FRANKIE'S FRIDAY FUNNIES!

SON OF FRANKENSTEIN REVIEWED AND PREVIEWED IN 1939

In 1938 the Regina Theater in Beverly Hills ran a triple bill that included DRACULA, FRANKENSTEIN and SON OF KONG. The re-release of these films proved so successful that the venue stayed open nearly around the clock for several weeks in order to accommodate the crowds who were only too thrilled to once again see their favorite monsters on the big screen. After all, there hadn't really been a horror film released since 1936.

Universal got the message, and, in January, 1939, they released SON OF FRANKENSTEIN, which would mark the revival of the classic monsters, including THE WOLF MAN, which would premiere just a couple of years later.

Hollywood trade magazine FILM BULLETIN, heralded SON OF FRANKENSTEIN with a preview of the picture in the January 14, 1939 issue. It was featured again on January 28 as their "Exploitation Picture of the Issue".

FILM BULLETIN Jan 14 1939

FILM BULLETIN Jan 28 1939

FILM BULLETIN Jan 28 1939

WARREN'S 'HOUSE OF HORROR' NO. 1 ORIGINAL COVER ARTWORK

After the 10 issues of MONSTER WORLD published between 1964 and 1966, it wasn't until 1978 that Warren attempted another companion to the steadfastly successful FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND. Actually, it is not entirely clear that Warren intended to create another magazine or if he just wanted to secure the rights to use the title, HOUSE OF HORROR, for a future project that was spinning around in his ever-entrepreneurial mind. The UK publisher, Top Sellers, had designs on using the title for a US version of their horror magazine line when Warren stepped in and kibosh-ed it.

What came after was another ashcan edition of hasty pudding whipped up in the Warren kitchen with retreads of articles from FAMOUS MONSTERS and two movie-tie ins (see MMW post HERE to view the issue). The magazine was sold from a mail order ad in the pages of FM for $1.00 (even though the cover price is 50 cents). Most sources state that the print run was around 400 copies, so the limited nature of the magazine makes it one of the rarer Warren publications.

Shown here is the uncredited Sanjulian-esque cover art from HOUSE OF HORROR #1 (1978), now up for bidding at auction. The striking 13" x 20" work, called "soulful" by the auctioneer, is rendered in oil on Masonite and is not signed. The original image was flipped horizontally for the cover of HOUSE OF HORROR, and again, when it was used as the cover for FAMOUS MONSTERS #180 (1982). Of course, the inspiration for the image came from a publicity still of Boris Karloff, made up by genius Jack P. Pierce, for his role in THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935).

A rare piece of horror history here, fellow Monsterologists!

The entire painted image.

HOUSE OF HORROR #1

FAMOUS MONSTERS #180.

Publicity still from BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN by Jack Freulich.