From Zombos' Closet

Roar of the Iron Horse (1951) Pressbook

The pressbook for Roar of the Iron Horse contains a lot of promotional information and ideas. Of course, in the 1950s, cowboy movies were an easy draw for the younger set, until mutant monsters and atom bombs creeped out everyone enough to make the classic monsters in the 1960s more inviting. By then, science fiction and detective shows crowded out the Western dramas across television screens while the big screens showed less and less of them too. But in 1951, they were still roaring at the box office.

ComicRack reader version: Download Roar of the Iron Horse Pressbook

All aboard for more pressbooks From Zombos' Closet!

The Sea Hound (1947) Pressbook

Here's the 1955 re-release pressbook for The Sea Hound serial with Larry "Buster" Crabbe. The smarty-pants patches promotion, as a giveaway, is novel. Note to "sort patches into two groups: one for small children and one for teen-agers." On page 2 it's mentioned that patches were used "for smooth selling of Adventures of Captain Africa and other smash Columbia super-serials." I quickly reread that pressbook and found the patches were both plastic and cloth, and 2.5 inches. Looks like 1955 was the year for patches as giveaways. 

ComicRack reader version: Download The Sea Hound Pressbook

Set sail for more pressbooks From Zombos' Closet!

Desperadoes of the West (1950) Pressbook

Thanks to The Serial Squadron member Chris McCleary, I've been posting many pressbooks from his dad's collection. He did two great things: collected serial pressbooks to keep the history alive and met his screen heroes to boot. Here's one signed by Roy Barcroft. I miss the days when you could meet and greet your screen heroes, chat a bit, and walk away with a signed something or photograph while keeping your shirt on your back. Today, of course, it's a Wells Fargo stagecoach holdup's worth to do anything like that at a convention. 

ComicRack reader version: Download Desperadoes of the West Pressbook

Don't get desperate! Here are more pressbooks From Zombos' Closet, pardner.

Terror Tales Vol. 2 No. 1

The classic, I Chopped Her Head Off! is in this issue. If you ever wondered why parents and decent citizens (don't you love that term?) ganged up on the comics industry forcing the bland comics code on us all (but a boon to magazine sales), this one story captures everything you would put on a poster illustrating the evils of comic books. And you can color it in! Yes boys and girls, you too can be seduced by the dark side, just a few color pencils needed. Now that's one thing I bet you hadn't thought about. Just print out the pages of this splaterific issue of moral decay and bamm! instant adult coloring book! You can thank me later. Just don't tell your parents and loved ones where I live. I'll deny everything.

ComicRack reader version: Download Terror Tales Vol.2 No.1

Don't be terrified! Here are more magazines From Zombos' Closet .

Jungle Raiders (1945) Pressbook

Treasure, a miracle drug, and jungle mystery and intrigue are "sizzling" in this jungle serial from Columbia. I wonder if any theaters added jungle sounds or the fortune telling idol to their lobbies? I also would love to have one of those club cards, punched or unpunched. Nice use of contest mats, a code, and a jungle sundae help round out the promotional business. The poster art is also exciting and there were 8x10 art stills available highlighting it. I don't know what was more exciting: the serial itself or the ballyhoo around it?

ComicRack reader version: Download Jungle Raiders Pressbook

You don't need to raid a jungle to find more pressbooks From Zombos' Closet.

Hop Harrigan (1946) Re-Release Pressbook

Here's the 1956 re-release pressbook for Columbia's Hop Harrigan serial. Somehow, I don't think going after everyone in town who is air-minded is the best promotional campaign I've come across. However, the other promotional items are nifty: a model display, a lobby death ray gun (always a draw for me), club card for youngsters (but I still want one), a substitution code, and inviting people named Harrigan to the opening. Of course there's the usual clothing and luggage, the not so usual making paper planes, and the very challenging finding airplane parts "from your local air field" to put in theater lobbies.

ComicRack reader version: Download Hop Harrigan Pressbook

You don't need to be air-minded to enjoy more pressbooks From Zombos' Closet.

Sophie Lang Goes West (1937) Pressbook

I was drawn to this pressbook because you don't often see early movies fronting a female lead character. There were three Sophie Lang movies of which this is the last one.  Promotion ideas for this one had fashionable clothing trends, luggage, a hope chest stunt, and a photo-fun contest. Larry "Buster" Crabbe (Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers) plays the heavy. 

ComicRack reader version: Download Sophie Lang Goes West Pressbook

You don't need to go West to see more pressbooks From Zombos' Closet.

Give Us Wings (1940) Pressbook

It gets confusing trying to keep track of the Dead End Kids, the Little Tough Guys, the Bowery Boys, and the East Side Kids as they pop up in various serials and movies. Long story short: the Dead End Kids were a group of young actors that appeared in the Broadway play Dead End in 1935. In 1937 they wound up in Hollywood to star in the filmed version of the play. Then in 1938 some of them, along with newbies, starred in the movie, Little Tough Guy, so they also became known as the Little Tough Guys. This led to more movies and eventually acquiring the additional monikers East Side Kids and Bowery Boys as they continued to participate in the lucrative franchise over the years. Interestingly, though they began on a serious note, their movies became more comedic and light-hearted as time progressed.

ComicRack reader version: Download Give Us Wings Pressbook

You can find more of their pressbooks From Zombos' Closet.

Jungle Siren (1942) Pressbook

Burlesque stripper Ann Corio made her way to Hollywood to star in Swamp Woman, Jungle Siren, Call of the Jungle, and Sarong Girl. Note the trend toward steamy environs to lessen the need for clothing. What's unusual about this pressbook is that it's larger than most (18x12 inches) and has two fold-out sections, which makes this a pricey pressbook to print and distribute. 

ComicRack reader version: Download Jungle Siren Pressbook

No siren needed to see more pressbooks From Zombos' Closet.

The Blonde Captive (1932) Pressbook

Contrary to the title, the blonde woman is not a captive. She also puts in just a few minutes of screen time.  This whole movie is a sham. Basically taking a 1928 documentary and adding a blonde woman subplot along with some extra footage, blame Columbia Pictures for this pre-code weirdness in 1932.  Exploitation? Hell yes. Someone snoozing during a new ideas meeting for generating more box office? Hell yes. The only saving grace here is the poster art by Wynne Davies, a superb pulp-style artist who could capture the sexy and tawdriness with the best of them. This movie was lost at one point but someone found it in 2010.  They can't find London After Midnight but they could find this?

ComicRack reader version: Download The Blonde Captive Pressbook

Pressbook library From Zombos' Closet

Cobra Woman Pressbook Front Cover

Ah, the good old days when Hollywood idealized, feminized, exoticified, and basically fronted eye-candy appeal stories for pretty women. Such women spent countless hours making themselves attractive to men and simply lounged around until a man came along to get the story moving. And of course they were surrounded by other pretty women, making all men swoon and lust after them. Here's the front cover to the pressbook for Cobra Woman (1944). Maria Montez plays the exotic woman and her twin  sister (points for twins!). I wish I had the whole pressbook, but this cover will have to do for now. Leonard Maltin called it a camp classic. You may call it something else. Of course, what's a pretty woman without a tropical locale? Here it's Cobra Island. Along with the prettiness you have Sabu and the not so pretty Lon Chaney Jr. What more can you ask for in a camp classic?