TOYS OF ENDEARMENT # 2

Here's a monster kid premium that really "turns me on"! It's the "Don't Pull That Lever Switch Cover Plate"! This wonderful premium was created by Angie Olson; daughter of the great Richard Olson. Just like her father, Angie is a sweetheart of a monster kid. She's also following dad's giant footsteps with sharing her creative talent with other monster kid friends. This premium was handed out by Angie at the 2005 Monster Bash. I was fortunate enough to be one of it's lucky recipients. Thank you Angie!

TOYS OF ENDEARMENT

I've always loved fan-produced items every bit as much, if not more, than the real thing. These "premiums" (as they're called at conventions) , always seem to show much more sincerity and affection for their subject matter than any "authentic toy" could ever hope for!

This week I will begin sharing pics of this brilliant creativity. The sky's the limit when it comes to one's imagination and some simple (and advanced) Phtotoshop skills. The items that you will see this week are all real items in that they were first created with Photoshop and then actually produced using a variety of different household items.

It never ceases to amaze me how creative some folks can be when it comes to something they truly love. The Monster Mini Torch is so simple yet so very effective! It was created by my monster kid friend Rick Stoner. Thank you Rick for gifting me with this wonderful little weapon. I am now guaranteed a quick and decisive action to take should a monster on a rampage ever come pillaging through my town.

UMA INVADES PITTSBURGH!

Ladies and gentlemen ... "We got him"! Yup, that's Uncle Forry alright; standing right in front of the Universal Monster Army toy display at this year's Monster Bash. Having Forry standing in front of our exhibit admiring all the toys was the "seal of approval" of a lifetime. We are now validated and still very unworthy! This will be a Kodak moment of which I will forever cherish! Now that I'm back from a very busy three day convention, I will once again be able to return to blogging. I'm still on cloud nine though!

POSTCARDS PT. 2

Here is another wonderful 1967 Universal Studios postcard from the same series that I posted about yesterday. This comes to us by the kind courtesy of Jim Bertges. Thanks Jim! Who else out there has something to share? Bring it on!

HAVING A GOOD TIME

There's something about old postcards that warms my heart. Mix that "something" with old classic monsters and my heart really begins to boil. BTW, I could see myself collecting vintage postcards someday when I'm old and can no longer travel to real live actual destinations. This way I could just collect a virtual travel itinerary of all the destinations I've been to or should have went to. And these "paper destinations" would all take place in the desired years of my heart - 1960's thru the 1970's. But I digress, I'm only 43 yrs old and can still travel yet alone walk and control my own bowel movements - most of the time anyways.

Let's get to these monster postcards. Both of these cards are from Universal Studios and are dated 1967. Both cards also claim to picture studio lab sets taken from the 1960s Munsters television series. I'm not convinced.



On this first card - I absolutely love this woman's hairstyle including her arrogance. She storms right on to the Munster's lab set and begins picking things up. What a rude bitch. Why the Phantom ought to drag her ass back to Stage 28 and teach her a lesson in manners. PLEASE DON'T TOUCH THE DISPLAY LADY! The text on the back of this card reads "Visitor starts to brew a potion under the Phantom's direction in the Munsters' lab at Universal City Studios". The reference number on the bottom of the card reads 225551-C.



This next card features the Phantom restraining the Frankenstein monster who just happens to look like a Herman Munster dummy. Maybe this is on the actual set of the Munsters? I believe the Phantom is donning a 1960's Don Post Phantom mask. The Phantom has always been a "second rate monster" in my opinion and this picture proves why. Instead of accosting the woman with the silly hairstyle who likes to touch things that don't belong to her, the Phantom spends his time tormenting the Frankenstein monster. The Phantom is all mixed up in his priorities. Go after the girl Erik and leave Herman to Lily! This is why the Phantom must take a back seat to all the other classic monsters. His scare-skills are all wrong. Or is it that Erik doesn't like girls? I'll leave that alone and let you the reader decide. The text on the back of this card reads "The Phantom meets Frankenstein in the Munsters' lab at Universal City Studios". The reference number on the bottom of the card reads 225550-C.

Does anyone out there have any other postcards in this series? If so, please send them to me!

UNWRAPPED !

