tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-167215552024-03-13T08:48:25.575-07:00CASTLE FAMOUSThere is nothing wrong with your computer. Do not attempt to adjust your settings. I am controlling transmission. If I wish to make it louder, I will bring up the volume. If I wish to make it softer, I will tune it to a whisper. I can reduce the focus to a soft blur, or sharpen it to crystal clarity. For the next hour, sit quietly and I will control all that you see and hear. You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the inner mind of the Famous Monster of Minneapolis.Famous Monster of Mplshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568541265680360801noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16721555.post-56465957558891315672007-04-04T05:03:00.000-07:002007-04-04T05:12:23.153-07:006' MONSTER<span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">I know, it's been a while. Sorry, I missed you too. Here .. let me make it up to you by giving you a 6' Frankenstein door poster sized down to about 4.5" x 11".<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/RhOV8rxpkWI/AAAAAAAAAD0/HwyGQq4t7X8/s1600-h/Frankenstein_small.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/RhOV8rxpkWI/AAAAAAAAAD0/HwyGQq4t7X8/s320/Frankenstein_small.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049544476988117346" border="0" /></a>Famous Monster of Mplshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568541265680360801noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16721555.post-34273001394765798602007-03-19T04:55:00.000-07:002007-03-19T05:10:27.881-07:00GLORIA HOLDEN'S GLORY!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/Rf58r54qf4I/AAAAAAAAADo/695LecHCj4k/s1600-h/daughter_drac.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/Rf58r54qf4I/AAAAAAAAADo/695LecHCj4k/s320/daughter_drac.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5043605726416240514" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">"I am afraid, Sandor. The cravings within compel me to be the very thing I loathe. The power of the vampire is too strong to resist."</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">"You cannot deny who you are or what you are, Countess. Your father's blood flows through your veins. Surrender your inhibitions to your supernatural desires."</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Reluctantly accepting her fate as the Daughter of Dracula, Countess Zaleska lets slip the cloak to reveal her seductive form to the night wind ...</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">ed - text provided by Richard Olson. Picture provided by ? Okay, it was done by Richard too. Not sure if he wanted this to be revealed or not, but what the heck .. he revealed Gloria Holden didn't he? All the monster kid men salute you Richard! You devil you!</span>Famous Monster of Mplshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568541265680360801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16721555.post-11537857380688208952007-03-12T19:39:00.000-07:002007-03-12T21:30:34.896-07:00HOLLYWOOD BABBLE ON ..<span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">I've always been intrigued with celebrities, but not in the way that most people find flattering. Achievements and awards reveal little other than occupational talents. No, what I find most interesting is when we get a rare glimpse into a celebrities' life struggles. Only a fool would believe the Hollywood machine hype that a successful actor lives the "good life" 24/7. It's in these personal moments of strife and disappointment, when I can finally begin to appreciate the "celebrity" as a real life individual. I become interested in them in a more genuine way other than just being a "big fan" of their movies.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">For the sake of staying on topic with classic horror, let's take a look at the infamous struggle that Bela Lugosi experienced late in his life. Yes, we all know that Bela was a wonderful actor who's role in Dracula is forever sealed as the last word on Dracula. There can be be no doubt; Bela was, and still is Dracula. There will never be another performance as convincing as his. But was his entering a sanitarium for drug addiction a performance too? I think not. Maybe if it had been the year 2007 where it's now considered chic to enter into a drug rehab. After all, celebrities often enter rehab nowadays just to get some good press right before one of their pictures opens up at the box office. Singers who are releasing albums are no exception to this rule either. Whether you have a therapist, or you go straight into rehab, it's now considered as common and as acceptable as getting your nails done. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">But Bela had decided to enter the sanitarium (as it was called back then) in the year 1955 (not 2007) for an addiction to methadone. Methadone is an opiate that was prescribed by Lugosi's doctors to alleviate chronic pain due to injuries received during military service. Entering into rehab for a drug addiction was not a "cool thing to do" in the year 1955. In fact, it could be the kiss of death for a celebrities career. It was still somewhat taboo and it had had a stigma that couldn't be easily shaken. There was nothing cavalier about admitting one's self into a sanitarium in the year 1955. That is unless you had no career left worth saving. Maybe Bela was ahead of his time. It has been said many times before that this was Bela's way of getting some attention as well as getting back at his ex wife Lillian for leaving him. I believe there's more than a sliver of truth to that! But I believe, as many do, that Lugosi was also a full blown drug addict who was desperately in need of help. If this was a performance, it was method acting at it's finest, and I'm sure it came easy for Bela.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Here is a rare glimpse of Bela leaving the sanitarium after a three month treatment and recovery. In the video, he claims he's fully recovered and is a new man who's ready to go back to work! Sadly enough, this is one of Bela's performances that isn't too convincing for me. After having viewed this footage it appears to me that this whole moment of Bela leaving the sanitarium was indeed staged. Not that I doubt that Bela was in need of some serious medical help, but his ego was also reaching out to anyone who would give him some more attention even if it meant exploiting his own demons for the sake of more camera time. Perhaps he killed two birds with one stone? </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">BTW, Britney Spears has nothing on Bela Lugosi. Lugosi still had his talent upon leaving rehab whereas Britney was left with only a bald head. I guess you had to have talent before you could loose it.<br /><br /><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" class="abp-objtab visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/EM88vyxN82k"></a><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EM88vyxN82k"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EM88vyxN82k" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></object></span>Famous Monster of Mplshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568541265680360801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16721555.post-5495777957026779332007-03-06T12:46:00.000-08:002007-03-07T06:31:10.049-08:00INSIDE STAGE 28<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/Re62qemujsI/AAAAAAAAADI/rWYffQdyoUs/s1600-h/phantom+stage.