Not much comes to hand that belonged to George and Zsoka Pal, but I was lucky enough to acquire a few things recently. Here are a couple-- photos of two of Pal's starring actors--signed to George's wife Zsoka--with nice inscriptions:
From Tony Randall--in makeup for THE SEVEN FACES OF DR. LAO (1964):
(http://i60.tinypic.com/117vl06.jpg)
And from Russ Tamblyn, as "tom thumb" (1958):
(http://i57.tinypic.com/1zz6pm0.jpg)
Oh my...these are very nice! ;)
One more thing I just got from the George Pal estate--a model of the Martian war machine (fan made, not used in the movie) which Pal treasured--this model of the war machine had a place of honor in his home on the glass shelves where all his film-related awards stood. The old WAR OF THE WORLDS book you see standing next to the model is the 1897 serialized copy that belonged to Forry Ackerman. The paperback lying in front is a 1960s one I've had--well, I guess for 50 years or so!
(http://i61.tinypic.com/lh0rk.jpg)
Very nice! You have a real treasure there, with that Pal owned model!
You have an amazing collection.Love War of the Worlds and Dr Lao.
Those are great pieces! George Pal's films are unique among classic fantasy films. They have a depth of emotion and humanity and warmth that I don't see in other fantasy films of the time.
I just ordered a copy of ATLANTIS, THE LOST CONTINENT--haven't seen that one in many years. Remember it, Rodd? Getting the war machine makes me need to watch the old WAR OF THE WORLDS again, too. I mentioned Pal to Ib Melchior recently and he said that he'd known Pal slightly--and that he was a very nice person--and Pal had wanted to collaborate on a movie project with Ib (no specific plans, though, I think), but Pal was called away to work on some other project and they never got together again before Pal passed away. One wonders what wonders might have resulted from that collaboration!
Added another interesting piece to my Pal collection. This is a call sheet for the filming of THE WAR OF THE WORLDS in 1952--and making it even more cool, listed right below Gene Barry's name is that of Charlie Gemora, the famous ape-suit actor.
(http://i62.tinypic.com/keanhf.jpg)
Gemora was the martian--he was in the house scene with Ann Robinson in this film, I believe (found a little shot of him being helped into the martian suit--I'll add that, too).
(http://i61.tinypic.com/2mqrryt.jpg)
Why is there something about ROAD TO BALI on a call sheet for WOTW?
Since both productions were shot for Paramount simultaneously, some of the crew (unit) and/or equipment might have possibly been shared between them.
Wouldn't it be cool if someone unearthed a photo of Hope and Crosby arm and arm with the Martian?
Quote from: Herr Hussmann on October 05, 2014, 12:47:13 AM
Wouldn't it be cool if someone unearthed a photo of Hope and Crosby arm and arm with the Martian?
Exceedingly!
Economy! Doing a Martian shot in the morning, shooting the Bali kangaroo in the afternoon. Well, not SHOOTING the kangaroo, but...oh, heck, YOU know what I mean!
Recently acquired: a couple of George Pal's personal awards, from his estate--the silver bowl is from the International Brotherhood of Magicians, for Pal's devotion to and his contributions to the world of magic. It was handed to Pal by Tony Randall, in costume for his role of Merlin in Pal's THE 7 FACES OF DR LAO:
(http://i59.tinypic.com/2141ds7.jpg)
(http://i59.tinypic.com/2iivnlz.jpg)
It has a lot of tarnish (it is only silver-plate) and some dings, but I'm pleased to have it!
And here's a plaque Pal was given in 1977 by the Film Advisory Board Inc., an Award of Excellence, on the 25th anniversary of Pal's film WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE:
(http://i57.tinypic.com/oazl9z.jpg)
Robert, that is some damn fine stuff. I am extremely partial to Tony Randall and those two items that went through his hands to the family are just amazing.
Wonderful items , espcially like the awards you posted and the Tony Randall connection to the magicians award
George Pal lost a vast amount of his papers and memorabilia in one of those big canyon fires in 1961--his home was entirely consumed--so it's kind of exciting to be able to get any older Pal items. Glad you guys like the stuff. I surely feel fortunate to have acquired a few things.
Two more pieces of memorabilia from the George Pal estate, just added to my collection today. His Laurel Award, presented for WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953), and a still from HOUDINI (also 1953) signed to Pal's wife, Zsoka. I've treated myself pretty well for Christmas this year!
