My Monster Memories

"Strange Change" Model Kit Ad

2011-12-15T06:07:00.000-08:00

The "Strange Change" model kit ads (originally posted on my first blog, Sweet Skulls.)
(Click on images to view full size.)

I've been having a blast going through my collection bookcases lately, mining them for material to post on my blogs, here on Monster Memories. Usually, the only time I would get into them very much was when I was packing them up for a move. That was a killer; if you look at them in this picture, you might never guess that they would fill up ten banana boxes each. That's 30 heavy boxes total. I hope I never have to move them again, but that's hoping for too much, I suppose. Otherwise, I only reached into them occasionally as I was looking for something to read on a bathroom visit that threatened to be of extended length. Under such circumstances, you grab what you can off the top of a stack and hoof it!

Now, though, I am seeing things I haven't seen in years, re-discovering items I had forgotten I had. In many cases it's like seeing a friend you haven't come across in years.

Anyway, these ads for the "Strange Change" model kits from the early 70's were something I had forgotten about completely. It must have been well over 30 years since I saw these ads and thought about them! Or course, I never owned one of the kits; if you've read this blog much you know I kept my collecting to things like books, magazines and comics that could fit flat in a drawer, for easy hiding and quick packing. But that didn't keep me from reading and wishing!

"Ah, excuse me, do you have any toilet paper over there? Hello?"

The Vampire was the one I wanted most; I mean, changing from a "living" vampire to a skeleton, and back, how incredibly cool was that? I thought it was the coolest idea in the whole line of hobby kits put out in the MPC line, including the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean kits. It was like a scene from a Hammer Dracula movie!

"Goodbye, I'm off to the age of dinosau....Aaaiieee!"

I always thought it was "strange" that the time machine had the monsters appear inside the craft, but I guess they were taking dramatic license, and assumed that we kids would figure it out that it wasn't merely a fatal design flaw by a careless inventor.

"Close it, close it! Gosh, this is my private time, Mom!"

The Mummy was kind of neat, but he only got a little distressed and dishevelled in his change, not that big a difference. I think the Wolfman would have been a better candidate for a dramatic change. But what would they have put him in? A dog kennel?

If they wanted a truly strange change, they could have made one where Frankenstein's monster changes into the Bride! But that would have been a little ahead of it's time.

Of course, the ultimate would have been to make one with Vampirella; where she changes between slightly dressed and completely undressed! Ah, one can dream...

The Thing

2011-06-12T19:45:00.000-07:00

From the July-August 1982 issue of Cinefantastique, comes this extensive article on the original 1951 movie "The Thing." One of the great early sci-fi films, "The Thing" was actor James Arness' first genre role, only glimpsed fleetingly as the menacing alien. Another sci-fi role followed three years later in "Them!" This time he played the hero, his face not obscured in heavy makeup. The snappy overlapping dialog, a trademark of Director Hawks, helped make a film with a way-out premise seem more realistic and down-to-earth.This article is full of facts and behind the scene photos, so enjoy!

(Click on images to enlarge.)

Below, some of the (thankfully) unused makeup tests range from the hilariously thumb-like Thing (which shows they were once considering taking the "intellectual carrot" premise more literally) to a couple that seem to have inspired the look of the drag queen "Divine," without being quite as unappealing.

Dracula Returns Again... In Book Form!

2011-04-18T10:47:00.000-07:00

Note: this entry was originally posted on an earlier blog of mine, "Sweet Skulls." Thought my readers of this blog would enjoy it now!

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"Hey, I'm over here, behind this big ol' skull!"

My grandma's house was a few miles from a small bookstore called Bill's on Ingleside Ave in Macon, GA. As a young teen, when visiting her house on the weekend, I would sometimes walk the distance to look for the latest issue of The Monster Times or other cool magazines. After all, they had a better selection than the closer-to-home drugstore where I usually went. One summer, in 1973, I came upon the first in the Dracula Horror Series titled "Dracula Returns," and had read it nearly halfway through on the walk back to her house. It's a wonder I made it without getting run over, but I was pretty good at walking and reading. I still recall exactly where I was in the book at particular points as I walked home, passing under the oaks draped with spanish moss, blowing in the faint breeze.

Most horrifying of all, the flower in his buttonhole seemed fresh! Aaaiiiieeee! I never knew the Count liked wearing a daisy on his suit.

The series was begun as we learn how the telekenetic wheelchair-bound Professor X... uh, I mean, Professor Harmon, is drawn by Dracula's consort/slave (and sometimes black cat) Isis... I mean, Katara, into bringing the Count back to life. The Professor thinks he can control the Prince of Darkness by implanting a sliver of wood next to his heart, and triggering the mechanism with his mind to temporarily kill him should the need arise. He intends to use the vampire as a weapon in the war against crime. Needless to say, you can't keep such a creature on a short leash without getting bitten. I might point out that close to the same time, Marvel was publishing the first issue of "Tomb Of Dracula," which I bought and still have. The wheelchair-bound protagonist Quincy Harker (depicted to the right) resembled the character of Professor Harmon, at least superficially, but with the publishing dates so close it might have only been a coincidence. However, Harmon wanted to use Dracula, and Harker only wanted to kill him.

"Put your head on my shoulder..." The awkward positioning of Katara makes it look as if her head has been grafted onto Drac's right shoulderblade.

Assisted by Cameron Sanchez, a strong and devoted friend, Harmon unleashes this supernatural force on those seemingly above the laws of man. The shape-shifter Katara helps out, but always with her Master's best interest in mind. Although Harmon considers himself morally above the criminal element he is seeking to expunge, Dracula knows that he in his own way is as blood-thirsty as the vampire he is using, and points that out, to the Professor's unease. Is he any better than the criminals and Dracula, by using such harsh and brutal methods? He is certainly no hero, but the thought doesn't hinder him from continuing to risk using his unwilling ally. And the blood flows copiously as Dracula, unleashed upon various criminal elements, metes out gory justice with slashing fingernails and fangs. They'd have been better off in jail.

The part of Professor Harmon will be played this episode by Boris Karloff.

As a youth I enjoyed the book, detailing Drac's return to "life" in modern times, and the various missions he sends the Count on fulfill his thirst for blood and the Professor's for justice. But Vlad's own agenda and desire for freedom mean that he is always looking for ways to escape the restrictions and feast on the Professor's own blood. Travelling from country to country during their adventures, the unlikely quartet meet with what seems to be a supernatural threat, but only turns out to be someone faking it. Though not always the case, this happens to such an extent that you begin to think that at the end, the bad guys are going to say "and I would have gotten away with it too, if it hadn't been for that meddling wheelchair guy and his vampire!" Then Dracula slaughters them.

"One... two... three! Three million beautiful gold coins! Ah-ah-ah-ah-aaaaah!"

The series was successful enough to generate eight followups, which came out in extremely rapid succession, three of which I was able to find. After that I lost track of them. From what I've seen, after about #5 the artwork started to slide and Drac became more of a cartoon figure. But if I were to run across any at a used bookstore, I would pick them up and read them just for old time's sake. If the series were honest, it would end with Dracula finally turning on Harmon, proving the truth of the saying "he who lives by the sword dies by the sword." The revenge on evil, using evil to inflict it, that the Professor engineered would certainly turn on him at last. I doubt that ever happens, though. A continuing series such as this rarely ever concludes and wraps things up, as there might always be another book if the last sold well. The author is not willing to burn his coffins behind him.

Ad from Famous Monsters about the book series...

Kids! Ask your parents for the money to order!

Side note: In the same "vein," we have a novel that was published in 1973 that purports to be "non-fiction," in which a series of letters, journal entries and newspaper clippings tell the story of Dracula's resurrection and subsequent neck-bitings. Although a fun read at the time, the cover art depicts a very anemic-looking, not to mention fey, Count which reinforces the common Lugosi stereotype.

"I vant to suck... your blood! Vhat did you think I vas going to say, you naughty, naughty boy?"

Just to be a completist, below you will find the remaining covers to the rest of the books in the series. These I scavenged from around the web, but the ones above this I scanned in from my own copies.

The complete list:

#1: Dracula Returns (Pinnacle 1973)

#2: The Hand of Dracula (Pinnacle 1973)

#3: Dracula's Brothers (Pinnacle 1973)

#4: Dracula's Gold (Pinnacle 1973)

#5: Drums of Dracula (Pinnacle, 1974)

#6: The Witching of Dracula (Pinnacle, 1974)

#7: Dracula's Lost World (Pinnacle, 1974)

#8: Dracula's Disciple (Pinnacle, 1975)

#9: Challenge to Dracula (Pinnacle, 1975)

Update: Hey, you want to really know more about the Dracula Series, from someone much more erudite than I am? Read the excellent and comprehensive post on it over at the Groovy Age of Horror blogspot! Makes me want to take mine down out of shame.

4-18-2011 Update: Dracula author Robert Lory is alive, and interviewed on Sidney Williams' blog... check it out!!!

Castle Of Frankenstein #2: The Many Faces Of Christopher Lee

2011-03-16T19:56:00.000-07:00

From the second issue of the great monster mag, "Castle of Frankenstein," published in 1962, comes this photo-heavy feature on "The Many Faces Of Christopher Lee." I consider myself very lucky to have this issue!

(Click on images to enlarge.)

I'll be posting more from this issue is the near future!

1974 FM cover article on Christopher Lee

2011-02-21T15:37:00.000-08:00

Welcome back! I've been so busy lately, that this blog kind of got neglected. But hopefully I can update it regularly for awhile now. Thanks for hanging around (like a vampire bat.)

From the March 1974 issue #105 of the beloved Famous Monsters, comes a 12 page article and interview with the Prince of Darkness himself, Chris Lee. We start with the awesome cover by the legendary Basil Gogos...

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and the article itself... enjoy!

Bonus: the Lee-as-Dracula cover from issue #84, which, oddly enough, does not feature anything significant about Lee inside; so I thought it would go nicely here. What a great photo, that made a striking cover!

Elvira and The Universal Classic Monsters

2010-10-29T12:26:00.000-07:00

To honor the spirit of Halloween, here's a full-page reproduction of a painting by Robert Redding, from an issue of Forry Ackerman's 1984 "Monsterland" magazine.

(Click on image to view full-size.)

Elvira's Movie Comic Adaptation Cover

2010-10-29T12:11:00.001-07:00

From 1988 comes the cover of the magazine-format comic adaptation of "Elvira: Mistress of the Dark." A nice painting that makes Elvira look about 16, but the details in the crowd faces is where most of the humor comes from.

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Full-Page Ad for Thriller Video With Elvira

2010-10-29T11:39:00.000-07:00

From a late 80's large-format video industry magazine comes this full-page ad for Thriller Video featuring the incomparable Elvira!

(Click on image to enlarge... you know you want to.)

1990 Article on Monster Maker Paul Blaisdell: Part 2

2010-10-28T10:45:00.000-07:00

Last time, if you recall (if not, read it here), we opened the pages of the May 1990 issue of Cinefantastique, to look at their in-depth retrospective on one of the genre's least-known monster makers; Paul Blaisdell. Least-known by name, that is... but his work has been seen and appreciated by several generations of monster movie aficianados. This time I finish posting the rest of the pages on this talented but somewhat tragic figure whose creations figured so prominently in our monster memories.

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1990 Article on Monster Maker Paul Blaisdell

2010-10-26T07:45:00.000-07:00

Although many monster movie fans know his work well, few know much about the man behind so many of the memorable creatures from the low-budget flicks of the 50's and 60's... Paul Blaisdell. I have scanned and am posting (in two parts) this extensive series of articles from the May 1990 issue of the best genre mag ever made, in my opinion; Cinefantastique. We Monster Kids grew up on the movies, and the images of these monsters in various magazines, but never hearing much about their creator. Find out the whole story now!

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Come back for Part Two very soon!

"Thriller Video" flyer featuring Elvira

2010-10-24T14:15:00.000-07:00

Way back in the 80's, Elvira hosted and hawked the horror "Thriller Video" line. Here's one of the flyers listing the various releases, consisting mostly of episodes of "Hammer's House of Horror."

(Click on images to enlarge.)

More ads for these videos featuring Elvira, coming soon!

Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed 1969 article

2010-08-30T09:58:00.000-07:00

From issue #14 of Castle of Frankenstein, (see the cover here, from a previous post on another blog) published in 1969, comes this short preview of the next Hammer sequel "Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed."

