Monster Magazines

Ultimate Warren Index!

2011-01-14T21:00:00.003-05:00

This self published tome promises to be just that. Just ordered this from ebay. If it's half as good as the reviews, it should be well worth the 40 bucks! 700 freakin' pages! Only 300 copies printed. (Don't wait if you want one!)

Complete listings of all Warren publications, including full contents, full indicia information, and any relevant historical or background information.
A complete listing and description of all Warren-related merchandise.
A comprehensive list of publications that reprinted Warren material.
The first detailed, comprehensive list of foreign Warren reprint or related publications.
An extensive section devoted to books and magazines that included information about Warren Publishing.
Over 100 pages of appendixes, featuring writer, artist, and editor indexes for Warren titles; title indexes for both comics and movie-related magazines; feature indexes for the movie-related magazines ("You Axed For It," etc.); and a Warren chronology featuring issue pub dates, among other things.

More details in the ebay listing.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320645591898

Also added to the "Books" section (indexes).

FM #254B

2011-01-01T23:05:00.000-05:00

The first post of 2011 and possibly the last, as I just can't think of anything else I want to do with this blog? I really only wanted a place to put the contents of the old cover scan site and a few pics of interesting monster mag related ephemera, etc. It was never my intention to post about the current monster mag scene (even though I have been posting those FM covers) and John has that covered on Monster Magazine World, so, unless I find something interesting to add to the archives, I guess I'll be seeing you at MMW and the UMA!

Here's FM 254 the newsstand cover.

Original Cover Art pt. 10

2010-12-16T21:13:00.000-05:00

For a mag not yet released. The artist (Jason Edmiston) provides a BTS look at the upcoming finished cover art for FM #254. What think you now?

New Monster Mag

2010-12-05T12:27:00.002-05:00

Who says print is dead! Well, a lot of people, but here's one more new mag, at least. Here are the covers for the first two issues of Undying Monsters. The "limited edition" (500) issue was a Chiller Theater show exclusive (available from Scary Monsters while suplies last) and issue #1 comes out in Jan. You'll soon be able to order from the website, where you can read more details.

FM #254

2010-12-04T12:22:00.005-05:00

Next week, covers for FM #s 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264 and maybe 265! (just kiddin')

The Price cover is by Jason Edmiston. The other is the forth and last Stout "incentive" cover? (Which still leaves, I assume, one other cover.)

Interview with Me

2010-11-16T11:59:00.000-05:00

Over at MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD there is an interview with me (zzzzzzzzzzzzz). If you get bored halfway through, there's lots of interesting stuff on the site!

FM #253 Final!

2010-11-10T17:17:00.002-05:00

Well, here they are! All four covers, including a varient of a varient!
(Someone has a serious problem, here!)

The Kerry Gammill Island of Lost Souls is the subscriber and comic book store cover.

The William Stout Mummy is the comic book store "incentive" cover.

The Charlie Adlard The Dead Walk is the newsstand cover(s).

FM, Again

2010-11-06T21:38:00.001-04:00

Man, I'm gettin' lazy, lately! I gotta post something, just to break the cycle!

Here we go again! More drama from FM. Editor Michael Heisler and managing ed. Mark Redfield are out (nobody's saying nothin' about nothin'), which leaves Jessie Lilley as the new editor. Also, at least one of the writers had his article axed. (Remember what Bette Davis said in All About Eve?)

On the bright side (I guess?), the mag is getting retooled. Smaller (page count-wise), cheaper (price-wise), published 6 times a year (instead of 4) and less covers (only 2!) Here's an update on the cover for #253.

Have A Scary Holiday!

2010-10-29T19:12:00.000-04:00

Famous Monsters Series - Addendumdum

2010-10-25T15:25:00.001-04:00

Let's wrap this thing up with this observation as to who was responsible for the lame doodling on those cards. I suggest it was Ed Urbank! (Article from FM #3)

Famous Monsters Series - Addendum

2010-10-24T11:39:00.000-04:00

See the "Corrugated Brute" in his natural habitat, the FM makeup contest winners article in #18. Some of the fans who were later immortalized in card form.

Famous Monsters Series 49-64

2010-10-23T17:30:00.005-04:00

Several cards used photos from FM make-up contests. I'm sure a lot of people have wondered what movies those photos are from. (There are several question marks on these cards as it is!)

Scans by Skeen.

49. The Snake Pit (FM Make-Up Contest)
50. Reptilicus
51. Circus of Horrors
52. The Sea Monster (The Hideous Sun Demon)
53. Dracula's Daughter (The Raven - 1963)
54. The Ghost (FM Make-Up Contest)
55. (War Of) The Colossal Beast
56. Konga
57. The Corrugated Brute (FM Make-Up Contest)
58. Invasion of (the Star) Creatures
59. (Invasion of the) Star Creatures
60. The Yelloe Serpent (Tales of Terror)
61. The Devil's Doll (Bob Burns Make-Up)
62. The Beastly Horror (Attack of the Puppet People)
63. Haunted Fear (FM Make-Up Contest)
64. Horrors of the Black Museum

THE END

FM 253

2010-10-22T20:01:00.000-04:00

Early version of the cover with Kerry Gammill's cover art.

Famous Monsters Series 33-48

2010-10-20T21:36:00.002-04:00

Ok, now the outlining is just getting annoying!