Now we're talkin! Yeah baby! Whoo-hoo!
GO BABY, GO! WORK IT OUT BABY!

What we have here is every monster kid's fantasy - the Bride of Frankenstein unwrapped! Can you believe your own eyes? Stop drooling down your shirt and place your hands back on your keyboard please. Ready for the story behind this titillating pic?

This was a photo that was kept under wraps (pun intended) for the past 71 years. It was only recently that this pic was finally exposed (pun intended) . The story goes that someone at Universal discovered this pic in the Universal archives back in 2005. It was apparently a picture that Jimmy Whale had shot as a private gag during the 1935 filming of Bride Of Frankenstein. What's even more surprising than the picture itself is that Elsa Lanchester agreed to the whole idea! The montage of Frankenstein monsters that you see along the border of the pic was added much later as an artistic effect. What's even more startling is that you are now beginning to believe this story! It just goes to show you - don't believe anything that you see or read on the internet. But do believe this - Elsa Lanchester in this photo is one hot-looking monster! This we can agree on. Everything else is just useless information that can only be enjoyed on this blog!

WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE

I just love it when pop-culture meets pop-culture. The above video is a prime example of just how cool it can be when worlds collide. This video was something I composed and then uploaded over at YouTube to illustrate this point.

The following footage was taken from the 1960's television program The Munsters. This first season episode was named "Rock-A-Bye Munster" and originally broadcast back on 10-15-1964. The story line, like all Munsters episodes, is moronic yet endearing. When Herman eaves-drops on Lily and overhears her tell Marilyn that Eddie is going to have a little playmate soon, he assumes that Lily is going to have a baby. Herman then mistakenly believes that Eddie's new Frankenstein robot (made by the Marx Toy Corporation back in 1964) is that new baby!

The 1st Season Munsters Box Set = $39.99
1964 Marx Frankenstein Robot MIB = $8,000.00
Herman Munster playing with the Marx Frankenstein robot = PRICELESS!!

(videos here are in FLASH format, so make sure you have that enabled to see them)

THE DIRT ON DRACULA

I've always been intrigued with the final resting place of Bela Lugosi. I guess it's because Dracula is only supposed to be at rest during the daytime hours and never for eternity in some celebrity graveyard. But that's where you can find Dracula alright - right at Holy Cross cemetery in Culver City, CA. The final resting place of actor Bela Lugosi (1884-1956), famous as Hollywood's "Count Dracula," is located just five spaces to the right (east) of Bing Crosby's grave: four rows back (south) from the grotto, and about 15 graves from the western edge, between markers #126 & #127. And it was here that I dared to disturb the soil of Dracula's grave!

Now before you go and call the authorities on me, be advised that I didn't visit Bela's grave with a spade shovel and wheelbarrow. No, I was very respectful of the hallowed ground of which I walked. I simply, and very delicately I might add, scooped up some Dracula dirt with my own two hands. There were no digging utensils involved. Only a small Ziplock sandwich bag was brought along to export the dirt off site. Again, please allow me to remind you that we're only talking about a couple handfuls of dirt here and not cubic yards. I brought home with me just enough Dracula dirt so that I might sleep amongst the eternal vampires here at Castle Famous. Please do not disturb! The Famous Monster of Minneapolis is finally at rest - in/and with - his authentic Dracula dirt straight from Dracula's grave!

To see a great collection of Bela Lugosi funeral momentos click here http://tinyurl.com/qtvkn

I BID YOU WELCOME TO CASTLE FAMOUS

Okay, I give in. Seems everyone's doing it so I might as well too. Welcome to my blog. Why the fascination with all this "blogging"? Is everyone really that interested in what other people have to say? And if so, why do so many of us have a hard time listening to real live breathing people in everyday situations? Is it because we don't have to look them in the eyes when we blog? Or is it simply that we can all walk away when we've had enough? A type of disposable conversation I guess - one sided and all that. The blogger gets to do all the talking and never encounters any resistance. Oh .... I get it! You mean I get to have the last word in all this? Nobody is going to interrupt me here when I'm spewing forth my words of wisdom while uploading pics of curiosity? Wait a minute ... what's that comments link for? No, it can't be. Is there no escape? Oh well, bring on those comments of yours anyways. That way I can feel like this blog is valid. Welcome to Castle Famous!