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In the publicity still above, we see a good example of the sneaky "Cushing Grope," a maneuver he often makes with his bosomy co-stars. Watch for it every time he "assists" a female costar... he subtly moves his thumb into direct contact with the starlet's breast! Peter, you sly old dog you. I wonder how many of them noticed it? If you look for it in his films, you will see it as a signature move.

Below, another page from the same issue, on a previous entry in the Frankenstein series of films.

Young Frankenstein article from 1975

2010-08-27T12:31:00.000-07:00

This time we look into Issue #25 of the awesome Castle of Frankenstein magazine, published in June of 1975. I bought this when I was 16 from a tobacco/magazine store, when I lived in Ft. Lauderdale. I can still smell the fragrant pipe tobacco scent of these kinds of stores, and associate it with my magazine treasures that I found there, like this one.

The beautiful wrap-around cover from "The Time Machine" was a sight to behold, and made my fingers almost tremble with excitement as I snatched it from the stand. That movie has always been one of my favorites, and seeing it featured on the cover was too exciting to me. I'll feature the article on the movie soon in a future post over on my other blog "Fantastic Flashbacks;" this time, we're looking at the "Young Frankenstein" article. A classic comedy that honors the movie is it spoofing so well that it really fits in as a sequel to them!

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Great art but innocent Weena is painted just a bit on the slutty side.

"The Corpse" story from Nightmare #13

2010-08-19T11:44:00.000-07:00

Another post imported from my first blog "Sweet Skulls," that spotlights The "Nightmare" issue #13 cover and story. If you missed it there, enjoy it now, here!

(Click on images to enlarge)

In the summer of 1973, my skinny, bookish young 14-year-old self saw this issue of Skywald's Nightmare on the magazine rack at Chichesters Pharmacy on Vineville Avenue in Macon, GA. A cold thrill coursed down my spine, not only because I knew the Skywald mags to be the good stuff, but because the cover art was truly the fabric of nightmares. The beautifully rotting face of the living corpse on the cover was riveting. I quickly snatched it up, had it paid for and out of the store within 30 seconds flat.

Driven mad by high gas prices, he just had to let off a little steam.

Now, most all of the items that I would pick up at the drugstore during the weekend stay's at my Grandma's house, I would read as I walked back from the drugstore. Be it the latest Star Trek novelization, comic book, Monster Times, Famous Monsters, Castle of Frankenstein, Planet of the Apes, Dracula Lives, etc., they would all be perused as I walked the four blocks back home. But the rare issues of Skywald's Nightmare or Scream I lucked upon were saved til the night-time hours. It wouldn't be right to read them in the bright light of the daytime... no. That would be missing some of the special thrill.

After chowing down on the bagful of cheese Krystals I brought home for our supper, watching Kung Fu and the Saturday Night Movie on TV with Grandma, and finishing all the other magazines or comics I had bought, then... and only then...when it was after midnight, came the time for Nightmare. I retreated to my room, with a bedside lamp and a candle lit on the dresser. With a bottle of blue cream soda and some snacks on the table, I would almost reverantly take out the issue and open it. The horrors inside were devoured and absorbed into my young monster-hungry mind, filling it with delicious chills.

This is the first time I've presented an entire story in the Sweet Skulls blog. Usually I only feature the skull-centric cover art. But as I took out my old copy of this issue and scanned in the cover, I re-read the story and decided it would be a shame not to share the whole thing with you. So I spent about an hour scanning in the pages, then another hour cropping and formatting the images for posting. It took another hour to upload them to the blog page. The time required for all this is another reason I don't do it much; how Karswell does it on a daily basis is a mystery to me. I also don't want to encroach on territory already excellently covered by his blog "The Horrors Of It All," but since he mostly features pre-Code comics, and this is from a B&W horror magazine, I thought it was worth doing. As I have time, and if the story is good enough, I may do it again occasionally.

In the page details posted above you can see some of the panels that I really liked. Now, here for your enjoyment (I hope), is the complete story of "The Corpse," scanned in high-resolution. The ending really went differently from the expectations one usually has in these "revenge of the living dead" stories, another reason I liked it so much as a teen.

There you go... bet ya didn't see that one coming, did ya? Well, maybe you did, being so smart and all, but 14-year-old Fred didn't, and that's the standard I judge these old stories by.

Here's a bonus scan of a splash page about H. P. Lovecraft that I thought was well done. It looked like I did after I fell asleep reading the magazine and dreamed about all that weird stuff! Unlike most, I actually enjoyed my nightmares... they were like a realistic movie, and the scarier the better.

1974 Article on Hammer's Mummy

2010-08-05T08:40:00.000-07:00

From the first issue of "Movie Monsters," published in December of 1974, comes this review of Hammer studios 1959 version of "The Mummy." This is a movie I like, and watch at least once a year (during October, when I watch one horror movie an evening). The writer of the article has a somewhat lower opinion of the film, but it's still interesting reading. I enjoyed Christopher Lee's version, which was much scarier and dangerous than the old Universal mummy, where the intended victim could avoid it easily unless they froze in terror or it snuck up on them. I loved Hammer's re-interpretation of the classic monsters, and this film was no exception. Lee's towering form and great makeup, combined with his dynamic intensity made an unstoppable engine of death.

First, the cover of the mag... nice painting of the Cyclops!

(Click on images to enlarge.)

And, the article itself...

Bonus: Click the picture for a hi-rez image of another one of the Mummy posters!

"Return Of The Living Dead" article

2010-08-03T12:16:00.000-07:00

Note: this entry on "The Return of the Living Dead" was originally posted on my old blog "Sweet Skulls," but I am reposting it here since many might have missed it.

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Click to get a nice big image of this poster art.

The French poster for ROTLD, arguably better than the American.

Back from the dead and ready to party with a few friends.

The first issue of Forry Ackerman's new publication "Monster Land" which came out in February of 1985, contained an article on the then-upcoming movie "Return of the Living Dead." Poor old Forry, you remember, had been ousted from his position as editor of FM by the Warren company and this led to their parting. Forry was able to start up another virtual FM called Monster Land, with the "Monster" in the same familiar type and size as Famous Monsters, and this along with a painting of the Ackermonster, let fans know he was back in business... at least for a little while.

Below is the inside cover text which trumpeted the story of his return to publishing. Although not the focus of today's entry, I thought it still might be interesting to some that never saw it. Interesting phrasing of the copy, both for what it said in between the lines about the restrictions placed on him by Warren, as well as the "classic monsters" magazines versus the modern Fangoria-type mags. It was a sad reality that as his FM audience grew up, the younger readers coming to the magazine stands were looking for exactly what Fangoria was offering. And the older classic-monster fans who were still buying such publications were growing fewer. Even I fell into that category. What amused and amazed me as a kid no longer held the attraction, when Freddy Kruger and others were dripping blood and grue from the covers of Fango.

Another hi-rez artwork image for ya.

And now, for our feature presention... the ROTLD article. I remember that Zombie Summer... when so many classic Zombie and horror flicks came out. Aging fans still talk about it in hushed tones... it was like dying and going to zombie heaven... which I guess for a zombie is finding a schoolbus full of teens. And like they would have chowed down on such a gut-filled feast, we chowed down on the moist and meaty movies of 1985.

Tarman was happy to see the fresh-faced, "with-it" teens arrive to bring some life to the party.

Seeing ROTLD for the first time was an electrifying experience. Totally different than what was expected, it crackled with energy, humor and atmosphere. All we could do was sit back and be smacked in the face with one surprise after another, with the gore effects bringing screams to the audience in between the laughs. If zombie films are exciting today you can thank this movie for setting the tone for hyper-active undead action mixed with dark humor.

Enjoy the article below from 23 years ago, and relive the excitement of reading this before you saw the movie in the theater... or, for you young whippersnappers, try to imagine it. The article got me excited for it, but no-one was prepared for it when they saw it. I first watched it with a group of friends at a midnight showing, and I took my fabric pullover skull mask in my pocket. During the scene of the zombies coming out of the graves, I put it on and sat there watching the movie. In front of us were three already-scared teenage African-American girls, and when one looked back and saw me, she screamed, then the other two screamed, and they freaked. By the time the summoned usher came around with his flashlight, I had pocketed the mask and was wearing my best innocent face. Mean? Possibly. Fun? Oh, yeah...

Frank indulges in a bit of humorous foreshadowing.

It's interesting how designer Bill Stout refers to a "spore" being responsible for the return of the rotten ones, when the script revolves around the 2-4-5-Trioxin. So this interview must have been conducted early in the short production process. Also some of the designs and efforts he made to show various time periods were never seen in the film. Although a few make-ups of decaying zombies made it onto film, the majority of corpses in the crowd scenes just are regular people, albeit muddy, with very few make-up effects or even masks in view. The sudden change in make-up artists before the job was finished probably accounts for some of that, as time was running out to finish what was a big job. But the individuals we saw, such as Tarman, the woman half-corpse, and a few others, carried the film in terms of startling creations, the likes of which we had never seen before.

Orgy Of The Living Dead

2010-04-29T18:12:00.000-07:00

Today's monster memories are of..."Orgy of the Living Dead."

Click the images to see a hi-rez versions.

(This post was originally written for an older blog of mine, "Sweet Skulls." I'm re-posting it here so those of you that missed it can enjoy it anew!) Folks, you are looking at one of the single most horrific, (and to my teen self, thrilling) pieces of artwork for a movie ad ever made, that ever fell under the category of "never appears in the movie." When this showed up in the newspaper on the movie ad page back in spring of 1972, my dark little heart skipped several beats as I feverishly cut it out to put in my scrapbook.

You see, I could never go see the movies they advertised, both because I was underage (13 years old), but also because my parents would never let me. The newspaper ads were often the only thing I could collect in association with the films I could never go see. So, I could only longingly feast my eyes on the promotional artwork, and imagine how awesome the movie must be. Little did I know then, that what I imagined was so much better than the actual movie. As I know now, the artwork was much better than the film, and misleading as to what you would see.

Right up front you should be warned that there is no orgy; not even a petting party... and precious few living dead, and those are of the vampiric variety and not zombies. The titular "orgy" was actually the name of the triple-feature under which all three of the films would show: "Revenge of the Living Dead," "Curse of the Living Dead," and "Fangs of the Living Dead." What I little dreamed was that the three films were not even related! One would think that they were all in a series of films that connected, like the Apes movies making the rounds in the butt-numbing "Ape-o-thons," but no... they were three movies completely unrelated to each other, simply renamed to make it seem that way.

But you have to hand it to the promoters here: they did a great job of packaging and promoting the films to maximum effect. The titles, picked to capitalise on Romero's zombie movie, though there were no zombies; the artwork, depicting an imaginary character that never made an appearance; and the idea of "three-movies-for-the-price-of-one" which made it a real bargain. Similar to a cheap smorgasboard of crummy food, you might complain that it didn't taste that good, but you had to admit you sure got a lot for your money.

The zombie/vampire artwork, indeed, the entire campaign, was created by Alan Ormsby, who was a multi-talented man indeed. Besides being an artist, he was a director and actor. You may have seen one of his more famous movies: "Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things," another of those movies talked about in awed whispers on the playground. But I'm most in awe of his artwork for the promotion, which remains famous to this day. Look at the detail on that gruesome death's-head: rotted skin peeling back to show an exposed skull: with a hole in said skull revealing the brain beneath! An empty eye socket! A hole for a nose!

My 13-year-old mind could scarcely conceive of such horror. It was the most gory image I had ever seen, even considering the monster magazines I was beginning to get interested in, as I could find them. This was before I had found the comic magazines such as "Tales From the Tomb" and such, which took gore to a new level. Those I would find later, and we'll take a look at some of the outrageous images available to any kid, in a future posting.

Having such an impact on my impressionable mind, the image stood as the pinnacle in scary movie artwork, and was never surpassed. (Inspired, I drew my own copy of it, being somewhat talented in drawing things I could look at. Using felt-tip markers, I colored in my version, supplying the blood and gore that the paper ad didn't have.) So when, about ten years later as a young man I happened upon the entire press kit for the movies in a south Florida collector's shop, I snatched it up like a starving zombie gnoshing upon a handfull of fresh entrails. This was a true find! And seeing the entire ad campaign made me appreciate even more what went into promoting this event.