(http://i59.tinypic.com/2ns9jxh.jpg)
(http://i57.tinypic.com/kz3oy.jpg)
Absolutely wonderful group of Pal memorbilia , I am so happy to see that these things survived , thank you so much for posting the pictures
Quote from: WnewCreatureFeatures on December 19, 2014, 05:30:11 PM
Absolutely wonderful group of Pal memorbilia , I am so happy to see that these things survived , thank you so much for posting the pictures
Thanks for letting me exercise some bragging rights about these pieces! I'm glad Pal is not forgotten--he was a big-hearted and brilliant fellow! I'm proud ot have anything that was his.
Quote from: typhooforme on December 19, 2014, 06:20:44 PM
Thanks for letting me exercise some bragging rights about these pieces! I'm glad Pal is not forgotten--he was a big-hearted and brilliant fellow! I'm proud ot have anything that was his.
Yes he was I recall the first thing I saw of his was the puppetoons when I was very young , he and Harryhausen were the theater goer's best friend & only perfection came from them
Quote from: WnewCreatureFeatures on December 19, 2014, 06:30:47 PM
Yes he was I recall the first thing I saw of his was the puppetoons when I was very young , he and Harryhausen were the theater goer's best friend & only perfection came from them
Absolutely! Pal's puppet work is largely forgotten by most folks nowadays, but what brilliant little films those Puppetoons were! Pal was awarded the Queen Wilhlemina award in the Netherlands for his work helping support Holland after WWII.
Just got this today--NOT from Pal's estate, but it goes well with the award bowl from the Magicians' association. The magazine (which was published specifically for those interested in magic tricks, etc) is from 1963 and the article about Pal talks about how many of his films had featured magic--TOM THUMB, WONDERFUL WORLD OF THE BROTHERS GRIMM and "in production now" THE 7 FACES OF DR LAO. Kind of a nice thing to display with the award bowl.
(http://i57.tinypic.com/11m5b2p.jpg)
The latest addtion to my George Pal collection--this signed photo from the Pal estate. George Pal was best friends with Walter Lantz (creator of Woody Woodpecker, etc) and Walter's wife Gracie (I believe she was the original voice of Woody). Pal included brief tribute moments to Lantz in many of his films--for instance, in THE TIME MACHINE, a little girl in a crowd drops her Woody Woodpecker toy (thanks to friend Tim Lucas of VIDEO WATCHDOG for pointing that moment out to me). Below: Lantz, director Michael Anderson, Gracie Lantz and George Pal on the set of DOC SAVAGE (1975). Mrs. Lantz had been given a brief walk-on part, holding an Andy Panda toy, and this photo shows her in costume for that cameo.
(http://i57.tinypic.com/21bskjq.jpg)
Another lovely item from the collection , like the connection between Walter Lantz and Pal , two people who added alot to my childhood.
I recall back in the early 60s I just got finished trick or treating in the apt bldg and sat down in front of the b/w chinese modern console tv and saw the premier of Walter Lantz's Halloween Special The Spook n Nanny , I believe it was the only time where Walter appeared in a cartoon
Here is an excerp for those interested
Has the song spook n nanny
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rENP6VguRus# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rENP6VguRus#)
Quote from: typhooforme on January 07, 2015, 04:44:05 PM
Walter's wife Gracie (I believe she was the original voice of Woody).
Ben Hardaway and a couple of others (including Mel B.) did the voice before Grace Stafford, but she did it the longest, by far.
Quote from: Mike Scott on January 07, 2015, 08:46:56 PM
Ben Hardaway and a couple of others (including Mel B.) did the voice before Grace Stafford, but she did it the longest, by far.
Thanks for that info, Mike--I'll add this to my Lantz/Pal notes!
Quote from: Mike Scott on January 07, 2015, 08:46:56 PMQuote from: typhooforme on January 07, 2015, 04:44:05 PM...Walter's wife Gracie (I believe she was the original voice of Woody).
Ben Hardaway and a couple of others (including Mel B.) did the voice before Grace Stafford, but she did it the longest, by far.
Interesting story there. When the producers were auditioning for a new voice for Woody Woodpecjer, Gracie thought she could do Woody better than anybody but the producers were looking for a man. So she sent in a tape without revealing her real identity, and of course won the job!
;D
Another addition to my Pal collection! One more piece of memorabilia from George Pal's estate arrived today, the Laurel Award nomination for CONQUEST OF SPACE (1955).
(http://i60.tinypic.com/2ikjg6.jpg)
Scored a little more from the George Pal estate--this is a file-folder/dossier, about 10x14 closed. Cool thing (to me) is it still contains one of Pal's red pencils, a 1966 calendar, and what the heck, a couple paperclips and an old rubber band! The business envelope was Pal's, too. The photo from TOM THUMB is just a vintage still I stuck in to make it a more interesting photo. More to come!
