Dracula At Discount Prices

Universal's original plan was to make a big-budget adaptation of "Dracula" that would strictly adhere to the Bram Stoker novel. However, after the stock market crash of 1929 and the beginning of the Great Depression, Universal chose not to risk an investment on such a sprawling film. Instead, it adapted the much less expensive Hamilton Deane stage play.

Related: Tomb of Dracula #1 (1979 Magazine) October 1979 Marvel Comics Grade NM

Bela Lugosi was so desperate to repeat his stage success and play the Count Dracula role for the film version, that he agreed to a contract paying him $500 per week for a seven week shooting schedule, an insultingly small amount even during the days of the Depression.

Before he was cast as Count Dracula, Bela Lugosi acted as an unpaid intermediary for Universal Pictures in negotiating with the widow of author Bram Stoker in an attempt to persuade her to lower her asking price for the filming rights to the Dracula property. After two months of negotiations, Mrs. Stoker reportedly lowered her price from $200,000 to $60,000. This, however, further demonstrated to Universal how desperate Lugosi was to repeat his stage success as Count Dracula and secure the film role for himself.

Universal acquired the film rights to "Dracula" from Bram Stoker's widow and the play's writer Hamilton Deane for $40,000. - (IMDB)

Things That Go Bump In The Night La Llorona

The tale of La Llorona is a Mexican folk story about a woman trapped between this world and the afterlife, searching for what she has lost.

From donQuijote.org

"Both a condemned woman and a Goddess bearing an ominous message." It is often said that one way to summon La Llorona (the weeping woman) is to light red candles and enclose yourself in a room whose walls are decorated with mirrors while repeating her name. Others say she is likely to make herself present around disobedient children, and still others have reported sightings of her estranged silhouette endlessly navigating Mexican lakes and rivers, wailing "Ay, mis hijos!" or 'Oh, my children!"

Related: Unknown Worlds #40 July 1965 ACG Comics Grade VG

A prominent figure in folkloric horror, the main character of the La Llorona legend is doomed to an eternity of searching different bodies of water for her children, who met a tragic end with a watery grave. The tale of La Llorona begins with a woman named Maria, blessed with natural beauty, who is determined to marry only the most handsome man she meets, shunning any man she sees as unable to match her aesthetically. The different versions of the narrative then vary here, but the most widely propagated states that Maria wooed her potential suitor by appearing aloof and difficult to win over, yet once the couple eventually married and had two children together, the young man's thoughts began to stray, dreaming of his previously wild lifestyle on the prairies. In some versions, the ranchero is unfaithful to Maria, and in others, she merely resents his emotional indifference in comparison to the attention he continues to bestow upon their children.

Her children drown, and many versions of the tale suggest their death was deliberate and at her own hands, prior to drowning herself. When she is refused entry to heaven without them, she is forced to search the waters for their remains for the afterlife. In the Colonial Mexican version, Maria gives birth to the children of a white Spaniard above her class and murders her offspring as an immediate reaction to his refusal to make her his wife. Naturally, the La Llorona story has been exploited and represented in popular culture and Mexican film throughout the 20th and 21st centuries; the 1960s saw the release of La Llorona, a Mexican film directed by Rene Cardona, which narrates the experiences of a family haunted by the weeping woman's evil spirit. More recently, in 2013, Universal Studios theme park in Orlando, Florida ran with the theme of La Llorona for one of several "scare zones" used in the annual Halloween Horror nights, with mazes, films, and chilling entertainment centered around the Mexican legend.

The attraction involved guests entering an abandoned Mexican chapel and attending a funeral for her victims, with creative directors at the park looking to "transport guests into her mysterious realm." It is evident then that La Llorona is more than a horror story; on some level, Maria's emotional torment endows her character with a level of vulnerability rarely seen in chilling legends. Beneath the narrative lies an ambiguous message explaining the legend's persistence in popular culture; Maria's fate depicts the inevitably disastrous conclusion to shallow priorities and an inflated sense of self. Other critics have noted the legend's presentation of machismo with its focus on female responsibility and male absence.