Here is the front of the actual press kit:

Inside page of the poster-sized pressbook:

Page three of the kit:

The ad I had seen and saved from the local paper (and still have, taped in my scrapbook) was only a small part of the overall kit.

Included with the kit was a sample "Madman 1 Sheet," that the theater owner could order to hand out to patrons (see below). On the front here was a photograph of a raving lunatic in a straitjacket, presumably a viewer who was driven insane by seeing the movies. The copy on the other side read, in part: "This is John Austin Frazier. It has been reported that he now resides at a Mental Hospital, the result of attending a showing of "Orgy of the Living Dead!" Because of this tragic event, we, the producers, have secured an insurance policy, insuring the sanity of each and every patron. If you lose your mind as a result of viewing this explosion of terror, you will receive free psychiatric care, or be placed, at our expense, in an asylum for the rest of your life! We urge you to take advantage of this protection! The insurance is free - anyone entering the theater without it does so at his own risk. Remember: WE WARNED YOU!!!

The copy about the handout reads "This hair-raising 'Madman' special one sheet, taken directly from ORGY's key art, is a guaranteed attention-getter! The Madman's distorted face screams out in anguished horror while the text of the poster contains a WARNING note for those about to enter the theater! A guaranteed crowd-raiser that will draw a quick line at the box office!" I'm sure it did.

Front of the handout:

Back of the handout:

Screengrab from the trailer for the film featuring the raving madman...
There is also copy in the kit about the trailers, TV spots and radio ads that the owner could order to help promote the event. Of particular interest is the language used to describe certain ones of the radio ads: "Two of the spots have been specially prepared for Black audiences, and all convey the spirit of the show-biz excitement that will draw the crowds to your box-office!" One supposes they sprinkled in some jive-talk in those.

Well, if you ever ran across this image of a skull with skin rotting from it in your youth, and it haunted your memory, now you can revel in it till your eyes ache. Thanks, Alan, for contributing not only to success of three movies that were ill-deserving of it, but mainly for enriching our childhoods (?) with such a lasting image.

1974 "7th Voyage of Sinbad" article

2010-04-18T18:02:00.000-07:00

From the first issue of the short-lived, but very good Movie Monsters magazine, published in December of 1974, comes this cover article on one of Ray Harryhausen's most loved fantasy films, "The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad." It's certainly my favorite. I have vivid memories of listening repeatedly to one of my new record singles, "Tell Me Something Good" by Rufus and babe Chaka Khan, as I read this issue. Both this magazine and that song take me back in my mind to when I was 16 and living in Macon, Ga.

(Click on images to enlarge.)

Below, an ad page for the various chapters on Super 8 film from the movie. (I snagged this online, it's not from the magazine.) Kids, before Home Video, these short segments on film were the only way to watch movies whenever you wanted!

1969 article: "My Life As A Monster" by Boris Karloff

2010-04-01T08:18:00.000-07:00

From the collection cabinets come Issue #14 of the legendary "Castle of Frankenstein" magazine, published in 1969, which contained this article "My Life As A Monster," which is more special since it is written by Karloff himself. Enjoy the unique article and rare photos!

(In case the Star Trek cover interests you, I have posted that feature article on another blog, "My Star Trek Scrapbook.")

Below, from the same issue is a reprint of an article on Karloff from a 1940 movie magazine.

Tomb of Dracula #4: "Death Vow"

2010-03-21T10:47:00.000-07:00

As the doors of the collection cabinet slowly swing open on squeeking hinges, the thunder of the spring storm echoes through the sighing trees. With trembling fingers I take out the ancient publication of "The Tomb Of Dracula" #4 from its resting place, blow off the cobwebs and dust, and remove it from the protective plastic bag. The scrawled text is briefly visible as the lightning flashes through the wind-blown drapes, revealing the date it was written: the fourth month of the Year of Our Lord nineteen-hundred and eighty. The stories in it were created at a time when the memory of vampires was still terrifyingly fresh in the minds of men, and not relegated to the bedtime stories told to frighten children. Cast your gaze, if you dare, on the painting of the cover below, and feel the terror anew...

(Click on images to enlarge.)

From this issue I present the entire story titled "Death Vow." In its pages we learn that the price of evil's promises are far too costly; yet the grace of God can still triumph in the end.

It is sad, but true, that there will always be others who fall for the temporary and deceptive "solutions" offered in times of weakness by the powers of darkness... let us hope that none of my readers are among that number.

1973 "Asylum" article

2010-03-10T06:30:00.001-08:00

"Psycho" was very similar in layout and content as the "Castle of Frankenstein" monster magazine, the main difference being that it was mainly original stories in black and white comic book form, like Warren Publishing's "Creepy." But it did include some articles on monster movies and TV shows, with the layout in the unorthodox style as in "CoF." This time I present the write-up on my favorite of the Amicus anthologies, "Asylum," from Issue #12, which came out in May of 1973.

(Click on images to enlarge.)

By the way, reviewer, thanks for spoiling the ending with the bit about Robert Powell... way to go!

"Monsters Unleashed " #4 Wolfman story

2010-02-20T09:10:00.000-08:00

Marvel monster magazines were always high on my list of "must buys" whenever and wherever I found them, and they comprise a big part of my monster magazine collection. This time I'm bringing out of the collection cabinet issue #4 of "Monsters Unleashed," published in February, 1974. I was 15 when I bought it, and I remember reading it in the back seat of the car as my mother drove us and my Grandma over to visit a relative.

Since there is a new "Wolfman" remake in the theaters right now (which I haven't seen yet, and will probably wait to get when it comes out on DVD), I thought I'd post this werewolf story to coincide. More of a detective story than a horror tale, with an attempt at the "noir" style (even to the heroine dresing in a trenchcoat and fedora), the hairy one only appears in the end.

(Click on images to enlarge.)

And, the werewolf is killed, as usual, by one that loves him. As a followup there was a one-page article in memory of the greatest werewolf actor, Lon Chaney, Jr.

1972 article on "The Return of Count Yorga"

2010-02-05T20:06:00.000-08:00

(Click on images to enlarge.)

The old collection cabinet opens this time to Issue #16 of the venerable newspaper, "The Monster Times," published October of 1972. I was a wee lad of 13 when I bought it on a trip to the drug store while visiting for the weekend at my Grandma's house in Macon, Ga. The article scanned is on "The Return of Count Yorga," which featured poster artwork that was as memorable and eye-catching as it was strange and unconnected to the title character's appearance! Enjoy...

Below, one of the posters for the movie (not in the issue of TMT) depicting the monopedal incarnation of the count. While something like this could be frightening on first sight, being confronted by this bizarre thing wouldn't neccessarily be dangerous unless you panicked and fell down. Standing only about a foot tall with three eyes, two mouths and one foot, a hopping abomination like this could be easily dispatched with a swift punt. Then you could put a trash can over it to hold it til the morning, when you could whack it with a shovel and bury it.

As usual, the Monster Times review was spot-on... the movie was a let-down, never fulfilling the potential that it was set up for. After the enjoyable (if low-budget) first movie, we were ready for a better film, but, except for some bright spots, all we get is a retread that lapses into confusion. I truly did like Quarry's portayal of Yorga; he seemed a perfect gentleman, but there was always a simmering danger lurking under the veneer of politeness. And when the veneer was dropped, you felt truly afraid. But the film is only mildly enjoyable. What it could have been if it had taken Hammer's approach to horror, only taking place in (then) modern-day America!

Castle of Frankenstein article on "Kolchak: The Night Stalker"

2010-01-20T06:44:00.000-08:00

From the collection cabinet this time comes issue #25 of the fondly-remembered Castle of Frankenstein, published June of 1975. First up, the beautiful painted wrap-around cover, devoted to one of my favorite movies. "The Time Machine." That alone made it worth buying.

(Click on images to enlarge.)

The artist painted Weena a bit slutty, though, which is the opposite of how she was in the movie.

And below, the article on "Kolchak," which was among the shows that I enjoyed at that time, as a teen watching at my Grandma's house when I went over. Regular readers will recall that I had no such TV privileges at my own house.

Fellow Trekkers will recognise Barry Atwater as the peace-loving Surak, in the episode "The Savage Curtain," pictured below.

Bonus: an ad from the same issue of an item I truly would love having now! Can you imagine, a dramatized version of the story narrated and voiced by Lee? I hope to find this somewhere, someday.

I want YOU... to order this record!

The Thing That Couldn't Die poster

2010-01-19T09:55:00.001-08:00

From 1958, the poster art for "The Thing That Couldn't Die"

(Click on image to enlarge.)

That's a nice trick there, walking on water...

Remembering The Forgotten Prisoner

2010-01-07T12:23:00.001-08:00

(Click on images to enlarge.)

"He’s the last remaining prisoner from years gone by. Long since passed, and now all that remains are his bones as proof to his existence. His crimes have long been forgotten. His sentence fulfilled. However, this unfortunate prisoner was lost in the system, and now his bones are the only remains that hang from the dreaded shackles of his prison cell. Until now."

Note: this is a re-post imported over from my earlier blog, "Sweet Skulls." It fits in nicely with the theme of "My Monster Memories," so in case you missed it over there, you can enjoy it here.

Oh, man... this brings my younger days back so clearly I can actually smell the model glue and paint. And the giddy, light-headed feeling I had while working on it in 1974 had very little to do with the fumes. Even today, taking out my little Prisoner model invokes such a strong sense of nostalgia that it almost hurts. Among the relics of my youth, only a few survive, and I'm grateful this one did. I had stored it away in a box of collected goodies in my grandmother's guest bedroom closet. Since her house was my one refuge from the strain of a controlling and intolerent stepfather, I kept the things I treasured there, for I had seen more than one item go into the flames of the trash barrel simply because my having them irritated him.

He was an ex-Army sargent, a hunter and construction worker with a sixth-grade education; while I was a bookwormish monster-loving kid who had an artistic bent. Needless to say we clashed, and I always came out on the losing end, being a pacifistic kid who loved nothing more than finding a quiet place to read my comic books. Unfortunately, that also irritated him. That's why my weekend stays at Grandma's house, a haven of love, freedom and normalcy, loom so large in my good memories. Stress-free afternoons reading my newest Monster Times or Castle of Frankenstein, putting together a model, and evenings watching the good stuff on TV: "Kung Fu," "Planet of the Apes," Night Stalker," and the Saturday Night Movie.

The Skeleton in my closet

Over a decade after I built my Forgotten Prisoner model, I re-discovered it in that box in the closet when I went to bring the things I had stored there into my own home. It was in several pieces, but easily fixed and lovingly touched up (except for a missing foot). It was funny, for he had become forgotten for awhile, but he was relocated, restored and placed in a collection bookcase for safe-keeping. Now he comes out yearly and joins the Halloween decorations on the mantle.

It's ironic that the one model that is most remembered by Monster Kids is the one called The Forgotten Prisoner. My lonely friend, you are not forgotten. You are fondly remembered and loved. I think I related to you a lot.

As much as it means to me, you won't find a picture of my own Prisoner on this page; my efforts are painting him were amaturish next to these awesome examples and not worthy to be compared. But you will see some great interpretations of the Prisoner paint job, all of which are terrific. Enjoy!

http://www.lowbudgetrecords.com/models/prisoner.htm

http://gobedelighted.blogspot.com/2007/09/talk-like-pirate-day.html

http://www.monstersinmotion.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/11444

http://www.hobbytalk.com/bbs1/showthread.php?t=171006

The two images above come from a great FP page: http://www.tylisaari.com/models/fp/forgotten.htm

http://www.horror-wood.com/skeleton.htm

http://www.bobbysmonstermodels.com/prisoner.html

http://www.monstersontheshelf.com/id59.html

http://www.majormattmason.net/stevendemarco/prisoner.htm

http://www.markatherton4.com/prisoner.html

http://plmodels3.tripod.com/mindiola2.htm

http://museum.theclubhouse1.net/submissions/scottterry1.htm

http://home.earthlink.net/~steven_demarco/id12.html

http://www.professorplastik.com/monster_site/proscenium/kits/prisoner_kit/prisoner_kit.htm

http://s94.photobucket.com/albums/l118/S_Coffey/?action=view&current=IMG_0129.jpg

http://photos.hobbytalk.com/showphoto.php/photo/27515/cat/500/ppuser/15338

A new larger version is available! Wow, but for the price I would possess this...

http://www.monstersinmotion.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/663

Here's a Youtube video of "a" forgotton prisoner that's pretty funny. Not a re-creation of our beloved bones, but in the same spirit.