Scans by Skeen.

33. Invasion Of (The) Saucermen
34. How to Make a Monster
35. The Claw ?
36. The Werewolf and Frankenstein (How to Make a Monster)
37. Teenage Werewolf (How to Make a Monster)
38. Werewolf Meets Teenage Frankenstein (How to Make a Monster)
39. Invasion Of (The) Saucerman
40. Coffin of Terror ?
41. The She Creature
42. The Hook ?
43. (The) Unknown Terror
44. Horrors of the Black Museum
45. Circus of Horrors
46. (Prisoner Of) The Iron Mask
47. I Was a Teenage Frankenstein
48. (Prisoner Of) The Iron Mask

FM #70

2010-10-19T11:08:00.001-04:00

Word is that these retro issues (#70-79, published irregularly) will be full on reproductions of vintage FMs, including pulp paper, Forry puns and retro film articles, news, etc. Hopefully, the later covers will be a little more retro than the first one.

FM No. 70
Cover Art by Jeff Preston

Famous Monsters Series 17-32

2010-10-18T12:27:00.001-04:00

More of those anoying outlines!

Thanks to Skeen for the scans! (Or is it "Scan for the skeens"?)

17. Goliath and the Barbarians
18. Konga
19. Goliath and the Dragon
20. Circus of Horrors (Goliath and the Dragon)
21. Educated Skeleton (?)
22. The Melting Head (FM Make-Up Contest)
23. The Head Shrinker (?)
24. The Giant Lizard (?)
25. (I Was A) Teenage Frankenstein
26. Cruel Terror (The Mask)
27. How to Make a Monster
28. Creation of Frankenstein (I Was A Teenage Frankenstein)
29. Goliath and the Dragon
30. The Blood of Dracula
31. The Voo Doo Man (?)
32. The Devil's Curse (?)

Famous Monsters Series 1-16

2010-10-16T10:32:00.004-04:00

The FM set (64 cards mfg by Rosan in 1963) was cheaply produced on thin card stock and suffered from poor centering. It can often be found in complete sets (as that's how they were sold) and individual cards sell for $2.50 - $3.50.

Thanks to Skeen for the Scans!

1. Konga
2. The (Angry) Red Planet
3. I Was A Teenage Frankenstein
4. (The) Amazing Colossal Man
5. Invasion of the Saucermen
6. Konga
7. Night of the Blood Beast
8. The Undead
9. Goliath and the Dragon
10. The Blood of Dracula
11. War of the Colossal Beast
12. The Blood of Dracula
13. Konga
14. Terror From (The) Year 5,000
15. Return of Saucerman (Invasion of the Saucermen)
16. (The) Headless Ghost

Famous Wrestlers

2010-10-15T12:16:00.001-04:00

An FM/wrestler fan alerted me to this image used on some WWE merchandice.

Famous Monsters Series

2010-10-13T15:45:00.001-04:00

The Famous Monsters Series was produced by Rosan in 1963. The cards were sold as a set (no wrappers, boxes, or counter sales) from the Captian Co. There were 64 cards in the set, with 15 different backs that advertised other CC merchandise. The card fronts were mostly photos and artwork from AIP distributed films, however, a few of them were photos sent in by fans for the FM make-up contests.

The Card Backs. Scans by Skeen.

Marvel Monster Mag Miscellany pt.8

2010-10-05T19:11:00.005-04:00

Monsters Unleashed
Publisher: Stan Lee
Editor: Roy Thomas

Monsters Unleashed no. 8. Swamp Monsters! And the last issue of MU to feature film related content.

Cover by Earl Norem

Let's finish this off with the remaining MU covers. If there is enough interest in this subject, we can do the same thing with another Marvel title in the future.

No. 9
Cover by Earl Norem

No. 10
Cover by Jose Antonio Domingo

No. 11
Cover by Frank Brunner

Annual No. 1

Cover by Ken Bald

Marvel Monster Mag Miscellany pt.7

2010-10-05T10:22:00.000-04:00

Monsters Unleashed
Publisher: Stan Lee
Editor: Roy Thomas

Monsters Unleashed no. 7. More news and (book) reviews.

Cover by Richard Hescox

Marvel Monster Mag Miscellany pt.6

2010-10-04T19:11:00.002-04:00

Monsters Unleashed
Publisher: Stan Lee
Editor: Roy Thomas

Monsters Unleashed no. 6. More NEWS and "The Di·no·saur Dictionary".

Cover by Boris Vallejo

Marvel Monster Mag Miscellany pt.5

2010-10-03T12:00:00.000-04:00

Monsters Unleashed
Publisher: Stan Lee
Editor: Roy Thomas

Monsters Unleashed no. 5. Sinbad! Frankenstein good!

Cover by Bob Larkin

Marvel Monster Mag Miscellany pt.4

2010-09-30T19:57:00.001-04:00

Monsters Unleashed
Publisher: Stan Lee
Editor: Roy Thomas

Monsters Unleashed no. 4. Mars, Harryhausen and Chaney Jr. The most movie pages, yet. 25% of the issue.

Cover by Frank Brunner

Marvel Monster Mag Miscellany pt.3

2010-09-29T20:38:00.000-04:00

Monsters Unleashed
Publisher: Stan Lee
Editor: Roy Thomas

Monsters Unleashed no. 3. More Universal Frankenstein movies.

