THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN: DAY 29 The War of the Gargantuas & Monster Zero

Possibly the single greatest drive-in double feature of all time!

On the twenty-ninth day of Halloween, my true blood gave to me, twenty-nine Colossal Beasts, twenty-eight Haunted Houses, twenty-seven Poison Potions, twenty-six Pinewood Coffins, twenty-five Rattling Bones, twenty-four Creepy Crawlers, twenty-three Gypsy Curses, twenty-two Hissing Reptiles, twenty-one Tana Leaves, twenty Trembling Tendrils, nineteen Creepy Uncles, eighteen Eerie Cousins, seventeen Famous Monsters, sixteen Spiders Spinning, fifteen Witches Brewing, fourteen Voodoo Dollies, thirteen Ghosts a-Haunting, twelve Ghouls a-Grumbling, eleven Skulls a-Screaming, ten Zombies Feasting, nine Werewolves Howling, eight Mummies Crumbling, seven Vampires Preying, six Creatures S'laying, five Ghoulish Things, four Severed Limbs, three Shrunken Heads, two Devil Bats, and a Senior Lon Chaney!

THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN: DAY 30 Jacques Tourneur's Night of the Demon (1957)

Dr. Karswell's conjured demon incarnate!

"On the thirtieth day of Halloween, my true blood gave to me, thirty Druid Runes, twenty-nine Mariphasa Flowers, twenty-eight Haunted Houses, twenty-seven Poison Potions, twenty-six Pinewood Coffins, twenty-five Rattling Bones, two dozen Crimson Ghosts, twenty-three Gypsy Curses, twenty-two Feathered Serpents, twenty-one Tana Leaves, twenty Trembling Tabongas, nineteen Creepy Uncles, eighteen Eerie Cousins, seventeen Famous Monsters, sixteen Spiders Spinning, fifthteen Witches Brewing, fourteen Voodoo Dollies, thirteen Ghosts a-Haunting, twelve Ghouls a-Grumbling, eleven Skulls a-Screaming, ten Zombies Feasting, nine Werewolves Howling, eight Mummies Crumbling, seven Vampires Preying, six Creatures S'laying, five Ghoulish Things, four Severed Limbs, three Shrunken Heads, two Devil Bats, and a Senior Lon Chaney!"

THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN: DAY 29 Werewolf of London (1935)

Henry Hull as the lycanthropic Dr. Wilfred Glendon!

"On the twenty-ninth day of Halloween, my true blood gave to me, twenty-nine Mariphasa Flowers, twenty-eight Haunted Houses, twenty-seven Poison Potions, twenty-six Pinewood Coffins, twenty-five Rattling Bones, two dozen Crimson Ghosts, twenty-three Gypsy Curses, twenty-two Hissing Reptiles, twenty-one Tana Leaves, twenty Trembling Tabongas, nineteen Creepy Uncles, eighteen Eerie Cousins, seventeen Famous Monsters, sixteen Spiders Spinning, fifteen Witches Brewing, fourteen Voodoo Dollies, thirteen Ghosts a-Haunting, twelve Ghouls a-Grumbling, eleven Skulls a-Screaming, ten Zombies Feasting, nine Werewolves Howling, eight Mummies Crumbling, seven Vampires Preying, six Creatures S'laying, five Ghoulish Things, four Severed Limbs, three Shrunken Heads, two Devil Bats, and a Senior Lon Chaney!"

THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN: DAY 27 Rob Kelly's Classic Horror PSAs!