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/Re62qemujsI/AAAAAAAAADI/rWYffQdyoUs/s320/phantom+stage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039165873960423106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Built in 1924 for use in 1925’s “The Phantom of the Opera” with Lon Chaney, Stage 28 on the Universal lot has had a role in many films, including “Dracula,” “The Man of a Thousand Faces,” “Torn Curtain,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie” — and 1943’s “Phantom of the Opera.”</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/Re3ZHemujpI/AAAAAAAAACw/VO4RsQiP9ns/s1600-h/phantom+stage+1925.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/Re3ZHemujpI/AAAAAAAAACw/VO4RsQiP9ns/s320/phantom+stage+1925.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5038922280595263122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">The "Phantom stage" as it's so affectionately called, is in my opinion Universal Studios most hallowed ground. It was inside this sound stage that Lon Chaney's Erik terrorized the crowd at the Paris Opera House in the 1925 Universal film "</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Phantom Of The Opera</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">". What's more remarkable to me than Chaney's performance, is that this sound stage is still standing with most of it's Opera House facade still intact! The infamous chandelier is long gone, with some of it's crystals being distributed among lucky collectors, but you will notice in the following pics that most of the Opera House interior is still very much alive.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/Re3ZUumujqI/AAAAAAAAAC4/m1UMlwMHufA/s1600-h/phantom+stage+1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/Re3ZUumujqI/AAAAAAAAAC4/m1UMlwMHufA/s320/phantom+stage+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5038922508228529826" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);"><span style="font-size:85%;">Pictures courtesy of Classic Horror Film Board</span><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">One can only dream of Chaney's ghost still haunting the catacombs that lie beneath the Opera House floor. Okay .. maybe there weren't any actual catacombs beneath the sound stage, but this locale is still prime real estate for ghostly apparitions! And what I would give to be able to spend just one night alone inside this sound stage!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Thanks to a good friend who works at Universal Studios, in spring of 2006, I would come close to living this dream. While I wasn't invited to experience an actual sleep over at Stage 28, I was still given a personal tour (sans tourists) inside this remarkable structure of Hollywood history!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/Re3a_OmujrI/AAAAAAAAADA/CKfxw0m6FZI/s1600-h/phantom+stage+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/Re3a_OmujrI/AAAAAAAAADA/CKfxw0m6FZI/s320/phantom+stage+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5038924337884597938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">The first thing that I noticed was something not too hard to miss, that is unless you are colorblind. The entire Opera House facade had been painted a rusty-color red! Let's call it "crimson red" just like the chilling Masque Of Red Death scene from the 1925 Phantom film!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/Re63DOmujtI/AAAAAAAAADQ/n60YzyG3Prg/s1600-h/phantom+stage+3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/Re63DOmujtI/AAAAAAAAADQ/n60YzyG3Prg/s320/phantom+stage+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039166299162185426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/Re63sOmujuI/AAAAAAAAADY/QAgwpLaullI/s1600-h/phantom+stage+4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/Re63sOmujuI/AAAAAAAAADY/QAgwpLaullI/s320/phantom+stage+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039167003536821986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">And finally, and most importantly, my personal tour inside the Phantom Opera House wouldn't be complete without taking home a souvenir. And I ain't talkin' about no t-shirt or coffee mug here! Yes .. that's right, I would dare to anger Erik by taking home with me an actual piece of the Paris Opera House! Yes, go ahead and call the cops on me, but this opportunity only comes around once. I took the hammer out of my duffel bag and started chipping away at the facade like a woodpecker chips on wood! Now before you scream out sacrilege, let me tell you that it didn't happen that way at all. Actually, a small piece of the Opera House facade was dangling by a thread at knee level and I "conveniently" brushed up against it thereby knocking the dime-sized piece to the ground. Like a good steward, I picked up after my mess and off I went feeling as if I had just acquired a piece of Noah's Ark. That small little piece of cinematic history now resides here at Castle Famous, and if you listen in the wee hours of the morning, you can faintly hear the haunting sound of a bellowing pipe organ being played by a deranged composer who hides his face all while seeking revenge for vandalism.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/Re7L_-mujvI/AAAAAAAAADg/2oebA9mxUJc/s1600-h/phantom+stage+artifact.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/Re7L_-mujvI/AAAAAAAAADg/2oebA9mxUJc/s320/phantom+stage+artifact.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039189333071793906" border="0" /></a>Famous Monster of Mplshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568541265680360801noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16721555.post-76530009219398204992007-03-04T05:14:00.000-08:002007-03-04T05:57:05.907-08:00MONSTER OLD MAID ON WHEELS<span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Greetings. I'm happy to report that I'm back from doing battle with over 14" of fresh snow. Our governor Tim Pawlenty said it best, "it was a whale of a storm". Let me tell ya, plowing all that snow was pure hell. But let's move on, shall we?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">I've neve</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">r been into fancy sports cars of any kind. Cars to me are just another means to transport your arse back and forth across town and nothing more. That was until I laid eyes on THIS!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/RerM_hzbN_I/AAAAAAAAACI/QbNG5S0aQLQ/s1600-h/oldmaid1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/RerM_hzbN_I/AAAAAAAAACI/QbNG5S0aQLQ/s320/oldmaid1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5038064524945209330" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/RerNGBzbOAI/AAAAAAAAACQ/1Tr3ZTm0Ci0/s1600-h/oldmaid2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/RerNGBzbOAI/AAAAAAAAACQ/1Tr3ZTm0Ci0/s320/oldmaid2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5038064636614359042" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/RerNjhzbOBI/AAAAAAAAACY/vx9_qYyJOUM/s1600-h/oldmaid3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/RerNjhzbOBI/AAAAAAAAACY/vx9_qYyJOUM/s320/oldmaid3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5038065143420499986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/RerNzxzbOCI/AAAAAAAAACg/v7g1-MkpiP4/s1600-h/oldmaid4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/RerNzxzbOCI/AAAAAAAAACg/v7g1-MkpiP4/s320/oldmaid4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5038065422593374242" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/RerN9hzbODI/AAAAAAAAACo/_rF7qPZMI3Q/s1600-h/oldmaid5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/RerN9hzbODI/AAAAAAAAACo/_rF7qPZMI3Q/s320/oldmaid5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5038065590097098802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">And here I am stuc</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">k driving a Chevrolet Minivan. Life just isn't fair sometimes. </span>Famous Monster of Mplshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568541265680360801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16721555.post-84294365483700466332007-03-01T22:20:00.000-08:002007-03-01T22:25:07.371-08:00I HATE SNOW<span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Greetings. Just a very quick note to say that this blog has been temporarily interrupted by a massive blizzard. No joke. And I'm one of the lucky bastards who gets to plow it - all 18" of it ( and counting). Running on next to no sleep. This blog will resume when my mind and body are refreshed. God .. please make the snow stop falling?