GEORGE ROMERO'S DEATH CERTIFICATE

Producer/director William Castle, "The King of Ballyhoo", popularized the use of gimmicks for his horror feature films that ranged from a skeleton on a zip line called "Emergo" that sailed over audience's heads in HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL (1959) to buzzers built into theater seats called "Percepto" for THE TINGLER (both 1959). The highly successful promotional strategy caught on and soon countless other studio publicity departments adopted their own gizmos, gadgets and gewgaws to the scary delight of moviegoers.

The "Emergo" skeleton in action.

Even the late, great George A. Romero got into the act with this "death certificate" that was handed out to patrons who paid to watch the now-legendary NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. This example, recently up for bidding at Heritage Auctions, is signed by Romero himself.

UPDATE: The item sold for $350.

Click on image for larger view.

GEORGE ROMERO, R.I.P.

George Romero, largely considered to be the inventor of the modern zombie film, passed away in his sleep yesterday. Romero, born in The Bronx to Cuban and Lithuanian parents had a long and distinguished film making career. He will be mourned by a legion of loyal fans. As well he should; Mr. Romero was a huge influence on the modern horror film.

"Fans mourned the death Sunday of legendary filmmaker George A. Romero, father of the modern movie zombie and creator of the groundbreaking “Night of the Living Dead” franchise.

Romero died Sunday in his sleep at age 77 following a “brief but aggressive battle with lung cancer,” according to a statement to The Los Angeles Times provided by his longtime producing partner, Peter Grunwald. Romero died while listening to the score of one his favorite films, 1952’s “The Quiet Man,” with his wife, Suzanne Desrocher Romero, and daughter, Tina Romero, at his side, the family said.

Romero jump-started the zombie genre as the co-writer (with John A. Russo) and director of the 1968 movie “Night of the Living Dead,” which went to show future generations of filmmakers such as Tobe Hooper and John Carpenter that generating big scares didn’t require big budgets. “Living Dead” spawned an entire school of zombie knockoffs, and Romero’s sequels included 1978’s “Dawn of the Dead,” 1985’s “Day of the Dead,” 1990’s “Land of the Dead,” 2007’s “Diary of the Dead” and 2009’s “George A. Romero’s Survival of the Dead.” -- The Sacramento Bee"

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD FILMBOOK

Cited alternately as either a classic or a rich man's BLOOD FEAST by Forrest J Ackerman, the legendary zombie indie-flick, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD has left its mark in the annals of horror cinema history. Arguably the most successful independent genre production until THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT came along, NOTLD still thrills audiences as it did upon its release in 1968.

The harrowing story is narrated in filmbook form from FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND #109 (August 1974) by David Stidworthy.

MY MONSTER SCRAPBOOK: NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD

When George Romero's modern classic NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD was first released back in '68, it created a bit of a stir as I recall. This clip, from the LOS ANGELES FREE PRESS implies that it's showings at local L.A. theaters were sell-outs.