Update: All these years I thought that the awesome and iconic box art was done by James Bama, who did the other monster model box covers.... but in my Facebook roamings, I came across the actual artist: Mort Künstler! Visit his official website here or the Facebook fan page to see more awesome art!

Monster Squad article

2009-10-26T06:58:00.000-07:00

"Monster Squad" finally came out on DVD not too long ago, after a wait of many long years by affectionate fans of the movie. Enjoy this writeup about the film from a couple of years ago, back when having it available for home viewing was only an option for those that still had the old videotape release.

The artwork and article come from issue #6 of Horrorhound magazine, which you can buy here.

Burial Ground

2009-10-21T20:35:00.000-07:00

(click image for hi-rez version)

You know you'd buy a ticket to see this movie.

(Note: Since not all visitors to "My Monster Memories" are aware of another, earlier blog i did called "Sweet Skulls," I will occasionally be importing some of the more suitable entries into this one. If you have read this already on "Sweet Skulls," I apologize, but if you haven't, you might enjoy it here!)

The poster for 1981's "Burial Ground" is a classic bit of zombie movie artwork where once again the promotional effort is better than the movie... in this case, a whole lot better. That is one cool poster!

"Wa-wa-wait! I'll shave it off if you don't like it!"

But that's not to say the movie is completely worthless... not by a long shot. It has it's merits and I still enjoy putting it on occasionally, which is more than can be said for some others. I'd put it slightly below "Hell of the Living Dead" and above "Nightmare City." The proximity it shares with these other titles should give you some inkling of the quality; it resides firmly in that murky swamp of "so bad it's good" territory. In fact, the things that make this movie bad are the very things that make it fun to watch.

"WHAT is that I'm feeling in my underwear?"

A professor researching a burial ground of the ancient Etruscans in Italy makes a discovery of some kind that amazes him. But the ascot-wearing Etruscans buried there want to keep their secrets, so they arise and begin killing and eating all they encounter. Luckily for them, several vacationing couples have come to the Professor's castle-like mansion (apparently he needed some extra money to keep up his research) and they are more interested in getting down than getting out alive. Below are some screen captures I made to share with you. The living characters aren't interesting enough for you to care when they die; their main function is to become zombie chow, so the zombies are my main focus. Oh, and "little" Michael... we certainly can't forget Michael. Who could, having seen him? He's creepier than the zombies, and all he wears is a bad wig.

"Mother, may I have some warm milk before going to bed?"

Michael, a strange man-child, has a thing for his mother, which is understandable; lots of young boys have lusted after their hottie mothers. But she encourages it; when he shows up in the room where she and her boyfriend are giving the bedsprings a workout, she leaps up out of the bed naked, sauntering across the room to grab a sheet and halfway drape herself with it. When all she had to do was cover up a little more while in bed! Yep, the stunted kid is messed up physically, but his emotional problems stem from her unwillingness to let him grow up. Her own neediness and insecurity cause him to be confused about his budding sexuality.

Or, he could just be a horny midget with a slutty mother.

"Oh, man, a maggot just crawled in my mouth! Yuuuk!"

The ease with which the dead are accidentally raised by the hirsute, hapless professor studying the Etruscan tombs seems to indicate that some cemeteries should display "Quiet: Do Not Disturb The Dead!" signs. At least in most of these films some explanation is attempted; Trioxin gas, space radiation, black-magic voodoo, Egyptian curses, biological viruses, etc., but here they just seem to come out because he was being a little too noisy... or nosy, perhaps.

"Boo-gah boo-gah boo-gah!"

The "make-up" of the zombies seems to be composed of slathered-on plaster, into which assorted teeth, hair, eyeballs and live worms are implanted. Then as the "actor" goes through his paces, the dried mud-like layers crack, to reveal red stuff below. Although the effect could work to portray dried-up corpses to good effect, the overdone, hand-molded result hardly resembles human skeletal anatomy at all. Blackened noses poke through the caked mud and blackened lips show plainly behind "teeth," all too obvious in the lingering close-ups. Other zombies are fresh-faced youth with only a little make-up, though, belying the idea that they have all been dead for centuries. However, the makeup is certainly better then the oatmeal-wearing things in "Nightmare City," which seems to indicate that they all died while eating breakfast and keeled over face first into their bowl of Quaker Oats.

His mother warned him that sunbathing without enough tanning lotion would make his skin peel.

The director makes an attempt to mimic Lucio Fulci's Zombie, both with the inclusion of live maggots and nightcrawlers on the makeup, and even the wood-in-the-eyeball gag, only this time it's a glass shard. But the silliness of the living, and the intelligence of the dead, take away any tension and replace it with amusement. The tool-using zombies are so smart that one expects them to soon figure out how to hotwire one of the cars and ram the door with it. The only reason they don't have to is the idiocy of the people inside, who all too soon put themselves on the menu.

Somehow I don't think this fellow looked much better when he was alive.

"Miss! Can you get me out of this mudpack? It's drying out and hurting my skin."

These Etruscans really knew the secret to fertilizing their flowers!

Refreshed from his little dirt nap in a planter, this zombie has an appetite for mayhem.

"Should we get in the car and drive away?"
"No, they'll be expecting us to do that!"

"What... is there something on my face?"

"I'm too sexy for my ascot."

"By the power of the pitchfork, I command you!"

"Oh, no, you did not just pull a rake on me!"

"Aw, come on, you're making it so easy it's not even fun any more!"

Considering the amount of live worms these guys carry around, they'd be very handy to take fishing.

One death that will have you chuckling rather than upchucking is when a maid sticks her head out of a window. One of the zombies below nails her hand to the window sill with a thrown spike, while another slowly reaches up with a scythe. Putting it above her head behind her neck, he very slo-o-o-wly brings it down and severs her head as smoothly and easily as if her neck were made of warm liverwurst. Yes, super-strong and intelligent. The people never had a chance.

This fan completely lost her head over Episode 3: "The Revenge of the Scythe."

"Is this bugging you? Is this bugging you?"

Near the end one of the female characters is surounded by the zombies who advance slowly with hands outstreached. Apparently the are just trying to freak her out, as once they are inches away they all just hold the position while she screams. Must have been waiting for the director to yell "cut!" but he probably was off behind the set wall quaffing down a pint or feeling up the script-girl.

Whoever this mysterious "Black Spider" is, I wouldn't trust the prophetic writings of someone so bad at spelling.

Here's a good review of the film from someone better at that sort of thing that I am... AllThings Zombie.

"Did they just call for lunch? I can't hear a thing through all this junk!"

I'm not convinced this kid ever actually became a zombie. He was just acting normally.

Who these hooded guys are in the church next door is never explained. Sheesh, this late in the movie and you want explanations? They're just zombies, okay?

French "Brides of Dracula" poster

2009-10-16T10:31:00.000-07:00

(Click to view larger.)

This is one of my favorite Hammer films, even though there is no Dracula or Lee in it. I put it on just the other night and watched it, as I do every October, and other times as well.

As an aside, I have had a personal project that I had to finish recently, which kept me from blogging. But, it's done now, and I hope to get back to the monsters at hand!

Frankenstein: 1973

2009-09-10T07:28:00.001-07:00

Back in August of 2008 I scanned and posted a story from a 1974 edition of Skywald Publishing's "Scream" magazine titled "2073: The Death of the Monster" under the post title of "The Death of Frankenstein." In it I wondered about the abrupt start of the story with no explanation of how the Monster suddenly came to be there in 2073. Well, as I was looking through this issue of Nightmare, published in June of 1973 for something to scan for this blog, I came across this earlier chapter in the story that explained how the Monster came to be there.

Strange that the story here continues what was in another magazine a year earlier. I inadvertantly am posting them in reverse order, and even this one is in the middle of the series, as there is at least another one before it. But, each one is interesting, so here you go. Maybe someday we'll have them all here!

First, the awesomely incredible cover to the issue, put out in June of 1973. Truly nightmarish!

And now, we jump directly into the story, just as it was published in the magazine....

Next, proceed to the earlier post to read the final chapter, if you haven't already, titled "2073: The Death of The Monster."

"Christopher Lee: Dracula" article from 1974

2009-08-16T12:46:00.000-07:00

(Click on images to enlarge.)

From the first issue of Movie Monsters, published in December of 1974, comes an indepth look at Christopher Lee's Dracula films for Hammer. I was 16 when I bought this, and it figures in my good memories of the time as I picked it up at the drugstore down the street from my Grandma's house in Macon, Ga.

The Dracula films are among my favorites to come out of the Hammer studio, and Lee was, in my opinion, the best actor to ever portray the Count. Hope you enjoy this article!

I wonder if they ever noticed that they misspelled his name in the article title! That was a "d'oh!" moment, I'm sure.

"Fright Flicks" Trading Cards Post #2

2009-08-11T06:57:00.000-07:00

(Click on images to view larger.)

Some more of the cards in the "Fright Flicks" series from the '80's for your enjoyment, posted in random order since I don't have the whole set.

1975 FM Article: Frankenstein And The Monster From Hell

2009-07-24T05:41:00.000-07:00

(Click on images to view larger.)

From issue #113 of the fondly-remember Famous Monsters, dated January 1975. I was 16 at the time and lived in Ft. Lauderdale FL, one of my favorite places as I grew up.

Although it was not known at the time, the new movie "Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell" was to be the last Hammer Frankenstein film. Hammer was making it's final movies, and it truly was the end of an era. With this entry into the series, we finally got another good monster, something lacking in most of the sequels to the original "Curse of Frankenstein," which had put Hammer on the horror map back in 1958. It's enjoyable to go back and read articles on movies that were written when they were fresh and new, so here you go! Try to regress in your mind as you read this to the age and innocence you were at when it was written in 1975... if you're old enough to remember back that far!

"Fright Flicks" Trading Cards Post #1

2009-07-20T07:06:00.000-07:00

(Click on images to enlarge.)

Oh, yes... the 80's did happen, as improbable as they sound now. And some of the most memorable horror films came out during that decade, to prove that it happened, and that it wasn't just a bad national dream. This set of cards, "Fright Flicks" was made by Topps and featured scenes from select scary movies of the period:

Alien and Aliens
An American Werewolf In London
Day Of The Dead
Fright Night
Ghostbusters
Nightmare on Elm Street 1, 2 and 3
Poltergeist 1 and 2
Predator
Pumpkin Head
The Fly
Vengence: The Demon

On the back of each card the movie was identified and there was a short spooky event that left for you to decide if it ever took place. In answer to the question "did it happen?" the stock answer is: No. Sorry to disappoint you.

Now, I don't have the complete set, only a few packs as a matter of fact. But, I thought it might be nice to post what I do have for you to enjoy, and groan over the corny captions. I'll be bringing more in subsequent posts, and, I might add, in no particular order; with a few of my own captions, which are probably about as corny as the originals.

Card #2

Everyone knew that Linda couldn't keep her big trap shut.

The back of Card #2:

Card #6:

Steve had to admit that acupuncture helped his headaches.

Card #6 back:

Card #9:

I'm just about to vomit on my lunch... care to join me for a slurp?

Card #9 back:

Card #33:

Oh my God... I've chipped a nail!

Card #33 back:

Card #36:

Card #36 back:

Card #44:

Card #44 back:

More to come!

Mike The Headless Chicken

2009-07-14T13:10:00.000-07:00

(Click on images to enlarge.)

Gather round the campfire, children. Draw close to each other for warmth, and comfort. For you will need both when you hear the next tale I bring to you. It is a true story, and it is in these that you will find the most horrible things you cannot imagine.

One late summer day in 1945, as the Colorado clouds hung heavily pregnant with an overdue storm, farmer Lloyd Olsen took his axe in hand and went forth to the chicken pen with an empty stomach and fowl murder in his heart. This was the day that would change his life, and the life of the chicken named Mike, forever.

