HIDDEN (HUMOROUS) HORRORS

CRACKED wasn't the only humor mag that used photos from monster movies for their jokes. The gag mag POPULAR JOKES (Visual Varieties, Inc., May 1968) was yet another in the slew of adult cartoon digests and regular-size 'zines that offered risque single panel strips, short humorous text stories and semi-nude to all-nude photos and pin-ups, usually accompanied by a suggestive gag-line.

This issue has a two-page spread titled, "Have You Enjoyed An Out-of-the-Way Holiday Recently?" It includes two photos from horror flicks: Maria Ouspenskya as Maleva, "The Gypsy Woman" from THE WOLFMAN and Otto Kruger and Gloria Holden in DRACULA'S DAUGHTER.

Also in this issue is a spot pic of nudist and pin-up model, Diane Webber, star of MERMAIDS OF TIBERION (1962). The recycled photo was first used in a pictorial of Miss Weber in the men's adventure magazine, MAN'S ILLUSTRATED (February 1958). The cartoon on the top right panel is by Archie's own Dan DeCarlo.

Included is this full-page pinup of Austrian actress, Marisa Mell, taken around the time she was seen in Mario Bava's crime thriller DANGER: DIABOLIK. The captivating Miss Mell appeared in European films, including the Umberto Lenzi's giallo, SEVEN BLOOD-STAINED ORCHIDS (1972), VIOLENT BLOODBATH (1974),  PARAPSYCHO (1975), OBSCENE DESIRE (1978) and RING OF DARKNESS (1979), 

SHE GIVES YOU THAT WEIRD FEELING!

Universal's DRACULA'S DAUGHTER is the 1936 follow-up to 1931's DRACULA and sometimes flies like an invisible bat under the radar. It seems to have become most notable over the years for its suggestive scene of lesbianism between Gloria Holden (Countess Marya Zaleska) and Nan Grey (Lili). Besides all that hullabaloo, it's an atmospheric and sometimes creepy movie with gothic overtones. Actor Irving Pichel as Sandor, Zaleska's servant, delivers a fine performance. Edward Van Sloan returns as Dr. Van Helsing and is just as archaic and stilted as in the original!

The article below is a promo puff piece from Universal's in-house magazine, UNIVERSAL WEEKLY (March 21, 1936).

Original One Sheet Movie Poster.

British "Quad" Poster.

DRACULA'S DAUGHTER LAB SKETCH

You don't see much from Universal's controversial 1936 vampire film, Dracula's Daughter other than posters, stills and lobby cards. Among the many items up for bid in Bonham's "Hollywood Then and Now" June catalog is this unusual bit of ephemera.

Laboratory Set Design Concept Sketch for Dracula's Daughter.

Universal, 1936. Original concept sketch accomplished in graphite pencil and ink wash on 23 x 12.25 in. illustration board. Depicting an atmospheric laboratory scene, which can be matched to the resulting set and scenes in the film. Many of the movie's other sets were redressed from the production of Dracula (1931). Handwritten to bottom border "Interior Laboratory 'Dracula's Daughter' Lambert Hillyer Director". Unsigned. Exhibiting expected age, production wear, handling and minor soiling. With soft corners and minor loss to lower right corner.

23 x 12.25 in.

DRACULA'S DAUGHTER Lobby Cards from 1949 Realart re-issue:

DRACULA'S DAUGHTER pressbook pages:

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STILL OF THE MONTH

A regular feature of movie fan magazine Screenland was "The Most Beautiful Still of the Month". In the July 1936 issue the honor went to a Roman Freulich-lensed photograph from Dracula's Daughter. The still depicts Marguerite Churchill and Otto Kruger in a pensive moment from the film.

Freulich was a staff photograher for Universal. He was the brother of the head of Universal's photography department, Jack Freulich. In 1944 he became head of the stills department at Republic.

HAPPY 110th BIRTHDAY, GLORIA HOLDEN!