BORIS KARLOFF CIGARETTE CARD

Boris Karloff was an avid smoker and it's not uncommon to see him in a photograph with a cigarette or a pipe. He was also English through and through, so it's not surprising to see him on a vintage cigarette card.

Boris Karloff in his study 1938.

Back in 1938 he appeared on a card for Ogden Cigarettes. That same year the same card was inserted in a pack of Hignett Bros. and Co. cigarettes. A quick look shows that there are a scant few of these in circulation, with the Ogden card being more available between the two. Prices these days go from the hundreds to the thousands of dollars.

Today, Tatuaje Cigars issue an annual, limited edition cigar commemorating Karloff.

BORIS KARLOFF'S DRIVER'S LICENSE AND PASSPORT

With all the glitz and glamour surrounding Hollywood actors and actresses, we don't often stop and think that they're (almost) the same as regular people, too. As a result, they're subject to the same rules and regulations regarding day-to-day living as everybody else.

Take for instance, Boris Karloff. Do you ever picture him driving? Sure, he was a truck driver in his early work days, but he also had to get around town and not ever in a limo like you might think.

Shown here is his driver's license from 1939, just about two weeks after SON OF FRANKENSTEIN was released. Also pictured is his passport which proves he didn't grow wings and fly between the States and England.

RARE METROPOLIS POSTCARDS

Most would agree that Fritz Lang's METROPOLIS is the most visually stunning science-fiction film of the silent era and indeed, one of the best ever made. Despite its criticism for being "overly-long", "trite", "ludicrously simplistic" and "silly" (this from H.G. Wells himself), it has remained as one of the most revered in the canon of German expressionistic films.

The film was heavily promoted before its first run in January 1927. One of the promotional items was a set of post cards with images from the film and its stars. The 12-card set is now considered rare and the collection in average grade is valued at $1,000.

Shown here are all 12 cards and an autographed "star card" of Brigitte Helm, considered quite rare by itself.

Post card back.

Brigitte Helm autographed card.

DRACULA'S DAUGHTER LAB SKETCH

You don't see much from Universal's controversial 1936 vampire film, Dracula's Daughter other than posters, stills and lobby cards. Among the many items up for bid in Bonham's "Hollywood Then and Now" June catalog is this unusual bit of ephemera.

Laboratory Set Design Concept Sketch for Dracula's Daughter.

Universal, 1936. Original concept sketch accomplished in graphite pencil and ink wash on 23 x 12.25 in. illustration board. Depicting an atmospheric laboratory scene, which can be matched to the resulting set and scenes in the film. Many of the movie's other sets were redressed from the production of Dracula (1931). Handwritten to bottom border "Interior Laboratory 'Dracula's Daughter' Lambert Hillyer Director". Unsigned. Exhibiting expected age, production wear, handling and minor soiling. With soft corners and minor loss to lower right corner.

23 x 12.25 in.

DRACULA'S DAUGHTER Lobby Cards from 1949 Realart re-issue:

DRACULA'S DAUGHTER pressbook pages:

THE CAMERA THAT FILMED KING KONG

When we we watch monster movies, most of us do so without a critical eye for the technical aspects that go into the making of the film. That's not a bad thing at all, as the sole purpose of a movie is to be entertained (with the exception of those that, to some degree or another, have something to say politically or socially) right? Viewers, though, have at least a peripheral awareness of who the director and screenwriter are, and who are cast in the various roles. After all, we all have our favorite movies, directors and actors.

One movie stands at the top of the heap (or the Empire State Building, if you will) as one of, if not, the greatest giant monster movie of all time. I'm talking about KING KONG (RKO, 1933) of course. After almost a century, Kong still has the awesome power to amaze. Harry Cunningham's armatures and Marcel Delgado's models of the giant ape were a wonder to behold and inspired many a' filmmaker to come, including a then 13 year-old Ray Harryhausen. Max Steiner's rousing score was another reason the film was so exciting.