Art ©Rob Kelly/NAMTAB

"On the twenty-seventh day of Halloween, my true blood gave to me, twenty-seven Poison Potions, twenty-six Pinewood Coffins, twenty-five Rattling Bones, two dozen Crimson Ghosts, twenty-three Gypsy Curses, twenty-two Hissing Reptiles, twenty-one Tana Leaves, twenty Trembling Tabongas, nineteen Creepy Uncles, eighteen Eerie Cousins, seventeen Famous Monsters, sixteen Spiders Spinning, fifteen Witches Brewing, fourteen Voodoo Dollies, thirteen Ghosts a-Haunting, twelve Ghouls a-Grumbling, eleven Skulls a-Screaming, ten Zombies Feasting, nine Werewolves Howling, eight Mummies Crumbling, seven Vampires Preying, six Creatures S'laying, five Ghoulish Things, four Severed Limbs, three Shrunken Heads, two Devil Bats, and a Senior Lon Chaney!"

Please visit Rob Kelly's site at www.namtab.com

THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN: DAY 26 The Munsters' Drag-u-la Custom Coffin Dragster!

The Drag-u-la featured on the cover of The Munsters #6 (April, 1966).

"On the twenty-sixth day of Halloween, my true blood gave to me, twenty-six Pinewood Coffins, twenty-five Rattling Bones, two dozen Crimson Ghosts, twenty-three Gypsy Curses, twenty-two Hissing Reptiles, twenty-one Tana Leaves, twenty Trembling Tabongas, nineteen Creepy Uncles, eighteen Eerie Cousins, seventeen Famous Monsters, sixteen Spiders Spinning, fifteen Witches Brewing, fourteen Voodoo Dollies, thirteen Ghosts a-Haunting, twelve Ghouls a-Grumbling, eleven Skulls a-Screaming, ten Zombies Feasting, nine Werewolves Howling, eight Mummies Crumbling, seven Vampires Preying, six Creatures S'laying, five Ghoulish Things, four Severed Limbs, three Shrunken Heads, two Devil Bats, and a Senior Lon Chaney!"

THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN: DAY 23 Lon Chaney Jr. as The Wolfman (1941)

Limited Edition poster for the Alamo Drafthouse ©Martin Ansin

"On the twenty-third day of Halloween, my true blood gave to me, twenty-three Gypsy Curses, twenty-two Hissing Reptiles, twenty-one Tana Leaves, twenty Trembling Tabongas, nineteen Creepy Uncles, eighteen Eerie Cousins, seventeen Famous Monsters, sixteen Spiders Spinning, fifteen Witches Brewing, fourteen Voodoo Dollies, thirteen Ghosts a-Haunting, twelve Ghouls a-Grumbling, eleven Skulls a-Screaming, ten Zombies Feasting, nine Werewolves Howling, eight Mummies Crumbling, seven Vampires Preying, six Creatures S'laying, five Ghoulish Things, four Severed Limbs, three Shrunken Heads, two Devil Bats, and a Senior Lon Chaney!"

Please visit Martin Ansin's site at martinansin.com

THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN: DAY 21 Rob Kelly's Classic Horror PSAs

Art ©Rob Kelly/NAMTAB

"On the twenty-first day of Halloween, my true blood gave to me, twenty-one Tana Leaves, twenty Trembling Tabongas, nineteen Creepy Uncles, eighteen Eerie Cousins, seventeen Famous Monsters, sixteen Spiders Spinning, fifteen Witches Brewing, fourteen Voodoo Dollies, thirteen Ghosts a-Haunting, twelve Ghouls a-Grumbling, eleven Skulls a-Screaming, ten Zombies Feasting, nine Werewolves Howling, eight Mummies Crumbling, seven Vampires Preying, six Creatures S'laying, five Ghoulish Things, four Severed Limbs, three Shrunken Heads, two Devil Bats, and a Senior Lon Chaney!"

Please visit Rob Kelly's site at www.namtab.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BELA LUGOSI! October 20, 1882 - August 16, 1956

THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN: DAY 20 From Hell It Came (1957)!

Is Tabonga monster-maker Paul Blaisdell's most infamous creature?

