GIRLS AND CORPSES AT MONSTERPALOOZA!

A regular event at Eliot Brodsky's MONSTERPALOOZA in Burbank, CA is the arrival of the GIRLS AND CORPSES magazine "Corpse-Mobile", a 1969 Cadillac hearse appropriately age-worn and complete with casket containing a morgue-load of monster babe goodness ready to be unleashed on the slavering zombie hordes -- otherwise known as the paying customers!

GREETINGS FROM MONSTERPALOOZA!

Well, I'm taking a few minutes for a breather here at the 2014 MONSTERPALOOZA in beautiful downtown Burbank, CA. Still looking for that fabled land of milk and honey I keep hearing about, I came in to Bob Hope Airport yesterday from SeaTac and went from the land of rain (it was raining like proverbial cats and dogs when I left) to the land of earthquakes (there was a 5.2 temblor that centered around the town of La Habra at about 8:00 PM).

Just came back from a 90 minute presentation by Bob and Kathy Burns and the wonderful crew who worked on his legendary Halloween yard shows back in the 60s and 70s. Many of these were filmed and Bob says so much so that a lot of footage was edited out for sheer length.

The highlight of the weekend so far (outside of chatting with Bob, Scott Essman, Anne Serling, Carla Laemmle, Bill Stout -- well, you get the idea) was the special 60th Anniversary CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON tribute panel presented by Essman featuring very special guests, Ricou Browning, Julie Adams, and Bob Burns. The presentation included a number of slide shows that showed many rare shots from the productions, including a never-before-seen 8mm "home movie" that was taken during the filming of REVENGE OF THE CREATURE. My pointy hat's off to Scott Essman (who had moderated a panel on stop-motion animation the night before) for this assemblage of what he called "deities" of the monster motion picture business. I couldn't agree with him more.

Here are a few scenes from "The Museum" exhibit:

Reproduced painting from "Rod Serling's Night Gallery".

Homage to Ray Harryhausen.

Beautiful repro of Ray's imaginative work.

Everybody's favorite pin head

Ricou Browning's in the house! Getting set for his panel discussion.

FRANKIE'S FUNNY BONES

3D CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON TO SCREEN IN LOS ANGELES

Scott Essman, the Prince of Promotion, is reporting that the last of the great Universal monster movies, THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (1954), will be screening in its original 3D version this Sunday at the New Beverly Cinema in Los Angeles, California. Playing with it Universal's THE MUMMY. A super double-feature! Tickets are available HERE.

Those of you who can't see it in L.A. and are going to MONSTERPALOOZA in Burbank the following weekend will have a chance to see it Saturday night, March 29, at 8:30 PM. Info is HERE.

HAPPY SRING EQUINOX!

RARE FRANKENSTEIN MOVIE HERALD

In the absence of social media and other instant communication methods available with today's modern technology, early movie advertising relied on mostly printed materials to publicize their new films. One of the prime methods to convey an upcoming release was the movie herald. Usually a folded, four-page sheet, heralds advertised a film in a manner much like the large posters that were seen outside theaters. Emblazoned with titles and typefaces and dramatic photo elements, these promotional devices were designed to interest and excite the viewer into spending a few hard-earned pennies on a trip to the movies.

The 1931 FRANKENSTEIN movie herald shown here is a rare example. It's scarcity makes it highly sought after by collectors. This particular specimen is currently up for bid at Heritage Auctions. It is listed in Very Good/Fine condition, but the folds, creases, tears and missing paper makes it certainly seem more like a Fair/Good grading. Nevertheless, it is expected to end up selling for $500 - $1000.

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES, LON

Barely a decade after movies became "talkies", MOTION PICTURE magazine was saluting the silent era and the stars that put Hollywood on the map forever. The Thanks for the Memories photo feature in the February 1941 issue depicts a number of actors and actresses who played in films during the day of the title card. Lon Chaney is seen at the bottom left on the page below. The scene is from THE MIRACLE MAN (1919), co-starring Betty Compson, who paired with Chaney on several pictures in the 1920's.

FRANKIE'S FUNNY BONES