Cover by Neal Adams

Marvel Monster Mag Miscellany pt.2

2010-09-28T19:23:00.004-04:00

Monsters Unleashed
Publisher: Stan Lee
Editor: Roy Thomas

Monsters Unleashed no. 2. Quite a bit of film content, this issue. More than 20% of it's 76 pages. Two Karloff related articles and a couple of other photos.

Cover by Boris Vallejo

Happy Birthday Zach !

2010-09-27T11:58:00.009-04:00

Today is the 92nd anniversary of the birth of "The Cool Ghoul", John Zacherle (aka Zacherley)!

Zacherley made his first monster mag appearance in FM #2, as Philadelphia's Roland, in an article about TV horror hosts. By June 1960, he was now New York's Zacherley and featured in this cover story in FM #7. By this time, Zacherley was a star (a phenomenon, really) and remains so in his 92nd year! Happy Birthday, Zach!

Cover by Albert Nuetzell

Marvel Monster Mag Miscellany pt.1

2010-09-25T22:12:00.004-04:00

Monsters Unleashed
Publisher: Stan Lee
Editor: Roy Thomas

Marvel (Curtis) had one honest to gosh movie monster mag in the '70s (Monsters of the Movies) and several monster comics mags. Some of the comics mags, however, did have some film content. A short article or two and a few of the old funny captioned photos. In this series we'll post the movie content of the Marvel monster comics mags.

First up, Monsters Unleashed no. 1 (with the rest of the MU issues to follow).

Cover by Gray Morrow

1 Year and Counting! (But Who's Counting.)

2010-09-25T12:53:00.000-04:00

It's been just one year since the first post at Monster Magazines! If I'm lucky, there'll be enough interesting stuff to last another year? If not, it'll make a pretty good archive!

I'd like to thank Prof. Grewbeard, Mike C., John from MMW, Terry from UMA, Joe Jusko, Frederick, Cyberschizoid, Pretorius and all the other monster mag friends/fans/posters/visitors! Hope you have fun looking at all this stuff that most people would throw in the trash, if they found it in a box in their closet! LOL

I have something to post later in the day, so we'll see you then!

Amazing FM Montage

2010-09-21T10:52:00.003-04:00

You have to check out this amazing FM cover montage by Stephen Morrison! I'll let Steve give you a little background.

"I've been playing around with it on and off for awhile now, a tweak here, a small change there. Then it just sort of grew and like Dr. Frankenstein's creation, took on a life of it's own. It's still a work in progress, with hundreds of parts and pieces the combination and arrangement possibilites are almost unlimited. All the images are taken from FMOF covers, except the "4SJ Of Karloffornia" sign being heldup, that one came from a photo of Uncle Forry holding the sign he had taken down after his move to the mini Ackermansion. It probably (won't) appeal to the "purists", because I have altered many of the images, changing an expression a bit, mixing the hands from one image with another image, things like that. I tried to inject a little humor along the way. It was a lot of fun, and I was sometimes surprised how the image from one cover seemed almost made to interact with the image from another cover."

Because of Blogger's size restrictions you'll have to download the huge 18MB file, here.

Almost Six FM Covers

2010-09-16T21:40:00.007-04:00

Correspondence between James Warren and Dave (Photon, Gore Creatures) Ludwig on his potential contributions as an FM cover artist. (It didn't work out.)

Currently up for auction at Hakes.com.

Tales of Terror

The Day The World Ended

The Magic Sword

Invaders From Mars

From Hell It Came

Hands of the Ripper

Almost An FM Cover

2010-09-12T20:21:00.007-04:00

Harold Shull (FM #81) painted this The Thing From Another World for a proposed FM cover, in 1969, but it wasn't used until 1972, as the cover of Photon #22.

Currently up for auction at Hakes.com.

Rarest Warrens pt. 4

2010-09-05T16:39:00.002-04:00

An Illustrated History Of
Heidi Saha
Warren Publishing Co.
1973

This Warren mag only interests me (as I'm sure it does you) because it is one of the rarest Warrens. I'm also not terribly interested in the subject of the magazine, other than for the above same reason. (If you are more interested than I, you know where the Google is.) And lastly, I'm not especially interested in posting all 36 pages of this mag. If these thumbnails don't do it for you, go to my Photobucket album for a larger view.

The short version on this mag, is that Heidi was the daughter of sci-fi enthusiasts and friends of Forry Ackerman and enjoyed entering the costume contests at the sci-fi cons. The mag is mostly family photos of Heidi and photos of her in her con costumes. A short bio of Heidi written by Forry is full of his usual bad jokes and worst puns, some of which seem inappropriate, today. After wearing a Vampirella costume to a con, Warren returned the favor by publishing this magazine.

The mag had a print run of 500 and was only sold in the back issue pages. It is extremely rare and commands about 100 times what I'd be willing to pay for it.

It's A Tie !

2010-08-31T21:24:00.002-04:00

I just wanted to tie the previous record number of posts in one month (20 in June), so here's the 3 issues of Creepy that reuse FM covers.

Creepy no. 20

Creepy no. 26

Creepy no. 47

Ride "The Ghoul's Eye"

2010-08-31T12:01:00.002-04:00

Issue no. 4 of Famous Monsters of Filmland had it's rare "Ghoul's Eye" sticker, only available on copies distributed in the greater Philadelphia area, promoting the new ride at the Willow Grove Amusement Park.