La Llorona also touches upon issues of motherhood, the feminine condition, and the more universal notion of a life after death reflective of the choices made while on Earth. In contemporary society, the folklore still has some didactic relevance, not to mention that it remains the perfect story for parents to convince their children to come inside so they'll be safe after dark.

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Grimm Fairy Tales Vol. 2 #22 Sneak Preview

Lady of the Lake

Of all the fabled swords of legend, none hold more power or mystery than Excalibur. Now, Skye Mathers will learn her connection to the legendary sword once wielded by King Arthur, when she falls under the spell of the magical and deadly Lady of the Lake.

Writer: Joe Brusha
Artwork: Lucas Meyer
Colors: Jorge Cortes
Letters: Taylor Esposito of Ghost Glyph Studios
Editor: Dave Franchini
Production and Design: Christopher Cote

Things That Go Bump In The Night The Slave Woman Of Highway One

Travelers of Highway One in Louisiana, which traverses the rural woodland areas between Baton Rouge and Shreveport, should be on the lookout for a ghostly apparition that haunts the the area.

The ghost of what witnesses describe as a black woman in 'slave era' clothing has been seen alongside or near the road between Lettsworth and Simmesport. The woman is dressed in a tan or peach colored blouse, a long white skirt and a traditional head wrap. She has no facial features and seems to have no feet. On many occasions the spirit appears to move toward the road waving her arms. Anyone who stops or looks back for the woman in their rear view mirror will discover that she is nowhere to be found. The apparition simply vanishes.

Related: Ghost Manor #7 (1971 Series) October 1972 Charlton Comics Grade Fine

Other haunted locations nearby:

Myrtles Plantation - A crying woman and a vengeful slave are both said to haunt this plantation.

Ghostly Hitchhiker (Port Barre) n the town of Washington Louisiana, I was driving to my uncle’s home and it was at night. I forget the time of night. I was driving and I remember the hard turn in the road… my windows were rolled down and the next thing I know, I noticed a ghostly lady in my passenger seat just sitting there as if she belonged. I was so scared and shocked I jumped out of my moving car and went into the open field and just sat in shock. This all happened in a location on hwy 103 .. about 2 or 3 miles east of highway 49, you cant miss it. Its a cross planted in the ground on the side of the road its a hard curve in the road location. I know of another person who had this experience and one person who heard about it from others … never have I been so scared. - Kreg J

Rosedown Plantation - Completed in 1835, this house is said to be haunted by some of the original Turnbull family members. Witness describe ghostly pranks, such as turning the lights on and off and moving furniture. He is believed to be William, the eldest Turnbull son.

Nicholson Home (Washington) - Thought to be over 250 years old, the building was once used as a Civil War hospital. It is haunted by a ghost called Hoppy or Peg-Leg, seen wearing soldier’s clothing, a peg-leg, and a gold earring in his left ear. Legend has it that Hoppy was a pirate who was captured and turned traitor to his fellows. He lost his leg in battle and eventually died of gangrene. In addition to seeing his apparition, witnesses have reported hearing his footsteps, including the tapping of his peg-leg, at around sunset.

Long Lost Ray Harryhausen Concepts To Be Used In "Force of the Trojans"

The foundation established by legendary special effects visionary Ray Harryhausen is pleased to announce a joint effort with Morningside Productions, the company of late film producer Charles Schneer. Discovery of new materials in the vast archives of the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation will be the basis of a spectacularly new and original theatrical motion picture in the style of such Harryhausen/Schneer classics such as Clash of the Titans, the duo's most significant box office collaboration from 1981.

Stop-Motion Magician Ray Harryhausen Cinefantastique Magazine Vol. 11 #4 Published Jan 1982 by Frederick S. Clarke Grade VF

This project, tentatively entitled Force of the Trojans,is based on a screenplay by Beverley Cross, and original production art and sculptures conceived by Ray Harryhausen that are on par with some of his most iconic screen creatures.

