Universal Monsters Collector's Guide

COLLECTOR’S GUIDE

A Comprehensive Guide to Five Decades of Monsterous Collectibles

BRADLEY BEARD

Feed your MONSTER

CONTENTS

Table of Contents Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Aurora. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The 1960’s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The 1970’s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The 1980’s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The 1990’s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2000 & Beyond. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Cast. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Vital Statistics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 19

Collecting Monsters

INTRODUCTION

By Bradley Beard

4

C

ollecting movie memorabilia is a phenomenon that every American is familiar with and a hobby that a majority are involved in. It has been largely popular for the past 50 years.

Prior to that however it had been a hobby that was limited to non-movie related items such as comic books, sports memorabilia, and toys. In the 1960’s Universal Studios changed the face of collecting forever.

In 1961, Aurora models began producing the first ever monster model by including the newly licensed Frankenstein monster in their current product lineup. It was an immediate hit with young children and they were being bought off the store shelves nearly as fast as the company could produce them. The demand prompted Aurora to produce them 24 hours a day allowing the company to turn out 3 kits a minute or 8,000 kits a day.

The success of the Frankenstein model led Aurora to develop and deliver a total of 13 monster kits in six years, 8 of which were under license from Universal Studios. The characters licensed from Universal in addition to Frankenstein included Dracula, The Mummy, The Wolfman, The Creature

From the Black Lagoon, The Phantom of the Opera, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and The Bride of Frankenstein.

With the high profile success of the Aurora models Universal Studios license, many other toy and novelty manufacturers sought to cash in on the success. Companies began to produce monster memorabilia in nearly every imaginable way.

Companies produced puzzles, paintby-number sets, plastic wall art, wallets, t-shirt transfers, and toys in every shape and form. The most popular of this new monster craze was the Don Post studios calendar masks.

Don Post studios was a very popular and successful company that produced a line of Universal Monster masks known to collectors today as the Calendar Masks. This was a highly

realistic line of latex masks that people could purchase in the back of Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine. The Don Post line of Calendar Masks are the most sought after collectible from the Golden Age of monster collectibles, some of them demanding prices over one thousand dollars depending on their condition.

The Universal Monster collecting craze started to slow during the 1970’s but continues through to today. Nearly any item a collector can imaging has been produced during this 50 year period including chess sets, shot glasses, bobble heads, and even underwear sporting all your favorite monsters. Although production runs are nowhere near as high today for new Universal Monster items, a clear demand keeps companies producing high quality products for the fevered collector.

The Creature Walks Among Us Limited Edition Lithograph Signed & Numbered by artist Bradley Beard This is your last chance to own this beautifully reproduced acrylic masterpiece painted by the renowned monster artist. Visit our website to order yours today.

www.bradleybeard.com

5

6

AURORA

Opposite Left & Above: The Aurora models that started the craze with amazing box art by James Bama.

7

8

THE

1960’S

Opposite Top: The wildly popular set of 4 figural Soakys produced by Palmolive. Opposite Bottom: The complete set of 6 Dell comic books adorned with beautifully painted covers. Above: A set of Universal licenced Don Post masks. These are arguably the most popular vintage item among collectors today, orignal mint condition masks can sell for more than $1,000. Below: A complete set of jigsaw puzzles produced

by Jaymar. The images on the puzzles were considered too graphic and disturbing for children so after much protest from concerned parents, the line was cancelled making these instant collectibles.

9

1970’S THE 10

Above: The complete set of AHI action figures. The Creature figure can sell for as much as $5,000. Below: A complete set of API puzzles featuring art from fan favorites Basil Gogos (The Phantom & The Creature) and James Bama (Frankenstein).

Above: The complete set of Aurora Monsters of the Movies Models. These were the last set of models produced by Aurora before going out of business. Below: The popular Monstrous Monster Bisque Decorating Sets and the Famous Monsters Plaster Casting Kits produced by Rapco.

11

1980’S THE 12

Top: A complete set of extremely rare Vic’s Rubber Bendees. Center: A complete set of Illco Monster Balls. Bottom: A complete set of Imperial Monster Masher Paddle Balls. The Mummy likeness is Klaris from Abbott & Costello Meet The Mummy.

Above: The complete set of Remco 8” action figures. The Phantom of the Opera is the rarest of the set & currently sells for around $600. Below: A complete set of Remco Monsters At Home hand puppets. A very unusual item & very popular with collectors.

13

1990’S THE 14

Above Left: A complete set of 60th anniversary Bend-Ems produced by JusToys.

Above Right: A complete set of Universal Studios Park only figural water sippers.

Below: A complete set of Talking Head Crushers, when the heads are “crushed”, they speak several different phrases. Opposite Top: A complete set of Christopher

Radko Christmas ornaments. Each ornament is beautifully hand painted and frosted.

Shortly after production, the Wolfman ornament was pulled from production making him the rarest piece in the set. Opposite Bottom: A complete set of jigsaw puzzles with amazing painted images produced by Golden Books.

15

2000

& BEYOND...

16

Above: Condsidered by many collectors as the “lost” Aurora model kit, The Invisible Man was produced by Moebius models to complete the Universal Monster line-up. Below: One of the most beautifully produced items of all licensed merchandise is the Monsters Chess set sold exclusively through Spencer Gifts.

Above: A character set of the realistically sculpted 8” action figures produced by Sideshow Toys.

17

THE CAST

THE HUNCHBACK

18 18

FRANKENSTEIN

THE PHANTOM

THE MUMMY

DRACULA

INVISIBLE MAN

THE BRIDE

THE WOLFMAN

MR. HYDE

THE CREATURE

THE MUTANT

THE MOLE MAN

VITAL STATISTICS CHARACTER

MOVIE

YEAR

ACTOR

The Hunchback

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

1923

Lon Chaney Sr.

The Phantom

The Phantom of the Opera

1925

Lon Chaney Sr.

Dracula

Dracula

1931

Bela Lugosi

Son of Dracula

1943

Lon Chaney Jr.

House of Frankenstein

1944

John Carradine

House of Dracula

1945

Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein

1948

Bela Lugosi

Frankenstein

1931

Boris Karloff

Bride of Frankenstein

1935

Son of Frankenstein

1939

Ghost of Frankenstein

1942

Lon Chaney Jr.

Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman

1943

Bela Lugosi

House of Frankenstein

1944

Glenn Strange

House of Dracula

1945

Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein

1948

The Mummy

1932

Boris Karloff

The Mummy’s Hand

1940

Tom Tyler

The Mummy’s Tomb

1942

Lon Chaney Jr.

The Mummy’s Ghost

1944

The Mummy’s Curse

1944

Abbott & Costello Meet the Mummy

1955

Eddie Parker

The Invisible Man

1933

Claude Rains

The Invisible Man Returns

1940

Vincent Price

The Invisible Man’s Revenge

1944

Jon Hall

Abbott & Costello Meet the Invisible Man

1951

Arthur Franz

The Bride

The Bride of Frankenstein

1935

Elsa Lanchester

The Wolfman

The Wolfman

1941

Lon Chaney Jr.

Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman

1943

House of Frankenstein

1944

House of Dracula

1945

Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein

1948

Mr. Hyde

Abbott & Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll

1953

Boris Karloff

The Creature

The Creature From the Black Lagoon

1954

Ben Chapman / Ricou Browning

Revenge of the Creature

1955

Tom Hennesy / Ricou Browning

The Creature Walks Among Us

1956

Don Megowan / Ricou Browning

The Mutant

This Island Earth

1955

Regis Parton

Mole Man

The Mole People

1956

Various

Frankenstein

The Mummy

The Invisible Man

19 19

THE END?