageant Magazine, and lots more exploitation material. The large pressbook does justice to the poster art, too. Here's the comic book reader version: Download The Pit and the Pendulum Pressbook
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Another exemplary American International pressbook, this time for Tales of Terror. Lots of tie-in promotions with a Dell comic book, Famous Monsters of Filmland ("a popular magazine which is carried by your local newstands and in drug store magazine racks"), a caricature for print media, a paperback book, a bookmark (gee, remember those?) and a contest coloring page. Richard Matheson adapts Poe's stories for screen and Roger Corman directs. With a few exceptions in recent memory, when was the last time a horror movie starred "name" actors like Rathbone, Price, and Lorre?
(Here's the comic book reader version: Download Tales of Terror Pressbook)
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American International's over-sized pressbook for House of Usher sells the Price, Poe, and terror quite well. And! There's a coloring page! What better way to promote horror than with a coloring page and crayons! Sadly, they didn't make the poster art the coloring page. Pity. Try getting those flesh tones right on the screaming woman in the coffin. Here's the comic book reader version: Download House of Usher Pressbook. Tattered gown white and morbid crimson would be hard to find in the crayon box, too.
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