How About Some Mask Pics, Anyone?

[Sir Masksalot]

Here's a few you don't see every day:

"The Tall Man" from Phantasm. R Quinn Studios
created this mask not long after the movie premiered >



"Schizo" by Imaginative Creations. I bought mine in August 1982 >



This mask never really had an official name but is best known
for its appearance in a movie called "Geek Maggot Bingo". I
recall seeing it in a Michael Jackson music video as well.
I bought this one in July 1983 direct from Ed French Studio >



We think it's called the "Red Moon Zombie", a Nightowl Productions mask
that I don't believe was ever marketed >



Renowned illustrator Bill Nelson dabbled in mask-making decades ago,
during which time I scored a "Millennian" mask from him >

[FRANKENSTEIN455]

A few old pictures of some of my masks from years ago. I am sorry if I may have posted these before but it is sometimes fun to look back again. I got most of these Don Post Studios masks new at a place called Murray's Party-time in LaGrange, Illinois back in the day. I miss that place and innocent time period greatly...

[Sir Masksalot]

A few old pictures of some of my masks from years ago

Universal Monsters en masse ... that's what we like around here!



If you're anything like me, you'll gaze at images like this of
a fine mask collection featuring Universal Monsters and long for
closeups of the Don Post classics depicted.



This fellow collector and I have been DPS enthusiasts since boyhood,
long before the "Calendar" reissues came to be (none of which you'll
see in this post). If I was taking pictures of his collection for the
first time, I'd immediately move in for closeups of the "Unimart"
PHANTOM  (third shelf left). It's the show-used head displayed
at 1965's "Monster Daze"  >



Next, it's upclose and personal with that incredible MUMMY  (top shelf
right). I don't know how he managed but it's an uncut factory-finished
master casting, muddied up just right with fuller's earth >



The METALUNA MUTANT  (top shelf center) is so enormous, even long shots
of it look like closeups! It's a movie-mold casting, partially foam-filled
and custom painted with added lenses. I hadn't yet scored one and coveted
his for decades  >



The "smooth Glenn" FRANKENSTEIN  (second shelf left) was also developed
from movie molds. Out of mass production since the mid 1970s I believe this
custom casting was painted by Rick Stratton, formerly one of Post Studios'
finest craftsmen  >



I'm not sure who painted the "Calendar" FRANKENSTEIN  (same shelf right)
but do know that esteemed collector Evil Wilhelm regards it very highly  >



I'll have a few more closeups to add later.
Maybe by then, I'll remember who painted what!

[Sir Masksalot]

'More DPS/Universal Monsters ready for their closeups, Mr DeMille!



Feast your eyes on the "Calendar" PHANTOM  (second shelf right).
'Am pretty sure it's a Sam McCain paintjob. He was employed at
Post Studios back then.



Dr Lady did the paintup on this MOLE PEOPLE  mask  (second shelf center).
He'd scored several castings direct from Post Studios and finished them
for collectors  >



Glut your souls on this extra ghoulish "highbrow" PHANTOM  (third shelf right),
untrimmed and factory finished. It dates from the 1980s when the character was
still in licensed production at DPS  >



But wait ... we can't call it a wrap without a closeup of
that MAD DOCTOR  on the bottom shelf >



It's a "Calendar" version, custom painted by Rick Stratton
with the original untrimmed eyes!

[Sir Masksalot]

^ Here's a remarkable collection of movie monster masks, displayed publicly
in chronological order for lecture purposes years ago.
Let's have a look at some closeups.



^ 1920's The Golem is a good place to start (top row left). It's a
Halloween Society edition. A couple of heads to the right are
Chaney Sr's Hunchback and Phantom, finished by David Haft
and Sam McCain respectively >



London After Midnight makes a perfect bookend for the '20s-era
characters. It's another Halloween Society edition >



Farther to the right is LeGendre from 1932's White Zombie,
created by Alvarez Wax Models >



Leading off the bottom row is Mr Hyde from 1941's remake.
This custom mask might be a one-of-a-kind >



Next to Hyde is another bestial horror from '41 as rendered by
Don Post Studios with a custom DL Studio finish >



I managed to catch two more bottom dwellers in one shot,
both Post Studios masks >



Farther along the bottom row is Professor Jarrod from
House of Wax '53, seen as overface and fire-scarred >



As pertains to "bottom dwellers", the Creature has them all beat!
Underwater and topside versions are from 1954 movie molds, expertly
painted by Jim Clark >



This grouping represents only a third of the entire display. I'll check back
later with more to frazzle and bedazzle you!