FM no. 4

The Willow Grove park went through a major renovation in 1959 and the old "Laff in the Dark" ride was refitted to become "The Ghoul's Eye" and so was born an FM rarity. And now, here it is, "The Ghoul's Eye"!

Monster Mags Theater "Castle Films"

2010-08-28T12:22:00.002-04:00

Other than the Don Post masks, the 8mm digests (from Castle Films and others) is what I wanted most from the Captain Co. Unlike the masks, I was able to afford one of these, once in a while, though only the silent prints, as I didn't have a sound projector. The Castle editors (especially) did a great job of cutting 90% of the feature and still having it work as a story.

Even in these days of DVDs, it's fun to look back at this primitive form of home video and if you no longer have any, or a projector to watch them on, YouTube will provide. Check this link for more Castle Films.

What You Should Be Reading Instead Of This.

2010-08-26T19:40:00.000-04:00

Well, if you don't read this you won't know . . . but anyway . .

Check out Monster Magazine World where they are running a multi-part interview with Gary Svehla, publisher of the long running fanzine Gore Creatures/Midnight Marquee.

Check out Dez Skinn Dot Com for an overview of his career in publishing. My favorite part (naturally), is the one covering the Monster Mag and House of Hammer days, where you can see interesting stuff like this early cover dummy for HoH.

Cover Art Reference #5

2010-08-21T15:23:00.009-04:00

Famous Monsters #18

The mystery was solved many years ago, but I thought you'd like to look at the pictures anyway.

Because the subject of Gogos' painting (with added pointy ears) was misidentified (in this issue, as well as previously in issue #1), it was believed by many to be Frye for some years after.

FM no. 18

Oops!

The man behind the painting was, in fact, Bernard Jukes (1900-1940), who had played "Renfield" in the Hamilton Deane (and John L. Balderston) stage adaption of Dracula, in both the London cast (with Raymond Huntley as "Dracula") and New York cast (with Bela Lugosi).

Jukes on stage as Renfield, with Lugosi. (1927)

When the Universal film adaption was announced (with Lugosi and Edward Van Sloan repeating their roles as "Dracula" and "Van Helsing"), Jukes lobbied hard for the role of "Renfield" and had several photos taken of himself in character (see below), but the part went to Dwight Frye. Jukes continued playing "Renfield" in stage productions of Dracula (some produced by him) until his death in 1940.

The FM cover shot.

More Shock!

2010-08-16T21:42:00.002-04:00

Here's an article on some of the earliest "horror hosts" from the March 29, 1958 issue of TV Guide.

Shoutbox

2010-08-16T11:51:00.001-04:00

I thought I'd try this out and see if it gets much use. Use it for any questions or comments you have that aren't related to a particular post. Located in the sidebar. 150 character limit. Spammers will be executed!

Another Title Swipe?

2010-08-14T18:00:00.006-04:00

You tell me! Did For Monsters Only swipe it's title from this men's adventure pulp?

For Men Only
Published by Martin Goodman's
Magazine Management Company
1954?-1972?

For Monsters Only
1965-1972

Yet Another New Forry Book

2010-08-14T12:19:00.001-04:00

Cinemassacres: A Tribute to Forrest J. Ackerman
Edited by David Byron
BearManor Media 2010

Introduction by Ingrid Pitt
Afterword by Iron Dave

Interviews:
Modern Mythmakers author Michael McCarty
Artist Frank Dietz
Multi-Media artist and Forry's ‘'best pal'' Joe Moe
Michael Mallory - author of ‘'Universal Studios Monsters: A Legacy Of Horror''
John Dimes- actor/artist/author of The Rites of Pretending Tribe
Brian Walker - creator of Brian's Drive-In Theatre
Robert Leininger - producer of The Undying Monsters
Dick Dyszel { Count Gore Devol} host of Creature Feature
Artist Jim McDermott
Lucy Hell of Mystery Island Publications
Rue Morgue Magazine art director ‘'Ghoulish'' Gary Pullin

Special Guest Photos Section
Courtlandt Hull - creator of ‘'The Witch's Dungeon'' Museum in Bristol, CT.
Kevin Sean Michaels - director of Vampira: The Movie
Moebius Models creator Frank Winspur
Dr. Mangor - Antimator, photographer, creator of Suicidal Suzi comic
Scifi-Womanthology editor Pam Keesey

Special Guest Interviews:
East Texas Gothic: Joe R. Lansdale
Gandhi At The Bat author Chet Williamson
Don Calfa - star of Return of the Living Dead
Scalps director Fred Olen Ray
NCIS star Muse Watson

100 Most Valuable Magazines

2010-08-09T21:16:00.000-04:00

According to the website Nostomania, these are the 100 most valuable mags. They should call it the most valuable monster mags, because nearly 80% of them are! Another reason that monster mags rule!

100 Most Valuable Magazines

Captain Co. pt. 10

2010-08-09T19:38:00.001-04:00

Well, here it is, my favorite CC ad! Ooo! Ahh! Ain't it purdy! I know it's just a rip-off of the Aurora box art and it's really an SPP ad, but it's really nicely done with all the monsters in color and with all the wallet art and all the plaques. This ad only ran on the back cover of issue #29, with a slightly altered b/w version on the back of #30.

