A little from George Pal's estate...

[typhooforme]

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.

[typhooforme]

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!

[WnewCreatureFeatures]

Absolutely wonderful group of Pal memorbilia , I am so happy to see that these things survived , thank you so much for posting the pictures

[typhooforme]

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.

[WnewCreatureFeatures]

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

[typhooforme]

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. 

[typhooforme]

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.

[typhooforme]

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. 

[WnewCreatureFeatures]

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#

[Mike Scott]

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.

[typhooforme]

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!

[Hepcat]

...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!

[typhooforme]

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). 

[typhooforme]

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!

[typhooforme]

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!