</span>Famous Monster of Mplshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568541265680360801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16721555.post-32830774938295037972007-02-27T05:31:00.000-08:002007-02-27T06:34:44.019-08:00WISH YOU WERE HERE<span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Greetings! Today, I'd like to revisit an </span><a style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);" href="http://castlefamous.blogspot.com/2006/06/having-good-time.html">earlier pos</a><a style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);" href="http://castlefamous.blogspot.com/2006/06/having-good-time.html">t</a><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);"> here at Castle Famous that showed some ghoulishly </span><a style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);" href="http://castlefamous.blogspot.com/2006/06/postcards-pt-2.html">fun postcards</a><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">. These were postcards that one would purchase in gift stores at Universal Studios Hollywood back in 1967.</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);"><br /><br />First up is another postcard of the Musters set at Universal Studios. I'm not quite sure how many different Munsters postcards were produced in this series, but so far I'm counting four including this one which was graciously sent to me courtesy of George Chastain.<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/ReQ-9XIOp8I/AAAAAAAAABc/qEDPcs31wYY/s1600-h/Munsterspostcard4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/ReQ-9XIOp8I/AAAAAAAAABc/qEDPcs31wYY/s320/Munsterspostcard4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036219507208529858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 153);">And while this next postcard may not be of the Munster family, it's still more than worthy to be sent to anywhere in the continental U.S.A. Who would dare to reject Vincent Price? Maybe someone who fancies being dipped into hot molten wax!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/ReQ_KHIOp9I/AAAAAAAAABk/zcQwrStMe-o/s1600-h/monster+postcard+5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/ReQ_KHIOp9I/AAAAAAAAABk/zcQwrStMe-o/s320/monster+postcard+5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036219726251861970" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);font-size:85%;" > * Both pics courtesy of George Chastain.</span>Famous Monster of Mplshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568541265680360801noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16721555.post-25326709888475189722007-02-24T10:17:00.000-08:002007-02-24T10:42:40.644-08:00LET IT SNOW ALL-YETI<span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">It's a very snowy day here in Minneapolis. The experts are calling for a total accumulation of 19" of new snow by Monday morning! Yippee!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Why not take a negative situation and turn it into a positive one by posting pics of a thematic monster on a snowy frontier? I'm talking about the 1962 Marx Abominable Snowman or officially known as the "Battery Operated Remote Control Yeti".</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">In all of my 20 years of plowing snow, I've yet to come across a Yeti roaming the streets in the middle of the night. In fact, in all of my years of collecting toys, I've yet to across a Yeti as a battery operated toy either. Those Yetis are just plain sneaky. Just as I am in sharing these pics that I stole from </span><a style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);" href="http://www.thegalleryofmonstertoys.com/">Ray's Gallery Of Monster Toys</a><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/ReCFXOE6LWI/AAAAAAAAAAk/o9eFqyeWzEo/s1600-h/yeti2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/ReCFXOE6LWI/AAAAAAAAAAk/o9eFqyeWzEo/s320/yeti2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035171017362386274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/ReCFceE6LXI/AAAAAAAAAAs/HZ1ZrOtwgL4/s1600-h/yeti3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HQeu9tsKQS4/ReCFceE6LXI/AAAAAAAAAAs/HZ1ZrOtwgL4/s320/yeti3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035171107556699506" border="0" /></a>Famous Monster of Mplshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568541265680360801noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16721555.post-1172260138371421682007-02-23T11:41:00.000-08:002007-02-23T11:48:58.383-08:00THE AWAKENING OF THE BLOG<span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);font-size:100%;" >It's alive! These Castle walls are speaking once again! After a long hiatus, I've decided it's time to put the welcome mat back down and reopen these Castle doors to those seeking shelter. I shall try and be more hospitable in the coming months with the regularity of my posts. A well balanced diet of monsters high in fiber will encourage my regularity.<br /><br />You will not remember what I show you now, and yet I shall awaken memories of love... and crime... and death...<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/1961/1595/1600/497625/terry.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/1961/1595/320/760235/terry.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Famous Monster of Mplshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568541265680360801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16721555.post-1159963618014928642006-10-04T04:46:00.000-07:002006-10-04T05:15:53.736-07:00TOTAL RECALL<span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">Greetings! I know, I know ... "where have you been", your asking? Well .. let's just say I've been wandering about the forrest during the past few weeks. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">I typically don't care for cute little snippets of religious teachings, but this one has somehow touched my heart this morning. And I feel it's relevant to the thorn that's been unfolding in my life at the moment. </span><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">I shall persevere and overcome this thorn only by His grace and power. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">BTW, now you know why I named this blog "Castle Famous Live and Uncensored"! It's just another candid peek inside real life that's filled with monsters of all kinds; not just celluloid monsters.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffff33;">*****************************************************************</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">The Maker of all human beings is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart. This is due to malfunction in the original prototype units code named "Adam" and "Eve", resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;"></span><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">This defect has been technically termed "Subsequent Internal Non-morality",or more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">Some other symptoms:</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">1. Loss of direction</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">2. Foul vocal emissions</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">3. Amnesia of origin</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">4. Lack of peace and joy</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">5. Selfish or violent behavior</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">6. Depression or confusion in the mental component</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">7. Fearfulness</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">8. Idolatry</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">9. Rebellion</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this S.I.N. defect.