Force of the Trojans will embody the spirit of the original Harryhausen films with all the fun, vibrant action, epic scope and dedication to craftsmanship that has made Ray Harryhausen's films timeless.

Unlike other revisits to the fantasy adventure genre, Force of the Trojans will bring together stop-motion animation with the photo-real world of CGI, marking the first time that a monster battle will mix both techniques on screen in a major motion picture. In homage to a bygone era, this film will bring both worlds crashing together. For the first time, we can put on screen sequences that were not possible for Ray due to the limitations of special effects photography at the time.

The Harryhausen Foundation oversees and curates a vast creative archive of 60 years’ worth of artefacts in its 50,000-strong collection from the father of animated special effects, making this the most complete and comprehensive fantasy cinema and animation collection anywhere in the world. We are excited and challenged to have unearthed this lost gem and a look forward to creating a film that will delight both the fans of Ray Harryhausen and moviegoers everywhere.

John Walsh
Foundation Trustee, filmmaker and friend of Ray Harryhausen

www.rayharryhausen.com

Things That Go Bump In The Night The Mill Race Park Monster

The Mill Race Park Monster is a beast that was purportedly seen in Columbus, Indiana in 1974. It launched what is considered by some people to be the largest monster hunt in US history. It has been described by witnesses as bipedal, between six to seven feet tall, and having a mossy green appearance.

Initial Sightings

On November 1st, 1974, the police department in Columbus, Indiana received reports from at least two sets of eyewitnesses who claimed to have seen and even possibly been attacked by a huge green-skinned monster by the water inside Mill Race Park.

The first report involved four young women whose names were not released by the police department. At about 3 PM, one of the women spotted the monster between two trees in the park. The group was able to escape and immediately reported their encounter to the police. They stated they had seen a "green, hairy, and large" creature.

The second report involved a pair of women unrelated to the first group, and who were also supposedly unaware of the sighting that had previously been reported. Tyra Cataline, one of those women, later came forward in 2014 on the show Monsters and Mysteries in America. She also told her story in 2015 on a local Fox News station, a full 41 years after the fact. She told them, "It was something. I don't know what it was, but it wasn't somebody wearing a costume."

Cataline's report also described the monster as having slime on its face and possessing large claws. The women claimed to have been attacked, and their car had scratch marks and a stench as a result of that attack.

The Word Spreads

On November 2nd, 1974, the newspaper The Republic printed a story titled "Monster - Women Report Seeing 'Beast' in Mill Race," which detailed both reported encounters. On November 6th, The Republic printed another report which involved two men in their 20s. In this report, the newspaper officially called the creature the "Mill Race Monster."

On November 9th, 1974, another newspaper, the Indianapolis Star, wrote a report of yet another encounter, this time involving two city dogcatchers, Rick Duckworth and John Brown.

Duckworth claimed he attempted to chase the monster after it ran from them. He also claimed after the fact that it was not a monster at all, but merely a large man "wearing a green mask and green blankets."

It was after this report that that amateur monster hunters and curiosity seekers began to pour into the area. One night, there was even supposedly over 100 cars in the park due to this influx of people.

Crowd Control

There were so many people hunting for the Mill Race Monster that it soon became necessary for local law enforcement to respond. On November 8th, 1974, the director of the city park, Robert Gillikin, stated that, "It may become necessary to close the park to the public at night, not because of the 'monster' but because of the public."

Gillikin followed through with his statement, and the park was closed to the public at night soon after. Police were also stationed around all entrances in order to prevent people attempting to hunt the Mill Race Monster from entering. The Columbus Police Department even unofficially appointed Officer Kenneth St. John as "Monster Control Officer."

Conclusion

No one has ever confirmed whether or not the Mill Race Monster was fake, as Duckworth claimed, despite all the attempts by multiple people to hunt it. One interesting element to add into the mix, however, was that in the story initially printed by The Republic on November 6th, one of the two unnamed men speculated that because there had been UFOs supposedly seen over the area as well, the Mill Race Park Monster might have been of alien origin.