"On the twentieth day of Halloween, my true blood gave to me, twenty Trembling Tabongas, nineteen Creepy Uncles, eighteen Eerie Cousins, seventeen Famous Monsters, sixteen Spiders Spinning, fifteen Witches Brewing, fourteen Voodoo Dollies, thirteen Ghosts a-Haunting, twelve Ghouls a-Grumbling, eleven Skulls a-Screaming, ten Zombies Feasting, nine Werewolves Howling, eight Mummies Crumbling, seven Vampires Preying, six Creatures S'laying, five Ghoulish Things, four Severed Limbs, three Shrunken Heads, two Devil Bats, and a Senior Lon Chaney!"

THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN: DAY 17 "Son of Famous Monsters" Paperback, 1965

Second FM paperback with art by the legendary James Bama!

"On the seventeenth day of Halloween, my true blood gave to me, seventeen Famous Monsters, sixteen Spiders Spinning, fifteen Witches Brewing, fourteen Voodoo Dollies, thirteen Ghosts a-Haunting, twelve Ghouls a-Grumbling, eleven Skulls a-Screaming, ten Zombies Feasting, nine Werewolves Howling, eight Mummies Crumbling, seven Vampires Preying, six Creatures S'laying, five Ghoulish Things, four Severed Limbs, three Shrunken Heads, two Devil Bats, and a Senior Lon Chaney!"

THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN: DAY 10 Zombies Ate My Brain... a little.

Poster for the NYC Zombiecon 2010.

"On the tenth day of Halloween, my true blood gave to me, ten Zombies Feasting, nine Werewolves Howling, eight Mummies Crumbling, seven Vampires Preying, six Creatures S'laying, five Ghoulish Things, four Severed Limbs, three Shrunken Heads, two Devil Bats, and a Senior Lon Chaney!"

THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN: DAY 9 Werewolf vs. The Vampire Woman (1970)

Original Spanish poster for WALPURGIS NIGHT (1970).

"On the ninth day of Halloween, my true blood gave to me, nine Werewolves Howling, eight Mummies Crumbling, seven Vampires Preying, six Creatures S'laying, five Ghoulish Things, four Severed Limbs, three Shrunken Heads, two Devil Bats, and a Senior Lon Chaney!"

THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN: DAY 8 The Mummy (1959)

Christopher Lee as Kharis, the Mummy!

"On the eighth day of Halloween, my true blood gave to me, eight Mummies Crumbling, seven Vampires Preying, six Creatures S'laying, five Ghoulish Things, four Severed Limbs, three Shrunken Heads, two Devil Bats, and a Senior Lon Chaney!"

THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN: DAY 6 Rob Kelly's Classic Horror PSAs!

Art ©Rob Kelly/NAMTAB

"On the sixth day of Halloween, my true blood gave to me, six Creatures S'laying, five Ghoulish Things, four Severed Limbs, three Shrunken Heads, two Devil Bats, and a Senior Lon Chaney!"

Please visit Rob Kelly's site at www.namtab.com

THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN: DAY 1 The Phantom of the Opera (1925)

The immortal Lon Chaney Sr. as Erik, The Phantom!

"On the first day of Halloween, my true blood gave to me, a Senior Lon Chaney!"

THE GHOULTIDE SEASON IS HERE! Harpy Halloween & Beast Witches!

Guys and Ghouls, it's finally that bewitching month of the year again: October! And that means Halloween! It's my favorite time of the year — so, much so, that I celebrate the Ghoultide Season all month long! Each and every day, I will be posting some creepy classic images, monstrous movie posters, and some fang-tastic art by illustrators including Rob Kelly. For those unaware, Rob Kelly is a freelance illustrator from New Jersey, with many psychotronic interests, who has created some amazing tributes to the classic monsters of cinema in the form of wry PSA and re-imagined movie posters — reason enough for us to bow our shrunken heads to him!