Closeups of wallet art and plaques.

Captain Co. pt. 9

2010-08-08T11:41:00.001-04:00

Down to the last two CC ads posts. I think most people's favorite CC ads were the Don Post mask ads, because it was the coolest monster product and few of us could afford them (or one), making them even more desirable.

This was the first color ad of the "calendar" masks, from the back cover of FM #33 (and #34). The later color ads used the calendar photos.

This, however, was my favorite DP ad. I think this ad only ever appeared in b/w. The masks just looked more "real" in b/w.

Captain Co. pt. 8

2010-08-06T20:38:00.004-04:00

Two related ads and a bit of a mystery.

Thanks to the Universal Monster Army for the color binder scans.

This is a great looking ad for one of the rarest '60s monster collectibles. The Hasbro paint-by-numbers set had some of the best box art of the decade. Hasbro later added sets of The Mummy, The Phantom and The Creature.

And now the mystery! Who made these monster binders? It's long been assumed that Standard Plastic Products made them, probably because they made a lot of binders (Beatles, MAD, etc.), but why are they using the Hasbro art? Were they actually made by Hasbro (who isn't known for making binders)? No markings on the binders identify the mfg. Here's the ad.

No, you can't "paint me just like this"! At least I couldn't.

Captain Co. pt. 7

2010-08-05T17:28:00.006-04:00

This ad ran in FM forever and is my favorite records ad. I loved that Wally Wood cover art (top six LPs) and imagined the records had great audio adaptions of those Verne and Wells tales! I never did get them (and don't know what I'd do with them now), but I have some color photos of the covers.

This notice is from the April 16, 1966 issue of Billboard. The LPs were rereleased on Wonderland Records in 1974.

Captain Co. pt. 6

2010-08-04T20:33:00.004-04:00

This was the first Monster Make-Up Hand Book ad. A very nicely layed out 2 pager from FM #36. (OK, you got me! I like the full page and two page ads!)

Captain Co. pt. 5

2010-08-03T10:08:00.005-04:00

Full page ads for two of the 6' poster. I believe Warren published both of these posters. The Zach (a photo) for sure.

The Zacherley ad first appeared in issue #7 following a Zach article. (Zach was also on the cover.)

This classic Jack Davis Frankenstein ad was from issue #19, but it appeared in previous issues.

Captain Co. pt. 4

2010-08-02T11:56:00.002-04:00

There were, of course, many Aurora monster kit ads, in FM, over the years. This one is a nice looking 2 pg. combo of the previous ad featuring the first 3 kits, plus the 2 latest kits. I suppose if I could only pick one Aurora ad, this would be it.

FM #252 Covers

2010-08-02T11:30:00.008-04:00

Looks like the multi covers continue. I'm going to buy a lottery ticket tonight!

I like the art, but the Stout, again, seems more like a Creepy or Eerie.

FM #252A
Cover by Guy Davis

FM #252B

Cover by Bill Selby

FM #252C
Cover by Wm. Stout

More on FM #70-79

2010-08-01T16:15:00.003-04:00

Here's the cover for #70 (taken from a video). Sorry to say, it just doesn't look retro at all. It looks like one of the new FMs. I'm guessing the insides will be the same. What's the point of doing FM #70-79 if they're not going to look like they're from the period (pulp paper and all)?

Cover Art by Jeff Preston

Captain Co. pt. 3

2010-08-01T11:32:00.003-04:00

The Famous Films series. Each one of these mags had a full page ad of it's own, but I like this 3fer for all the neat hand drawn text.

Captain Co. pt. 2

2010-07-31T20:50:00.003-04:00

Famous Monsters, on a few occasions, lent it's name to some monster products. I'm not sure how much input Warren's company had in the creation of these items, other than the endorsement?

Issue #28 (1964) had the first appearance of the FM Speaks LP. The ad was obviously generated by AA Records.

Another great looking ad (from the mfg) for the ultra rare Famous Monsters Photo Printing Set. Love the box graphics and the happy kid who got one of these! Later ads showed the box contents, but I like this one best. From FM #35 (1965).

Best of The Captain Co.

2010-07-30T18:52:00.003-04:00

Let's look at some of the more memorable Captain Co. ads.

The first and best "Big Frankie" ad, from FM #31. This was the only issue in which this 2 page ad appeared.

James Bama's "Big Frankie" box art was used on the cover of the FM 1965 YB.

Another New Forry Book

2010-07-28T10:48:00.002-04:00

Forry
The Life of Forrest J Ackerman

by Deborah Painter

Foreword by Joe Moe

photos, appendix, bibliography, index
hardcover (7 x 10) 2010

Not Yet Published, Available from McFarland, Fall/Winter 2010

Description

Forrest J Ackerman (1916-2008) was an author, archivist, agent, actor, promoter, and editor of the iconic fan magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland; a founder of science fiction fandom; and one of the world’s foremost collectors of sci-fi, horror and fantasy films, literature, and memorabilia. This biography begins with a foreword by Joe Moe, Ackerman’s caregiver and close friend since 1983. It documents Ackerman’s lifelong dedication to his work in both literature and film; his interests, travels, relationships and associations with famous personalities; and his lasting impact on popular culture. Primary research material includes letters given by Ackerman to the author during their long friendship, and reminiscences from five of Ackerman’s friends, fans and colleagues.

