From Zombos' Closet

Mexican Lobby Card: El Dia Que El Tiempo Se Detuvo

Movie Pressbook: Star Trek the Motion Picture

Mexican Lobby Card: Dinosauro!

Book Review: Vintage TomorrowsThe Cult of Neverwas But Shouldbe

Zombos Says: Good show, old chaps!

The authors of Vintage Tomorrows: A Historian And A Futurist Journey Through Steampunk Into The Future of Technology undertake a daunting adventure: define what steampunk is and figure out what its future and its impact on technology and popular culture will be.

Along the way are lots of interviews and dinner dates with notable people. Even Timothy Leary and William Gibson are brought into this discussion as to what steampunk is all about and why it is all about these days as this question is repeatedly asked of the makers, shakers, and major scene-players.

I can rattle off the many names of the people interviewed espousing this cultish passion over steam powered technology retro-fitting, this alternative lifestyle, this role playing extravagance, this myth-making and reality-nullifying--and quickly becoming commercially viable industry--but if you're into steampunk, you already know them; if not, you'll be looking these people up anyway as you read, so go at it.

Lots of counterculture history is referenced to fortify the instigations and permutations to be found in the punkier aspects of steampunk, and numerous--almost too many--explorations into this plucky yearning for yesterdays that never were are enumerated. What drives all this coloring of techmorror into more witty and creative landscapes over the color by numbers arrangements handed to us by corporate commercialism and mass production consumerism is plumbed for all its worth. Of course, if more and more steampunk products wind up on Etsy, you could argue for those brass balance scales tipping steampunk into commercialistic imbroglio, too.

Is there a definitive what is steampunk answer to be found at the end of these pages? Not really. But once you get past the glued on goggles, the fetishistic passion for accouterments of a bygone era that itch like crazy, and the intentional and problematic lapses of historical accuracy where the evils of empire are concerned and why Victorian England isn't all it was cracked up to be, but still is imagined to be, there's a cultural chestnut here sprouting into a great oak that's mesmerizing in its read.

It's not an easy task, but some historian and futurist have got to do it. And after a few cold ones downed in the Pike Pub & Brewery, Carrott and Johnson are off and running. Be prepared to pick this book up, put it down, do a little research, than pick it up again. Maybe you know about the Beats, and the Hippies, certainly the Yuppies, and maybe what Burning Man is all about, or even what the peach fuzz whack of the Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test and a social movement that reached Further to an horizon that Neverwas. But if not, you will need to take a little time to identify these sights along the way of this mental expedition the authors do their best Lewis and Clark on. 

And therein lies the secret of steampunk's allure: anyone can make the trip.  

A courtesy copy of this book was provided for this review.

Double Bill Pressbook: The Phantom of Soho and The Monster of London City

Mexican Lobby Card: La Rebelion De Los Samurais

Movie Pressbook: Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde

"Parents: Be sure your children are sufficiently mature to witness the intimate details of this frank and revealing film." 

 

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.

Movie Pressbook: Frankenstein's Bloody Terror

Exuberant poster art battles with the amateurish cut and paste interior of this pressbook for Frankenstein's Bloody Terror. I love it!

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.

Movie Pressbook: The Rats are Coming! The Werewolves Are Here!

Great promotion here with "win a live rat for your mother-in-law." I'll stay mum on the Man With Two Heads. Really. But that poster art is awesome! And just what is "sadistic suspense?"

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.