The Masks of Famous Monsters - Issue #3

Welcome to the third installment in The Masks of Famous Monsters Series. Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine was an absolute treasure trove of early mask history. By combing through the 191 issues published between 1958-1983, it's possible to gain a good understanding of the decades of evolution and history of Don Post Studios and Topstone monster masks. The eventual goal of this series is to catalog and archive each monster mask appearance in the pages Famous Monsters.

With the third installment we move to issue #3 which unlike both previous issues,  did not greet readers with a monster mask on the cover. Rather, for the first time in the short history of the magazine, the cover featured a painting of monsters rather than a photo. This was a move that would define the image of the magazine for for decades to come.

Released in April 1959, issue 3 featured several Topstone monster mask goodies. The Super Frankenstein Mask ad would make it's Famous Monsters debut on page 59...

Super Frankenstein Mask Ad

In addition, the Topstone Gorilla Monster would make it's Famous Monsters of Filmland debut in issue #3. The Gorilla Monster would be the first of the many classic Keith Ward illustrations of Topstone masks that would become a trademark of Captain Company ads for decades.

Topstone Gorilla Monster Mask Ad

If you weren't careful, you easily could flip right past the last monster mask to appear in the issue. The Topstone Caveman mask made a brief appearance on page 65, which was the final page of the Monster Club Members page in issue #3...

Check out the other posts in the Masks of Famous Monsters Series:
Masks of FM 1
Masks of FM 2

Don Post Studios Care Sheet

Here's a hi-res scan of a late 80's - early 90's Don Post Studios Care Sheet. Although this specific one came from a "Snakeyes" that I picked up from another collector in the Summer of 2009, this is the tag style I remember being attached to my first Don Post Studios mask, "Herman", which I bought during the Fall of 1990.

Ben Cooper Mask Box Illustrations

Here's some nice hi-resolution scans from a Ben Cooper mask box. I found these last November, and unfortunately didn't document the source. Credit goes out to the original scanner.

The Masks of Goosebump's "The Haunted Mask"

The Haunted Mask was the 11th of R.L. Stine's Goosebump book series, and the was adapted for television where it first aired on October 27th 1995.

Aside from the amazing array of monster masks, the episode itself embodies so much of the magic make Halloween such a wonderful holiday! It's absolutely among my personal favorite Halloween themed television episodes of all time.

 The episode opens with close-ups of these wicked masks...

The episode featured this creepy old school novelty shop and multitude of monster mask shots...

The Novelty Shop from the Haunted Mask

The window of the Novelty Shop

The mysterious store owner emerges!

...

D-Line Topstone Monster Mask Photos

From the LIFE photo archive ...

D-Line Clown and Witch

D-Line Vampire Girl and Devil

D-Line Vampire Girl, Devil and Witch

Trick or Treat Studios Ad

I love the classic feel to this Trick or Treat Studios ad which features a nice blend of old and new school mask designs! I can't for the life remember where I found this ad, give me a shout if you're the original scanner, and I'll be happy to credit it.

The Distortions Unlimited Story - All Hallows Eve Companion Article

This article, originally published in the All Hallows Eve Companion double issue #3/4 in August 1984, is by far the most comprehensive early Ed Edmunds interview available. 27 years later, it still boggles the mind how much effort and dedication Ron Magid, Dante Renta and all the contributors put into these issues!

Ed Edmunds with some early Distortions Unlimited monster masks

The Day House of Hammer Invaded Liecester Square

This is the type of article that puts a big ol' smile on the face of the Phantom. Pages 32 and 33 of House of Hammer issue no. 9 featured an article titled "The Day House of Hammer Invaded Liecester Square".

 The photos in the article are priceless and feature 5 fans wearing Don Post and Topstone masks on an early cold winter morning of December 4th, 1976 on their way to the House of Hammer release party of indie film "Squirm".

Just look at the expressions on the faces of the women on the bus!

Don Post Skull, 800 line Mummy, Topstone Old Man and Werewolf

Good times with your friends and some latex rubber!

Happy July 4th Creeps!

Have a great 4th! Be sure to exercise your independence at the BBQ and go on and blow some shit up too!

Photo from J. Willis' Flickr Photostream Photo by Jackie Alpers,

Death Studios 1996 Catalog

The 1996 Death Studios line-up was yet another blockbuster that debuted some all-time classic DS monster masks. The entire first page '96 catalog featured new editions, as did several of the masks on the second page. The catalog not only showcased several amazing new masks, but also featured more props than any other Death Studios catalog before or after 1996.

 The first mask pictured in the catalog is one of Death Studios' most impressive offerings of all time, the massive Klownzilla. In addition, the Shorty mask rounded off the DS Killer Klown line-up with a fourth character.

The updated version of Cutter is still my favorite original vampire monster mask of all time. Originally sculpted in the mid-80's, this re-sculpt was a wonderful edition to the '96 catalog.

1985 Cutter Mask

1996 Cutter Mask

 The huge 7th Voyage Cyclops was offered in two versions, one a wearable mask limited to 500 copies, and the other as a foam filled prop with an acrylic eye was limited to 100 copies. 

Death Studios 7th Voyage of Sinbad Mask

More so than anything, 1996 was without a doubt the year of the wolf at Death Studios as 6 new werewolves were introduced into the Death Studios line-up. The new werewolves included Darren Robert's Hell-Hound and Werewolf Trophy, Doug Goins' amazing White Wolf, Dennis Beckstrom's Man Wolf, along with 3 new variations of Henry Alvarez's Bad Moon!

The Shock zombie was a killer modern tribute and homage to the Verne Langdon Zombie mask.

Image source: NightOwlGhoul

It's worth mentioning that the Anubis mask has been a Death Studios staple since it's release 15 years ago in this catalog!

I was fortunate at the time to have ordered two masks (Klownzilla and Cutter) from the catalog for use in our home haunt in '96...

Death Studios Klownzilla Mask

Death Studios Cutter Mask

Here's a couple of poor low-res pics of Klownzilla in action in the Haunted House...