About the Author

Deborah Painter has written articles for such magazines as Filmfax and Horse and Horseman. She is currently an environmental services director for REMSA Incorporated.

http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/

Moon Monster

2010-07-24T15:29:00.007-04:00

Not strictly monster mag, or movie monster related, but the kind of thing that appeals to monster mag fans.

This classic ad was, no doubt, seen by every kid who read a comic book at the time. Commonly known as the Moon Monster ad, or more accurately, the Monster Fan Club ad. Another one of those ads that promised something amazing for only $1 (plus postage) and, once again, you didn't get a lifesize statue of a movie monster, or even some cheap Topstone masks. All you got was a pile of paper.

Thanks to prof. grewbeard for the scan of the badge!

Here's the ad, circa 1970.

And here's your "Life size reproduction of a Movie Monster!" A 74" x 27" two piece poster, that does look a little bit like the demon in "Curse of the Demon".

And your "12 4x5 glossy photos of your favorite monsters!" (And no, they're not glossy!)

Your "Monster (or is it "Horror"?) Fan Club membership card and (1¼") badge!"

Your "Official Club Bulletin" (featuring news of the 1968 Karloff film "The Crimson Cult").

And lastly, your "Extra Bonus! 3 Monster Masks"

OK, who wants to spend a buck on a Giant "Life-Like" Frankenstein or Dracula?

Last Exhibitors Book Art

2010-07-20T21:39:00.013-04:00

I think I have just a few more of these that are worth posting, all from silent films.

A nice piece of monocromatic art for The Lost World.

First National Exhibitor Book 1926-1927.

C. B. DeMille (Paramount) bought the screen rights to The War of the Worlds in 1925. A couple of years later this piece of art promotes a screen version of the story that did not get made. Four years later, Para. bought the rights to Balmer & Wylie's When Worlds Collide. It would be two more decades before either movie got made (by Geo. Pal).

Paramount Exhibitor Books 1925-1928

UFA's Metropolis was released in the US by Paramount.

A portrait of Lon Chaney

Meanwhile back at Universal . . .

Chaney on the cover of Universal Weekly June 6, 1925.

Exhibitor Book ad for The Man Who Laughs.

Monster Mags Theater ("Shock Award")

2010-07-14T22:14:00.004-04:00

Back in this post, you saw the poster for The Monster of Piedras Blancas, with the FM "Shock Award" emblem. Here is the trailer for the movie, that starts out with FM #2 and the award emblem with the voiceover saying "Famous Monsters of Hollywood magazine names it "Shock Award Winner!" Hollywood!?

More Exhibitors Book Art

2010-07-11T21:23:00.005-04:00

Early Frankenstein (1931) notice, with Bela Lugosi starring as "The Monster".

Some nice Károly Grósz art for Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932).

Karloff at Columbia.

Early titles for The Black Room (1935)

and
The Devil Commands (1941).

The Missing FMs (#70-79)

2010-07-11T11:42:00.002-04:00

Jim (MFTV) Clatterbaugh is reporting, from the FM convention, that they are going to be publishing retro-styled FM nos. 70-79. I kinda like the idea, but hate the idea for the cover for the first one. The Governator in the forgettable 1970 epic Hercules in New York. I don't believe for a minute that this movie would ever have made the cover of FM (or any other mag). One good thing though, if they're going to be faithful to the style of the time, at least there won't be four cover variations!

Monster Mags Theater "Basil Gogos"

2010-07-09T19:58:00.001-04:00

If you can hear him over the din of this (otherwise unknown) 2008? Con/Show, here's 10 min. of Basil talking about his art.

Before They Were FAMOUS

2010-07-08T09:11:00.001-04:00

Ad found in the May '58 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction. Don't know what happened?

FM ad

Rarest Warrens pt. 3

2010-07-07T00:51:00.008-04:00

After Hours No. 4
Jay Publishing Co., 1957
Publisher: James Warren

Warren's first venture into the publishing world was his Playboy knock-off After Hours (4 digest sized issues published in 1957). All issues of AH are rare (I believe #2 is the rarest), but the one most coveted by monster mag collectors is #4. Among the articles in this issue is the template for Famous Monsters of Filmland. Written by Forry Ackerman, Scream-O-Scope is Here! was a five page article on the current state of fantasy films, written in Forry's inimitable style. The mail was very favorable on the Ackerarticle, but this would be the last issue. After successfully defending himself on obscenity charges (it was an election year), AH folded and a new chapter in Warren's (and Ackerman's) life opened.

FanMo ProMo Two

2010-07-04T17:13:00.004-04:00

Another flyer announcing Fantastic Monsters #1. The other side is a reproduction of the first issue's front and back cover and the inside back cover. When folded (in thirds) the flyer is magazine size with the color front and back covers showing.

From the John Ballentine collection.

New Forry Book

2010-07-04T00:11:00.003-04:00

HOUSE OF ACKERMAN

"A faithful representation of what it was like to tour any of Forrest J Ackerman's three primary "Ackermansions", filled to the max with horror, science fiction and fantasy memorabilia. This is primarily a photo book with relevant text. As you enter each of the rooms, photos displayed show exactly what fans would see. As you descend down a staircase, photos show what you saw while climbing down that stairwell. The book is printed on extra thick white oqaque stock that makes the photo reproductions POP. For fans, not only of Forry Ackerman, but for fans of his memorabilia collection, this is the ultimate collector's guide. Check out (the Midnight Marquee) website http://www.midmar.com/ to see some examples of the interior design and photos used. For any Monster Kid who Walks Among Us, HOUSE OF ACKERMAN is essential."

