Death Studios Masks Group Shots

These photos show the evolution and gradual change of masks on display inside of Death Studios through the years. There are so many classic Death Studios pieces on these shelves. If you're a fan of Jeff's work, be sure to click on these photos to view the expanded full-size versions.

I've had the pleasure of stepping inside this room a few times throughout the years, but not before 1998, so I did not get the opportunity to see most of these early Death Studios pieces in person. However I do recall seeing a few vintage pieces from the 1983 catalog that were still on display including athe Ed French "Geek" mask and the Bill Nelson "Millennium" mask. Enough about me though, on to the good stuff...

2016 Death Studios Sneak Peaks

Still a ways to go before resuming regular posting, but in the meantime, here are the Death Studios sneak peek sculptures for the upcoming 2016 line-up. Although these photos have been online since February,  it's been an annual tradition to post pics of the DS sneak peek sculpts here for many years. Plus, it felt good to log into the ol' blog again ;-)

1988 House of Horror Catalog Update

This single page House of Horror catalog update features some gorgeous original monster mask designs from Joe Reader. The Errebus mask would go on to be carried by Death Studios in 1995...

"Erebus" mask as produced by Death Studios

Catalog Scan courtesy of The Maskahuna

1983 Death Studios Ad

This Death Studios ad appeared in the the pages of Heavy Metal magazine (issue number unknown by yours truly) back in 1983...

2015 Death Studios Sneak Peek

It's that time of year when previews for 2015 mask line-ups start popping up. Some of the new Death Studios sculpts were posted recently...

Death Studios 2014 Preview

There are some sweet preview shots of some the new 2014 characters on the Death Studios website.  It looks like Jeff Death and John Smith had a helluva sculpt-a-thon! I'm in love with the Shock Monster, as well as the toothy ghoul with the piercing eyes in the second shot...

1990 Death Studios Ad

Death Studios monster mask ad as seen in the inside cover of Fango #96...

Random Visual Wonderment

Found these sweet shots of a Death Studios Rat Fink, and Been Cooper Mummy, and Collegeville Rat Fink featuring some GLAND HAND CO LTD merch as seen in Clutch magazine...

Image Source: Glad Hand Co Ltd on Instagram

The Masks of Playboy Potpourri - 1999

During the 1990's, Playboy Magazine would feature a small write-up and photo of high-quality monster masks in the "Potpourri" department of every October issue. This October, the Blood-Curdling Blog of Monster Masks will showcase several of these occurrences 

Up next, the October 1999 issue...

The Masks of Playboy Potpourri - 1998

During the 1990's, Playboy Magazine would feature a small write-up and photo of high-quality monster masks in the "Potpourri" department of every October issue. This October, the Blood-Curdling Blog of Monster Masks will showcase several of these occurrences 

Up next, the October 1998 issue...

Unkle Pigor's Spookhouse

There are some fine monster masks that pop up in this most excellent promo for Unkle Pigor's Spookhouse, including a number of Death Studios classics...

The Masks of Playboy Potpourri - 1995

During the 1990's, Playboy Magazine would feature a small write-up and photo of high-quality monster masks in the "Potpourri" department of every October issue. This October, the Blood-Curdling Blog of Monster Masks will showcase several of these occurrences 

Up next, the October 1995 issue...

The Masks of Playboy Potpourri - 1993

During the 1990's, Playboy Magazine would feature a small write-up and photo of high-quality monster masks in the "Potpourri" department of every October issue. This October, the Blood-Curdling Blog of Monster Masks will showcase several of these occurrences 

Up next, the October 1993 issue...

The Masks of Playboy Potpourri - 1991

During the 1990's, Playboy Magazine would feature a small write-up and photo of high-quality monster masks in the "Potpourri" department of every October issue. This October, the Blood-Curdling Blog of Monster Masks will showcase several of these occurrences 

Up next, the October 1991 issue...

Random Sunday Morning Mask Pic: Mall Invader

Vintage Death Studios Photos

On the Thursday before Maskfest, the Night Owl Green Ghoul and I made the hour and a half trek into Indiana to visit Death Studios. Jeff Death was kind enough to let us geek out and dig through his old box of photo archives. Here are a few of the goodies that we found...

The "Megas Man" sculpture from the cover of Questar Magazine

"Carnivore" &  "Entity"

"The Damned" & "Gremlin" sculpts

"Dead Meat" sculpt

"Rat Fink", "Lil Brother", "Carnivore", "The Boss" & a "Gargoyle"
peaking from the bottom right corner

A gathering of mid-80's Death Studios masks

A gathering of mid-90's Death Studios masks

Death Studios Mailers

Back in the day these black and white mailers would accompany Death Studios catalogs, or ship in the box of any Death Studios mask order. It was always a thrill to see a glimpse of any new Death Studios mask before it officially appeared in any catalog. Unfortunately, I have long since lost the collection of these mailers I had. But I recently acquired a small stash of these in a catalog swap. Here's a few fresh off the ol' scanner...

1992 Death Studios Ad

This Death Studios ad could be found in the August 1992 issue of Fango. The ad is similar to this previously posted ad from 1993, but has a different mix of monster mask offerings...

1992 Death Studios Ad

The Masks of HtMMtDSW

This is one of my favorite nuggets in all of the Monster Mask universe... the How to Make Masks the Death Studios Way video cassette.

It represents so many good memories to me. First, and foremost, it taught me how to make the things I love so very much.

Second, it showcases masks that represent very pinnacle of mask making at the time. In my humble opinion, Death Studios had taken the throne from Distortions Unlimited in 85-86. Just look at this shelf of masks. Simply amazing creations. Wolf! still gives me goose bumps when I look at it. Absolute bad-assery!

Top/Left: Vampyre, Thrash, Dead Ed Prop, Junkyard Kid, Swamp Monster, Helion,
Bottom/Left: Mangler, RIP2, Wolf!, Infected, Carnivore 3

Third, it also represents the pinnacle for Halloween at that point in my life. I was first introduced to Death Studios masks (Swamp Monster, Dead Guy) when I worked at a local Jaycees Haunted House  in 1988-89. It was the first time I had worked a haunt, and the experience literally changed me forever.

And last, the tape offered a behind the scene glimpse into a place where magic was (and still is) made. These images and the video on the tape will always remind me of all these things and put a hopelessly huge smile on my face...

The glaring eyes of the Death Studios "Vampyre" mask

Death Studios Mangler Mask

Sculpture of "The Dead" prop

"Gargoyle" Sculpture

Molding the "Lord of the Pit" Sculpture

"Corpus Delitcti" Blank Cast

"Alien Dead" Blank Cast

The Mold Room

"Belial" blank cast. This was an early Death Studios mask sculpted by Kirk Brady

I think these are "Helions"

I think these are "Cool Blue"

"Invader" Blank

"Mr. Big" Blank Cast

In Progress Painting of "Cool Blue" Casts

In Progress Painting of "Death Guy" Mask

In Progress Painting of "Elephant Man"Mask

In Progress Painting of "Saurian" Casts

"Dead Ed" Prop, Saurian, Swamp Monster

In Progress Painting of "Dead Ed" Cast

In Progress Hairing of "RIP2" Mask

n Progress Hairing of "Elephant" Mask

In Progress Hairing of "Death Guy 2" Mask

"Half Dead", "Under Wraps" Masks

Top/Left: Mangler, RIP2, Wolf!, Infected, Carnivore 3
Bottom/Left: Invader, Death Guy, Half Dead, Under Wraps, Bite, Hellspawn

"Dr. Klaw", "RIP 2", "Cool Blue" Master Copies

Jeff Death concludes the tape with words of encouragement