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">The Repair Technician, JESUS, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">The number to call in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R. Once connected, please upload your burden of S.I.N. through the REPENTANCE procedure.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, JESUS, into the heart component. No matter how big or small the S.I.N. defect is, JESUS will replace it with:</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">1. Love</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">2. Joy</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">3. Peace</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">4. Patience</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">5. Kindness</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">6. Goodness</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">7. Faithfulness</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">8. Gentleness</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">9. Self control</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth), for further details on the use of these fixes.WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded. For free emergency service, call on JESUS.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace.The S.I.N. defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven, so as to prevent contamination of that facility.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">Thank you for your attention!</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">GOD</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">P. S. Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice!!!</span>Famous Monster of Mplshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568541265680360801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16721555.post-1158151739545124012006-09-13T05:38:00.000-07:002006-09-13T05:48:59.556-07:00DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU !<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/cheat.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/320/cheat.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">What you are looking at here is a real billboard sign recently put up on a Minneapolis street corner by a very disgruntled "soon to be ex-spouse"! Can you blame her? I applaud her ingenuity and creativity in this very effective public pay-back notice. Just another reminder to play by the rules of decency!<br /></span>Famous Monster of Mplshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568541265680360801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16721555.post-1157632114707798272006-09-07T05:11:00.000-07:002006-09-10T06:49:09.310-07:00BACK TO SCHOOL IN THE 1960s<span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">It's "back to school time" for most kids. I always dreaded having to go back to school as young boy. The only good thing about it was going shopping with mom and buying all new school supplies. I always loved searching for the best-looking "school box" I could find. Anyone here old enough to remember what "school boxes" are?<br /><br />A </span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3359/2547/1600/the-box.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc33cc;">school box</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;"> (pic courtesy of </span><a href="http://secretfunspot.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc33cc;">Secret Fun Blog</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">) was simply a cardboard box with a lid on it. Inside these boxes you would store your pencils, erasers, crayons, and other miscellaneous supplies - like Spook Stories cards. What made school boxes special though were the graphics that were adhered to the side panels. This is what would make a school box either cool-looking or completely dorky-looking. Unfortunately, and most surprisingly, is that to the best of my knowledge there was never a monster themed school box made back in the 60s. And considering that monsters were all the rage back then, one can only wonder why this never happened? What a missed opportunity! Someday, I will use my Photoshop prowess and create my own 1960s monster school box!<br /><br />Not to worry though, school supplies back in the 1960s still had plenty of character and some were all about the monsters!<br /><br />Let's review just how monstrous and cool a 6 yr old boy could look with these vintage school supplies from the 1960s:<br /><br />Let's start off with a bang. It doesn't get any better than this! Monster 3-ring note binders:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/frank%20binder.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/320/frank%20binder.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/drac%20binder.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/320/drac%20binder.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#66ff99;"><em>(Frankenstein and Dracula 3 ring binders made by Hasbro. Wolf Man not shown.)</em><br /><br />One would never be caught going back to school without a #2 pencil! So what good is a pencil without a sharpener to sharpen it with?</span></span><br /><br /><p></p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/monstersharp.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/320/monstersharp.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#66ff99;">And while your at it, why not outfit your sharp #2 pencil with these cool-looking monster pencil accessories?</span><br /></span><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/pencil%20toppers.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/320/pencil%20toppers.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#66ff99;"><em>(pencils shown are from the 1990s)</em><br /><em></em><br />And now that you have your "pencil thing" together, you'll need to something to write on like this 1960s monster tablet! BTW, I just scored this vintage tablet off of eBay. Yipeee!<br /></span></span><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/paper%20pad.3.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/400/paper%20pad.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">And finally, what's going back to school without bringing a brand new lunchbox to crack bullies over the head with? </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/munsters%20lunchbox.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/320/munsters%20lunchbox.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This one is from the 1970s. I wouldn't want anyone to think I'm being fraudulent here.<br /></span><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/lunchbox1.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/320/lunchbox1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/lunchbox2.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/320/lunchbox2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/lunchbox3.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/320/lunchbox3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/lunchbox3.