My Friends and Famous Monsters…or Halloween- a perfect time to catch up with one the most influential mags of it’s time!
Nothing sets the mood better than some good ol fashioned Halloween music so here are some of the best starting off with Bobby “ Boris” Pickett and the Monster Mash.
There are enough tunes here for the entire trek through this trivia bonanza.
My Friends and Famous Monsters….a first in a series of articles/interviews with friends and colleagues within the entertainment industry including Cortlandt Hull, David Shecter and Daniel Griffith all who have gone on from their childhood dreams and fantasies to making them a reality. All the while never losing sight of one thing- a magazine, a very special one at that. It was and still is near and dear to our hearts and I say our hearts because not only was it a “boyhood” tradition but especially for all of you who were fortunate enough to have grown up in the late 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. This is what they all have in common and I am no exception. For it was the age of monsters, Horror Hosts,
Elvira is just one of the hosts awaiting you in the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVFDvtym5dE
Drive-Ins,
“Don’t worry folks for your convience the refreshment stand will remain open thru the first half of last movie…
Click the link below for a good old nostalgic Drive-In intermission.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP6TxSH_pSM
Below: a vintage Snyder Pretzel storage tin…just need a little root beer…ahhhh!!!
A & W, Snyder Dutch Pretzels, Bubs Daddy gum(sour apple),
Creepy Crawlers, Trading Cards, Comic Books, Grape Ne-Hi — and that one most influential of all periodicals.
This was a magazine that was kept under your bed and pulled out at night when everyone else was asleep and no I’m not talking about Playboy although… This one was bound and with non-glossy paper filled with fantastic frightful images, serving up news and editorials devoted to creatures- both big and small, slimey or oozing — that was the splendor of horror and science fiction celluloid- the legendary Famous Monsters of Filmland.
Below-right: notice the price a whopping 50 cents, these were the days when a dollar stretched a lot farther.
Before delving into the aforementioned conversations with my friends I wanted to provide some additional information regarding Famous Monsters and just how important this magazine was. It debuted in 1958 and had a run that lasted 25 years. Published by James(Jim) Warren of Warren Publishing and affectionately edited by Forrest J Ackerman or as everyone knew him-Forry. It was the love of these 2 men that would have a long and reaching influence over 3 generations of “monster kids” including the likes of Joe Dante, John Landis, even the very inspiration for an iconic-80’s cult favorite Monster Squad directed by Fred Dekker. And furthering careers of Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, Roger Corman, the Big G himself-Godzilla and more… their on-screen adventures were covered between the pages of this endearing fan magazine…making instant fans of every reader while helping us discover the classics that we missed during the initial releases such as The Wolf Man, Frankenstein, It Came From Outer Space and Earth vs The Flying Saucers…every issue was loaded with not only pics featuring behind the scenes and my favorites- the film book-the complete plot synopsis and in depth coverage of a highlighted movie within issue. Also up and coming releases, TV and the far and few fan events that existed at the time.
*** Do you remember your first issue? .. I sure do. In fact I can even tell you where I got it. WAB Drugstore on Culver Rd in Irondeqoit NY. My mom must have been picking up a prescritpion and I was hanging out by the revolving comic book rack and the car mags… when out of the blue I spotted this crazy zine with a disolving body in greenish-yellow liquid art on the cover. I think my head was going to explode. I recognized the title right away-Famous Monsters .. I kept pinching myself all the way home as I read this in the back seat of the car… this was the cool zine I use to gaze upon at my cousins’ house.. Now I actually owned an issue… and that was just the beginning.
One of my most anticpated times fo the year was waiting for the annual and those special editions Warren Publishing would miraculously appear at the local pharmacy or newstand. Leaving those loyal monster fiends.. I mean fans chomping at the bit. And there were many of them over the years.
Haunted Ads- All for a “$1.00”
Besides all the great articles in every edition of Famous Monsters. Warren kept us chomping at the bit in anticipation of what cool stuff one might be drooling over.
Planning the next treasure they might want to add to thjeir castle decor. Usually located last few pages of each issue.
Forry himself was just a big kid. And he was not your typical editor. No he was also a fan of all that Famous Monsters covered. It was a fan driven magazine. where “boys’ like myself could write in with questions or suggestions and they were considered seriously. He also made it a point to reach out to the fan base and invited many to his house for a tour... since he actually had a museum in his home with all the collectibles that he had aquirec over the years. Yes he also a film historian and avid collector. Forry had many authentic props with in the collection. Often displayed inthe very pages of the magazine.
