I thought I’d cheer you all up with a few more covers from the American horror film magazine from the 1960s called “Famous Monsters of Filmland”. There was nothing subtle about them. Here’s Boris Karloff, real name William Pratt, as “The Mummy”:
And here’s the long forgotten film star Duncan ‘Dean’ Parkin in the long forgotten film, “The War of the Colossal Beast”:
They’re all here. King Kong. And tonight, it’s Kentucky Fried Pterodactyl. Save me a wing :
And here’s Lon Chaney senior in the silent film of “The Phantom of the Opera”, still the best version to watch:
And here’s the little Martian guy from “War of the Worlds”, and I don’t mean Tom Cruise. This is the 1953 version, one of my favourite sci-fi films ever, produced by George Pal, one of my favourite sci-fi directors ever:
This is a very stylised cover based on the film “Frankenstein meets the Wolf Man” Note the damsel in distress and her gravity defying bosoms:
Having said that, it is arguable that the magazine cover does no more than echo the feel of the original film poster:
In a strange twist the two protagonists are played by Lon Chaney junior (the original Wolf Man, and completely expected) and Bela Lugosi (playing Frankenstein’s monster, an incredible piece of irony, given that Lugosi rejected the chance to be Frankenstein’s monster in the original film and let Boris Karloff take the role. Apparently, the monster wasn’t worthy of his acting talents).
Here are two wonderful Wolf Men (or Werewolves, or perhaps even Werewolfs). (Or even Wolf People). They look as if some buffoon has put them through the wrong cycle in the washing machine. This is the first one:
And here’s his younger brother. What a strange dental arrangement:
Here’s “The Monster from the Black Lagoon”, wishing he’d never used that cheap moisturising cream :
This cover is about the silent film that does not exist any more in its fullest form, “London after Midnight”. It is available only in a reconstructed version. It looks like it’s back to strange dental arrangements again:
Not all of the artwork is good. Here’s a daubed Frankenstein, painted with a brush big enough to clean the garage out with:
Only the covers of the magazines are in colour, but there are some very striking black and white photographs inside. I have chosen some characters from my favourite horror films, the old 1930s Universal productions:
Here’s Doctor Pretorius. The man with all the best lines:
His toast: “To a new world of gods and monsters! “
And: “Do you like gin? It’s my only weakness. “
And: “Have a cigar – they’re my only weakness! “
And then, in the mausoleum when the Frankenstein monster makes a sudden unexpected appearance:
“And I thought I was alone!”
And here’s the studio where Godzilla trashes Tokyo on a daily basis. Occasionally his Monkey Mate, King Kong, comes along to help him. The original film, “King Kong v Godzilla”, of course, was voted “Best Film for a late night beer drinking session” for eighteen consecutive years:
And finally, John Cleese’s entry in the Christmas Competition at the Ministry of Silly Werewolves:
John Knifton 