MY HOMEMADE MONSTER MAG! (1970)

While taking a recent look at my collection of homemade monster magazines, I was sad to see that many of them are deteriorating rather considerably. And it's no wonder; I used cheap typewriter paper, rubber cement and most of the pictures that I used were originally printed on pulp newsprint. Even the ink from my trusty Adler portable typewriter is gradually fading. Even with a little image manipulation, it's not within my capability to correct the bleed-through on these pages without spending tons of time on them.

This is the next to last issue that I made of what I think was a pretty good 23-issue run of MONSTERS MAGAZINE. It was done sometime in 1970, and since I mention the new season of TV shows, my guess it was sometime during the Fall.

I still have a few of these 50+-year-old little treasures left, and I'll be posting them as I get them scanned and archived in the vaults here at the Mysterious Mansion.

NOTE: These pages have been reproduced at their original 8 1/2" x 11" size, so if you click on an image, it'll be easier to read the text.

ABOUT THE COVER: At the time, my crush on Raquel Welch knew no bounds and this drawing I did of her I'm sure was originally traced. Oh, and I bet you can't guess where I swiped the logo from!

I'll be the first to admit I was no Harry Chester, but I was trying to improve the look of my 'zine from totally amateurish to a quasi-competent fanzine and started to pay more attention to my page designs. Notice I even used some color marking pens! Don't forget to check out my freakishly adolescent comment about the cover. But, hey, at the time, I meant it!

I can't remember why I didn't include the letter writer's name on this missive. I might have even written it myself!

Four text-only pages in a row, and right after I said in my editorial that I would remain a pictorial magazine!

My 4th Annual Monster Awards for 1968-1969 didn't try to disguise the fact that I was a gorilla-sized PLANET OF THE APES fan during this period.

Outside of King Kong and Godzilla, Gorgo is my favorite "giant monster", and show Mama and Baby some love here. These pages were ripped and clipped out of an issue of FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND. Fortunately, I had enough allowance money to buy two copies!

I added this after watching DEVIL BAT on one of the L.A. Horror Host programs. A little hokey today, but it creeped me out then!

The LOS ANGELES TIMES was always a good source for clippings.

SEE YOU NEXT TIME!

RARE HAMMER CASTING PROMO

After the rousing success of Hammer's ONE MILLION YEARS, B.C. in 1966, they were quick to capitalize on the winning combination of dinosaurs and damsels. After all, it was the explosive appearance of Raquel Welch as Loana in her deerskin bikini that lured audiences to the box office.

They rushed out posters advertising the casting of the next female lead in the production, CREATURES THE WORLD FORGOT. As expected, there was a tsunami of candidates that followed.

Below is the rare one-sheet announcing the search.

Check back tomorrow to see who won (as if you didn't know already!).

R.I.P. RAQUEL WELCH

Raquel Welch, one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1960's and 1970's passed away yesterday at the age of 82 from an as yet, undisclosed short illness. Called “the indelible image of a woman as queen of nature” by Camille Paglia, Welch herself rightly said in her autobiography, Beyond the Cleavage, " I became every man's fantasy."

The Hollywood Reporter added: "Her success in Hollywood was due partly to talent, partly to perseverance, but mostly to hitting the genetic jackpot. Although she turned in several respectable performances — as a scientist’s assistant in Fantastic Voyage (1966), as Lilian Lust in Bedazzled (1967), as a transgender revolutionary in Myra Breckinridge (1970) — it was her strikingly photogenic features and voluptuous figure that catapulted her to international stardom."

I myself, fell under her spell and the poster of her iconic photo wearing a doeskin bikini from ONE MILLION YEARS B.C. adorned my wall during my teens.

Rest in Peace, Raquel.

The other poster I had on my wall.

RAQUEL STRIPS!

The book, "Hollywood Frame by Frame" is a collection of film strips from cinema in the years 1951-1997. One of the entries is this fascinating series of contact sheets from the 1966 ONE MILLION YEARS B.C. Depicted in the Carl Toms' designed doeskin bikini is Raquel Welch, by on-set still photographer Terry O'Neil.