But without skilled camerawork, the film could have easily looked a lot less than it was. The task went to Edward "Eddie" Linden, cinematographer for RKO. Despite the scope of the film, the studio had only one camera for him to use, a Mitchell Standard. It's possible that Linden used this same camera the same year when he filmed SON OF KONG.

Fast forward 70 years later and a Mitchell Standard movie camera is up for auction in England. Movie lover and camera buff, Sam Dodge, a resident of Washington State, won the bid. Since Mitchells had become rare, he wanted to know more about this vintage camera with the number, "66" stamped into it. He soon received a reply from none other than the Chairman of the archives at the American Society of Cinematographers (see below_ that confirmed that he had not only a rare camera, but one that had a special, provenance -- it was the same camera that Eddie Linden had used to film KING KONG!

Willis O' Brian and unidentified person (studio executive?).

MONSTER-SIZED MONSTER MEMORABILIA COLLECTION

This phenomenal collection of FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND memorabilia is currently up at auction with a bid starting at $500.00. There are some interesting items here, including some that you don't see very often.

Lot Description:

Famous Monsters of Filmland Collection of (40) Classic Monster Memorabilia (1960s-2000s). Vintage and contemporary (40) items including (1) QMX silver and Carnelian replica of the Bela Lugosi "Dracula" Crest ring cast from the original owned by Forrest J Ackerman (limited edition 151/1931, (3) vintage (1963) Universal Monsters wallets with 1-"Dracula"/"The Mummy," 1-"The Creature"/"The Wolfman" and 1-"The Phantom"/"Frankenstein," (12) Louis Marx brand 6" x 3" x 2" classic monster figures including 2-"Frankenstein Monster," 2-"Mummy," 2-"Phantom of the Opera," 2-"Wolf Man," 2-"Hunchback," 2-"Creature from the Black Lagoon," (7) packs of "The Ackermonster's Cardic Cards," (1) deck of "Mr. Sci-Fi's Scientifiction Cards," (1) Famous Monsters of Filmland Phantom wrist watch, (14) Son of Famous Monsters of Filmland Convention items including 2-show programs, 3-pins, 3-attendee badge (two for Kevin Burns and one for Al Lewis), 2-convention printed bags and 4-ads for Forrest J Akerman's Sci-Fi magazine, (1) Famous Monsters of Filmland "Fantasticinema" 4" x 6" x 1" plaque presented to Kevin Burns.

PUT THE MASK ON (THE AUCTION BLOCK) NOW!

I, for one, would have never expected to see something like this come up for sale. I guess you never know what someone has been hanging onto in their monster collections.

Of all movie props to pop up at auction, this has got to be one of the most esoteric; the original ritual skull mask used in what is considered the first Canadian horror film, THE MASK (1961). Besides the wild mask, the movie itself is pretty bizarre and is often cited as "surrealist horror".

Here's a LINK to a previous post about THE MASK.

Lot Description:

Mosaic Skull Ritual Mask from the Cult Film The Mask (Warner Bros., 1961). Vintage original vivid and iconic skull mask constructed of cast fiberglass shell with hinged, movable lower jaw, painted in metallic gold, ivory and red with hand embellishment of unique colorful blue, black and turquoise chipped stone mosaic tiles. For horror fans of the 1960s, this mask will be remembered for haunting their nightmares. Even for kids too young to see such films, the image of this mysterious skull, seen in monster magazines, newspaper ads and posters, is unforgettable. Aside from the mask itself being an iconic horror image among horror imagery, the movie, The Mask, is also considered the very first Canadian horror movie as well as the first 3D movie from Canada. Originally from the collection of legendary publicist, actor and pop culture figure Jim Moran who combed the globe adding exotic oddities to his mask collection. The theatrical, ritual mask measures 11" x 7" x 7" and is accompanied by 4-documents relating to Jim Moran's promotion and publicity for the film, 2-Warner Bros. 8" x 10"production photos for the film with 1-retaining studio paper snipe, and related newspaper clippings and magazine articles. Exhibiting age, production wear and soiling. In vintage Very Good condition. From the estate of Jim Moran. Comes with a COA from Heritage Auctions.

NOTE: This information is from an auction preview, so I don't have any info on active biding.