Sightings have continued up to the present day. The story run by the Fox News station featuring Tyra Cataline was prompted by a report on October 10th, 2015 from a local hunter. He claimed to have seen a bigfoot-like creature, which may or may not have been related to the Mill Race Monster, in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest in Martinsville, Indiana.

The fact that there has been such a recent reported sighting shows that the Mill Race Monster's notoriety has continued, and like any good monster story, it is unlikely the legend will go away any time soon.

Original Post

ELVIRA: MISTRESS OF THE DARK #6 - Sneak Preview

Elvira is riding that Escalator of the Damned all the way down...and she's going to have some words with the Manager. He just wants her to Mephistopholeave him alone. Thrills, chills and more high class puns like that one, as Bettie and Faust go shopping in the Mall of Souls. This month's exciting episode of I Love Luci-fer is brought to you by David Avallone (Bettie Page) and Dave Acosta (Twelve Devils Dancing), the team who brought you Doc Savage: Ring of Fire and Twilight Zone: The Shadow, which were totally great but clearly needed more cleavage on the covers.

ON SALE DATE: 12/26/2018

Related: Vampirella #98 - August 1981 - Warren Magazine - Grade NM

 

Godzilla Gets Own Constellation

by Armand Vaquer

Above, the Godzilla mural at Toho Studios in Setagaya. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The King of the Monsters was honored by NASA and astronomy researchers with a constellation name. NHK reported:

An international team of researchers has given the name Godzilla to one of what it calls the modern constellations. The monster is among the most popular film characters created in Japan. 

The team, made up of US space agency NASA and worldwide astronomy researchers, announced 21 new gamma-ray "constellations" to mark the 10th year of operations of its Fermi satellite for astronomical observation.

The constellation was named "Godzilla" due to the "monster's trademark heat ray bears a resemblance to gamma-ray jets associated with black holes and neutron stars."

To read more, go here.

Strange Humanoid Sea Creature Filmed Off Huntington Beach

Real Mermaid or Monster?

It looks like the Creature from the Black Lagoon was caught swimming off the California coast recently.

Related: REAL The Top Male Magazine In America December 1966 Flying Saucer Photos! Mysteries of the Deep Psychic Healers Spacial UFO Issue

From Brinkwire.com

A BIZARRE creature sparked terror on the shores after beachgoers failed to identify what was heading their way.

Video footage shows the mysterious incident that occurred over this weekend.

One man, identified as George, was enjoying a day out on Huntington Beach in California, US, when he was faced with an unusual scene.

The clip shows the “human-like” animal as it breaches the surface of the water.

An arm appears to be raised and you can make out what looks like a face too.

“And that is exactly why I never go in the sea,” one admitted.

Another added: “Did the Loch Ness Monster go on holiday?”

And a third claimed: “Mermaid/Merman. Looks part human. But then again, nowadays, who knows?”

The First Look At Red Sonja #22

The Witching Hour. In the latest chapter of Red Sonja's travels, the She-Devil almost tramples over an old witch on her way back to Hyrkania, sparking a nightmarish combination of road rage and swords and sorcery.

Related: Red Sonja #1 January 1977 Marvel Comics Grade VF/NM

THe First Look At Dejah Thoris #9

Danger is everywhere, even in the air! Outgunned and outmanned, Dejah Thoris and the crew of the Xataxian battle the legendary Black Pirates of Barsoom.

Related: Dejah Thoris #0 Cover A January 2018 Dynamite Entertainment Grade VF/NM

Horror Express (1972)

This film has the Orient Express, The Yeti, Zombies, Alien Possessions, Rasputin, Count Dooku, Grand Moff Tarkin, Kojak, and a big train wreck, what more could you ask for?