He was what you would call accessible. He made many a venture out of his surroundings to see what others had in their treasure trove. One such visit took him from California all the way to Connecticut. To seek out new worlds and new life forms… oh sorry that’s another story. No Forry was exicited to take in The Witchs Dungeon in 1972. A museum dedicated to mosnsters- classic movie monsters. But no ordianry museum- it featured live ghost hosts and it was all started by one very talented, imaginative 13 year old (back in 1966). The young lad by then a young-18, was none other than the great nephew of the very first on screen werewolf Henry Hull. Forry & his wife actually stayed the weekend. Just another example of the editor of Famous Monsters and his giving encouragement to the youth of the day.
In fact one the fans of the magazine who eventually went on to working there in the creative writing dept was to go on to become one the most successful writers in the Horror & Sci-Fi genres. Penning what turned out to be the best short story I had ever read. Published in the back section of one of the issues as an anchor story. It dealt with a werewolf who was boxed in and surrounded by authorities. It seemed like curtains for our Lycan but he had stumbled across away to time travel. So he decided to escape to date in history where he would not be at risk. He had ended up in the old west figuring that he had by-passed the era where silver had been prolific in every day life. But one night shortly after his arrival while on the night of full moon, up to no good of course and in search of a “meal”. As he was just about to sink his teeth in to a lovely lass he heard a shot ring out. Shortly after, he felt a burning in his body that should not be … one that could only be caused by a sliver bullet. And as the light began to darken around him, feeling himself slowly slipping away he heard in the distance a voice call out Hi oh Sliver away!!!…. That once youthful fan was Stephen King.
So many people over the three solid decades that Famous Monsters was in print and all during it’s peak run had their lives changed by the very pages that wrapped around to the ones within. From the very art that graced the covers and the words that told the stories.
Warren Publishing wasn’t just Famous Monsters although we might as well say their business was monsters. Other titles making monthly appearances on the “newstand” included Creepy, Eerie & a most iconic female vampire who made her debut in 1969- Vampirella.
***Actress/Model Barbara Leigh was one of the inspirations for this liberated character. An alien from another planet who arrived just in time for the far far out -mod times of the late ‘60s/early ’70s. Right in line with the likes of Barbarella but with spookier, even sexier storylines especially for American readers.
Vampi is still as popular now as she was then. Having been resurrected several times over the last 3 decades. Currently by Dynamite Publishing. Mant incredibly multi-talented people-writers & artists both male and female have kept Vampirella “alive” while putting their own spin on this legendary persona. Still the sexiest vamp of all time … at least according to me.
An unrealized Hammer Production- a very sad to say bit of trivia…
- ***Trivia***
“Well we all know what do if you have ghosts… but Who ya gonna call when you have monsters!? The Monster Squad that’s who!!!”
I can’t emphasize this point enough. One other thing to make note of even today is the essence of that time time period can still be felt. From comic books to TV to movies.
A perfect example is The Monster Squad-1987. Written by Shane Black(Lethal Weapon)& Fred Dekker(and directed by). It is an homage and a tribute to the magazine and classic film monsters and gothic novels yet set in modern day. The main characters are the very age that kids like myself were when we reached under our beds at night for a quick read. But this squad was not only in to monsters they were about meet them for real. Starring Duncan Rehger(Zorro) with Andre Gower and a wisecracking Ryan Lambert as the ultra cool Rudy. Bruce Broughton provided an essential film score mixing gothic horror with action. It is a part of my highly recommended ear candy listening experiences. If you want to know how to create mood and atmosphere this is it. For Halloween this is a top ten.
Even today monsters are all around us from music videos to games to cereal. You never know when the next invasion will take hold.
Above-The rare Sheena Easton video-Telephone. Loaded with classic movie monsters and gothic overtones. Filmed in Black and White.
I hope this bit of reading gives you a hungering for more Famous Monsters.. when we meet next time:Cortlandt Hull & Horror -it’s in the blood!! …gotta go, the moon is rising and I’m getting a little itchy. Besides, it’s long walk home in the dark, through the winding paths and ever spiraling woods to grandma’s house I go.
Dynamite Publishing-Home of Vampirella
Famous Monsters- Wikipedia
Where to find original issues -
For physical -
For digital copies- PDF