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/lunchbox3.jpg"></a>Famous Monster of Mplshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568541265680360801noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16721555.post-1157148079343630452006-09-01T14:48:00.000-07:002006-09-06T13:13:01.363-07:00BLOG ON A STICK<span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">Here in Minneapolis, a sure sign of the end of summer is our "great Minnesota get together" or better known as the </span><a href="http://www.mnstatefair.org"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc33cc;">Minnesota State Fair</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">. Going to the fair has always been a tradition of mine. I'm still not sure why it is that I feel I must go, but because I can't come up with a rational explanation, I continue to go. This year was no different with the exception of having my camera locked and loaded.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/deep%20fried%20candy%20bars.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/320/deep%20fried%20candy%20bars.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">This food booth has to be the beginning of the end of modern civilization as we know it. Deep-fried candy bars! Oh boy! And while your at it, give me a lemonade to go with that. Has anyone in their right mind eaten one of these things? And if so, they had to be either drunk or suicidal .. or both. I mean really .. why not just eat a handful of lard and get it over with? These repulsive food concessions make even the deep-fried cheese curds look healthy! Never in a million years. Not even drunk and with a bag over my head!<br /><br />And not to be out done, there's this deep-fried morsel ....<br /></span><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/deep%20fried%20twinkie.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/320/deep%20fried%20twinkie.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">Open up wide. It's a deep fried Twinkie on a stick! Yum! What ever happened to the good old days when the only thing on a stick was a Pronto Pup? I may be a human garbage disposal when it comes to proper nutrition but even I have standards. Let's move on to some state fair entertainment before I throw up.<br /><br />Hey, I've got an idea! Now that I'm all queasy with deep fried dementia, let's climb way up to the top of the giant slide and get this party started right!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/giant%20slide%202.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/320/giant%20slide%202.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#66ff99;">The giant slide at the MN State Fair is still the best ride at the entire fair! Of course, there are many people who would laugh at such a statement. But let them laugh, and let them die too. At least at the giant slide, there's no chance of mechanical failure or human error. You take your life in your own hands, and not in the hands of some disgruntled fair carny. I've slid down the giant slide since a very young age, and I hope to be sliding down it at the ripe old age of 99! And besides, it's my son Dominick's favorite ride too! Dominick's the smiling young lad at the bottom of the slide.</span><br /></span><br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/89/235893646_44d7e658af.jpg" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">After sliding on our asses a couple times, we headed on over to </span><a href="http://yeoldmillmn.com/"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc33cc;">Ye Old Mill</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">.</span><br /><br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/94/235911046_3c2cdd9c37_o.jpg" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">Ye Old Mill is truly a state fair tradition! It's been in operation for 93 years and is still being run by the same family! Ye Old Mill never changes. This is both good and bad. Good, because I don't like change all that much. But bad, because Ye Old Mill probably needed changing right from the start. You see, there's really not much to this ride other than an old wooden boat going through dark musty tunnels on stagnant water.</span><br /><br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/95/235911047_3fb937b736_o.jpg" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">Oh sure .. Ye Old Mill tries to provide some modest scenes that can be enjoyed along the way, but it's always been minimal and very cheaply thrown together. And I never remember it being any different than that either. And the staged scenery that they do have is obstructed by big ugly grid iron meshing that is supposed to prevent rowdy folks from throwing cups and other debris at the displays.<br /></span><br /><img src="http://static.flickr.com/92/235911045_d93edc302e_o.jpg" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">They'd be better off having nothing there at all. As a small boy, this ride always intrigued me. It was dark and very mysterious to a young mind. Now as an adult, this ride still remains dark and mysterious. And even more so when you ride along with a member of the opposite sex ... if you get my drift? All passengers must keep their hands to themselves unless married!<br /><br />TO BE CONTINUED ...</span>Famous Monster of Mplshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568541265680360801noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16721555.post-1156857002216741732006-08-29T05:52:00.000-07:002006-08-29T06:10:02.230-07:00WATCH IT AND WEEP<p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/74Qt7y3MDZA" width="425" height="350" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">Here is a great video of some family's home videos from the 1960s. This 8mm collection has everything going for it. There's a Christmas morning celebration, a St. Patrick's Day party, a summer backyard gathering of family and friends, a day at the beach, and even a swimsuit pageant for the adults! If you can spare 8 minutes of your time today, watch this collection of vintage family moments and see if it doesn't rekindle that spark of what family is all about! We all need to continue making more memories like these!</span><br /></p>Famous Monster of Mplshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568541265680360801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16721555.post-1156770589324383572006-08-28T05:46:00.000-07:002006-08-28T06:14:11.373-07:00THE FAMOUS SISSY OF MPLS.<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/sissies.0.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/320/sissies.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">Well ... what do we have here? Why it's just an old picture of two cute little girls in the year 1967. Wait a minute! Those are not cute little girls at all! They're cute little boys impersonating cute little girls! This is fraudulent and disgusting! Why would any kid's mother encourage such a thing? And then take a picture to top it all off? Where was the Child Protection Agency back then when you needed them the most?<br /><br />Oh well .. not to worry. My brother and I both grew up unscathed from such a traumatic and exploitive Kodak moment. We both are very much burly men with high levels of testosterone that seeks out high levels of estrogen from our spouses. I did however, later on in my adult life, go on to bigger and better things while wearing women's attire. I was a lead vocalist in a band that used to ... never mind. I'll save that for another post on a different day.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">BTW, that's me on the right holding up my dress. My brother Todd is on the left.