Rough hands held down the panicked rooster as the axe blade glinted in the dim sunlight. With a dull "clomp" the weapon severed the head and it fell to the ground, beak reflexively gasping for breath, as the body flapped and flopped across the ground like... well, like a chicken with it's head cut off. But this time, the inevitable stillness did not follow. No, children... this time, the headless body of Mike gained it's feet, and unsteadily began to WALK ACROSS THE CHICKEN PEN.

Shhhhh... settle down, children.

A gasp escaped the lips of the horrified farmer. Sweat beaded down his blanched face as he yelled for his waiting wife to come witness the nightmarish miracle. Pecking with a non-existent head (as the cat had pounced on the decapitated morsel and eaten it), Mike recovered from the execution and was looking for food as he always had. If anything, he seemed more spry, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

Mike's chicken dance was a hit with the crowds.

Not one to miss an opportunity to make some extra change, Mr. Olsen publicised the peculiarity and began collecting a dime each for the amused and amazed country folk to see Mike. He was kept alive by dropping corn and water down his open gullet, and seemed to get along quite well without his noggin, with an occasional suction to keep his throat clear of mucus.

Sadly, one day as the farmer and his wife toured the country showing off their new meal ticket, someone forgot to bring the suction dropper and that night Mike endured a second death as he choked on the thick mucus. Blame each other though they might, it didn't change the fact that Mike no longer trod this world, and they returned home... their lives somehow less brighter without Mike's cheerful example of overcoming all odds.

But this was still not the end of the rooster that refused to die... no, his restless spirit still roams the countryside, looking for his missing head. It has been rumored to appear on dark nights like this one, his ghostly, headless apparition flapping its wings and making a wet, slimy gurgling noise through its neck as though still trying to crow. Trying... to... crow.

If you listen closely now, children, you can almost hear it... shh... listen...

THERE HE IS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This recreation using special effects and an actress is slightly exaggerated for dramatic effect.

Ok, I know this is not a monster movie, TV show, comic book or other item that this blog usually covers. But, awhile back I used a photo of Mike to enhance the post of a comic book story about a witch who survived her head being chopped off. You can read that terrifying tale here.But ever since, one of the most frequent search engine terms that brought people to the site was Mike The Headless Chicken. So, I thought I'd do an entry on it so that those coming to the site after a search wouldn't feel cheated. But Mike deserves it as well... after all, what other real-life chicken has achieved the immortality of such fame as he?

1979 "Alien" poster magazine (updated)

2009-07-09T05:47:00.000-07:00

(Click on images to view larger size!)

Although I somehow missed the first issue of the Alien poster magazine, I was lucky enough to find the second one at the Ft. Lauderdale tobacco shop/newstand where I got most of my monster magazines back in 1979. "Alien" really was the first major release of a sci-fi/monster movie to include such terror and graphic scenes of carnage, and many movie-goers were unprepared for the intensity and gore.

The only part of the magazine omitted for this post is the poster in the middle, it's too big to scan; but it was an image of the "space jockey's" wierdly-shaped ship on the surface of LV-426, later named Archeron. Below is the back cover of the magazine, highlighting some of the incredibly detailed sets created for the spaceship, essentially a factory in space. .

Sale Alert: Would you like to buy this item? I'll sell it for $20 plus $5 Priority shipping, just email me to let me know you want it and I'll set up a Paypal payment link.

New Blog!

Have you visited the new companion blog to My Monster Memories? It's called "Fantastic Flashbacks" and it's focus is science fiction movies, TV shows, comics, and so on. Everything on the blog is scanned in from my scrapbooks and collection of genre items, started in the early 70's. If you like this one, you like that one too!

1975 Godzilla article from Monsters of the Movies

2009-07-06T05:44:00.000-07:00

(Click on images to view larger size.)

Scanned from Monsters of the Movies #5, published Feb. 1975. This was one of the rare times that an American monster magazine devoted a cover, and especially a painted cover, to Godzilla. Bob Larkin's day-glo colors and dynamic composition placed the Big G in an American setting, which was also a first, and seemed to spark a greater interest in Japanese films on this shore. The indepth article by Don Glut certainly examined them in greater detail than most articles before had gone into.

1974 article on "Taste The Blood of Dracula"

2009-07-02T05:39:00.000-07:00

(Click on images to view large size.)

Today's Monster Memory conjures up issue #7 of Marvel's "Dracula Lives!" magazine from July of 1974. I was a tender teen of merely 15 when I bought it, from a convenience store on the walk to school when I lived in Macon, GA. It was always exciting to find these, and they made for some darned good reading during lunch and study hall that day, not to mention that evening back at home once homework was done. The painted covers of these and many of the monster magazines of the time were a large part of what made them so special, and it's not something you see much of any more.

The item I'm featuring from the issue is their article on "Taste The Blood Of Dracula," the fourth installment in Hammer's Dracula movie series with the incomparable Christopher Lee. Still sadly lacking Peter Cushing, his presence was missed greatly, and one wonders why they failed to have him in the later Dracula movies when everyone loved seeing them together. The film is not the best of the series, but not the worst either, and I still put it on and watch it occasionally. The article accurately points out the flaws, as well as the good points. But to me, even a lower-quality Hammer/Lee Dracula film is better than someone else's. Enjoy!

1979 "Cracked" spoof of Alien

2009-06-27T16:22:00.000-07:00

(Click on images to view larger size.)

This time, the collection cabinet opens to my copy of Cracked #164, published in November of 1979. As usual with Severin, the art is crisp and clean with an eye toward set and costume accuracy, and the actor likenesses are impeccable; except for the alien, which resembles his "talking blob" character with an extra set of teeth. Enjoy!

You may know about my new blog, "Fantastic Flashbacks," focused on science fiction, as opposed to monsters like this one. Of course there is sometimes a crossover between the genres and it's hard to make a distinction between whether a film item goes in one or the other. This movie is a good example; "Alien" may be science fiction, set in space with ships and such; but it's more about a monster than scientific or speculative fiction. So, I made the decision to put it on My Monster Memories. But both blogs are sheer nostalgic fun, so visit both, okay?

The She Beast/The Embalmer double-bill poster

2009-06-24T06:13:00.000-07:00

(Click on the image to view biggie size!)

The poster for a 1966 double-feature that I would have loved to have been able to see at a drive-in. I was too young, though... only 8 years old. But wouldn't it have been awesome?

1972 Gargoyles TV Movie

2009-06-22T05:34:00.000-07:00

(Click on images to enlarge.)

He may be smiling on the outside, but on the inside, his heart is breaking.

In 1972, I was 13 years old, and spending the weekend at Grandma's house in Macon, Ga. ABC's Movie of the Week was playing the made-for-TV movie"Gargoyles" for the first time that Saturday night, and I when I saw the previews I knew I was in for a treat! Earlier in the evening we had enjoyed our usual supper, Krystal cheeseburgers that I had walked down the road to pick up, and after I spent awhile looking over my newest comic book and magazine acquisitions, we settled down to watch the movie. Looking back, those summer afternoons and evenings spent there were some of the best of my young life as I grew up.

"We paid a lot for this makeup, and we dang sure want to make sure you appreciate it."

The movie tells the story of a small group of Gargoyles, hidden in the Navada desert, who are on the verge of another 600 year hatching cycle. The struggle between man and lizard-like creatures flares up whenever this happens, but then the event is fogotten in history or relegated to myth. A couple of years back I was thrilled to find out that VCI had released the movie on DVD, and I immediately ordered it. The day I got it in the mail was a happy one, and I sat down to relive an experience from nearly 35 years before, Krystal cheeseburgers included. And did it ever take me back! The photos below are screen captures I made from the DVD that I think you will enjoy if you remember seeing the movie, and if not, it will give you an idea of why I enjoyed it so much back then, and even now when I take it out and watch it... as I did last night again.

"Watch out for those scary floating letters on the runway!"

There's no doubt but that this film was a TV movie from the early 70's, and it's because of that I enjoy it so. The whole look and feel return me to that time, the same as watching "Kung Fu", Kolchack: The Night Stalker," and the "Planet of the Apes" TV series. They all came out during that period of time that I was a young teen and any of them are able to take me back.

"Dang, my little girl's growing up! Look at those... careful there, Mercer."

Before the credits we hear the "Outer Limits" control voice, Vic Perrin, as he tells us the history over images of medievel art of devils and photos of gargoyle statues. (Perrin also does the voice of the lead gargoyle, dubbed in over Bernie Casey's acting, with a scratchy sound effect laid in.) We even get a glimpse of the main creature, as though they couldn't wait to reveal it. Obviously, they are proud of the makeup job and monster suits they paid for, as they take every opportunity to show them as prominently as possible, even in bright zipper-revealing close-ups in sunlight. Stan Winston's first break in the movies netted him an Emmy for the makeup effects, and little did I know as I watched the movie how often his work would later figure in so many of my favorite horror and sci-fi movies. (Spoiler alert: from here on out, if you don't want to know the details, just look at the pretty pictures and skim over the text.)

"I calls it "Nicatakachinko" which is injun fer "Makum Me Heap Big Wapum."

As the appropriately goopy-fonted credits play over a scene of a plane landing, we meet our hero, Dr. Mercer Boley, (played by Cornell Wilde) an anthropologist who specializes in the occult and demonology. His teen-age daughter Diana (hotly played by Jennifer Salt) arrives on the plane, and together they drive off into the Nevada desert to meet with an old man named Willie, who claims to have something of interest to show him. The item turns out to be a skeleton of what he claims was from a living creature, which Boley laughs off. But they still stay to interview him about his knowledge of local Indian exorcism rites, and after nightfall the shack is attacked by something that rips into the roof with claws. Willie is killed by a falling timber, knocking over the kerosene lamp and setting the shack ablaze. Unable to help poor old Uncle Willie, Boley and his daughter escape with the skull of the creature, fighting off a something big that leaps onto the roof of their car as they speed away.

Not a sight you want to see at the foot of your bed at night.

Later, after leaving their damaged car at a garage, they rent a motel room from Mrs. Parks (Grayson Hall, of "House of Dark Shadows" fame) and turn in. The next day they report Willie's death as an accident to the local police, who upon investigating find a group of dirt-bike riders at the scene and assume they are responsible. Feeling the police won't believe him, Boley doesn't tell them about the creature attack on the shack or their car, and the bikers are arrested.

During the night, two gargoyles break in to retrieve the skull, but as they escape one of them is hit and killed by a semi (which keeps going). Anxious to have proof of his new discovery, Boley wants to keep the body a secret from the police, even though it might prove the biker's innocence.

"Did anybody get that trucker's license number? Oh, man!"

"Pardon me, may I have the key to the restroom?"

However, the matter (and the body) is taken out of his hands as the gargoyles return in greater numbers that night to get the body of their fallen comrade, and in the process the winged leader (Bernie Casey) becomes turned on by Diane (like much of the teenage male viewing audience, including me) and takes her along with them as they return to their cave nest.

"Smells like Teen Spirit!"

Now, we'll get a good look at those costumes!

Mama Gorgoyle, picking up on her mate's infatuation with Diane, is unhappy, even though Daddy reassures her when she goes on the attack. She may be mollified for the moment, but she keeps an eye on her, and we know that's not the end of it.

"She don't mean nothin' to me, momma! I swear."

As a 13 year old boy, that little halter top and tight jeans Jennifer Salt wore stirred things in me that I had only begun to be aware of. She's still pretty hot to watch now, even 30 years later... in a 70's kind of way.

"Ah, I don't know... I'm finding this Stephen King a little dull."

The leader acts as if he wants Diana to teach him from the books they also grabbed, but he's really interested in getting closer to her, which doesn't go unnoticed by Mama. Meanwhile, Boley has alerted the police to his daughter's abduction, and they, along with the newly-freed bikers, take off in to the desert with hunting dogs to find her. Inside the cave, the latest brood of hatchlings is emerging from their eggs, the size and maturity of 7 or 8 year olds. As the posse near the cave, the gargoyles come out and attack them, killing several and running off the rest.

"Awww, just look at him... isn't he the most precious?"

The head gargoyle confronts Boley and tells him to follow him back to the cave if he wants to see his daughter. When they get there, he is informed that they will never leave. However, Mama has had enough of that little slut trying to steal her man, so she helps him to escape, no doubt hoping he'll take along the girl also. He's unable to rescue her, but he brings back the biker Reeger played by Scott Glenn, who brings with him two cans of gasoline. As they shoot their way into the cave, Boley rescues his daugher, but Reeger is overcome by gargoyles as he douses the egg chamber with gas. His last act is to flick his Bic and blow up the eggs before more can hatch.

