Ellis Burman Frankenstein

[Dr.Terror]

Andrea Sicco's (Siccos horror masks) wonderful tribute/recreation of the Ellis Burman grinning Frankenstein mask sold at Bert Wheeler's Magic on Hollywood Blvd in the early 60's.  The Burmans were a bit crude and not  quite as refined as the Don Post masks they preceded.  Only one crumbling copy still exists and no molds have ever surfaced.   It made an appearance in the skin flick "House on Bare Mountain"
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[Sir Masksalot]

SHM got it looking just like the original.
As a likeness, Mr Burman's version can't compete with
the Frankensteins DPS released later in the decade
but you have to wonder: would the "Calendar" masks even
exist without the inspiration he provided?

[Dr.Terror]

I consider the Burmans monster dance party masks.     Fellas doing the weird watusi to some Frankie Stein records.    Like those found photographs.     

That's why the Don Post masks were such a big deal I suppose?   There was nothing else like them. 

Didn't the Bert Wheeler masks lead to his involvement with Post?   I'm confused by what happened.  I heard stories Don stopped him from making them,  and gave Ellis the job as  consolation.   But there they are on the shelf next to Post masks.       

It's really a shame Verne is no longer with us.    So many questions I'd like to ask him.    I wonder if any of the surviving Burman family members have any info. 

[Sir Masksalot]

Didn't the Bert Wheeler masks lead to his involvement with Post?   I'm confused by what happened.  I heard stories Don stopped him from making them,  and gave Ellis the job as  consolation

According to Mr Langdon, that's essentially what happened.

[vayapues]

This recreation looks truly well done. Hats off to Mr Sicco. It was about time -- the original's so rare that only 1 is known to exist.

For anyone who's interested in this pioneering Ellis Burman mask line of the early 60s, here's a swell info-gathering discussion that started all the way back in 2009 on Classic Horror Film Board: https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/monsterkidclassichorrorforum/ellis-burman-and-the-meet-the-family-masks-t23671.html

[vayapues]

Finally got me one of these puppies. Having grown up in LA, for me the Burmans -- especially this Frank -- are more than masks: they are primal objects! I never dreamed anyone would tackle one, & Andrea's done a beautiful job. I decided to get his pleasing aquagreen-hued version, rather than the equally beautiful olive-limey one shown above.

[Sir Masksalot]

I decided to get his pleasing aquagreen-hued version

Your image never showed up for me but I did get to see RezMan's copy
yesterday. I like it better in this color >

[Mike Scott]

Your image never showed up for me

One of those Flickr links, with an "at" sign in it.

[vayapues]

Thanks for reiterating my pic, Mike. So -- which do u opine is the most viewer-friendly image site to use hereabouts, so I can change over?

As I mention above, the original Burman Frank was my favorite childhood mask. I used to gaze at it dreamily when my family would trip down to Hollywood Blvd in 1962; I would beg them to take me to Bert Wheeler's Hollywood Magic store just so I could enjoy the substantial mask section there. In fact, I almost scored this mask ca. 1966, but when we discovered that the cheap latex+filler casting was already starting to tear, I exchanged it -- Shoot Me!! I say to myself now -- for a fresh new Don Post 800 Line Frank (also sculpted, tho I didn't then know it, by Ellis himself).

For anyone else who enjoys the Burman Frank, here's a potted visual history of it I wrote over at CHFB (part of the Burman discussion link I posted above): https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/monsterkidclassichorrorforum/viewtopic.php?p=1880971#p1880971

Special Bonus! Wonderful remastered-scan PDF download (it's safe) of the original early-60s Bert Wheeler pamphlet of the Burman line. Print it out for yourself & enjoy. The layout is a likably primitive artifact of pre-desktop days, but I hope it shows something of how special -- & pricey! -- the Burman line was in that pre-DP Calendar Mask era. https://www.mediafire.com/?4q1qsggiu1eqa0p

[Mike Scott]

Thanks for reiterating my pic, Mike. So -- which do u opine is the most viewer-friendly image site to use hereabouts, so I can change over?

I use ImageShack. $3.99 monthly.