From Zombos' Closet

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein Pressbook

Here's a great movie to watch on Halloween. Forget that the Wolf Man was cured earlier or that Dracula was dispatched in House of Dracula.  Or even that Frankenstein's Monster got bogged down in House of Frankenstein; here they romp with mirth and madness, and contrary to the naysayer purists who lambaste this movie for its treatment of the classic monsters, this is an essential and worthy entry to the Universal Horror Mythos. 

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The Uninvited (1944) Pressbook

     One of the best haunted house movies ever made, watch this one late at night with the lights off. At 32 pages, this pressbook is almost as impressive as the movie. Of note is the Your Radio Campaign page, which reminds us of a time before social and commercial digital media. And of very special importance, this is the first movie to depict ghosts as real. Before this, there was always a rational reason to explain away the supernatural proceedings, usually fostered by criminal intent and delivered with comedy. Within the context of the Universal Monster horrors, it's also an interesting contrast: when Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Wolf man were seeking scientific cures for their "ailments," in other words, when Universal made their monsters rationally-existing as opposed to supernaturally, The Uninvited scared audiences with the real deal: No jokes, no slapstick, just good old-fashioned scares to chill the bones; and no explanation at the end to eliminate the supernatural as the cause, or leaving the audience with uncertainty such as in The Cat People (1942).

Comic reader version:  Download The Uninvited Pressbook

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Henry Aldrich Haunts a House (1943) Pressbook

Henry Aldrich steps into it again. That tag line, "got haunts in his pants!" wouldn't work today, I'm sure. But crazy fun, 1940's movie style.

Comic book reader version:  Download Henry Aldrich Haunts a House Pressbook

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Dead of Night (1945) Pressbook

What else can be said about this classic horror anthology (or portmanteau if you prefer)? A movie, it is said, that influenced Fred Hoyle's input into the Steady State Theory. Not too shabby for a horror movie. Of course, I know, you just want to be scared this Halloween. So watch this movie. In the dead of night. You may be able to sleep afterwards. With the lights on. Maybe. (Read my review.)

Comic reader version:  Download Dead of Night Pressbook

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Peeping Tom (1960) Pressbook

Like Freaks, Peeping Tom didn't get a good reception when first released and it pretty much killed its director's career; but time and reconsideration now rate it very highly. If you're a slasher film fan and haven't seen this movie, well then, you're not really a slasher film fan. 

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The Wolf Man Realart Pressbook

Here's the Realart re-release pressbook for The Wolf Man. Read my movie review.

Comic book reader:  Download The Wolf Man Realart Pressbook

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Captain Sindbad (1963) Pressbook

Lost in Space's (the television series) Guy Williams stars. The script was pared down to lower the budget. Unfortunately, Ray Harryhausen was not involved and the film was shot in Germany. Yes, Germany. I haven't seen this one yet, so I'll leave it at that. But the pressbook is great.

Comic reader version:  Download Captain Sindbad Pressbook

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Chamber of Horrors (1966) Pressbook

Prepare yourself for the Fear Flasher and Horror Horn! Here's a British pressbook for the movie to hook you in. For more terror, see Dr. Terror's House of Horrors pressbook.

Comic reader version:  Download Chamber of Horrors Pressbook

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An Evening with Batman and Robin

Here's an interesting promotional piece for Columbia's college crowd push for the 1943 Batman serial. Adam West's Batman appeared in 1966. This pressbook appears dated 1965, a year before the television show aired.

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The Wizard of Oz Pressbook (1955 rerelease)

I was introduced to The Wizard of Oz by film historian William K. Everson. My friend, Ron  (I wonder if he ever escaped Brooklyn?), who knew Everson, brought me over to meet him one long ago, but youthful, day. Everson invited us to watch The Wizard of Oz. We did. He cranked up the projector and we watched the movie. It's hard to describe the thrill of watching a movie like TWofO with a person like Everson, but what I thought I knew about the movie I realized I didn't know much at all. I don't recall if the copy was 35mm, but I can say he had a large enough room and big enough screen to show any movie properly. I wonder what ever happened to my friend Ron. We were inseparable for a time, but time isn't much for inseparableness. Ron was an ardent film buff and quite knowledgeable himself. He had a large collection of 16mm and 8mm films. I hope he fared well.  

Comic reader version:   Download Wizard of Oz Pressbook

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The Wizard of Oz Movie Herald

Here's the Wizard of Oz movie herald that came with the 1955 re-release pressbook. See more movie pressbooks From Zombos' Closet.

 

Unearthly Stranger (1963) Pressbook

Another low-budget movie about alien spouses that is surprisingly engaging and deeper than it appears. See more movie pressbooks From Zombos' Closet.

Comic reader version:  Download Unearthly Stranger Pressbook