(http://i60.tinypic.com/2gvubmr.jpg)
(http://i58.tinypic.com/2nioc29.jpg)
Also got this not long ago, FOR my George Pal collection, but not from the Pal estate. This photo from DESTINATION MOON (a Pal film) comes from the personal collection of Paul Blaisdell, the effects wizard, artist-sculptor who did the saucer men in INVASION OF THE SAUCER MEN and the carrot-monster, Beulah, in IT CONQUERED THE WORLD, etc. Not the most interesting still in the world, but just kind of cool to have something that belonged to Blaisdell--plus, it's from a George Pal movie!
(http://i61.tinypic.com/rb02zk.jpg)
Another item from the Pal estate added: a paperweight celebrating the 1969 moon landing! Appropriate for the producer of DESTINATION MOON!
(http://i59.tinypic.com/2j5lzdf.jpg)
A couple more things from George Pal: from his estate, a letter from outer space artist Bob McCall--and from the files of sci-fi historian, organizer, writer Sam Moskowitz, a friendly letter FROM George Pal, about paying a debt of $2.50 for a loan Sam made him...
(http://i61.tinypic.com/2dkiuj8.jpg)
(http://i62.tinypic.com/oqbnlk.jpg)
What's that say after "Meantime . ." in the Moskowitz letter?
*******************
Mike, Pal just adds "Many thanks!"
Re: the book Robert McCall mentions in his letter in the post above--here's the book and an example of artwork inside. This is my copy of it, not Pal's. At the time McCall sent the book, Pal had not directed a film in 12 years (7 FACES OF DR LAO) and would produce only one more movie (DOC SAVAGE, in 1975) before his passing in 1980.
(http://i58.tinypic.com/icitf6.jpg)
(http://i62.tinypic.com/2sb3jhx.jpg)
McCall was one of the best! The 2001 posters are classic!
I guess this is sort of the culmination of my George Pal collection--I just acquired a display case that holds most of my memorabilia from the Pal Estate. Always fun to arrange a collection in a display case or on our shelves!
(http://i62.tinypic.com/2gsl54g.jpg)
I've shown most of the main things in this thread--but you'll see other stuff on the shelves, too--a couple toys, more "paper", and a few little bronze figures sculpted by Wah Ming Chang.
Wonderful! And thank you for sharing with us all along!
As always delightful and thank you for sharing those letters
As always, a pleasure to share some of my favorite things with you guys! I don't know if there are as many George Pal fans out there as the late great Pal deserves, but I like to think there are a lot of UMA members who do love his most memorable ones like WAR OF THE WORLDS, THE TIME MACHINE and 7 FACES OF DR LAO!
Here's another letter--which is a complete puzzle, as the "enclosed" part didn't accompany it. What was Pal hoping John Dall would do? Dall had been in Pal's ATLANTIS, THE LOST CONTINENT in '61 and it was about the last thing he ever did. If he'd followed Pal's advice, whatever it was,would he have had a longer career? Or did the advice lead Dall in the wrong direction? A puzzlement! But anyhow, here's the brief note to Dall from Pal.
(http://i61.tinypic.com/2hgfzp2.jpg)
Thanks Robert,now it's going to bug me not knowing if John Dall answered the letter or not. :P.You have an amazing eclectic collection.Please keep posting.
Gab
Quote from: typhooforme on July 10, 2015, 10:45:33 PM
As always, a pleasure to share some of my favorite things with you guys! I don't know if there are as many George Pal fans out there as the late great Pal deserves, but I like to think there are a lot of UMA members who do love his most memorable ones like WAR OF THE WORLDS, THE TIME MACHINE and 7 FACES OF DR LAO!
Here's another letter--which is a complete puzzle, as the "enclosed" part didn't accompany it. What was Pal hoping John Dall would do? Dall had been in Pal's ATLANTIS, THE LOST CONTINENT in '61 and it was about the last thing he ever did. If he'd followed Pal's advice, whatever it was,would he have had a longer career? Or did the advice lead Dall in the wrong direction? A puzzlement! But anyhow, here's the brief note to Dall from Pal.
(http://i61.tinypic.com/2hgfzp2.jpg)
Very interesting , My Guess is that it was removed on purpose , it probably contained some embarrassing incident Dall was involved in , and Pal (ever the Gentleman) tossed it for posterity)
Another recent addition to my George Pal collection--1968 award from the Count Dracula Society (with which Pal was for a while involved with).
I've never known much about Dr. Donald Reed but I'm given to understand that he was an interesting and eccentric individual himself!
(http://i68.tinypic.com/10h21ra.jpg)
And here's the award in place with a couple more of Pal's awards and odds and ends from his desk/office shelves:
(http://i65.tinypic.com/261l1z8.jpg)
Where do you get things like that? Are they just out there on the collector's market?