Kable News Leaflet

2010-07-02T19:34:00.004-04:00

Famous Monsters' distributor Kable News sent these leaflets to news vendors around the time that FM No. 4 was published.

The Gogos

2010-06-30T11:43:00.001-04:00

Just a little Basil art.

Creepy No. 30

FM No. 83

Famous Monsters Scrap Book

2010-06-29T21:08:00.002-04:00

I'm sure most of you have one of these '60s FM scrapbooks. No? Well, maybe that's because it was never produced. However, you can still enjoy the cover art (by Walt Howarth) that would have been on it, if it had been.

FM Scrapbook

Free Movies!

2010-06-29T09:28:00.001-04:00

I thought I'd pass along this list of 100 horror/sci-fi movies that you can watch for free online.

FM #251, Again

2010-06-28T17:44:00.004-04:00

Here's the forth and final (thank God!) cover for FM #251. I like it! A fitting cover for an updated FM. Now, just try and get your paws on one for less than 4 times the cover price! (Unless you're going to the FM convention.)

No. 251
Cover by Vince Evans

Movie Action Magazine

2010-06-28T11:04:00.000-04:00

This was a short lived (6 issues, Nov. '35 - June '36) pulp from publisher Street & Smith. The editor was John L. Nanovic and it featured prose adaptions of the movie scripts. I wish it had lasted longer, if only to get more covers like the two below!

Jan. 1936

June 1936

Paramount Exhibitor Book

2010-06-25T17:32:00.004-04:00

Kind of an orphan.

Obviously early enough in the proceedings that the makeup had not been designed.

Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1932)

After posting almost every day for the last two weeks, I'm going to take a little break. Thanks for tuning in!

Universal Exhibitor Books

2010-06-24T22:15:00.023-04:00

Here are some pages from various Universal Exhibitor Books. Several of these have been published, in Graven Images for instance. Some are early announcements, made before final casting and some were never made.

Cagliostro (c. 1932) was to be a vehicle for Karloff. The property eventually morphed into The Mummy.

Old Dark House (1932)

Early announcement of The Invisible Man (1933) that was to star Karloff.

Dracula's Daughter (1936) was originally going to co-star Lugosi.

The Invisible Ray (1936)

The Invisible Woman (1940)

The Monster of Zombor (c. 1940-1) was a would be follow-up to The Black Cat (1940).

RKO REDO

2010-06-24T16:36:00.001-04:00

I added one photo to the previous post. More Hunchback art from the Exhibitor Book.

RKO Exhibitor Books

2010-06-23T00:59:00.022-04:00

Continuing with the trade publications, when I think of RKO I think of the Merian C. Cooper and Ernest Schoedsack (and sometimes Willis O'Brien) productions, the Laughton Hunchback and the Val Lewton movies. Some really nice art, including that wild Son of Kong!

The Most Dangerous Game (1932)

King Kong (1933)

Son of Kong (1933)

SHE (1935)

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)

Cat People (1942)

The Leopard Man (1943)

I Walked With A Zombie (1943)

The 7th Victim (1943)

Universal Weekly

2010-06-21T10:17:00.024-04:00

Universal Weekly was a 32 pg publication sent to theater owners, keeping them informed of what's coming up from Universal Studios. One of the big titles for 1935 was, of course, The Bride of Frankenstein and there were, at least, two covers of UW (and some interior pages) featuring The Bride.

Feb. 23, 1935

March 2, 1935

April 6, 1935

Aurora/FM Coupon

2010-06-20T15:45:00.008-04:00

Aurora and FM had an ongoing relationship for many years and during the mid '60s this coupon could be found in the boxes of their monster models. It offered a free copy (i.e., random back issue) of FM if you sent in the coupon with 25¢ for shipping. Probably not a lot of these have survived, as they would have been used. These coupons have also been found in the SPP monster wallets.

From the Richard Olson collection.

Front and Back

Inside

HELP!

2010-06-18T22:48:00.001-04:00

I never bought/read an issue of Warren's (and Kurtzman's) HELP!, but if you want to see all 26 covers (click for large view and TOC), click this link.

Before FM pt. 5

2010-06-17T16:40:00.004-04:00

Creature From The Black Lagoon

This movie certainly got a lot of press (including some from Marilyn Monroe, who discusses the movie with Tom Ewell after a screening in The Seven Year Itch), but not very many magazine articles. Here are a couple, one fairly common and one very rare.

Mechanix Illustrated

May 1954

The Skin Diver

Aug. 1954

The Swipe File

2010-06-15T11:04:00.003-04:00

Here's a fun game you can play! It's called Spot the Swipe. All you have to do is spot a piece of art that has been copied from another source (a photograph, another painting). This will usually be just a face, or a pose. For our purposes, these should be swipes from classic horror/sci-fi/fantasy flims. Could be from an old pulp, paperback, or just about anywhere.

Here's one sent in by John from Monster Magazine World. It's from an old (1946) paperback called Spawn of the Vampire and it's pretty obvious that the head was swiped from this photo from The Mummy (1932).

