Monster Mags Theater "Deluge"

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

Ad Mat

Trade Ad

Trades Story

KTLA Ad

Before FM pt. 3

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

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

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

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

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

Price Guide Original Art pt. 2

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.

Price Guide Original Art

Just after I've finished doing the "Books" section on Price Guides, an UMA buddy posts this auction of the original Jack Davis cover painting for the '88 guide. Sweet!

"COVER ILLUSTRATION INFORMATION....IN 1978 JACK DAVIS CREATED A COLOR FRANKENSTEIN WITH FILM REELS ILLUSTRATION FOR THE COVER OF A PROGRAM BOOK TO THE "FANTASY FILM CELEBRITY CON" IN PITTSBURGH THAT I WAS CHAIRMAN OF. THEN IN 1987, I ASKED JACK IF HE COULD ADD SOME ADDITIONAL MONSTERS SO I COULD USE IT ON THE COVER OF MY NEW COLLECTOR'S GUIDE. I SENT HIM BACK THAT ORIGINAL, BUT INSTEAD OF ADDING TO THAT PIECE, JACK CREATED A COMPLETELY NEW PIECE MORE ALONG THE LINES OF THE COVER ART TO CREEPY #1 MAGAZINE WITH ALL THE MONSTERS READING A "MONSTER MAGAZINE!" BOB MICHELUCCI

1978 Fantasy Film Celebrity Con

Program Book
 
Art by Jack Davis

New Posts, Old News

I'm going to be adding a "Books" section that will initially be made up of stuff from the old website and some other no longer new books, because I want them archived on the blog. Any new new stuff that comes along will get a proper post. For now, look for the "Books" section linked just below the "Cover Galleries" section (on both blogs).

Frank Frazetta 1928-2010

From Comic Book Resources: "Renowned fantasy and comic-book artist Frank Frazetta passed away today as the result of a stroke. He was 82." More of the obituary here.

A variety of Frazetta's art at the American Art Archives.

My favorite Creepy cover! R.I.P., Frank!

FM 250 (That's two, five, zero.)

So as not to get ahead of themselves, the new publisher of FM is talking over the publishing of #250 from the previous publisher of FM. (Are you following me, so far?)

Anyway, the issue is (now) going to be a tribute issue for FJA. You can pre-order (and get further info) at the FM store.

New Monster Mag Blog

I'm sure all you monster mag fans will want to check out this new blog!

John's Monster Magazine World promises to keep us up on what is happening with current monster mags. It promises other features, too, but just that will keep me tuned in!

Original Cover Art part 2

To celebrate finishing all those FM covers, here is the original painting, by Bill Selby, for the final cover.

FM Gallery 4

Whew! Finally got all those FM covers done! Also added the convention program covers.

FM Gallery 4