</span>Famous Monster of Mplshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568541265680360801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16721555.post-1156252467913256482006-08-22T06:07:00.000-07:002006-08-23T06:05:58.926-07:00IS THIS DOCTOR A QUACK?<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/Proto%201.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/320/Proto%201.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/Proto%202.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/320/Proto%202.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">This remote controlled Doctor Frankenstein robot is an alleged 1963 prototype from the Marx Toy Company. Just in case you missed out on all the speculation over at </span><a href="http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/UniversalMonsterArmy/"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc33cc;">UMA</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;"><span style="color:#cc33cc;"> </span>regarding this item, I will give you the rundown here at Castle Famous. I feel it's worthy of discussion here as well as at the </span><a href="http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/UniversalMonsterArmy/"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc33cc;">Universal Monster Army</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;"> Yahoo group.<br /><br />This "prototype" is supposedly a 1963 sales sample from the Marx Toy Corp. A "sales sample" is a term that is used by manufacturers that are shopping new ideas and products to vendors. This robot is being auctioned off as just that - a rare sales sample and/or prototype. However, I'm not so easily convinced, and here's why.<br /><br />Clearly, and just as the auction states, the head and entire body of this alleged prototype is that of the classic Marx Frankenstein robot from 1963 with a different paint job. I find this odd. Why would the Marx Toy Corporation, with all of their resources, take such a short cut if they were seriously shopping this as potential product? It just looks too shoddy to me - almost as if it were painted in someone's basement. If it were a true sales sample, wouldn't you think Marx would have wanted something much more polished-looking to help solicit interest? Then again, many times toy manufacturers will quickly throw something together; not really expecting much scrutiny from a prototype that is only being proposed. And what's even more troubling is the subject matter itself. Don't you think that it would have been far more profitable for Marx to produce a companion monster to their Frankenstein robot such as Dracula or Wolf Man rather than a boring plain clothes doctor?<br /><br />I suppose the possibilities are endless. Perhaps this was an in-house gag made by Marx employees? Perhaps this was made in someone's basement in Kalamazoo, Michigan? Somebody out there knows the <em>real story</em> behind this enigma, but so far that somebody hasn't surfaced other than Gene Scala. This item happens to come with a certificate of "authenticity" from Scala's Ltd. and is signed by Gene Scala. Scala was one of the group who bought out the Marx warehouse when it closed in the 1970s. Oh well, you can choose to believe the Hake's auction description if you wish. As for me .. I'm remaining a cynical skeptic and will be following up with visits to my regular doctor.<br /><br />Here is a link to the auction (bidder beware!) - </span><a href="http://tinyurl.com/odvjs"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc33cc;">http://tinyurl.com/odvjs</span></a>Famous Monster of Mplshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568541265680360801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16721555.post-1156077135277122142006-08-20T05:13:00.000-07:002006-08-20T13:10:31.983-07:00HOME .. I HAVE NO HOME<p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0cE1fzfOogo" width="425" height="350" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed><br /><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;"><span style="font-size:85%;">It was just four days ago, on August 16th, that we commemorated the 50th anniversary of the death of Bela Lugosi. It was on August 16th, 1956 that Prince Sirki robbed us of one of the greatest boogey men ever known.</span> </span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">I would like to share this clip from Ed Wood's 1955 film Bride Of The Monster. It features one of the greatest Lugosi moments captured on film. Bela delivers this speech with such sincerity and conviction that it almost brings tears to not only Bela's eyes, but the viewers' eyes as well. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">I don't think Bela had to do much acting, or even preparation for that matter, in delivering this wonderful speech. I have a strong feeling that these lines came very natural to him. With all the personal strife that Bela had endured in his later years, I'm sure it's safe to say that this dialogue hit pretty close to home .. "Home? I have no home".</span> </p>Famous Monster of Mplshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568541265680360801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16721555.post-1155907897276089892006-08-18T06:18:00.000-07:002006-08-18T06:41:23.880-07:00WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE<a title="Photo Sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/universalmonsterarmy/218400218/"><img height="284" alt="Talking Monster from Outer Space" src="http://static.flickr.com/61/218400218_dfd0e4d332_o.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">Wanted - one 48" Talking Monster from Outer Space. I'll even take him if he doesn't talk. Does this thing really exist? And what do you think a kid would have received back then upon ordering such a monstrosity? I'm pretty sure that two thirds of it were made up of nothing more than plastic sheeting and a piece of string. I wonder how many kids took advantage of the money back guarantee? Still, I would someday like to meet a 48" talking monster from outer space. The closest I've come is in meeting <a href="http://thegalleryofmonstertoys.com/">Raymond Castile</a>, but he's from St. Louis.</span>Famous Monster of Mplshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568541265680360801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16721555.post-1155904356188647262006-08-18T05:19:00.000-07:002006-08-18T06:04:48.890-07:00TOYS OF ENDEARMENT # 7<a title="Photo Sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/universalmonsterarmy/218381066/"><img height="260" alt="electrode pen small" src="http://static.flickr.com/71/218381066_d5d8521aab_o.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">Revive your monster! 1:21 gigawatts of power! The secrets of life and death have never been this fun!! So says the text found on this delightful Frankenstein Electrode Pen created by Rick Stoner. This pen is another Monster Bash premium; this one being from the year 2005.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">The really neat thing about this pen, aside from just being plain cool, is that this is a fully functional electrode pen. What you can't see in the pic is the little button, that when pushed, illuminates the clear housing of the pen with different shades of glowing colors!</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">What I'd give to go back to that elementary schoolroom of 1968 with this radical pen! Wait a minute! Ink pens weren't allowed in the classroom - only # 2 pencils were. Never mind .. I'll remain in the year 2006 with my electrode pen.