Happy Halloween!

Happy Eve!

It's almost time...

Image Source: thewitchhunt.tumblr.com

Specter Studios Article

Issue number six of Horrorshow Magazine featured a detailed write-up on Pittsburgh based Specter Studios. Several photos of the studio are included as are a few nice full-page shots of the Jordu Schell sculpture of "Olaf". I have to admit, I know little of Specter Studios other than what is written in the article. But, after visiting their website and checking out the video on the home page, it's great to learn that there is another mask studio other than Zagone Studios in Chicago that is manufacturing masks right here in the U.S.A.

Random Sunday Morning Mask Pic

Image Source: The Time Machine

A Halloween Care Package

Last week a package showed up from my friend, and fellow Be Something Studios fanatic, Rudy. The box was stuffed full of half a dozen monster masks dug up fresh from a costume shop find...

 

First up was two BSS masks... a mint still in the package "Shrunken Head" complete with tags, leather lip straps and eyes, as well as a "Gargoyle". The Gargoyle was much larger than I expected, and is easily the largest Be Something mask I own...

Up next were four  vintage masks from West Germany. This Female Vampire and Witch were the first of the batch that I pulled from the box. I have to figure out a way to work this super creepy Witch into my Halloween display this year. This mask is far too scary to leave on a shelf...

This bootleg Caveman and Werewolf were next. The Caveman is instantly among my favorite vintage dime store masks that I have in my collection...

Another big "thanks" goes out to Rudy. You made my Halloween man!

Don and Drac (and Frankie too)

Don Post Sr. and the "Universal Horrors" Dracula

Don Post Sr. and the "Smooth" Frank

1994-95 GAG Studios Catalog

This GAG Studios catalog may not contain any monster masks, but they do contain some killer props. While I can't say for certain, I believe these catalogs date around 1994-95. It was around this time that these props showed up at the local Spencer's gift shop and they blew me away. In the Fall of 1994 we were working on our third consecutive home haunt and were hungry for props. GAG Studios answered the call.

I started with some small prop purchases that year. I was sophomore in college, and like most college kids, I was poor as hell. But I took portions of my measly pay checks straight to Spencers. I remember picking up the small "Rat Skull" prop first. From there I moved on the the "Deluxe Skull Wreath". Both of these props are smaller are long gone, probably heisted in our haunt. I went for some larger props during the day after Halloween clearance sale and bought two GAG Studios props that I still have to this day, which include the large "Deluxe Gargoyle" and the super cool "Casket". Both of these have remained staples in our Halloween yard display for years. In fact, this weekend I'll be popping open the door to the attic to crawl in and retrieve these props for the big week ahead.

I'm of the opinion that these are some of the best mass produced props that were ever offered to the public. I say this because of several factors. First and foremost, they were affordable. Second, they were light weight, durable, and easy to store. Third they were designed by monster maker and mask enthusiast Jeff Wehenkel. Jeff is one of the true gentlemen in the industry and, along with Jim Kessler, was responsible for the Head Hunters Quarterly Magazine.

These single page flyers contain a few of my all time favorite Halloween props... the Count, the Count Casket and the Haunted Knight...

GAG Studios -  The Count Prop

GAG Studios - Haunted Knight Prop

It's Almost Time...

Video Source: Creeping Dead

Early 90's Costume Shop Photos

Here are a number of shots from an unknown costume shop taken in the early 1990s. Some fun masks can be found lining the walls, including a hand full of Be Something Studios pieces...

1982 Imaginative Creations Catalog

Hi Creeps, here's the 1982 Imaginative Creations catalog I mentioned over the weekend.  Michael Langlois was the artist and sculptor behind Wyoming based Imaginative Creations. Like the 1981 catalog that was posted here last year, this catalog offers a nice varied mix of aliens, monsters, and oddities...

Random Sunday Morning Mask Pic: Parade Time

Image Source: Fluffy Chetworth

Imaginative Creations Classified Ad

Here's an ad for Imaginative Creations that appeared in 1982 in the classified section of Fango. The ad itself is next to impossible to read due to the small type size.  But, it does showcase the "Man-o-saur" and "Gorgona" mask which can be seen in the '82 catalog, which hasn't been posted here yet, but I'll be sure to get it up in the next few days.

Safe Halloween Masks Sign

I've been on a roll with the vintage Halloween mask signage lately, why not one more? The graphics on these really put me in the mood for the season...

Vintage Trix or Treat Halloween Sign

Ben Cooper Hallowen Masks Poster

1985 Death Studios Catalog

It's been far too damn long since there's been a Death Studios post around here.  The 1983 Death Studios Catalog is one of my all time favs. This massive 24 inch long tri-fold makes for an impressive poster of classic Death Studios goodness.

This is the earliest full color Death catalog I have in my collection, as the 1982 and 1983 catalogs are both black and white. The 1985 Death Studios line-up had exploded to a robust 32 masks, with 9 new masks featured at the bottom of the catalog. These new additions included the licensed Burman characters "The Overdog" and "Gargoyle", and the Bill Nelson "Millennium" alien, which was originally sculpted in 1979. In addition, several of the Kirk Brady creations, which appeared in this article, were featured in the 1985 Death Studios catalog...