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Magazine Morgue

Castle of Frankenstein No. 19, 1972

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Issue 19 of Castle of Frankenstein contains the usual reviews (including Hammer Horror) and interviews (with Ray Harryhausen and Douglas Trumbull). Social commentary (this is the 1970s) enters with CoF's best horror film of the year choice: Vietnamese children running from a napalm attack.  A reader really dislikes issue 18 and wishes CoF would publish more frequently.

Comic book reader version:   Download Castle of Frankenstein 19

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Castle of Frankenstein 19

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Horror Tales Vol. 2, No. 3, 1970

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Lots of gruesome terror in this issue of Horror Tales, beginning with those vile monsters torturing their poor victim. Ghouls running amok, rail-kill hits the tracks, and horror comes to room 1313, all drawn with verve and nerve to bring a chill to your ebookish ways. Just try to keep your head, unlike the poor fool stalked by the lady killer in the last story. 

Horror Tales v2-3

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Castle of Frankenstein No. 14, 1969

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Courtesy of Professor Kinema comes this well-read issue 14 of Castle of Frankenstein. Boris Karloff takes center stage in this issue with My Life as a Monster, Ray Bradbury's interview concludes, and part one of All Manner of Fantasies explores the patterns of fantastique cinema. Lin Carter looks at more books, a reader's mail lambastes Star Trek, and there's the latest film news and movie guide. Here's the comic book reader version:  Download Castle of Frankenstein 14

Castle of Frankenstein 14

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Cinefantastique No. 2, 1971

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Cinefantastique explored the mechanics of genre movies, providing more production depth and more creativity-analysis than you would typically find in the monster magazines and fan publications of the day. In this second issue, House of Dark Shadows, stop frame fantasy film animation techniques part one, and John Carradine's movie comeback are covered. And similar to the Frankenstein TV Movie Guide in Castle of Frankenstein, there are many movie reviews to ponder, too.

Here's the comic book reader version:  Download Cinefantastique Issue v1-2

Cinefantastique Issue v1-2

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Castle of Frankenstein No. 11, 1967

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Issue 11 of Castle of Frankenstein, "The Magazine of Psychotomimetic Monsters," is glowing with monster-goodness. Start with a little-seen Dracula photo for the front-inside cover  and end with a back-inside cover with Raquel Welch and a T-Rex, then in-between add: The Star Trek Story by Allan Asherman, an endorsement for Star Trek, "the best dramatic TV series ever made," and part two of Christopher Lee's interview. There's more! CoF returns to Hammer Studios, Donald Phelps praises The Horror Chamber of Dr. Faustus, and Steranko is given his due. Oh, wait, there are some topless shots (you know what I mean) of The Brides of Fu Manchu, too. Here's the comic book reader version:  Download Castle of Frankenstein Issue 11

Castle of Frankenstein Issue 11

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Castle of Frankenstein No. 13, 1969

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With Some Thoughts on Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, John Stanley's Interview with Ray Bradbury, and How They Filmed The Planet of the Apes, this would be a great issue already, but there's more. There's also An Interview With Basil Rathbone, fan magazines reviewed, and a fun on the set picture with Glenn Strange and comedian Ole Olsen on page 5. Here's the comic book reader version:  Download Castle of Frankenstein Issue 13

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Castle of Frankenstein Issue 13

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All About Star Trek Fan Clubs
No. 2, 1977

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A Spock, Messiah book review, Leonard Nimoy's first role in Zombies of the Stratosphere, the NASA space shuttle, fan club guide, behind the convention scene, the Smithsonian gets involved, and a short guide and filmography to great science fiction movies is beaming down in this second issue of All About Star Trek Fan Clubs. I remember attending the ST conventions and having a lot of fun and late nights. Unlike the "sell" convention scene today, the 1970s was a fresh and exciting time to explore popular culture. Here's the comic book reader version:  Download Star Trek Fan Clubs Issue 2

Star Trek Fan Clubs Issue 2

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All About Star Trek Fan Clubs
No. 2, 1977Read More »

Castle of Frankenstein No. 10, 1966

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Bela Lugosi's  tragic drug addiction is explored by Barry Brown in issue 10 of Castle of Frankenstein, and there are more interviews, with Christopher Lee and Lon Chaney JR. What's exciting about COF interviews is that they actually visit the interviewee. How old school! Adam West's Batman and the movie Rat Pfink and Boo Boo put in an appearance, and a beautiful centerfold photo from Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein is ripe for being pulled out and taped up on a wall. Latest Film News also provides a wealth of information as usual. This copy comes from Professor Kinema's archive and here's the comic reader version for you:  Download Castle of Frankenstein Issue 10

Castle of Frankenstein Issue 10

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Castle of Frankenstein No. 9, 1966

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This is one of my favorite issues of COF. The cover is eye-catching, Boris Karloff is interviewed, and there's more to love. For instance, there is Stuart E. Samuels complaint in his Bat Mania article that there is too much camp in the Batman television show. We may scoff now, but he makes a good point about the longevity of "satire twice a week, every week, all year long." Then there's Robert C. Roman's (I'm not sure if any of these author names are legit, by the way) recognition of Laird Cregar, a horror actor who barely had a chance to reach stardom. Roman follows up with Victor Buono (King Tut on Batman), another stellar character actor. Outside the usual fare coverage continues with Judex (1963) and Fantomas, and Joe Dante makes some valid complaints about television horror. And…the too brief World of Science Fiction Fanzines is visited. 

This copy courtesy of Professor Kinema. Here's the comic reader version:  Download Castle of Frankenstein Issue 9

Castle of Frankenstein Issue 9

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Castle of Frankenstein No. 8, 1966

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In issue 8 of Castle of Frankenstein, William K. Everson recounts the melancholic last days of Bela Lugosi, COF goes behind the scenes with Fu Manchu, and David McCallum's Outer Limits are explored. Makeup artist Roy Ashton is interviewed, a visit to Bray Studios is made, and in the Noose Reel, Joe Dante joins the fray to dish some dirt on why editing movies to fit time slots is stupid. Yes, boys and girls, way back when, network television would butcher the classics and the duds by cutting scenes to fit in more commercials or run in a shorter air time slot. Now that's a horror story right there. Completing this issue is Lin Carter's 1965: The Year in Horror-Fantasy Books. 

This copy courtesy of Professor Kinema. Here's the comic book reader version:  Download Castle of Frankenstein Issue 8

Castle of Frankenstein Issue 8

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Castle of Frankenstein No. 7, 1965

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Die, Monster, Die receives a set visit, director Joseph E. Levine's 25,000 dollar monster for Hercules and the Princess of Troy gets some love, and for the first time, COF brings out the critics for Tomb of Ligeia to spark up the letters column. The European horror scene is covered by Mike Perry, along with a blurb on the "bizarre" Avengers television show, and an opinion on the Lugosi versus Lee Dracula appears with the usual misfiring analysis. 

This copy courtesy of Professor Kinema. Here's the comic book reader version:  Download Castle of Frankenstein Issue 7

Castle of Frankenstein Issue 7

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