CRACKED'S FOR MONSTERS ONLY NO. 5 (PART 1)

CRACKED'S FOR MONSTERS ONLY
Vol. 1 No. 5
September 1967
Major Magazines, Inc.
Publisher: Robert C. Sproul
Editor: Joe Kiernan
Art Director: Charles Foster
Cover: John Severin
Writers: Joe Kiernan, Richard Bojarski
Artists: Vic Martin, McCartney (Bill Ward), Don Orehek
Pages: 68
Cover price: 35 cents

The highlight of this issue is the article about Universal makeup artist extraordinaire, Jack Pierce. Little was written about him in the days of the vintage monster mag, and in this article, the lead picture has a circle around his face so that readers can tell which one is him in the picture!

The other text article in the issue is a review of Peter Lorre's career. Both are written by Richard Bojarski, who was very active during this period. Included is a photo feature on LYCANTHROPUS, aka WEREWOLF IN A GIRL'S DORMITORY.

The issue is replete with the usual photo-caption gags and cartoons, some humorous, some not so much.

NOTE: This scan is from the internet.

UNIVERSAL MONSTERS IN A TIME WARP

One of the better 100-year Universal Pictures tributes I've seen so far has been in the 72nd issue of the British film genre magazine, SCIFI NOW. Written by Daniel Cairns, "The Complete Guide to Universal Monsters", provides a perspective on the studios' place in film history and popular culture.

Leaning on David J. Skal for verisimilitude, Skal reminds us that one of his often-used quotes is "I frequently call DRACULA the most influential bad movie ever made." While I admire his historical knowledge, I can't disagree with Mr. Skal's critical observation more. But, hey, he's the "expert" according to the article's sidebar.

The feature includes a Best of the Best list of what Cairns considers the finest Universal monster movies: DRACULA, BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, THE MUMMY, THE WOLF MAN, THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON. I believe the list tries to use the films as the best examples that spawned the future film cycles of these near-mythical creatures. If that's the case, frankly I would have gone with FRANKENSTEIN over BRIDE, even though we all know which was the better overall production.

INVISIBLE RAY? NO, UNIVERSAL HORROR IN BLU-RAY!

What better way is there to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of Universal Pictures' classic monster movies than to watch them? Universal Pictures has made it even more appealing by releasing 8 of their vintage titles in Blu-ray.

Now, if you're like me, you may already have several editions of films like DRACULA, FRANKENSTEIN, and THE WOLF MAN. But the prospect of viewing these gems with the latest in video technology is about exciting as it could get.

And the word from (mostly) safisfied Amazon.com customers is that the transfers are great. There is even a UK "coffin box" version being released next week that looks to be 30 or so dollars less expensive than the US version.

I am waiting to receive this as a gift, so I can't offer my first-hand opinion. But, from what I've heard, it's time to turn your old copies into frisbees for Fido, as this Blu-ray version is the one to have. Until a hologram version becomes available, I will be in horror heaven the day this comes in the mail.

Here is the promo ad copy for the product:

"From the era of silent movies through present day, Universal Pictures has been regarded as the home of the monsters. Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection showcases 8 of the most iconic monsters in motion picture history including Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, Phantom of the Opera and Creature From the Black Lagoon. Starring Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney, Jr., Claude Rains and Elsa Lanchester in the roles that they made famous, these original films set the standard for a new horror genre with revolutionary makeup, mood-altering cinematography and groundbreaking special effects. Featuring over 12 hours of revealing bonus features plus an exclusive collectible book, each film has been digitally restored from high resolution film elements for the ultimate classic monster experience."

MY NIGHT WITH THE MONSTERS

It was a moment I would not soon forget and the memory of it still evokes a uniquely rarified experience that only the most special kind of wonderment can bring.

Disbelief is the word that easily comes to mind to describe my feeling when I turned the page of the Seattle Times that February day in 1999. I think I may have even audibly gasped. But, there it was -- in black and white -- an article that told of the week long run of a dozen classic Universal monster movies that were to be shown at the Seattle Egyptian Theater! The newspaper article lauded the series as "the classiest horror retrospective to play in Seattle in years." How could anyone disagree?

Just before the turn of the century (sounds a little weird to say that, but it's true), Universal Studios struck brand new 35mm prints of a select group of films with the idea to present a retrospective of the classic years of their famous monsters franchise. And what a group it was: DRACULA, FRANKENSTEIN, THE MUMMY, THE WOLF MAN, THE BLACK CAT, THE INVISIBLE MAN, all titles that have since been indelibly etched in the consciousness of countless fans of vintage horror.

I was able to make one trip to to see the very last of the double bills that were playing that week; I managed to get to the Sunday, February 21, 1999 showing of ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN and FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN, two of my favorites from the later cycle of films.

The magic began as soon as I stepped into the theater. The Egyptian is adorned with modern reproductions of many of the decorations and ornamentation from the dynastic eras. I allowed myself the impression that I had simply walked back in time to those days, or -- better yet -- back to 1932 on the set of Universal's THE MUMMY!

Then, the lights went down and show was on. For the first time ever, I saw the animated Universal logo on the big screen.

I was mesmerized.

I think I might have come to for a moment long enough to remember that I was watching a 35 mm print of a Universal monster movie from the classic era, just like audiences did when they went to the theater back in the 30's and 40's. Here was Dracula, Frankenstein, the Wolf Man -- Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr., and Glenn Strange . . . larger than life!

For anybody that has yet to see a Universal film in this format, it is very difficult to say that anything on a home screen -- including Blu-ray -- can compare. My friends, this is the way classic monsters are meant to be seen!

So I sat, glued to my seat and watched both films. I watched Abbott and Costello bungle their way from McDougal's House of Horrors to the House of Frankenstein, and I watched the duel of the monsters between Frankenstein's monster and the Wolf Man just before the villagers blew up what was left of the doctor's castle in Vasaria.

Yes, I was there in the Seattle Egyptian, transfixed by the shadows on the screen in that darkened movie theater as sure as I might have from the baleful gaze of Dracula himself -- and, for a couple of magical, precious hours, time stopped . . . and I was a Monster Kid again.