Universal Studios Franky mask 1976

[Gasport]

Here is my prized souvenir from my first ever visit to Universal Studios WAY BACK in 1976! I'll never forget walking into the gift shop there and eyeballing this for the first time. HAD to have it. I could've sworn that Don Post was printed on it, but i can't find it now. Only the Uni-copyright seal.
[see pic] What great memories this brings back! Anybody else have one of these? I've seen a few on ebay that are very similar, but never exactly like this one. Cheers!
                                                                                                         MG

[mike c]

Don Post or not... what a beauty! I had to flip my laptop sideways to view it properly but totally worth it, hahaha! Nice piece, thanks for posting!

Mike C.

[Gasport]

Yeah, sorry! I didn't pay attention to what the pics looked like when loading and would have flipped them right side up if i did. Glad you enjoyed them!

[neonnoodle]

Oh yes, it's a real beauty, all right!  I never knew they sold those there...

It takes me back, really.  The Universal Studios Tour is still fun nowadays, but I remember what a thrill it was back in the primitive days...oh, back even before Jaws was installed...I recall the commercials for the collapsing bridge gag and the flash flood.

I recall running into the Frank guy back then--I don't remember if it was that exact mask design we see here, I guess they've used many over the years--but when seeing the guy, it was like having a twisted Mickey Mouse experience...huge, reanimated green guy lumbering towards you, and bending over, somewhat, to shake hands with the fans.

[typhooforme]

Beautiful mask.  I don't know much about masks, but this one "speaks" to me--wish I had one like it!  I was at Universal around '64, and all I remember of the walk-abouts were guys dressed as Keystone Kops.  They'd grab you by the collar and pretend to be about to whack you with a billy club--the Keystone photo op!

[Toy Ranch]

That's a Don Post 800 line "Thin" Frankenstein mask. 

Very cool!

[Gasport]

Thanks for identifying my mask and to everyone else who commented! What a memorable trip that was... we toured the village where all the classic monster flicks were shot. Explored an interior set that [according to our guide] was used in A&C Meet Frankenstein complete with the revolving wall. Our tram went thru the rotating ice tunnel where the Six Million Dollar Man had recently battled Bigfoot! [Remember THAT?] During the parting of the Red Sea bit, they had the newly created shark from JAWS come swimming up to us...i was STUNNED at how cheesy it looked. The mouth flapped in the breeze like it was held on with a door hinge! We passed by the Psycho house, the Munsters and Leave it to Beaver dwellings. [what a cool neighborhood!] Also the NY apt steps that Mr Fields used to regularly throw Lou Costello down while filming the ground breaking, Seinfeld inspiring A&C TV series. I remember being disappointed that the Phantom of the Opera sewers of Paris set was closed during this particular tour....I also bought the big Frankenstein movie poster that was available in FM at the time ,when i got my mask...it was already mounted on cardboard and shrinkwrapped. What a huge PAIN IN THE ASS it was to get that thing on the plane safely and home in one piece. It hangs on my studio wall to this day. Terrific memories that i'm thrilled to be sharing with friends who can understand just HOW special they truly are.
                                  Mike G

[The Phantom Creep]

What great stories, I wish I could have gone to Universal back then. I love that mask and I think that the aging and overall kinda dirtiness of it really make it look even better. To know that it's from your childhood is awesome. Thanks for sharing!!

[poseablemonster]

Great mask, Mike!  That's one of my favorite Frankenstein masks. 

[Gasport]

Yeah, as they would say on the Antiques Roadshow, it has a "marvelous patina". That mask has seen  LOTS of wear and has scared many people since 1976. One day, when my kids were little, i wore it with a big bulky overcoat and climbed a ladder up to my roof. I would let them get a glimpse of me when they were out playing in the yard and then disappear over the peak...TOTALLY freaked them out!