From Zombos' Closet

Movie Pressbook: Macumba Love (1960)

Outrageous poster art makes this movie come alive. Mexican lobby cards use the 'pretty face' poster art (see page 7) instead of the skull face.

Francisco's Mid-Nite Spook Frolic Promotion Flyer

Dr. Vollin, MD surprised my royally when he sent along this wonderful original promotion flyer for Francisco's Mid-Nite Spook Frolic, tucked in-between the pages of an issue of Movie Collector's World. The issue was among a bunch he had mailed to me, so I could catch up on his many How to Collect a Monster articles.  I can't explain why spook shows are the cat's meow for just about every monsterkid, including me, but maybe it has to do with nostalgia, simple frights that aren't too frightful, and the creepy cool atmosphere of schlock and art delivered through movie and magic and monster antics that makes it so endearing. 

"Francisco (real name unknown...and no first name of San) was one of the first from the earlier days of the ghost show craze to have huge success. He also was one of the few who continued to do his so-named "Midnight Spook Frolic" through most of the decades these live shows were the most popular--while keeping it relatively free of the gore and sexuality others started using later. He mostly played up the spiritualism aspects that legendary Houdini and Thurston did a decade or two earlier in their own similar shows. A lot of that involved the old floating table routine, mind-reading tricks and the famous cabinet where a fake séance takes place as the magician sits with his hands tied while the audience sees objects being thrown around the area. Francisco did incorporate a little horror in his shows (within reason) by using a well-known illusion of a skeleton who removes his head that then conveniently floats over the supposedly goosebumped audience. This segment used the process of black art that these shows relied on for most of the best effects." (The History of the Midnight Spook Show, Greg Brian, Yahoo Voices)

Movie Pressbook: The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959)

Although Hammer's The Hound of the Baskervilles didn't light up the box office, Peter Cushing's Sherlock Holmes is fun to watch. Missing in this Terence Fisher directed movie is the brooding menace of the moors and the spectral hound's presence overshadowing the gloom. The backstory is exciting, though. This is the 11 x 17 inches United Artists' pressbook.

Laserblast Pressbook Insert

Not completely sure, but since this fell out of my 4 page black and white pressbook for Laserblast, while I was curating (a fancy term that really means "making room for more stuff") my pressbook collection, I'll say--for now--that it's an insert sheet to the pressbook. Printed on high-quality glossy letter-sized paper, it shows this intense graphic on one side and movie scenes on the other. I mention the black and white pressbook because I believe there's actually a color version whose cover is this action-packed graphic. The pressbook I have is only filled with ad mats, so it, too, may be an insert to the color pressbook. Isnt' curating fun?

Movie Pressbook: Super Stooges vs. The Wonder Women (1974)

I miss the 1970s trashy zaniness, don't you?

Movie Pressbook: The Maniac (1963)

Believe it or not, Hammer did do quite a few movies without Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.

British Pressbook: Jack Palance's Dracula (1873)

Here's the British pressbook for Jack Palance's Dracula (1973), directed by Dan Curtis (a television production). Francis Ford Coppola's Bram Stoker's Dracula has more to do with Curtis' movie version than Bram Stoker's novel. Curtis explored the romantic past of Dracula and his lost love.

Movie Pressbook: Jungle Woman (1948)

From  Tony Rivers' collection comes this 11 x 17 inches, 1948, Jungle Woman Realart Pressbook. Tony says: "Unfortunately the previous owner put punch holes in it to keep it in a binder.  Aside from the fact it was folded, it's the only defect in it.  I like that they show all 8 lobby cards on the poster page even though in B&W.  Still hoping someday to get the other two Ape Woman press books, either Universal originals or realart releases." 

A binder!?

Movie Pressbook: Two on a Guillotine Part 2

View Part 1

In this second half of the Two on a Guillotine pressbook, you will find the ad mats, publicity articles, radio spot blurbs, and this cool Dell Comics tie-in. I rotated a few ad mat pages for a better view. Keep in mind both front cover (shown in Part 1) and back cover (last page shown here) form a wraparound. 

Related articles

Two on a Guillotine Pressbook Part 1

The Return of Dracula and The Flame Barrier Double Bill Pressbook

Black Christmas Pressbook

Movie Pressbook: Two on a Guillotine Part 1

You can see the effect television had on the 1960s movie industry in this 27  page, 11 x 17 inches, Warner Brothers pressbook for Two on a Guillotine. There's a wealth of promotional material for the theater to sell this movie: a horror kit, "heady" television spot, Internation Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM) tie-ins, giveaway herald, fright insurance, and exploitation stunts galore. 

Continue to Part 2

Theater Standee: Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)

This photo op theater standee entices you to journey down the yellow brick road to see Oz the Great and Powerful. It makes thematic sense, but just doesn't "feel" exciting. Maybe a few more flying monkeys would have helped. (Note: now having seen the movie, it wasn't very exciting, either.)

Theater Standee: Jack the Giant Slayer (2013)

No, this giant isn't reaching for a napkin; he's out to grab you for Jack the Giant Slayer in this imaginative photo op standee. Hopefully the movie will prove as effective.