"All we wanted was to live in peace... after the extinction of mankind. Was that too much to ask?"

At the mouth of the cave, the leader starts to fly off with Diana with Mama bringing up the rear, but Boley breaks her wing with a rock. Now the leader must fly her out, leaving Diana, if his kind is to survive. Why Boley let them go, knowing it might mean the end of mankind in the next 600 year breeding cycle, is a mystery. Perhaps he just felt sorry for them, and after all, he figured, mankind can take care of itself in 600 years when they have flying cars and all.

Amazing how he can fly them both with those little wings!

"After all that I need a shower. Want to join me, Diana?"

Nobody played the needy, lonesome alchoholic like Grayson Hall.

Of course, there's more that happens than in my quick run-down; you'll have to watch it for yourself if you can find it. All in all, this little made-for-tv movie was memorable, and well done. Sure, the efforts to show off the monster makeup and suits was a bit overdone, and the mood and effect would have been better served by a more shadowy, slower reveal. But, it is what it is, and we get to appreciate Stan Winton's first movie job in all it's rubbery glory. It sits right on my DVD shelf beside it's 70's companions "Colossus: The Forbin Project," "Kingdom of the Spiders," "The Devil's Rain" and "Frogs." All good 70's era fun that brings back the memories!

"I know, pride is my downfall, but don't I cut a striking figure?"

"No, I am not Lance Henrickson. Why does everyone always confuse me with that guy?"

Would you buy a stuffed Jackelope from this guy?

Well, I hope you've enjoyed this monster memory as much as I enjoyed bringing it to you.

Blood Island posters

2009-06-18T06:37:00.000-07:00

(Click on images to view full-size.)

Feast your eyes on some awesome artwork for two of the "Blood Island"trilogy of movies; 1969's "Mad Doctor of Blood Island," and below, 1970's "Beast of Blood." It was posters like this that brought people into the drive-ins with high expectations, and although the films didn't live up to them, they were successful enough to make three of them. I mean, look at these posters, especially the one below... how could you possibly not want to see that movie?

That is just too wacked.

Announcing (another) New Blog!

2009-06-16T12:49:00.000-07:00

No, Monster Memories couldn't contain everything I collected when I was a kid and teen, even though I've squeezed in posts on "The Time Machine" and "Forbidden Planet" several times. As I went through my collections, I realised I was going to need to start a blog devoted just to the movies, TV shows, magazines, comics, books, cards, etc., that were more science fiction than horror. So, I have created "Fantastic Flashbacks" for that other fun area of interest I've always had. You'll see of course the three "R's" of sci-fi... Rockets, Robots and Rayguns; but much more from the many SF TV shows and movies I've loved over the decades. You never know what you'll find there... intelligent apes, superheroes, the women of sci-fi, or UFOs.

Hope you join me soon over at www.FantasticFlashbacks.blogspot.com and add it to your list of favorites!

Death Race 2000 poster

2009-06-15T05:54:00.000-07:00

(Click on images to view biggie-size.)

To commemorate the untimely loss of David Carradine, whom I was first introduced to watching "Kung Fu" as a kid, here is the poster for one of his more memorable movie roles. I was a big "Kung Fu" fan, and watched it whenever I spent the weekend at Grandma's house in the mid 70's, along with "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" and "Planet of the Apes."

Below, the newspaper movie ad I clipped from the Macon (GA) Herald in June of 1975. I previously posted this on my other blog, "Held Over!" devoted to newspaper movie ad clippings I have made over the years.

Below, a newspaper review of the movie, also clipped by me in June of 1975.

Horror of Dracula poster

2009-06-12T11:52:00.000-07:00

(Click on image to view in horror-scopic enormity!)

Equal parts awesome and awful: the blood-drenched poster art for the best Dracula movie ever made by Hammer, or anyone else for that matter. Lee was born to play the Prince of Vampires, even if the poster looks very little like him.

Frankenstein: The True Story 1973 article

2009-06-10T06:03:00.000-07:00

(Click on article to read.)

Clipped from the Ft. Lauderdale, FL News on Nov. 30, 1973.

I had posted a smaller clipping on this before, here.

Few realised that the Monster's disposition was due to the hemorrhoids that came with the pre-used body he had been given.

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Thirty-Three

2009-06-08T10:04:00.001-07:00

And, here we are at the last entry on "My Monster Memories" of our thirty-three day retrospective on the little-known 1998 card set "Dinosaurs Attack" by Topps. I hope you've enjoyed seeing them in large-size scans, something not done anywhere else on the web (so far) that I'm aware of. We wrap up the look at the Eclipse graphic novel with this two-page article about the card series...

(Click on images to view larger scans.)

And below is the two-page title and credits. A number of artists contributed, as you can see from the names listed. This under-appreciated card set and comic can be had pretty cheaply online, if you want to own them for yourself. And as mentioned, I have some duplicates in case you need to complete a set; email me and let me know what numbers you need and we'll talk about it!

As with all posts on this topic, all of the copyrights are owned by Topps Cards and/or Eclipse Comics.

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Thirty-Two

2009-06-05T05:23:00.000-07:00

(Click on images to view Supersaurus-sized!)

"I just knew this would happen to me someday!"

And, here we are with the last two bonus cards from the graphic novel, as card C, painted by fan-fave Earl Norem, depicts a scenario that many air travelers fear; midflight ejection by an attacking Pteranodon the size and disposition of Rodan.

Below, card D, a humorous (till it happens to you) scene that shows a light-on-his-feet dinosaur absconding with an infant, much to the horror of his babysitter and pals. I think they can safely rule out the mother asking them to watch the baby again.

Below, as we look at the last of the Earl Norem paintings done for the graphic novel adaptation, we see the final panel of the attack on the bridge, and begin another short but violent vignette.

In an homage to the famous scene from "Beast From 20,000 Fathoms," the next page shows a heroic policemen wolfed down by a dinosaur irritated by his ineffective gunfire.

And below we get a Pterodactyl's-eye view of the nation's capitol as the flying terrors gather for a feast, on the last page of this issue. Too bad that the other books in the series were never published. I would love to see the artwork that might have been done for them but never released.

One of the preview panels from the back of the book gives us a glimpse at the promised fun which never materialized. Wouldn't you like to see an animated film, even direct-to-DVD, released that adapted the story in the Earl Norem-style artwork? Dream on, Fred....

Next: the final entry from the graphic novel, an article that reveals some facts about the art.

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Thirty-One

2009-06-03T05:24:00.001-07:00

(Click on images to view in Magno-Vision!)

"Hey," I can hear you exclaim as you sit in front of your screen today. "What's this? I thought you already ran all of the cards. What gives?" Well, my friend, you are right, I did finish posting the entire "Dinosaurs Attack!" set, but these are bonus cards printed on the back cover of the graphic novel that I've been spotlighting for the last few days. There are four total, and you may notice that the first one is a "preview" card for a sequel story! I put the word "preview" in quotations because there was never meant to be another series of cards as far as I know, but they thought it would be fun to tease the readers with what might have been.

The rest of the bonus cards fit within the existing story, and it's kind of a shame they didn't make it into the set, as they are quite memorable. But then, a bonus is something good that's extra, and these fit the bill!

The rest of today's post consists of three more pages from the comic, painted by Earl Norem. Every panel is a joy to view in close-up detail.

More chaos and carnage to come on the morrow!

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Thirty

2009-06-02T07:36:00.000-07:00

(Click on images to view in Dino-Scope!)

Three more dino-riffic pages from the graphic novel adaptation of "Dinosaurs Attack" by Earl Norem, one of my favorite artists as a kid and young adult. He still is, of course; but it was during that time he made such a big impact with the many covers of the various magazines I bought back then... Planet of the Apes, Monsters of the Movies, The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu, and so on. Between him and Bob Larkin, my magazine shelf is full of memorable genre images.

As the dinosaur materializes completely, it begins to wreak havoc with the lives of everyone in the area. LIttle do they know that the sceanario is being replayed all over the world as the Time-Scan goes wrong, actually bringing the prehistoric creatures into our time, rather than only allowing us to view them. Talk about a miscalculation!

I love the touch in the page above, as we see the flying disembodied hands of the trucker, still clutching the steering wheel in a death grip.

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Twenty-Nine

2009-06-01T06:11:00.000-07:00

(Click on images to view Bronto_sized.)

The synopsis /checklist card #55 completes the entire run of "Dinosaurs Attack!" and I hope you have enjoyed the up-close look at the artwork for this under-rated and mostly unknown set. (For collectors I do have some duplicates if you need some to complete your set; just email me and we'll talk about it.)

I know; pretty boring stuff so far, huh? You came here for your dinosaur gore fix and all you got was a checklist. But wait, that's not all! As you might have noticed, I've been adding bonus images all along from the 1991 graphic novel that adapted the storyline and expanded upon it. Sadly, due to low sales I suppose, further issues were not forthcoming. For some reason which few can explain, the cards just never caught on as hoped. The graphic novel used several artists, with select pages by one of the major card artists on the set, the venerable Earl Norem. Norem's art stands out as the best, and are painted like his card art. Below are three awesome pages for you to enjoy, with more coming in following days. In the scene, a carefree teen, drinking and driving, pays for his recklessness and wasteful dissipation by getting instantly aged to death as he passes through an arriving time-shifting dinosaur.

Next: Like A Bridge Over Troubled Waters...

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Twenty-Eight

2009-05-29T05:25:00.001-07:00

(Click on images to view in Super-Duper-Spectra-Scopic-Zoomoramascope!)
You could accurately say that the whole affair ended with a bang.

Here we are, with the last two cards in the set (excluding #55, which is only a card title checklist and synopsis that I'm saving for the next post.) And what a wild and exciting trip it's been! Not to mention occasionally hair-raising, often stomach-turning, but always fun. For some reason, as we see on card #53, the reversal of the Time Scanner caused a catastrophic overload, resulting in the fiery end of the space station. Fortunately, Helen manages to escape in the nick of time. Too bad about the rest of the crew, but sacrifices must be made.

The first thing evacuated was the bowels of the technicians who were 35 seconds away from reaching the escaping shuttle.

In the last card, below, we see the devastation and destruction left in the wake of the reptilian rampages. Poor Helen seems in shock, which is pretty understandable, with all she's been through. But part of the dazed look on her face is accounted for by the realization of something else. Yes, it's just setting in how much money she can make selling her book on the only official account of the events that caused and then ended the attack.

Helen hugged herself as she thought about the huge advance for the book rights... and movie!

Below we read the final paragraph of Helen's book, written and published in only a month. She's now dating the president of the Miami Yacht Club and living in an exclusive beachfront condo which came through the destruction remarkably unscathed. All's well that ends well!

Or.... IS IT?????? Yeah, probably.

Below, the introduction page of the graphic novel, leading up to the next week's look at some of the artwork found inside, as Helen inexplicably becomes a blond. See you there!

If they think what they're looking at is scary, wait til they turn around!

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Twenty-Seven

2009-05-28T05:37:00.000-07:00

(Click on images to view in Giganta-Scope!)

"So take me away, I don't mind...but you better promise me, I'll be back in time... Gotta get back in time... Gotta get back in time....Get me back in tiiiiiiime."

For Those Who Came In Late: A Time-Scanner accident brought the dinosaurs into our era, they ate a lot of people and in general were quite disruptive, and now the Scanner has been reversed, returning them to their own epoch in a giant toilet flush and shredding them to boot. The temporal twister acts like a colossal cuisinart food processor, delivering them back to their own time as chunky Saurian Salad. Hooray, mankind is saved! Now, what else is on TV?

Yes, humanity is spared...but not without heart-breaking sacrifices. Card #52 below reveals the final fate of the man most responsible for the disaster. Although accidental, fate can't let Elias Thorne escape without paying the price, which he does in the fiery grip of the Devil Dinosaur... a spiritual being with a hellish agenda. And a bad case of the uglies.

"But I saved fifteen percent on my car insurance with Geico!"

Elias Thorne's image was based upon that of the writer of the card story, Gary Gerani. On the card's back below we see an actual picture of the writer as he portrays the character's final farewell.