</span>Famous Monster of Mplshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568541265680360801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16721555.post-1155493172147470232006-08-13T11:07:00.000-07:002006-08-14T05:48:46.680-07:00HOUSE OF WAX<span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">It was a gloomy and rainy Sunday afternoon here in Minneapolis. So what better way to pass time then to melt down chunks of wax and make some good old fashioned army guys? That's just what my son Dominick and I did today - all courtesy of the 1964 Emenee Formex 7 Military Casting Set.<br /></span><br /><a title="Photo Sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/universalmonsterarmy/214242174/"><img height="300" alt="excitement" src="http://static.flickr.com/60/214242174_a852e0a14b_o.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">I bought this military casting set on eBay a while back not because of any true affection for army guys but because the set also included three additional molds that were not military related. These three molds were that of Frankenstein, Dracula, and Wolf Man. How they ended up in the military set was beyond me. Most likely, the child who originally owned the set had ordered additional casting molds that were advertised on the back page of the Emenee instruction booklet. I wish I could find that boy today and thank him.</span><br /><br /><a title="Photo Sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/universalmonsterarmy/214242916/"><img height="300" alt="monsters" src="http://static.flickr.com/80/214242916_a1ee621090.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">For those who may not already be familiar with this vintage casting concept toy, allow me to quote the Emenee booklet itself - "<em>the Emenee Formex Casting Set is a fascinating, instructive and completely self-contained kit which enables you to make your own military toys and then deploy them for maneuvers, training or mock battles. It is completely safe in operation.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>The toys are cast by softening Formex 7 casting compound on the Dyna-Cast Thermal unit and then pouring the melt into any of the different re-usable casting molds supplied. The molds are cooled and the cast toys are removed for play."</em><br /><br />Well, there you have it. I especially like the intimidating and serious title of the cheap blue plastic melting pot included within this set - officially known as the "Dyna-Cast Thermal Unit"!<br /><br />Okay, it was time to get down to business and receive the necessary instruction from the Emenee Formex 7 owner's manual.</span><br /><br /><a title="Photo Sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/universalmonsterarmy/214242643/"><img height="500" alt="instructions" src="http://static.flickr.com/84/214242643_f26ba6a85a.jpg" width="375" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">For some reason or another, a 6 yr old in the year 2006 doesn't find much excitement in sitting around and watching wax melt! Blame it on PlayStation2 I guess.</span><br /><br /><a title="Photo Sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/universalmonsterarmy/214242972/"><img height="500" alt="waiting" src="http://static.flickr.com/67/214242972_b5d10f653d.jpg" width="375" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">Here is a picture of the Dyna-Cast Thermal Unit at work heating up toxic hazardous material officially known as Formex 7 - or better known as "wax". I don't want to burst anyone's bubble here, but the Dyna-Cast Thermal Unit's internal components are made up of nothing more than 40 watt light bulb.</span><br /><br /><a title="Photo Sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/universalmonsterarmy/214242887/"><img height="300" alt="melting pot" src="http://static.flickr.com/85/214242887_7caeae1e97.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">20 minutes later, while still waiting to have fun, the Dyna-Cast Thermal Unit continues to try and melt wax.</span><br /><br /><a title="Photo Sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/universalmonsterarmy/214242190/"><img height="300" alt="heating" src="http://static.flickr.com/65/214242190_f4183bdf55.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">Finally! The Dyna-Cast Thermal Unit is able to melt wax! Dominick and I now have something of which we can cast army men with. We carefully pour our first mold with hot molten wax.</span><br /><br /><a title="Photo Sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/universalmonsterarmy/214242297/"><img height="500" alt="casted" src="http://static.flickr.com/68/214242297_be3d79220b.jpg" width="375" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">And wha-la! A green army guy made of wax is born on this day! The Emenee Formex 7 Casting Set has done it's job! Even in the year 2006 (some 42 yrs later) the Emenee company is still putting smiles on children's faces.<br /></span><br /><a title="Photo Sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/universalmonsterarmy/214242303/"><img height="300" alt="elated" src="http://static.flickr.com/91/214242303_b163492b4b.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">BUT WAIT, not so fast! Emenee had promised hours of fun and enjoyment with our finished casting. I'm sorry to say that our green army guy didn't even make it to the 15 minute mark before both his legs were snapped off like brittle twigs. After all, it's hard to get some good durable play time from figurines made of wax.<br /></span><br /><a title="Photo Sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/universalmonsterarmy/214980999/"><img height="300" alt="broken" src="http://static.flickr.com/93/214980999_8c0578b534.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">And so it is that the Emenee Formex 7 Casting Set belongs to the year 1964. With all the bells and whistles of today's toys, making your own toys from chunks of wax seems a bit primitive if not altogether tedious. But you know what? My son and I did have fun! So maybe there's still hope for this generation and it's over exposure to media related entertainment and fancy-schmancy action figures. Maybe.</span>Famous Monster of Mplshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568541265680360801noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16721555.post-1154173946876413082006-07-29T04:22:00.000-07:002006-07-29T15:22:52.063-07:00TOYS OF ENDEARMENT # 6<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/Bride%20game.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/400/Bride%20game.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">There are times when independent creativity and imagination, along with brilliant execution, bring about results that rival even that of yesterday's corporate toys. The "Hasbro" Bride Of Frankenstein board game is a prime example of this incredible kind of ingenuity! I am blessed to own one of these games and let me tell you "it doesn't get any better than this"!<br /><br />What you are seeing here is NOT a real Hasbro board game from the 1960s, but what I feel to be the best contemporary independently created (fan produced) monster premium to date - hands down! You may recall that Hasbro did indeed create monster themed board games back in the 1960s with games featuring such monsters as Frankenstein, Dracula, Wolf Man, Creature, Phantom, and even Mummy - but no Bride game - until now that is.<br /><br />Created in 2003 as an Old Dark Clubhouse premium, this board game was a collaborative effort between Tim Keegan and Kerry Gammill. I'm sure there were other folks involved with this project as well, but I'm not sure as to whom and to what degree, so forgive me if I'm leaving out some pertinent information here. Maybe someone out there can enlighten me? Anyways, Kerry Gammill, who is very accomplished artist, provided the stunning artwork for this game. Kerry's talents are endless; providing artwork for both Marvel and DC comics. Tim Keegan spear-headed the project in providing the necessary production values such as the printing of the game itself and the actual assembly of the game. Each game was hand-crafted by Tim. To the best of my knowledge there are less than twenty games in existence (to date).