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After reading the IMDb blurb for 1971's Guess What Happened to Count Dracula, I definitely know what happened to Dracula in this movie: "Dracula enslaves Dr. Irving Jekyll, turning him into the lycanthropic JackalMan, demanding that he lure female blood donors to his L.A. cabin retreat." Oh, my.
Continue reading "Movie Pressbook:
Guess What Happened
To Count Dracula" »
It's interesting to note that science fiction movies usually receive a more sophisticated (and academic) promotion through their pressbooks and theater giveaways. Here's an example of a herald for the movie that's formatted as a study guide for students.
The Italian production of La Ultima Presa Del Vampiro (The Playgirls and the Vampire) is considered the first horror movie to combine blatant sex with gothic horror (think nudie cutie with bite). Actually, it's not all bad, although the special effects are groan-inducing when seen today. But the story is good and the overall production shows care and attention. And it has playgirls! Oh, and a vampire, too. This unusual lobby card (done in window card style, although there's no room added for theater info) is striking in its simplicity and color choices. It took over two months to arrive from the eBay seller in Mexico, but I'm tickled pink to finally be able to share it with you. I hope you are, too.
See the Blacula pressbook here (most of it, anyway). Here's the sequel, Scream Blacula Scream. I like both movies, and were they not saddled with the blaxploitation connotation (although they are good examples of blaxploitation, actually), the tortured character of Mamuwalde just might be appreciated more by horror fans.
Continue reading "Movie Pressbook:
Scream Blacula Scream (1973)" »
According to Wikipedia, Blacula was the first horror film to receive a Saturn Award. It's also the first time an African-American actor (William Marshall) appeared on screen as a vampire. Marshall also was the King of Cartoons for Pee Wee Herman's Playhouse. Of note, too, is how his sympathetic but demonic character mirrored Dark Shadows' Barnabas Collin's similar predicament. Pressbooks from the 1970s often printed ads on one side, leaving a blank page. That's why some page numbers are missing. An insert flyer appears after the pressbook.
(See the Scream Blacula Scream pressbook)
A photo of Elizabeth Shepherd and Vincent Price hamming it up on the set of Tomb of Ligeia; I briefly chatted with Ms. Shepherd at the NY Horror Show convention. Hoping to get an email interview with her, she deferred to her handler's advice. Of course he (and she) didn't contact me later. Bummer. But I enjoyed our brief chat, even though she kept speaking of Mr. Price when I wanted to hear more about her.
See my post on House of Dark Shadows here. Here's the 1970 movie pressbook for your perusal. And here's the pressbook for Night of Dark Shadows should you want to peruse even more.
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Even though this booklet is in French, the pictures are all you need. Fascinating, frightening, mesmerizing: Les Monstres, Une Collection Extraordinaire Et Unique D'etres Humains Bizarres.
Jumping ahead this time to issue 24 of The Monster Times. Of course publishing is no longer bi-weekly but monthly, and the cover price is now 60 cents. Steranko's History of the Comics Volume Two is reviewed, Rodan spreads his wings, and monster towels clean up for $1.50 each. Caesar takes a stand with the Battle for the Planet of the Apes and the plot sickens in Blood Feast with a "bad movie roasting." Of particular note (aside from the cool monster towels, that is) are coverage of Basil Wolverton's weird-tastic art, the nifty Create Your Own Monster Kits ad on page 31, and Lon Chaney Jr's life and times howls. (Read issue 24 of The Monster Times)
An amazing Spider-Man centerfold poster caps this 13th issue of TMT. The Amazing Colossal Goof? points out some blunders in the movies we love, and an interview with John Romita, conducted by Gerry Conway, makes this a fun, mostly comics, issue. The blood lust also continues with Brides of Blood and Brain of Blood. Oh, and horror host Seymour dares to keep Captive Wild Women.
(Read The Monster Times issue 13)
Continue reading "The Monster Times Issue 13
July 19, 1972" »
In this issue more Apes coverage with a behind the scenes look at Planet of the Apes, Gorgo discovers The Monster Times, The Steranko History of Comics is reviewed, TMT apologizes for screwing up ownership of the naughty I Drink Your Blood and I Eat Your Skin (while continuing to go rabid over both movies), and horror host Seymour appears again.
(Read The Monster Times issue 12)
Continue reading "The Monster Times Issue 12
June 28, 1972" »
Thousands of fans showed up for the 1974 International Star Trek Convention at the American Hotel. By 1976, three Star Trek conventions ran in New York within a two-month period (fancyclopedia). I attended the Al Schuster convention at the New York Hilton, which attracted tens of thousands of fans (upwards of 50,000!). I waited on line for hours but did manage to get in, although thousands didn't. It was disorganized and not planned well at all. The convention was investigated by the New York Attorney General because many ticket holders couldn't get in. Most memorable moment for me: William Shatner getting a cream pie tossed his way by a kid who was goaded into doing it as a joke. Shatner handled it all like a pro and the audience ate it up.
This is the blue cover, newsstand, edition of the Star Trek Lives collector's issue. The Monster Times also published a grey cover edition that was available only at the convention.
(Read The Monster Times Star Trek Lives Collectors' Issue 2)
Continue reading "The Monster Times Collector's Issue 2
1974 International
Star Trek Convention" »
