Author Topic: "Monsterkid" Who is eligible for the term?  (Read 7814 times)

scottstoybox007

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"Monsterkid" Who is eligible for the term?
« on: November 20, 2011, 02:55:02 PM »
Recently, I made a post on another forum and made mention to the fact that I considered myself a "Monsterkid". I was told that Monsterkids were a product of the 60's and that I was ineligible to use the term to describe myself. LOL!

I was, in fact, born in '72 and grew up watching the monsters on TV's Dr. Paul Bearer and Creature Features. I built all the old Aurora's (my first was a square box glow Frankenstein Aurora) and owned the AHI's, Remco's, and even the Mego Monsters. I read the Famous Monsters of Filmland mags and my favorite books from the school Library were the good old Crestwood books. I love monsters and consider myself a Monsterkid. But what's the official word? What is the criteria for membership?

michblk

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Re: "Monsterkid" Who is eligible for the term?
« Reply #1 on: November 20, 2011, 03:16:55 PM »
I think that would qualify you! IMO there are generations of Monster Kids.

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raycastile

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Re: "Monsterkid" Who is eligible for the term?
« Reply #2 on: November 20, 2011, 04:13:39 PM »
Originally, "Monster Kid" did refer to the generation that grew up during the late 50s through the 60s.  Some of us 70s kids didn't like that.  Eventually the definition loosened up to include us.  Then younger fans started exhibiting characteristics associated with monster kidness. The term continued to evolve until it came to include anyone who appreciates classic horror and classic monsters, to the extent that it becomes part of their personality, part of the way they see the world.  I think also they need to be able to have fun with it.  Having a scholarly interest in Murnau or Mary Shelley does not make you a monster kid.  It doesn't exclude you, but there needs to be something to justify the word "kid." 
Raymond Castile

Fester

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Re: "Monsterkid" Who is eligible for the term?
« Reply #3 on: November 20, 2011, 05:04:13 PM »
Back in the fifties, during the Cold War,  there was a period known as the "Red Scare." Almost everyone, it seems, was suspected of being a Communist infiltrator/sympathizer.  This led to the HUAC (House UnAmerican Activities Committee) hearings in Congress.  Thousands of people were subpoenaed to testify regarding their patriotism and/or political affiliations--and those of people they knew.

There was another 1950s Congressional committee. HUMAC (House Universal Monster Activities Committee).
Their hearings were part of the lesser known "Green Scare." a period where many people were suspected of being monsters and/or monster sympathizers.

These hearings included such interrogations as the following:

Were you ever--or are you now--a kid?

Did you ever--or do you now--like monsters?

Have you ever--or do you now attend--Horror movie conventions?

Have you owned--or do you now own-- any monster replicas as produced by Aurora; Revell;  Polar Lights; or some garage-kit fellow-traveler?

Do you subscribe to--or have you read any periodicals such as: Fangoria; Rue Morgue; Famous Monsters of Filmland; Creepy; Eerie; Tales from the Crypt; or Scary Monsters?

Do you now--or have you ever-- stayed awake past 10:30 PM to watch horror movies on TV?

Are you now--or have you ever logged on to www.universalmonsterarmy.com?

Do you recognize any of the following names:  Elvira; Penny Dreadful; John Stanley; Bob Wilkins; Count Gore DeVol; Count Floyd; Mr. Lobo; Dr Shocker; Zacherly; Dr Gangreen; Uncle Forry (4-E or 4ST); Ormsby; Svengoolie; Joe Bob Briggs; Ghoulardi; Chilly Billy Carlile; or Dan Roebuck?

So, If you answered "Yes" to more than two of the above questions, you would have been considered a Monster Kid by the HUMAC, a committee of the US Congress.

Guess that makes you official.

Count_Zirock

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Re: "Monsterkid" Who is eligible for the term?
« Reply #4 on: November 20, 2011, 06:47:47 PM »
The '20s & '30s Monsterkids were the First Generation. People like my mom and dad, who grew up watching the original monsters as they were released. Forry Ackerman, Ray Bradbury, etc. Kids in the '40s & '50s were the 2nd Generation. They saw the 2nd phase of monsters, and saw the originals in theaters in spook-show re-releases and in the first of TV horror hosts. The '60s & '70s saw the great revival, with even more TV exposure, merchandise galore, and the 3rd Genners were spoiled rotten! We even got the great horror revival, spearheaded by "The Exorcist," "Jaws," and "Carrie." The 4th Genners of the '80s & '90s saw the homevid revolution and the slow death of many of the old traditions (monster double-features, grindhouses & drive-ins, monster toys). But, they got to see the booming of garage kits, monster cons, and bad girl art. We're on the 5th Genners now (2000s & 2010s). We've got all kinds of new formats, a new monster boom, new "classic" monsters (Freddy, Jason, Michael, Pinhead, Leatherface, Evil Dead, Zombies, et al), and people who are staring at an unknown future full of potentially dreadful remakes of EVERYTHING! But, we've got more similarities than differences, from where I sit. However, it'll be a sad day when the last person who can recall seeing "Dracula" or "Frankenstein" in a theater in 1931 passes from this mortal coil.
« Last Edit: November 20, 2011, 07:14:05 PM by Count_Zirock »
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Toy Ranch

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Re: "Monsterkid" Who is eligible for the term?
« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2011, 06:52:30 PM »
Back in the fifties, during the Cold War,  there was a period known as the "Red Scare." Almost everyone, it seems, was suspected of being a Communist infiltrator/sympathizer.  This led to the HUAC (House UnAmerican Activities Committee) hearings in Congress.  Thousands of people were subpoenaed to testify regarding their patriotism and/or political affiliations--and those of people they knew.