This year, I'm also throwing a sinister Samhain Shindig on All Hallow's Eve, SHOCK IT TO ME! HALLOWEEN SPOOKENANNY at the Cafe Du Nord in San Francisco, featuring maniacal music performances by The Undertaker & His Pals, Beachkrieg, and Johnny Legend & His Naked Apes (featuring members of The Mummies and The Chuckleberries), DJ Omar (Shutter, Popscene), Contests, Prizes, Horror Hosts and a more terror than you can shake a bloody stake at! Stay tuned for more details, or visit our official SHOCK IT TO ME! website!

HARPY HALLOWEEN & BEAST WITCHES,WHATEVER YOU ARE!

INTO THE PAST WITH "FAMOUS MONSTERS #70"! I Review DESTROY ALL MONSTERS In 1970!

©2011 Movieland Classics, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Last fall, I was contacted to contribute an article for a retro-style issue of Famous Monsters of Filmland, which would fill in the gap of the original "missing issues" (#70-#79). This was, according to legend, because the original founder and publisher, James Warren, hoped to reach #100 ten issues sooner to help with flagging sales (which were soon boosted by a Horror film revival in the early '70s). So, the publishing and editorial staff of the current incarnation of the classic magazine, decided to go forward to the past — having these issues set in the original dateline in which they would have been released, and that the writing should reflect not only the FM style of the 1970s, but also that all of the content be in-period.

I was told that they already had the perfect article in mind for me, a feature review on DESTROY ALL MONSTERS (1968), which would have been making US theatrical rounds in 1969 and 1970. Always having wanted to write for FM, I immediately said, "What's the deadline?" The resultant feature is heavily illustrated with a number of stills (including a couple of behind-the-scenes shots and storyboards), and even features an original sketch of the Moonlight SY-3 spacecraft, personally drawn for me by the late art director, Mutsumi Toyoshima, who created it! (Be sure to check out the You Axed For It! section, in this same issue, for a great behind-the-scenes still of visual effects director Sadamasa Arikawa coaching monster suit actor Yu Sekita as Angilas!)

The original monster magazine, with a publishing legacy spanning more than 50 years continues! Famous Monsters #70 is now shipping! In a tip of the hat to our grand old name, Famous Monsters presents the first of the missing issues. FM Retro 70, written in the style of the original Famous Monsters of Filmland, and offering features on Count Yorga, Vampire; Destroy All Monsters; Hercules in New York; Bride of Frankenstein and more. Also original columns, Mystery Photo, You Axed For It, Fang Mail and Things to Come. The Retro Cover is by Jeff Preston, edited by your favorite Monster Cuz Mighty Joe Moe, and of course we have Forrest J. Ackerman as our Honorary Editor-in-Chief!

Issue #70 of "Famous Monsters of Filmland" is now shipping! Order your copy today from the Captain Company!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LON CHANEY JR.! February 10, 1906 – July 12, 1973

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BORIS KARLOFF! November 23, 1887 - February 2, 1969

THE 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN: DAY 31 Rob Kelly's Classic Monster PSAs!

Art ©Rob Kelly/NAMTAB

"On the thirty-first day of Halloween, my true blood gave to me, thirty-one Jack-o-Lanterns, thirty Druid Runes, twenty-nine Mariphasa Flowers, twenty-eight Haunted Houses, twenty-seven Poison Potions, twenty-six Pinewood Coffins, twenty-five Rattling Bones, two dozen Crimson Ghosts, twenty-three Gypsy Curses, twenty-two Feathered Serpents, twenty-one Tana Leaves, twenty Trembling Tabongas, nineteen Creepy Uncles, eighteen Eerie Cousins, seventeen Famous Monsters, sixteen Spiders Spinning, fifthteen Witches Brewing, fourteen Voodoo Dollies, thirteen Ghosts a-Haunting, twelve Ghouls a-Grumbling, eleven Skulls a-Screaming, ten Zombies Feasting, nine Werewolves Howling, eight Mummies Crumbling, seven Vampires Preying, six Creatures S'laying, five Ghoulish Things, four Severed Limbs, three Shrunken Heads, two Devil Bats, and a Senior Lon Chaney!"

Please visit Rob Kelly's site at www.namtab.com