From Zombos' Closet

Give Us Wings (1940) Pressbook

It gets confusing trying to keep track of the Dead End Kids, the Little Tough Guys, the Bowery Boys, and the East Side Kids as they pop up in various serials and movies. Long story short: the Dead End Kids were a group of young actors that appeared in the Broadway play Dead End in 1935. In 1937 they wound up in Hollywood to star in the filmed version of the play. Then in 1938 some of them, along with newbies, starred in the movie, Little Tough Guy, so they also became known as the Little Tough Guys. This led to more movies and eventually acquiring the additional monikers East Side Kids and Bowery Boys as they continued to participate in the lucrative franchise over the years. Interestingly, though they began on a serious note, their movies became more comedic and light-hearted as time progressed.

ComicRack reader version: Download Give Us Wings Pressbook

You can find more of their pressbooks From Zombos' Closet.

Jungle Siren (1942) Pressbook

Burlesque stripper Ann Corio made her way to Hollywood to star in Swamp Woman, Jungle Siren, Call of the Jungle, and Sarong Girl. Note the trend toward steamy environs to lessen the need for clothing. What's unusual about this pressbook is that it's larger than most (18x12 inches) and has two fold-out sections, which makes this a pricey pressbook to print and distribute. 

ComicRack reader version: Download Jungle Siren Pressbook

No siren needed to see more pressbooks From Zombos' Closet.

The Blonde Captive (1932) Pressbook

Contrary to the title, the blonde woman is not a captive. She also puts in just a few minutes of screen time.  This whole movie is a sham. Basically taking a 1928 documentary and adding a blonde woman subplot along with some extra footage, blame Columbia Pictures for this pre-code weirdness in 1932.  Exploitation? Hell yes. Someone snoozing during a new ideas meeting for generating more box office? Hell yes. The only saving grace here is the poster art by Wynne Davies, a superb pulp-style artist who could capture the sexy and tawdriness with the best of them. This movie was lost at one point but someone found it in 2010.  They can't find London After Midnight but they could find this?

ComicRack reader version: Download The Blonde Captive Pressbook

Pressbook library From Zombos' Closet

Cobra Woman Pressbook Front Cover

Ah, the good old days when Hollywood idealized, feminized, exoticified, and basically fronted eye-candy appeal stories for pretty women. Such women spent countless hours making themselves attractive to men and simply lounged around until a man came along to get the story moving. And of course they were surrounded by other pretty women, making all men swoon and lust after them. Here's the front cover to the pressbook for Cobra Woman (1944). Maria Montez plays the exotic woman and her twin  sister (points for twins!). I wish I had the whole pressbook, but this cover will have to do for now. Leonard Maltin called it a camp classic. You may call it something else. Of course, what's a pretty woman without a tropical locale? Here it's Cobra Island. Along with the prettiness you have Sabu and the not so pretty Lon Chaney Jr. What more can you ask for in a camp classic?

 

Terror Tales Vol. 2 No. 4 July 1970

The lead off story, Isle of the Demons, will have you in stitches, assuming they can find all the pieces. If that weren't nauseatingly enough for you, Evil Monsters will bring you past dripping, oozing labyrinths of slime, past plopping whirlpools of filth (whew!). Mere mortals had a tough time in horror comics, that's for certain. In Death Strikes Four, the amount of narrative and dialog text (a staple of early horror comics), just may kill you before the clock strikes, but the art is fabulous as you wait. And talk about chasing time, that clock has long hands and a homicidal temperament. This is one of my favorites! Oh, and there's a detective who tries to Bury Her Deep, but she keeps bobbing up with the tide, and a hangman at the end of his rope, and a witch who...well, you know, it's all there in gory black and white. Enjoy.

ComicRack reader version: Download Terror Tales Vol.2 No.4

Take a stab at more terrorific magazines From Zombos' Closet.

