This next entry of FAMOUS MONSTERS MEMORIES contains six more covers with a brief synopsis of what's inside. Also, selected issues have their back covers displayed. Some of these show off some cool items I'm sure some of you older FMOF fans out there probably spent your allowance on!
***Note: I tinkered with the covers a bit to make the colors stand out a bit more. The scanned covers look much brighter than the actual covers themselves***
This is issue number 38 of Famous Monsters and it features articles on INVASION OF THE SAUCER MEN (1957), CURSE OF THE DEMON (1957) and HERCULES & THE PRINCESS OF TROY (1965). Also the concluding movie book for 20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH (1957) concludes in this issue. Vic Prezio painted this exceptional cover. I never got the chance to see SAUCER MEN and this issue has some interesting behind the scenes shots of that film being made. DEMON I caught up with in the mid 80's courtesy of the Goodtimes VHS. The Hercules film I saw on TNT on New Years Eve late one evening. The print was immaculate. A shame some of the DVD versions look terrible. It was the pilot for an aborted television series. The great Gordon Scott starred.
This is issue 39 from 1966 featuring another Vic Prezio cover this time depicting Frankenstein's monster from the US-Japanese co-production, FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD. This issue is loaded with pics (many publicity photos) from the Ishiro Honda film. Another FRANK film is also featured--FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE SPACE MONSTER (1965). Some interesting info has an anecdote from John Astin regarding his signing of a 5 year contract for THE ADDAMS FAMILY. "The producers are optimistic about the show." It only lasted two seasons. Also, there's a blurb from Vincent Price stating that since his comedy, DR. GOLDFOOT & THE BIKINI MACHINE was such a success, he isn't doing anymore horror films till a good one comes along! He wouldn't appear in another horror film until 1968's WITCHFINDER GENERAL and that's definitely a good one!
Issue number 40 from August 1966 represents a horrible discovery in the HORROR HOTEL (1960) as its cover. This artwork is from Ron Cobb. Cover stories include HORROR HOTEL, THE SHE CREATURE (1956), DINOSAURUS! (1960), the upcoming THE DEADLY BEES (1967) and a comic strip version of THE MUMMY'S HAND (1940). One of the news bites reports that Brian Donlevy marries one of Bela Lugosi's ex wives.
What's On the Back Cover?
Wonder Woman battles a huge octopus in one of many Aurora model kits.
Next is issue 41 featuring an in depth article on THE WEREWOLF OF LONDON (1935). A splashy preview of Hammer's CURSE OF THE MUMMY'S TOMB (1964) is also featured. There's a news bite about the Warner film, CHAMBER OF HORRORS (1966) being expanded into a theatrical feature as opposed to its originally intended TV movie status. There's also a blurb from an excited Sharon Tate in regards to her last movie, FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS (listed here as VAMPIRE KILLERS). MUNSTERS, GO HOME! (1966) is also featured here.
What's On the Back Cover?
A very nice recreation of THE ADDAMS FAMILY mansion here for "Only $1.98!"
Issue 43 from March 1967 doesn't impress me much with this comical rendition of Chris Lee's Dracula by Ron Cobb. Cover stories of FANTASTIC VOYAGE (1966), the Danish import, JOURNEY TO THE 7TH PLANET (1962). Some news bites include Lloyds of London insuring Elizabeth Montgomery's nose for $1 million(!) after she was involved in a five car pile up! Montgomery smashed up her nose in the accident. A funny quote from Stanley Kubrick says, "I'm sure there's intelligent life on other planets. To prove they're intelligent, they haven't visited Earth." Willis O'Brien performing his stop motion effects work and HOUSE OF DRACULA (1940) are also featured in this issue.
What's On the Back Cover?
Some very cool monster movie photo books and dig that 'Chamber of Horrors' guillotine! Only .98!
Finally, we get to issue 45 from July 1967. The cover ghoul is by Ron Cobb. The films featured are THE PROJECTED MAN (1966), RETURN OF THE VAMPIRE (1944), DR. BLOOD'S COFFIN (1961) and HOUSE OF WAX (1953). The usual great collection of monster photos and upcoming fright features compliment this issue.
What's On the Back Cover?
It's the first ever Famous Monsters of Filmland model kit through Aurora.
UNTIL NEXT TIME...
Favorite cover of the week: Horror Hotel, although I dont remember anything of the like in the film itself!
ReplyDeleteMe, either, Carl, but that's how Forry put it on the contents page! Unless it was something that was meant to be in the film, but didn't make it in the final cut.
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to get a better copy of issue 38. The one I have is pretty beaten up which kind of shows in the pic.