Did you actually READ Famous Monsters when you were a kid?

[ChrisW]

I have a confession to make...as a kid I rarely read the articles in FMOF, but I devoured the pictures and ads! Well, that's not completely true. Any articles that talked about the behind-the-scenes make up, animation and special effects I read and re-read, and things like the Aurora contest. But the articles about actors, or the ones that had interminably long lists of movie titles that were out or were to come out, were skimmed over in favor of the next cool still.
What brings this up is I was sick in bed a few days last week, and to pass the time I pulled a few old FMOF out of the bookcase to read. And I'm re-discovering the mag all over again! I never realized William Castle had a column in FM! I never knew Forry took a few of Lon Chaney's hairs from the brush in Chaney's makeup kit! And looking through the lists of movie titles to come out is interesting with 40+ years of time past since it was first penned. So many movies discussed that never saw the light of day, or others that had made it to the screen but with changes in title, actor or script.
If you were like me, do yourself a favor and re-read some of these time-travel treasures...for the first time!

[hammett1]

When I was youngster in the sixties, I would sit back with each new issue of FM and read it from cover to cover.  Then I would try to figure out what chores I could do around the house to get the funds for the CAPTAIN COMPANY Products that I wanted.  Ah, the memories. Peace.   

[raycastile]

I didn't know how to read during the period of my most intense interest in FM.  I had my parents (or mostly my grandmother) read the articles to me.

[Monster Bob]

I appreciated FM more as I passed 10...admittedly more for the photos, ads, mystery photo, etc. Earlier than that, the text was often over my head movie-wise, which was slightly frustrating. Articles would often refer to obscure or foreign films that I never heard of, nor would ever have the opportunity to see. I guess about half the text was either useful or educational, if a bit juvenile.

FM was, however, a wealth of information about vintage monster films in general and the best source for behind-the-scenes stuff. I especially liked what were referred to as the "filmbooks".

[neonnoodle]

Yes, I did, although it's funny--although FM was supposedly written for a younger audience, I didn't understand a lot of the jokes when I was eight.  Everything seemed written in some bizarre, humorous code.  It was only years later, on revisiting certain issues, that I was actually able to decipher the humor.  It was more sophisticated, I think, than Warren and Forry intended, and that's a good thing.

[Toy Ranch]

I read some of it, but the attraction was pictures and ads. 

[fibbermac]

Yup. I was one of those weird kids who actually read my comic books and monster magazines (as opposed to only looking at pictures). Years later, I learned that this was the only reason that my mom allowed them in the house, because they encouraged me to read at a young age.

-fibbermac-

[packy120353]

Hardly any reading, cutting out pictures for wall and door decor. I think I remember reading "You Axed for it" and we enjoyed the funny one-liners. We bought them for the pictures though no doubt.

[Illoman]

Guilty as charged. I mainly bought it for the pictures, and would draw them quite often. Recently I downloaded some of the older issues, and did read some of the articles, so it's cool revisiting that aspect of it.

I did the same thing with my comics: for the most part I bought them for the art first, and the story second. To this day I'll pull out a comic that I've owned for many years and never read!

Mike

[Inkfink]

On a related note, anybody here send in a letter to see it published in the letter section? I think I'm in issue 110 raving about Japanese monsters. Or better yet, anybody have their picture published?

[Mike Scott]

Pssssst! Over here.

If you're interested in virtual copies of FM #1-19, PM me.

Don't spread it around!

[CreepysFan]

 I'm one of those who would go back and read the articles, after gazing at the pictures first.  Any and all monster magazines I could devour, I would. The pictures were the main attraction though.  Never had any letters printed in FM, but had several printed in Creepy.  Had a limerick printed in Vampirella # 77, appearing on a page after the main Vampi story.

[Wich2]

You bet I read it (it cost hard-earned pence; I was gonna waste it?)

From my first, the '70 FEARBOOK with the Bela cover, through newstand buying, through a later subscription.

Then, I admit, Forry's juvenalia wore thin, and I moved up to CoF and MONSTER TIMES (which still read well today, by the way...)

-Craig

[Tom Smith Monsternut]

I read everything and enjoyed it

[Anton Phibes]

I would read through them, but the pictures were what made me buy them.  I would try to draw what I saw in the magazines.