The final sticker in the set, pictured below, wraps up the series with a T-Rex gnoshing on a rad skateboarder, that to the hungry beast was like a Meals On Wheels.

Next: It's all over but the crying as we look at the last two cards in the set.

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Twenty-Six

2009-05-27T05:55:00.000-07:00

(Click on images to view stomach-turning scans.)
"And now, a nice tasty snaAAAAAAAAAKKK!!"

It appears that Helen finally managed to reach that button, and the end arrives... for the dinosaurs, not humanity. Not content with simply returning them to the past, the reversal rips their bones from their flesh, killing them all and sending them back as mangled corpses. Now we know what really caused the massive dinosaur extinction... Man. Yes, who was really the monster here?

Below, card #50 indeed lives up to its title, as one would be hard pressed to come up with a more gruesome fate than essentially going through a blender and becoming a meat milkshake.

"Auntie Em, it's a twister, it's a twister!"

Sticker #10 shows a complete lack of respect for the law enforcement officers, as a rebellious young triceratops protests racial profiling.

Bonus: a preview scene from a future (unpublished) issue of the Dinosaurs Attack graphic novel. Select pages of artwork from the first issue will be forthcoming after the card set is finished.

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Twenty-Five

2009-05-26T07:44:00.000-07:00

(Click to view Supreme Monstrosity-Size!)

"Nooo! Not green slobbers on my new imported Berluti loafers!!!"

At last, now we know what evil intelligence was behind the attack on mankind... the Dinosaur Devil is revealed as it attempts to stop the plan to send the dinosaurs back in time. Resembling the biblical Beast, this hellish creature certainly was trying to bring an Apocalypse of his own. Meanwhile, Elias continues his running commentary as it happens, on the back of the card... quite a verbal feat as he is being killed!

Below, the climactic drama increases as his fellow scientist/model (who accessorizes beautifully) struggles to just... press.. the... red... button... as it hovers a tantalizing few inches away; while still looking all hot 'n sexy doing it.

"For God's sake, Helen, just press the damn button already!"

I can just imagine the feverish, breathless excitement as the kids read the dramatic end to the story, one card at a time. What's going to happen?? Can they stand it???

Meanwhile, on sticker card #9, the poor inoffensive Trachodon, unable to participate in the bloody carnage, makes do with shaking a streetlight to death.

This card was really scary if you were a lazy city electrical worker.

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Twenty-Four

2009-05-22T05:52:00.000-07:00

(Click to view Supersaurus size!)

On the bright side, the bloody, live onscreen demise of the
news anchors boosted the ratings to a new all-time high.

Having a news production studio close to an outside door is not only impractical for sound insulation, but it offers no barrier against walk-in dinosaurs intent on eating the celebrity anchors. The fact they got no warning was most likely due to the management's dissatisfaction with the announcer's salary contracts.

Below, Card #46 reveals the evil hand behind the chaos, when the Dinosaur Devil (probably responsible for perverting the peaceful dinosaur's normal natures) intervenes to halt the efforts to reverse the temporal incursion.

It was at that moment that Elias realised that his internet porn
habit was going to be harder to escape than he imagined.

But just how did the physicist find time among the events to make his real-time report, revealed on the back of the card below? Perhaps he was continually dictating into a digital recorder as it all happened, a true scientist to the crushing, burning end...

Sticker #8 shows us the real purpose of the Stegosaurus' tail spines, put to good use silencing the bothersome boombox-carrying teens who have no respect for peace and quiet.

"Oh, man... that felt good!"

Next: The End Is Near!

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Twenty-Three

2009-05-21T05:29:00.000-07:00

(Click to view apocalypse-sized scans!)

Even new and improved Super Poly-Grip couldn't avoid an embarrassing incident that lessened his chances at scoring with the new product rep.

You know it's the end of the world when even your ad agency meetings are crashed by the marauding beasts. Is no-one safe from their rampage? Apparently not, as dentures and lives are lost when a window-shopping dinosaur decides to grab a quick power lunch.

Card 44, below, depicts something not seen in this set before, a little monster-on-monster violence. Perhaps it's due to being "blood-drunk" as the back of the card above states; certainly all the alchohol in the bloodstreams of the people drowning their sorrows had some impact on the devouring dinos. Or maybe they were fighting over the scurrying victims that came streaming out of the power plant when they attacked; whatever the reason, their tussle released the nuclear radiation which played havoc with the puny humans, melting the flesh off of their bones in an irradiated conflagration.

Sadly, the "days since last accident" sign will have to be re-set to "0."

It was the moment every media person was warned about:
the news reporter becoming the news.

Bonus: On sticker #7, a little relaxing recreational riding is interrupted by the leathery flapping wings of death, as this lady joins the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow in his ghostly gallops.

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Twenty-Two

2009-05-20T05:35:00.000-07:00

(Click images to view dino-sized.)

"Don't shoot, we give up!"

When monsters from the past are materializing in the present, someone's bound to occupy the same space a dinosaur is trying to take over. What happens? We see the sad result in card #41, as a hapless camper finds himself in the stomach of one... and not in the usual manner, which is down the gullet. No, poor Harry's atoms are merged with the creature's, prompting the only humane response from his pal with the gun... a quick end.

Meanwhile, that chick on the ground is hot! I think the dude in the suit really just wanted to clear the field so he could get with her; he was pretty quick on the draw there. My analysis is; this uptight bean-counter (who is wearing a suit to go camping; who does that?) was jealous of both his jock friend's gal and his manly pecs. He was waiting for a chance to off him and this was just the opportunity he was hoping for. I'm betting five seconds later Sam had his arm around the distraught woman, "comforting" her as he pressed her ample heaving bosum against his chest.

Below, a classic scene, harkening back to the classic Japanese monster movie posters. Can you name the Godzilla stars pictured?

"Aaaaawemustrunfromthemonsterattackingasheismuch
toofearsomeforourmilitaryforcestodefeat!!!"

Bonus:Sticker #6 reveals the dangers that lurk below the surface, as even swimmers hoping to relax and escape the stress of the invasion find themselves in deep trouble. This bloodless diver, bitten in half, was apparently killed for fun, since the dinosaurs throat was too small to swallow anything bigger then some small fish.

Below is a scanned detail from one of the back pages found inside the graphic novel adaptation of the card story. I'll be posting some pages from this after the card set is finished, so don't go anywhere!

"Come on, guys! It's a free smorgasbord!"

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Twenty-One

2009-05-19T05:45:00.000-07:00

(Click on images to view large size!)

"They tickle! For God's sake, get them off, I can't stand it!"

It's Day 21 in the seige of humanity, and things are looking grim for the human race. When you're getting your behind kicked by some harmless trilobites, it's almost time for the fat lady to sing. I mean, freaking out when you're getting chewed by a carnivorous giant lizard with razor-sharp teeth is understandable, but screaming in terror because your face is getting scratched slightly means you've just given up, man.

If you've come with a bloodthirsty taste for gore, I'm afraid that your appetite will go unsated today. The two cards featured this time are light on the fear and heavy on the fun. Below, a small and outmatched dinosaur gets roughhoused by upstaged wrestlers. But never fear, there is a lot of put-on and nobody gets seriously hurt. You did know wrestling is fake... didn't you?

"Stay down, you fool! We're supposed to win this one!"

Next: A Guy That Really Gets Into Dinosaurs!

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Twenty

2009-05-17T13:16:00.000-07:00

(Click on images to view Godzilla-sized scans!)

Suddenly it went from picnic to panic as a prehistoric Yogi and Boo-Boo show up.

Another of the gorier pieces of art in the set, card #37 depicts a picnicing person ripped in half between two dinos, echoing an early card showing the same scenario. Hey, if it worked before, why not do it again? Same with the back of the card, revisiting the radio report format.

Working in concert, seemingly under the command of some intelligence, the dinosaur army advances on the enemy. Just who or what is directing them will come to light very soon.

"Cause they've got fa-a-ith, of the heart, nothin's gonna bend or break 'em..."

Bonus: The most famous, or infamous of the card stickers is finally posted; a dinosaur is eating a baby that it snatched out of the carriage. Now, just think about that for a moment. No subtle "oh, no, he's holding an empty baby carriage!" Nope, this card went right for the in-your-face image of the actual baby being devoured, with appendages (and even a pacifier) dropping from the blood-drenched teeth. You have to admire their guts!

It seems that this card set desperately tried for parental outcry and public outrage at such unrelenting horrors marketed to their children. But, for all the effort to attract attention, no sales-boosting and free promotion-generating protest was raised. It's possible that the primary outlet for these cards were comic book stores, which by that time were the main providers of trading cards. This set came too late for the general distribution at the corner convenience store as had the more succesful (and famous) "Mars Attacks!" cards which had caused such uproar.

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Nineteen

2009-05-15T05:41:00.000-07:00

As we continue with our up-close look at the Dinosaurs Attack cards and artwork, we come to the card that served as the basis for the box art, which was made to attract the attention to the cards for sale. This image certainly is an eye-catcher, and seems to be the one that sums up the events best. Note that Lady Liberty seems to be made of concrete rather than a copper-covered metal frame; she's crumbling like a hollow cookie there. Also, I doubt whether 200 tourists would ever be inside the statue at one time, as the card back reports. But these are minor quibbles not worth mentioning. Although I just did.

This next card really hits home, considering that most of the cards were collected by the same types that would frequent a comic book store, which is where I found them. I think it's hysterically funny, but pretty much accurate, in it's portrayal of the comic fan clinging to his treasures in the midst of a massacre by a dinosaur!

"Thank God he ate only my best friend and not my comics!"

The back of the card, done in comic book style, is as funny and pointed as the front. Just another example of why these cards are loved by the few that actually found them.

Next: Never mind the ants...

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Eighteen

2009-05-14T05:48:00.000-07:00

(Click on images to view hi-rez!)

"Oh, dear! And I just had it coiffed!"

New York doesn't get too ruffled with dinosaurs roaming around the streets and causing havoc; oh, no, that would be too commonplace. The inhabitants would merely yawn with their "seen it all" attitude and continue on, if not getting personally attacked. No, getting their attention took the reverting of the island of Manhattan to a prehistoric swamp, with all the attendant horrors. Having giant dragonflies nibbling on your noggin, attracted by perfumed hairspray, is not among the usual dangers one encounters in Central Park. And don't even think about taking the subway!

Even the contented, if somewhat bored, zoo animals become victims of the cold-blooded creatures. This card is another reason why this set is so awesome. Why it never caught on widely is a mystery, but it may simply have come out too late to make a splash. The culture was so full of things demanding attention that a pack of bubblegum cards, no matter how sensational or controversial, just wasn't newsworthy like it might have been ten years before.

The zookeeper found himself joining the animals in the endangered species list.

Next: The Loss Of Our Liberty!

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Seventeen

2009-05-13T05:33:00.000-07:00

(Click on images to view in stomach-turning full-size.)

Frank was crushed that the enemy had no respect for his hard-earned rank or riding crop.

We start Day 16 with one of the set's more notorious cards, and possibly the goriest image. Stepped on by a perfectly flat-footed dinosaur, our squashed General is not only roadkill, but now the rats are nibbling his remains... the horror, the humiliation! Well, he really should have looked both ways before crossing, and he certainly shouldn't have laid down in the road; what did he expect?

Below is another reason why this set wears the crown as the King of Bubblegum Cards. When her precious cats are threatened, Granny unloads both barrels of her handy shotgun into the lurking dino, completely blowing his eyeball and half his head away. I'm still amazed that these paintings got past the inevitable approval committee at Topps. I really don't think they would today, do you?

The curious creature suffered the same fate as so many other trespassers had.

Bonus: Sticker #4 teaches us some things we didn't know (pre-Jurassic Park) about the Brontosaurus. First, that he was a meat-eater. Second, that he could stand on his hind legs. Third, that he had a prehensile tail with which he could grab victims. And fourth, that he loved to feel blood and guts squishing between his toes. Or course, the back of the card supposedly tells us the "truth" about them, but we have visual evidence on the front what they were really like. And pictures don't lie, do they?

Next: Watch your head!

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Sixteen

2009-05-12T05:34:00.000-07:00

(Click on images to view Jurassic-size!)

Rex bemoaned the fact that today's fashion models hardly have any meat on their bones at all.

