From Zombos' Closet

Superman (1978) Pressbook

At 30 pages, this pressbook for Superman is quite a flyer. The cast articles are plentiful and the tagline, "you will believe a man can fly," is a grabber. Seeing this movie in the theater for the first time was exhilarating.  

Superman II (1980) Movie Pressbook

For those of us who thrilled to the real Superman, who actually worked harder to save people rather than CGI-f-it-up the destruction and death quotient. Here' the movie pressbook for Superman II. Practical effects and all.  (If you want to view it in your comic book reader, Download Superman II Movie Pressbook .)

King of the Congo (1952) Movie Pressbook

More jungle spectacle courtesy of Tony Rivers. He spotted these scans made by comic book fiend Bill Meugniot. This time, Buster Crabbe (Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon), takes a stab at it. Hold on to your loin cloth as the "Mighty Thunda" swings through the trees. Exciting poster art and lots of promotion can be found in the 12 pages of this pressbook, including a coloring page! 

Congo Bill (1948) Movie Pressbook

Fellow jungle-fever fan and pressbook collector Tony Rivers strikes again. He spotted Will Meugniot's scans of this Congo Bill, King of the Jungle pressbook you can go ape over. Or go ape over Congo Queen Cleo Moore if you like. 

Circus of Horrors (1960) Pressbook

At 18 by 23 1/4 inches, this is one big pressbook. Add ten pages filled with photos, articles, a coloring promotion, a theater giveaway clown mask by Topstone, a comic herald, and a full color cover, it becomes a pressbook collector's dream. I'm sure the audience liked the movie, too.

ComicRack reader version: Download Circus of Horrors Pressbook

See more specatular pressbooks from Zombos' Closet.

The Brides of Dracula (1960) Movie Pressbook

Still a good movie, even if Christopher Lee wasn't in it. This is something of a double bill pressbook, although The Leech Woman is somewhat off to the side as a suggestion more than a big selling point. 

Bomba on Panther Island (1949) Movie Pressbook

I would watch the Bomba and Tarzan movies every Sunday on local television, along with Abbott and Costello. The movies aren't great, but always entertaining, and they give you an interesting perspective on how Hollywood (and America) viewed the Dark Continent (Sub-Saharan Africa according to Wikipedia), and its inhabitants through cinema. And boy, I wish I looked that good in a loincloth. I know the term "dark continent" has fallen out of favor, but it best encompasses the artistic leanings and dramatic on-film mindsets of the 1930s through 1950s.

Master of the World (1961) Movie Pressbook

This large 15 by 22 inches pressbook for Jules Verne's Master of the World, starring Vincent Price, has stiff covers, lots of promotional material, and a polished page layout. All of this presents quite a "selling" package to movie theaters, and indicative of American International's use of quality pressbooks for movies where Vincent Price is involved. (See The Tomb of Ligeia and The Haunted Palace.)

Macabre (1958) Movie Pressbook

The promotions for William Castle's movies were always lively. Here's the one thousand dollars death by fright pressbook for Macabre.

The Gorilla (1939) Movie Herald

With Lionel Atwill and Bela Lugosi, even the Ritz Brothers couldn't make The Gorilla too unwatchable. I spotted this movie herald listed on eBay.

Mary, Mary, Bloody Mary (1975) Movie Pressbook

Horrorpedia notes that Quentin Tarantino is a big fan of this movie; critics, not so much. John Carradine appears in this one but not one of his best. Fantastic poster art helps sell this Mexican movie, but the pressbook is disappointing. It contains only newspaper ad mats; no articles on Carradine or the other actors. (see also History of Film with Quentin Tarantino)

 

Missile to the Moon (1958) Movie Pressbook

What every astronaut hopes to find in space: rock monsters, giant unfriendly spiders, and lots of beautiful women improperly dressed for space. The poster art is wild, right? A "hair-raising adventure" indeed.