I guess this happens when you collect stuff for a long time and people KNOW you collect stuff-- someone put me in contact, a few years ago, with writer/fan/movie memorabilia expert Justin Humphreys, who is curator of the George Pal estate. He was empowered by Pal's son to facilitate selling some of George's things, and has sold some stuff on Ebay and some by word-of-mouth-- He and I have discussed items in phone calls and via emails--and so it happens. 90% of the Pal personal memorabilia I have came from the estate, via Justin, these past 2-3 years. Other stuff turned up on Ebay from other sellers, and from places like abebooks.com, where you can find interesting things sometimes if you dig around. It was from abebooks that I got many of Peter Cushing's personal scripts, and a lot of Vincent Price's art catalogs and books. You just never know....
Quote from: typhooforme on July 08, 2016, 09:02:04 PM
He was empowered by Pal's son to facilitate selling some of George's things, and has sold some stuff on Ebay and some by word-of-mouth-- He and I have discussed items in phone calls and via emails--and so it happens.
Aha! Very interesting!
Yep. One word here, a suggestion there, and the collection came into being. As Groucho said in ANIMAL CRACKERS, "The whole thing was done with the white of an egg!"
Like a creature from a movie, It grows!
Rob
Here's the latest, just got this today--George Pal's passport photo, on which he has signed including his middler name, Jules--which he seldom included in signing. Nice item--small, but pretty cool.
(http://i65.tinypic.com/141k178.jpg)
Quote from: typhooforme on July 25, 2016, 09:32:27 PM
on which he has signed including his middler name, Jules--
Seems like I never heard his middle name, before? So he had George from Wells and Jules from Verne.
If no one ever said that to George (Wells/Verne)--or if he never said that about himself--the Fates were just not doin' their job! That's a great line, Mike. Pal surely had the creative spirit of both Wells and Verne. He deserved much more cooperation from the studios and a free hand to do the films HE WANTED to do THE WAY HE WANTED to do 'em. They gave Pal little respect and Pal's projects were dismissed. We, the movie-going public, surely lost out.
Quote from: typhooforme on July 26, 2016, 09:11:31 AM
If no one ever said that to George (Wells/Verne)--or if he never said that about himself--the Fates were just not doin' their job! That's a great line, Mike. Pal surely had the creative spirit of both Wells and Verne. He deserved much more cooperation from the studios and a free hand to do the films HE WANTED to do THE WAY HE WANTED to do 'em. They gave Pal little respect and Pal's projects were dismissed. We, the movie-going public, surely lost out.
I remember seeing "Doc Savage, Man of Bronze" as a kid and loving it. Haven't seen it in years.
My memory gets kind of Swiss-cheese-like these days--there are holes and gaps--but as I recall, the deal with DOC SAVAGE was roughly this: Pal set out to film the book pretty accurately, and then hoped that would spur interest in the entire Kenneth Robeson series--which would have meant a nice line-up of movies starring "Doc"--kind of like the Tarzan films that had gone on and on. But when the studio honchos watched the dailies, THEY felt that the movie should be more like the BATMAN tv series which was very popular at the time (and which I think we all love to this day). What they wanted to do--and to some extent DID--was to add camp and giggles to DOC SAVAGE, more BIFF! BOOM! BANG! So things were subtracted, things were added, things were meddled with--and the end result wasn't Pal's ideal film any longer. It's not terrible--but it didn't do well at the boxoffice, and the studio guys (who had messed with it) said it was Pal's fault. Thereafter, when Pal had a film idea, when he wanted to do a movie--he was put on hold, or shoved out of the way again and again. I've been told that he never stopped trying and hoping, but--he was disappointed to the end of his life. HE deserved better--and WE deserved more Pal movies. Darn it. if I've messed up any of the story or said anything wrong, I hope those who know the Pal story better will add their two cents worth.
Quote from: Haunted hearse on July 26, 2016, 07:11:47 PM
I remember seeing "Doc Savage, Man of Bronze" as a kid and loving it.
Not my favorite Pal film, but it's fun!
Pretty much the Pal film at the bottom of my own list, Mike--I'm a fan (maybe you had that part figured out! lol), and i love 'em all, but obviously there are the top of the heap ones--and then enjoyable-but-lesser ones--and below those, the "ok ones" which are sure watchable, they they don't have Martians or Morloks or Dr Lao in 'em!
Quote from: typhooforme on July 26, 2016, 08:57:50 PM
. . they they don't have Martians or Morloks or Dr Lao in 'em!
Yep, those are my faves, along with the other '50s space ones and "The Power".