Horror Express was a Spanish production directed by Eugenio Martin. It was filmed in Madrid in the years 1971-1972, a low budget film ($300,000) with the luxury of having three familiar genre actors in the lead: Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, and Telly Savalas. The film was co-produced by American film writer/producer Bernard Gordon, who had collaborated with Martin on the 1972 film Pancho Villa (which also featured Savalas in the title role). The filmmakers used both the miniature train and interior train set from Pancho Villa for Horror Express. The challenge was that they only had one set to be used as an interior train car. All of the scenes for each train car had to be shot at once, then the set would be rebuilt as the next car.

Related: Vintage 1974 RARE ‘Born to Kill’ Movie Poster

Securing Lee and Cushing was a coup for producer Gordon, since it lent a certain atmosphere reminiscent of Hammer Films, many of which starred both of the actors. However, when Cushing arrived in Madrid to begin work on the picture, he was still distraught over the recent death of his beloved wife, and announced to Gordon that he could not do the movie. With Gordon desperate over the idea of losing one of his important stars, Lee stepped in and put Cushing at ease simply by talking to him about some of their previous work together. Cushing changed his mind and stayed on.

The over-the-top performance of Telly Savalas cemented the film's reputation as a cult favorite. Savalas performed the role using grand gestures and a speaking voice similar to his characterization of Kojak, despite the fact that his character was supposed to be a Russian Cossack.

Horror Express was filmed mostly without sound, with effects and voices dubbed into the film later. Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and Telly Savalas all provided their own voices for the English market.



Professor Alexander Saxton (Christopher Lee) is an anthropologist returning home to Europe via the Trans-Siberian Railway bringing with him a 'fossil' in a crate. The 'fossil' is the frozen remains of a primitive humanoid creature, which Saxton is sure is the missing link in the evolutionary chain. Also on board is Dr. Wells (Peter Cushing), another Englishman and a colleague of Saxton's.

Mysterious deaths occur even before the train sets out. A known thief is found dead on the platform after having looked into the crate, bleeding from his eyes, which have turned blank and white. A slightly unbalanced monk (a Rasputin-esque figure), who acts as a spiritual advisor to the Count and Countess waiting to board the train, claims that the crate is evil.

Saxton is eager to keep his find a secret from everyone, especially Dr. Wells, but Wells pays the baggage man to look into the crate. When he does, he is also killed by the glowing red gaze of the creature, which escapes the confines of its crate. The murders continue while the humanoid fossil haunts the moving train, the victims found with blank white eyes, and an autopsy leads Wells and his assistant to hypothesize that the brains of the victims are being drained of memories and knowledge. When the fossil is gunned down by Inspector Mirov, an authority in charge of the train, the threat seems to have been vanquished. However, Saxton and Wells discover images embedded in liquid inside the eye of the dead fossil, images that reveal a prehistoric Earth, as well as a view of the Earth from outer space. They deduce that the real threat is a formless alien creature that was simply inhabiting the body of the fossil, and that it has now transferred itself to the Inspector. The monk senses the evil presence inside of the Inspector and pledges allegiance to it, considering it Satan.

When news of the murders on the train is wired to Siberian authorities, the train is stopped and an intimidating cossack named Captain Kazan (Telly Savalas) boards with a small group of his men. Mirov is discovered to be the creature and is shot down, but not before the alien presence transfers itself to the monk. The passengers all retreat to the caboose, while the monk murders Kazan and his men by draining them of their brains.

Saxton rescues the Countess from the creature, but it resurrects all of its victims as white-eyed zombies. The zombies chase Saxton and the Countess back to the caboose, where the others are waiting. As they desperately work to detach the caboose from the rest of the train, Russia sends a telegraph to the next station ahead that they are to send the train over a cliff. The operators follow this order, thinking that they may be at war. Just as the surviving passengers manage to separate themselves from the rest of the train, it goes crashing over the cliff into a fiery explosion below. The caboose rolls to a safe stop precariously near the edge, where the survivors watch the fire consume the train and the unnatural inhabitants within it.