</span><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/Bride%20game%20contents%202.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/400/Bride%20game%20contents%202.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">The contents of this game are as incredible as the game cover itself. Every aspect of the original 1960 games was faithfully reproduced here. The graphics on the game's markers, the spinner, and even the instruction sheet are consistent with how the original 1960s games appeared! It's almost frightening just how close they really are to their original counterparts!<br /></span><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/Bride%20game%20contents.0.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/400/Bride%20game%20contents.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">Even the neat-looking Hasbro logo of the smiling kid is accurately pictured here on the game's side panel. Please note; this game is for ages 8 - 15 yrs only! Players 30 years of age and up should seek psychiatric attention.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/Bride%20game%20panel.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/400/Bride%20game%20panel.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">No matter what certain collectors may think of "fantasy toys", there's no denying that this incredible board game is more than worthy to stand among the rest! Let's play!<br /></span><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/games.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/400/games.jpg" border="0" /></a>Famous Monster of Mplshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568541265680360801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16721555.post-1153661879803277932006-07-23T06:22:00.000-07:002006-07-23T06:55:56.826-07:00TOYS OF ENDEARMENT # 5<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/rotonone%20tablets.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/320/rotonone%20tablets.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">If I were to ever get addicted to prescription medicine, it would have to mean getting "hooked" on pills like these - <strong>Captain Luc's ROTONONE TABLETS!</strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">* Concentrated!</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">* One tablet per lagoon!</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">* Make your Black Lagoon .. not so black!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/rotonone%20tablets%202.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/320/rotonone%20tablets%202.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">The ingredients are not only 100% Rotonone, but 100% Rick Stoner! Yes, Rick is the gill-genius behind this fun and wacky monster premium. I just love the text that can be found on the back label of the bottle. Just in case the photo doesn't clearly show all the text - here it is for your enjoyment:<br /><br />WARNING!<br /><br />* Avoid excessive swimming when using this product.<br />* Women should avoid the wearing of gorgeous white swimming suits!<br />* Keep out of reach of young children and egotistical scientists named Mark.<br /><br />A CHAPMAN AND BROWNING COMPANY. NO ... A BROWNING AND CHAPMAN COMPANY. STOP IT BOYS .. JULIE ADAMS ENTERPRISES. COPYRIGHT 1954.</span>Famous Monster of Mplshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568541265680360801noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16721555.post-1153261691591855802006-07-18T15:03:00.000-07:002006-07-18T15:31:32.746-07:00CREATURE FROM THE LOST LAGOON<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/creature%20art.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/320/creature%20art.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">This rarely seen artwork of the Creature from the Black Lagoon is from a Revell-Monogram sales flyer promoting their 1994 release of the classic Aurora model kit from the 1960's. When Monogram finally released this kit, they opted to use a picture of an actual built-up instead of this cool-looking box-top illustration. I'm left wondering where this artwork is sitting today? Meanwhile, let's enjoy what might have been, what could have been, and maybe even what should have been ... right here at Castle Famous. </span>Famous Monster of Mplshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568541265680360801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16721555.post-1152795782319707512006-07-13T05:34:00.000-07:002006-07-13T07:54:38.726-07:00ARMED ROBBERY<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/Frank%20gun%201.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/400/Frank%20gun%201.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">The above picture is that of a 1974 plastic Frankenstein squirt gun made by the Azrak Hamway corporation. I'm guessing in it's day it probably sold for a mere $1.99? Some 32 years later this same squirt gun just recently sold on eBay for $432.00! And if you think that's insane - be advised that the Creature from the Black Lagoon squirt gun from this same series (pictured below) sold for a mind boggling $750.00 back in 2003! Only on eBay can this madness somehow be reconciled.<br /></span><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/1600/6840.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1961/1595/400/6840.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">The moral of this story is simple; cheap plastic pieces of junk have monetary value intrinsic to one's childhood memories. Maybe back in 1974 mom or dad said, "absolutely not! I'm not buying you that crap"! Now 32 years later your gonna show mom or dad a thing or two by purchasing this plastic squirt gun at an inflated price of 400 times it's original sticker price! If only mom or dad had a little more compassion back then. They could have had a nice retirement fund by purchasing several cases of this kind of "crap". It certainly would have paid dividends above and beyond dad's paltry pension checks.</span>Famous Monster of Mplshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568541265680360801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16721555.post-1152618590678311552006-07-11T04:38:00.001-07:002006-07-11T04:49:50.696-07:00WITCH DR. HEAD SHRINKERS KIT<p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/43UU0RBLXNs" width="425" height="350" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">Here is a great vintage toy commercial I found while surfing the web. It's an old TV spot for the <strong>Witch Dr. Head Shrinkers Kit</strong>. The name itself is as strange as the toy. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;color:#66ff99;">Old black and white television commercials are so comforting to me. Why? .. I'm not sure. I guess it probably has something to do with wanting to be 10 years old again. And why would I want to be 10 years old again? Uh .. I'm not sure. Let's just enjoy this dang clip for what it is. Classic monster ephemera courtesy of YouTube. <em>(videos here are in FLASH format, so make sure you have that enabled to see them)</em></span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#66ff99;">BTW, does anybody out there have any other old monster toy related TV commercials? If so, I absolutely would love to see them! Please contact me if you would please!</span> </span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </p><p><br /><br /></p>Famous Monster of Mplshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568541265680360801noreply@blogger.com2