The Real Creature / Black Lagoon Mask

[fmofmpls]

Back in 1987 I visited the Ackermuseum. I was amazed and was in awe of not only Forry's hospitality, but of the unbelievable assortment of original props that were simply laying about. So casual was Forry's way of displaying (or lack of properly preserving the props) that one was simply able to pick up the props by hand and wave them before the camera! All with Forry's permission of course! Just like this pic which shows me holding the foot of the Creature from the Black Lagoon! Anyone here know what Creature costume that this foot might come from? And while your at it, is the squid that I'm holding in my left hand the octopus used in the  Ed Wood film 'Bride Of The Monster', or is it a Harryhausen piece?



Here is another pic I shot of what I believe is the land mask of the Creech. I remember it being in pretty rough shape.

[Tom Smith Monsternut]

Please don't throw stones at me but..You know , I don't think that all Forry's props were  used in the movies . I think many might have been recasts . I might be wrong but t I think that creature foot is a recast ,sorry but it is to good a shape and it is solid . AS for the Creature mask ..That is the real deal ! It looks like it is from Return to me.

Tom

[ramsey37]

I'm thinking it was supposed to be the "Revenge of the Creature" mask that was used in early scenes from "The Creature Walks Among Us", if memory serves. I agree on the foot, I doubt that's an original from any of the films. I know Forry had the real feet, but they had largely collapsed as the rubber deteriorated over the years.
George

[neonnoodle]

And the octopus...I can't say for sure because it looks scrunched-up, but it resembles the octa-baby in Octaman.

[The Phantom Creep]

Unfortunately from what I've heard from various people, and I do believe this, some of the things Forry had were not always what he represented them as. Not to take anything away from him, I feel like I'm speaking ill of him which I'm not, but things just simply were not always what he said they were. That octopus thing doesn't look familiar to me. It's not what Ed Wood used and I don't believe it's from Harryhausen. However I do spot something that does look familiar in the background. Behind you on the top shelf to the left in the photo I think that is an alligator used in the 1980 film ALLIGATOR. Cool HIDEOUS SUN DEMON in the second pic.

[neonnoodle]

I think I see one of the monster gloves from "The Funhouse" in one of those pics...and a cast of one of the "Caveman" dinos.

I remember seeing the Dr. Lao heads all lined up at one point when I visited.  I really miss the Ackermansion.  Those are fond and cherished memories.

[poseablemonster]

I think that creature mask might be the one from the second film that was later destroyed in a recasting mishap.  I believe that I now own the nose/upper lip part of that mask if that is the same one.

[Toy Ranch]

Cool HIDEOUS SUN DEMON in the second pic.

The mold for that is around. 

This one is owned by John Denley of Boneyard Productions
http://www.boneyardproductions.com/



I love the paint job on his...  psychedelic!

This is mine, and I love it too.  I got it from Rhonda/Jlitening



I need to take a better pic of that.  I've seen lots of others, too.

The point is that as you said in your post, Forry didn't/doesn't always know exactly how stuff he has/had was used or where it came from.  It's probably less him being intentionally deceptive and more him not knowing and not asking.  If you're Forry and someone who worked on the film gives you a Creature Foot, are you going to ask them to prove it was used in the movie, or just assume it was? 

[The Phantom Creep]

Man I love that Sun Demon monster!!

I don't believe Forry ever made up where something was from. As you said, I'm sure he believed that everything was as he said it was. Or at least accepted it that way.

[HARRY HAMMOCK]

I read an article on that head (Creature)in Forry's mag Monsterland or something like that.It has Godzilla  on the cover.It's at work and I'll have to get it to reread.

[gracebuster]

I believe that it's a REVENGE head from Revenge of the CREATURE. He had the entire FOAM RUBBER suit.
Head was recast and destroyed and Andy has the lips etc.
As for the foot, it would be a recast, I would guess, as the feet for the actual costume were BOOTS.
JOhn Gilbert (AZ Gillman) has the actual foot and hand form the Forry Collection. I arranged that deal so I can swear to the veracity of his pieces. It still contans the cloth undergarment of the boot

BTW, People keep trying to pass off LATEX heads as ORIGINALS. Just remember ALL pieces made for the film were made of FOAM!

[fmofmpls]

I believe that it's a REVENGE head from Revenge of the CREATURE. He had the entire FOAM RUBBER suit.

Which reminds me Dan  .. wasn't there a story about a janitor finding the Creature suit in a studio dumpster of which he took home to his kid? I seem to remember reading this story somewhere. And if I remember correctly, the boy later on ended up gifting the disheveled suit to Forry? 

[HARRY HAMMOCK]

Here is he story from FJA  Monsterland #3 June 1985     http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v640/barnabus/scan0004.jpg

[Tom Smith Monsternut]

You forgot a bracket..

Here is he story from FJA  Monsterland #3 June 1985     

[HARRY HAMMOCK]

Thank ya Tom!