Pirate Treasure (1934) Pressbook

What drew my eye to this pressbook for Pirate Treasure, Universal's swashbuckling movie serial, was the showmanship page. From lobby stunts, pirate coloring competition, pirate mask and hat, pirate treasure bags, heralds, hangers, and more, it's a splash of thrills. The stunt work in this serial is noted as stellar too. Yo ho ho!

Find more buried treasure without a lot of digging: pressbooks from Zombos' Closet.

ComicRack reader version: Download Pirate Treasure Pressbook

Double Shock Running Wild and Tarantula Insert

Get your bobby socks on. It's a double bill of shock and horror! Just when you escape the juke box jungle the tarantula grows on you (in a bad way). This double bill promotion insert fell out of the Running Wild pressbook I was thumbing through. I'm thinking this made a neat date night movie or drive-in snuggle. I'd think the date night would get more traction at the drive in, but the balcony might do in a pinch. I miss theater balconies. They were filled with mystery along with the sticky floors. Thanks to Trailers from Hell (Joe Dante and Charlie Largent) for supplying the Running Wild pressbook and this pleasant surprise contained within.

Witches' Tales Vol. 5 No. 1 January 1973

An interesting escape into the wrong body, Satan dances into mischief, a burning desire flames up, people are doomed, scientists screw up, and the art is to die for (which apparently many people do in horror comics). Enjoy.

ComicRack reader version: Download Witches Tales V5-1

No need to scream. You can catch up on more horrible magazines From Zombos' Closet.

The Hitch-Hiker (1953) Pressbook

Ida Lupino directs a gripping 1950s styled noir that brings home the dangers of picking up hitchhikers. William Talman's performance (best known for playing Hamilton Burger on the Perry Mason television series, 1957 to 1966) is pitch perfect. He has the face, the voice, and the attitude for nasty in spades. Edmond O'Brien makes the perfect 1950s average Joe pushed to the extreme. This is one film noir you won't want to miss. This 18x12 inches pressbook is no slouch either.

ComicRack Reader version: Download The Hitch-Hiker Pressbook

Give a thumbs up for other gripping pressbooks From Zombos' Closet.

Witches' Tales Vol. 4 Issue 3 May 1972

A puppet carved from gallows wood, a dancer who twirls in the wrong direction, Medusa's head holds up like granite, and a witch goes for a joy ride on her  broom. And two stories and the undying fiend provide a bit more terror for you in this issue of Witches' Tales.

ComicRack Reader version: Download Witches Tales V4-3

Don't be hexed. You can see more lurid and bewitching magazines From Zombos' Closet.

Fort Vengeance (1953) Pressbook

This pressbook for Fort Vengeance is more interesting than the movie. The campaign art promoted the "red savage" theme in the usual way (war paint, axe, feathers, and menacing face). Rita Moreno starred in a cardboard role and sold cardboard bread in a Hollywood Bread tie-in. Interesting to note that bread was a common tie-in (called tie-up here) with westerns, especially for television. The pressbook mentions "the movie was filmed in color to bring out the scenic splendor of the Canadian Northwest, but the movie was shot indoors and outdoors in California. 

ComicRack reader version: Download Fort Vengeance Pressbook

You don't need to go on the warpath to see more pressbooks From Zombos' Closet.

Gentleman Joe Palooka (1946) Pressbook

Clean-living prizefighter makes good. Monogram made 12 movies based on Ham Fisher's comic character, Joe Palooka. Lots of movies and shorts in the 1940s and 1950s knocked out stories centered around the boxing ring. We tend to label more contemporary comic book inspired movies as franchise, merchandise, and sequel-itis prone properties, but merchandising and repeated entries for a property started decades ago, even before Star Wars. If it's hot its cloned more than a gaggle of storm troopers, when the force of an insatiable audience kicks in.

ComicRack reader version: Download Gentleman Joe Palooka Pressbook

Don't get boxed in. You can see more prizefighting pressbooks from Zombos' Closet.