Email your swipes to me and keep your eyes open!

Ackerman Science Fiction Agency

2010-06-15T00:05:00.001-04:00

Here's a pre-FM ad showing what Forry was up to just before he teamed up with Jim Warren. It has the names of many of the clients he represented, or did other work for.

Monster Mags Theater "FM Covers: Part Deux"

2010-06-14T20:16:00.003-04:00

Same thing, different music. A promo for the new FM 251.

FanMo ProMo

2010-06-13T15:57:00.005-04:00

Here's a rare promotional flyer announcing the upcoming first issue of Fantastic Monsters of the Films from distributor AADC. 8.5x11 unfolded.

From the John Ballentine collection.

Front

Back

Monster Mags Theater "FM Covers"

2010-06-10T13:26:00.002-04:00

I thought this was kind of fun!

Before FM Cover Gallery

2010-06-09T19:00:00.002-04:00

Here are a few favorite pieces of movie monster/sci-fi art from the covers of a wide variety of pre-1958 magazines.

This Jan. 1934 issue of Ten Dectective Aces has an obvious swipe of Chaney's "Phantom" face. Not sure what story is being illustrated, but it's not one by Gaston Leroux.

Jan. 1934

And speaking of Lon Chaney, here's a nice portrait (sans makeup) from the June 1930 issue of Movie Monthly.

June 1930

This cover of Thrilling Wonder Stories, by pulp legend Howard V. Brown, illustrates the movie version of the Henry Kuttner story. One of my favorites!

June 1940

Sci-Fi Time! Destination Moon probably got more press than any other '50s sci-fi movie and the May 1950 issue of Popular Mechanics has one of the best covers.

May 1950

Ziff-Davis Published a special issue of Amazing Stories with a novelization (by Henry Slesar) of Columbia Pictures' 20 Million Miles To Earth.

1957

Nuet-zell, Nuet-zell!

2010-06-03T22:17:00.004-04:00

An FM Christmas card by cover artist Al Nuetzell (circa 1960) for Forry Ackerman, who was his agent and friend.

Monster Mags Theater "Deluge"

2010-05-30T11:27:00.009-04:00

For the first installment of MMT, we refer back to the Modern Mechanix article on movie spfx in this post.

"Deluge" (1933 RKO) was an early disaster film with some of the best miniature effects seen up to that time. It was often mentioned (usually accompanied by stills) in FM and other monster mags. The film was thought "lost", for many decades, until an Italian dubbed print turned up in the 1980s. The disaster footage had been available because of it's reuse in several serials.

Shock! Gems pt. 1

2010-05-29T08:24:00.004-04:00

Ad Mat

Trade Ad

Trades Story

KTLA Ad

Before FM pt. 3

2010-05-27T22:33:00.004-04:00

Makeup and SPFX

Before the invention of the monster magazine, you got your fantasy film coverage wherever you could find it. Modern Mechanix & Inventions was one of those places.

First up is Makeup Secrets of Movie Horror Pictures, featuring Karloff and Jack Pierce.

Feb. 1933

And some movie magic with Filming Tabletop Earthquakes, featuring Willis O'Brien's spfx for Last Days of Pompeii and Ned Mann and the miniatures crew of Deluge.

Dec. 1935

Rarest Warrens pt. 2

2010-05-24T19:47:00.005-04:00

Bestsellers

In June 1964, the publishers trade journal Bestsellers profiled Jim Warren and the monster phenomenon started (in part) by Famous Monsters of Filmland. Naturally, these were never kept and have become quite scarce and are now an FM collector "holy grail".

James Warren Original Cover Art

2010-05-24T10:48:00.007-04:00

Jim Warren's only cover painting was for FM no. 3 (later reused on the cover of FM no. 102). After the first two campy cover photos (featuring Warren in monster masks), Jim sets the tone for future FM cover art with this portrait of Lon Chaney as "The Phantom".

Cover Source

Rarest Warrens pt. 1

2010-05-23T16:29:00.007-04:00

Eerie No. 1

The Eerie "ashcan" edition of no. 1 (5 1/4" x 7 1/4" b/w cover, 24 pgs.) was put together, virtually overnite, to establish Warren's ownership of the title. (Myron Fass was, apparently, going to use the title on a mag, but was left with only the company name, Eerie Publications).

The issue was made up of stories and features from back numbers of Creepy and was dated Sep. 1965. Only 200 copies were printed and the mag was not officially distributed. Some Jack Davis art from Creepy no. 2 was used for the cover. Here are some sample pages:

Pg. 1

Pg. 2

Pg. 3

Pg. 10

Pg. 16

Pg. 23

I like how they used
the Shock Monster
as a substitute Cousin
Eerie, before he was
created.

Pg. 24

In 1978, a bootleg edition of Eerie no. 1 was released into the fan market. Warren ran this ad which offered a $500.00 reward for the arrest of the perpetrators, but they were never caught.

From Creepy No. 81

FM Editor Interviewed

2010-05-22T12:11:00.002-04:00

Max does it again, with an interview with FMs new editor Jessie Lilley. Take it away, Max!

Price Guide Original Art pt. 2

2010-05-15T10:56:00.003-04:00

While we're on the subject, Here's the original painting, by Michael F. Calandra, for the 2000 price guide. The image is kind of small.