Thanks to colleague Douglas Brown, who provided the scans.

ONE MILLION YEARS, B.C. DIORAMAS

In case you missed it the first time around, MONSTERS IN MOTION is again soliciting pre-orders for a pair of "put together" dioramas from Ray Harryhausen's Hammer release, ONE MILLION YEARS B.C. They did Raquel's deerskin bikini okay, but they could have done a better job on her face. Overall, though, these are pretty good looking vinyl figures.

$254.99
One Million Years B.C. Triceratops with Loana 16" Diorama Statue Ray Harryhausen LIMITED EDITION

"This is a story of long, long ago; when the world was just beginning."

The classic fantasy film One Million Years BC featured dinosaurs and other creatures brought to life by the stop-motion genius of Ray Harryhausen and introduced new starlet Raquel Welch.

Star Ace salutes the work of Harryhausen with the soft vinyl statues of the Triceratops and Raquel Welch's cavegirl, Loana. In the film the Triceratops chases Loana but must battle the fierce Ceratosaurus (coming soon).

The Triceratops is 40cm long and stands 17cm tall. It is sculpted to exactly recreate the original Harryhausen stop-motion model, and features a detailed, hand painted color scheme to match. It comes with a rocky terrain base featuring the One Million Years BC logo.

Loana is on a rocky base and stands 9cm tall and features the likeness of Raquel Welch.

The combined set (SA9012) comes with both Loana and the Triceratops.

Created in partnership with the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation and 20th Century Fox.

$259.99
One Million Years B.C. Allosaurus & Tumak Diorama Statue Set Ray harryhausen:

LIMITED EDITION OF ONLY 600 PIECES!

“This is a story of long, long ago; when the world was just beginning.“

The classic fantasy film One Million Years BC featured dinosaurs and other creatures brought to life by the stop-motion genius of Ray Harryhausen.

Star Ace salutes the work of Harryhausen with the soft vinyl statues of the menacing Allosaurus and brave caveman, Tumak. Recreating the scene where Tumak defends a Shell tribe girl from the attacking dinosaur, these two vinyl statues can be displayed separately or brought together to complete the full scene.

The Allosaurus stands over 12" tall and is sculpted to exactly recreate the original Harryhausen stop-motion model, and features a detailed, hand painted color scheme to match. It comes with a rocky terrain base featuring the One Million Years BC logo.

In scale with the Allosaurus, Tumak stands 6" tall and wears a synthetic fur tunic. He stands on a rocky terrain base and brandishes his spear.

The combined set comes with both Tumak and the Allosaurus, the bases fit together to create the full scene.

Soft Vinyl Statue

Limited Edition (600pcs)

Produced with the permission of The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation (Charity Number SC001419).

$194.99
One Million Years B.C. Triceratops 16" Diorama Statue Ray Harryhausen:

“This is a story of long, long ago; when the world was just beginning.“

The classic fantasy film One Million Years BC featured dinosaurs and other creatures brought to life by the stop-motion genius of Ray Harryhausen and introduced new starlet Raquel Welch.

The Triceratops is 16" long and stands 6.5" tall. It is sculpted to exactly recreate the original Harryhausen stop-motion model, and features a detailed, hand painted color scheme to match. It comes with a rocky terrain base featuring the One Million Years BC logo.

Created in partnership with the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation and 20th Century Fox.

BORIS KARLOFF BAKES!

HAMMER HORROR (PART 2)
Vol. 1, No. 4
June, 1995
Publisher: Marvel Comics UK Ltd.
Editor: Marcus Hearn
Assistant Editor: Janet Mahnaz
Editorial Director: Paul Neary
Design: Peri Godbold
Consultant: Stephen Jones
Cover: Photo cover (Christopher Lee as Rasputin the Mad Monk)
Pages: 52 A4-size pages
Cover price: $5.25