Look at that scene above of a T-Rex attacking a fossil display in a museum. Look slightly familiar? Hmm, I think Mr. Speilberg saw these cards too... what do you think?

I don't trust that Saurian... he's a little too "touchy-feelie" and too ready to betray his own kind for me.

And so we get an explanation (of sorts) for the savagery of the attacks, beyond the already violent nature of the dinosaurs... an intelligent and evil being, a "dinosaur devil," if you will, that is orchestrating the carnage. But the Devil himself is sometimes referred to as a dragon in the Scriptures. Could it be, the two are the same?

Below, card #30, is one of my favorites in the set. Not all kids were helpless victims, as little Melissa demonstrates when she bazookas the dino's guts into the next county.

"Pardon me, do you have any Grey PoupoAAARGH!!"

Next: Have a barf bag ready!

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Fifteen

2009-05-11T06:13:00.001-07:00

(Click on images to view dino-sized scans!)

"Ow-ow-ow! Hey, sto--OUCH! Stop that! Son of a--CRAP!"

No human gore today, for once the tables are turned and we see only dinosaur pain and suffering. I suppose since the military is such a part of the society in Russia, they were more ready to roll out and attack a threat than other countries. In any event, the dinosaurs unlucky enough to materialize in the land of long harsh winters and endless food shortages, found life not worth living and said "better dead than red!"

Card #28 reveals an unexpected element; a cold-blooded but benign intelligence that inhabited the prehistoric world. It comes with a hint that there is also an evil entity involved in the violence of the dinosaur attacks. The "plot" thickens slightly to the consistency of runny gravy....

"Is this bugging you? Is this bugging you? Is this..."

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Fourteen

2009-05-08T06:06:00.000-07:00

(Click on all images to view dino-sized!)

Taking revenge for his distant duckie descendants gave the otherwise timid dinosaur a wicked sense of satisfaction.

Above, even the most harmless of dinosaurs, the plant-loving Duckbill, gets in on the action by causing an accident by his sudden appearance. Really, with an animal this inoffensive, the only gore the card writer could come up with was something caused inadvertantly by it's appearance. The irony of a duck hunter blasting another one due to an upset by a Duckbill was a good example of the twisted humor displayed in this awesome set. That one duck in the sky looks as if he's thinking "you go, bro!"

Below, card #26 takes us on a thrill ride into terror, as some happy-go-lucky amusement park patrons (including a little girl) find themselves on an one-way track headed into the gullet of a hungry, hungry dinosaur.

The coaster passengers found the ride to be much more scary that it had been advertised.

Bonus: Sticker #3!

Next: Russia is Red, alright... with BLOOD!

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Thirteen

2009-05-07T05:25:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is on Day 13 of our retrospective on the Dinosaurs Attack cards, and for once we get not a trace of the usual gore, but rather more outright humor. The clueless surfer enjoys a once-in-a-lifetime wave, shortly before he wipes out for good. This is another reason I would have loved to have seen a live-action movie based on these cards. Can you imagine this scene on screen?

Some days you just can't win. You leap from a building to escape the flames consuming your body, directly onto the back of a Polacanthus, where you continue to burn as you writhe in agony, impaled on multiple spikes. Don't you hate it when that happens?

See that dino climbing Big Ben in the background? Seems I recall a scene like that in the American version of Godzilla back in 1998. Coincidence? You decide....

Next: When Harmless Dinosaurs Strike!
All "Dinosaurs Attack!" images and logos (TM) & Copyright (c) of The Topps Co., Inc.

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Twelve

2009-05-06T05:36:00.000-07:00

(Click on images to view in eye-popping hugeness.)

How It Started:

"Hey, guys... these are scrumpscious! You have GOT to try one!"

Day 12 kicks off with something a bit diferent; spotlighting a couple of the stickers included in the set. I'll start sprinkling these in as we go along from now on. The gore isn't lessened on these at all, as you might expect from something that would probably end up on a kid's bookbag. In #1, we see a grinning Allo that has just bitten the head off of a businessman, much like one would do a gingerbread cookie. This blood-spurting art is offset by a scholastic lesson on the flip side, obstensibly so that when the teacher confiscates the item, the kid can claim it's part of his "educational research."

Below, sticker #2 demonstrates how deadly the deceptively cute plant-eating Anky could be, as it rips the guts out of a person with a swing of it's club-like tail. Shown on a previous card chowing down on a horse, one can only assume that peer pressure accounted for it's switch to a meateater.

Artwork from the back of the "Dinosaurs Attack!" graphic novel.

The priest reminds the creature that the cross was once a death-dealing instrument.

Next: Back to the cards!

All "Dinosaurs Attack!" images and logos (TM) & Copyright (c) of The Topps Co., Inc.

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Eleven

2009-05-05T05:50:00.000-07:00

(Click images to view bronto-sized!)

"Oh, my God! What a disaster! Now I'll have to eat at Hardees!"

An American institution falls before a burger-hungry bronto. To be fair, he was a bit put out because - not a minute before - he had patiently waited at the drive-through, only to find out his order was completely screwed up. Things worked out, though, as he discovered that the employees were hotter, juicier and fresher than the menu products, although they did leave a greasy aftertaste. Notice that one particularly hungry customer is stopping to gather up the lunch order they dropped, even as another customer becomes a lunch order not five feet away.

Card #22 demonstrates that ignorance can kill, as a clueless dinosaur stumbles into a nest of high-tension wires, only to be electrocuted. Several helpless bystanders also felt the buzz, sharing in the fiery fate of the maurading monster. Even worse, due to the power outage, thousands of upset TV viewers in the area missed out on the results of the final box being opened on "Deal Or No Deal."

One of the most "shocking" events to occur during the invasion.

Next: Party sunny with an 80% chance of death by dinosaur!

All "Dinosaurs Attack!" images and logos (TM) & Copyright (c) of The Topps Co., Inc.

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Ten

2009-05-04T06:22:00.000-07:00

Day Ten of our close-up look at the Dinosaurs Attack cards opens with a bit of whimsy, with a blind Mr. Magoo-type character, heedlessly making his way through chaos and imminent danger. One would have to assume that he's deaf as well, not to be alarmed from the screams, crashes, gunshots and roars of the dino rampage. That, or he's just too cool to let on.

Below, in a scene straight out of any number of Godzilla or "giant monster" movies, a dinosaur that resembles the Japan's own famous denizen munches on the elevated train and the tasty morsals to be found inside it. One poor passenger manages to escape the carnage only to be fried to a crisp on one of the electrified tracks.

Next: McPeople Are On The Menu and I'm Lovin' It!

All "Dinosaurs Attack!" images and logos (TM) & Copyright (c) of The Topps Co., Inc.

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Nine

2009-05-01T05:30:00.000-07:00

(Click on images to view Dino-sized!)

On the bright side, he wouldn't drown, which had always been a phobia of his.

You gotta feel sorry for the dude's hopeless situation on card #17... He's about to be swallowed by a shark, which in turn is going to be eaten by Gorgo there. That's tough... getting eaten twice! A double jeapardy, kind of like going to the hospital for a kidney stone, then catching a much more serious and contagious staph infection making the rounds... but without the sharp teeth and the screaming and chewing and being digested.

Below, we see from card #18 that even the nation's revered national monuments are not safe from desecration by the dinosaurs, which nest on the presidential heads and feed tourists to their young.

Ironically, the gawkers watching the grisly carnage through the telescopes at the tourist center made easy pickings for the flying lizards.

Next: Blind to the danger!

All "Dinosaurs Attack!" images and logos (TM) & Copyright (c) of The Topps Co., Inc.

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Eight

2009-04-30T05:57:00.000-07:00

(Click to view in Dino-Rama!)

"Share, and share alike" was the two pals' motto!

Today's 8th close-up look at the cards of Dinosaurs Attack starts with one of the goriest in the set... a nightmarish image of a military man being ripped in half by two hungry monsters, with flying bits of entrails. Without the wry and dark humor in the other cards, this one is sheer horror without anything to temper it or bring a nervous chuckle. More than a few cards after this begin to illustrate the terror in more graphic images, with some invoking a feeling of despair shared by the helpless and doomed victims. For horror movie fans like myself, this was the good stuff, without all the laughs. For the impressionable kids, I'm sure it inspired some bad dreams! The last line of the back of the card below prophetically hints at the bloodletting to come...

Only the request to "send more scientists" gave away that the message was faked by the very intelligent dinosaurs.

Below on card #16, the adorable Ankylosaurus warns away the threatening farmer with a slight wave of it's tail. Somehow, his injuries look a little more fatal than the back of the card reports, with him being "rushed to the hospital." Meanwhile, in the background, some obliging Pteranodons take a couple of happy cows for a joyriding flight around the barnyard.

Next: About to get eaten... twice!

All "Dinosaurs Attack!" images and logos (TM) & Copyright (c) of The Topps Co., Inc.

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Seven

2009-04-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

(Click on images to see in realistic Dino-Vision!)

Things get a bit hairy at the concert as the crowd goes wild!

Day Seven of the Dinosaurs Attack month brings us to card #13, as a rock concert gets slightly wilder. The rockers got off remarkably light, losing only their multi-colored locks to the plant-eaters. Not much blood here, just the shock of having the hair pulled out by the roots, but the cocaine buzz probably dulled it somewhat anyway, as they most likely thought they were having a bad trip.

Card #14, however, gets back into the good stuff as a couple of dinos, in a snacking mood, peel open a tin can of densely-packed Tiny Tot Treats and dig in. Mmm-mmm, they're better when they're Young 'N Tender!

Below is a bonus painting from the back of the graphic novel adaptation;

the look on the piper's face is priceless!

Next: The Colonel is torn between two courses of action!

All "Dinosaurs Attack!" images and logos (TM) & Copyright (c) of The Topps Co., Inc.

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Six

2009-04-28T05:36:00.000-07:00

"'The basement is the safest place to hide,' he says! Why did we listen?"

Day Six starts off with an apology. It was only after starting this series of posts that I realised I was missing a few cards here and there in the set, and #11 is one of them. I scrounged around online and found the front and back of the card, but unfortunately they are not large images; what you see is pretty much it. It's too bad, also, since this card features a good shot of a guy re-enacting the scene in "Jaws" where Quint meets his fate. I wouldn't place a bet on the babe-in-arms faring any better. And I'd really like to have a hi-rez scan here, because that sure looks like the fellow on the left is using a circular saw to cut a slab off of the dinosaurs's back!

It looks like the basement was not a good place to hide, since if you get trapped there's nowhere to run, as Ben pointed out in "Night of the Living Dead." The fact he was wrong in that movie (and everyone paid the price) doesn't invalidate the point, 'specially when you have burrowing dinos sniffing you out!

Alright, back to the regularly scheduled hi-rez show, as card #12 takes us out to the ballgame!

(Click on card to view in giant gore-a-vision!)

It's Dinos 3, Falcons 0 as the fourth inning gets underway.

One player about to be swallowed, two ripped-asunder halves of another in his claws, and still another trapped underfoot to be eaten next... looks like this Thunder Lizard is really making a splash on the sports page. Read all about it below!

Next: Concert-goers get their money's worth!

Suddenly, the kids in the audience no longer thought the circus was lame.

Bonus painting from the "Dinosaurs Attack!" graphic novel, to make up for the missing card #11. NOTE TO COLLECTORS: If you have an extra #11, I have extras in the set I will trade for it... or just scan it in at hi-rez and email it to me, and I'll post it giving you credit.

All "Dinosaurs Attack!" images and logos (TM) & Copyright (c) of The Topps Co., Inc.

Dinosaurs Attack: Day Five

2009-04-27T05:19:00.001-07:00

(Click on images to view dino-sized.)

The phrase "Til death do us part" suddenly took on urgent new meaning.]

The rampage continues as we look at the next couple of cards in this somewhat infamous set, "somewhat" is used since they were never very well-known. But not for lack of trying; above we see a bride and groom united in mayhem rather than matrimony. Note the wedding photographer in the background, still busily snapping away! He's gonna get paid for this gig, one way or another.

"Madre dios! Who's-a gonna pay for dis-a mess?"

Even the land of the mafia and meatballs gets trampled underfoot, in an image that pays simultaneous homage to "The Giant Behemoth" and "The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms."

Next: The basement is the safest place to hide, trust me!