There was another 1950s Congressional committee. HUMAC (House Universal Monster Activities Committee).
Their hearings were part of the lesser known "Green Scare." a period where many people were suspected of being monsters and/or monster sympathizers.

These hearings included such interrogations as the following:

Were you ever--or are you now--a kid?

Did you ever--or do you now--like monsters?

Have you ever--or do you now attend--Horror movie conventions?

Have you owned--or do you now own-- any monster replicas as produced by Aurora; Revell;  Polar Lights; or some garage-kit fellow-traveler?

Do you subscribe to--or have you read any periodicals such as: Fangoria; Rue Morgue; Famous Monsters of Filmland; Creepy; Eerie; Tales from the Crypt; or Scary Monsters?

Do you now--or have you ever-- stayed awake past 10:30 PM to watch horror movies on TV?

Are you now--or have you ever logged on to www.universalmonsterarmy.com?

Do you recognize any of the following names:  Elvira; Penny Dreadful; John Stanley; Bob Wilkins; Count Gore DeVol; Count Floyd; Mr. Lobo; Dr Shocker; Zacherly; Dr Gangreen; Uncle Forry (4-E or 4ST); Ormsby; Svengoolie; Joe Bob Briggs; Ghoulardi; Chilly Billy Carlile; or Dan Roebuck?

So, If you answered "Yes" to more than two of the above questions, you would have been considered a Monster Kid by the HUMAC, a committee of the US Congress.

Guess that makes you official.



What he said ;)

scottstoybox007

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Re: "Monsterkid" Who is eligible for the term?
« Reply #6 on: November 20, 2011, 07:05:16 PM »
I gotta tell you guys...  when I posted this, I knew I always considered myself a Monster Kid. Shoot, I was practically weened into monsters by my Grandfather (who had an uncanny resemblance to Bela Lugosi) who used to sit with me and leaf through the pages of Denis Gifford's "A Pictorial History of Horror Movies". I remember the first time I heard "Famous Monsters Speak!" and "An Evening with Boris Karloff". Your responses have been classic! Fester's had me rolling! I guess we are definitely Monster Kids, regardless of generation!

Awesome thread, guys! Keep 'em coming!

Scott

Fester

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Re: "Monsterkid" Who is eligible for the term?
« Reply #7 on: November 20, 2011, 07:28:41 PM »
I was practically weened into monsters by my Grandfather (who had an uncanny resemblance to Bela Lugosi)


Funny . . . My grandfather looked a lot like Peter Lorre!

By the way:
If you enjoy Lio . . . . most definitely you are a Monster Kid.

« Last Edit: November 20, 2011, 07:58:13 PM by Fester »

Count_Zirock

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Re: "Monsterkid" Who is eligible for the term?
« Reply #8 on: November 20, 2011, 08:23:51 PM »
By the way:
If you enjoy Lio . . . . most definitely you are a Monster Kid.

I not only enjoy "Lio," I find myself frequently defending it from fundamentalist extremists who accuse it of being evil and Satanic, and are seeking to get it removed from The Charlotte Observer!!!
"That's either a very ugly woman or a very pretty monster." - Lou Costello

Count_Zirock

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Re: "Monsterkid" Who is eligible for the term?
« Reply #9 on: November 20, 2011, 08:24:26 PM »

I keep waiting for Mark to reveal Lio's mother is some sort of monster, to explain his "eccentricities."
« Last Edit: November 20, 2011, 08:41:11 PM by Count_Zirock »
"That's either a very ugly woman or a very pretty monster." - Lou Costello

Fester

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Re: "Monsterkid" Who is eligible for the term?
« Reply #10 on: November 20, 2011, 09:15:22 PM »
There have been a couple of cartoons that show Lio visiting his mom's grave.



This might explain a lot.
« Last Edit: November 20, 2011, 09:31:04 PM by Fester »

Count_Zirock

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Re: "Monsterkid" Who is eligible for the term?
« Reply #11 on: November 20, 2011, 09:29:34 PM »
There have been a couple of cartoons that show Lio visiting his mom's grave.
The Observer picked up Lio after the start of its run, so maybe I missed those. I need to start picking up the strip collections.
Thanks for the info, Fester.
"That's either a very ugly woman or a very pretty monster." - Lou Costello

Mcdee

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Re: "Monsterkid" Who is eligible for the term?
« Reply #12 on: November 20, 2011, 11:10:32 PM »
Born in 1953...Grew up watching all the Universal Monsters on Shock Theatre...
Bought and built all the Aurora Monster Models in the 60's...
Loved Monsters then ...and Still do today!....Still watch the  old Horror Movies...
Still Play with Monster Models and Monster Toys...
Mondter Kid?...Hell YA !!!
Mcdee
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Count_Zirock

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Re: "Monsterkid" Who is eligible for the term?
« Reply #13 on: November 21, 2011, 12:55:31 AM »

Y'know, I saw that one, and it completely slipped my mind. Great, I'm already taking old fart vitamins, and I've still got short-term memory ... short-term memory ... um, whatchamacallit.
"That's either a very ugly woman or a very pretty monster." - Lou Costello

Fester

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Re: "Monsterkid" Who is eligible for the term?
« Reply #14 on: November 21, 2011, 01:51:56 AM »
Y'know, I saw that one, and it completely slipped my mind. Great, I'm already taking old fart vitamins, and I've still got short-term memory ... short-term memory ... um, whatchamacallit.

I usually call it CRS syndrome.

Can't Remember Squat.

 

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