 

[Rezman]

Some truly spectacular pictures! 

[Sir Masksalot]

^ Here's the mid-section of that same lecture/exhibit from October 1993
which was dubbed "Monster Museum". It included movie mold castings of
Metaluna Mutant  and The Mole People  plus a few more
Halloween Society editions. Let's start there with The Mummy ,
a limited HS bust of Imhotep  >



The mid '30s are also represented by Mr & Mrs Bride of Frankenstein
and the Werewolf of London , at that time a seldom recreated
character, by Alvarez Wax Models >



Towering over it is LUNA  from Mark of the Vampire , also by AWM >



Closing out the '30s era are two terrors from Son of Frankenstein .
That Karloff Monster  is a vintage Don Post mask from the late '60s,
repainted with eye inserts. I admit to liking its makeover but not at the
expense of the original finish which I happened to photograph years earlier
for posterity >



The accompanying YGOR  mask was an amateur job but ultimately
finished up well >



Speaking of original finishes, that DP Hunchback  on the bottom row is quite
a museum piece. It's been minimally customized with eye insert and glaze on
the teeth but otherwise flaunts an authentic mid '60s paint/hair scheme >



Iconic and horrific, our favorite DEMON  from 1957 was honored by
The Halloween Society thirty years later as a limited mask edition >



Competing with it for most frightful dentition, C Lee's Dracula
by AWM rounds out the '50s line-up >



There will be one more installment on this collection; nearly seventy years
of classic horror displayed and discussed by a historian of the genre.



 

[Doh!]

Those are some swell photos, Sir!

[Sir Masksalot]

Group 3 starts off with two classics from 1939, one being a
Wicked Witch  you all must recognize. It's a Tharp edition >



The lower level includes '60s era weirdos Roderick Usher , Montressor
Herringbone , and Dr Xavier >







I turned Regan  to the side that we may dodge
any random spew if necessary >



The giant Pumpkinhead  up top was from an Alvarez Wax Models
edition of a dozen or so. Its whereabouts remain unknown, sadly
stolen during a home burglary >



Oh ... lest I forget, there were five more characters off to the side,
representing the latter 1970s to early '80s >



That blonde with the mysterious green ray passing through her is Carrie ,
prior to her bloodbath at the 1976 prom >



At center is a magnificent A L I E N mask, adapted from 1979
movie molds by Distortions Unlimited for 1983 but heavily
reworked and customized by Tim Davis >



Casting evil eyes on the right is AWM's Jack Torrance from
a 1981 horror favorite >



I could probably keep right on going but you know
what they say about "all work and no play" ...



 

[Doh!]

Great updates!

[darkmonkeygod]

Wonderful to see, thank you!

[FRANKENSTEIN455]

These are just incredible photographs Sir. Those are some of the finest examples of such rare classics that I've ever seen. The Don Post Hunchback with original finishing is beyond words. Another one of my all-time favorites is the Dick Smith Karloff Frankenstein along with the Don Post smooth Frankenstein mask. I cannot even imagine how cool these beauties appeared in person. Thanks again for sharing...

[Sir Masksalot]

I've made reference to the "Hollywood Masks Cabinet" elsewhere in this forum,
an amazing 3-D replica of the "Captain Company" ad page from a 1965 issue of
Famous Monsters. For the past forty years, it has resided in a private
Southern California collection.



I managed to locate rare closeups of all ten characters (maybe too close for
comfort) and herewith present them so you may better appreciate their
exquisite finishes. Color temperature will look on the warm side since they
were photographed long ago without flash. Clockwise from bottom left:





















This last shot depicts truer colors. Besides, a good cast is worth repeating >

[FRANKENSTEIN455]

Wow...Thanks you for sharing the incredible photographs. That is still one of my all-time favorite Don Post Studios mask displays. The finishing is beautiful on all of the pieces. I especially love the "Hunchback" and "Dracula" masks. Are those two from the original Pat Newman 60's sculptures?

[Sir Masksalot]

"Hunchback" and "Dracula" masks. Are those two from the original Pat Newman 60's sculptures?

All ten of them are. The "Hollywood Masks Cabinet" was created
long before DP's reissue era. In fact, most of the HMC masks
are pictured on the reissue box.