It's Alive! - Part II

More fun from the It's Alive exhibit at the Columbia Museum of Art.

This replica figure was created in 2011 but is wearing an original collar by Paul Blaisdell for Invasion of the Saucer Men, 1957.

Art Director, Robert Kallis of American International Pictures, and his team would create film titles and complementing artwork, occasionally sending them to movie studios. If the studios were excited by what they saw, they created a movie around it. I think this explains why some of the movies were wacky!

Costumes have come a long way over the decades! This green number was from Invaders From Mars, 1953.

Worn by a 7 foot actor made for an imposing figure.

When I first caught a glimpse of this Frankenstein toy I thought "Oops, his pants fell down".

Blushing Frankenstein, Lewis Galoob Company, 1960s

Apparently that is what is supposed to happen!

Here we have the Great Garloo.

The Great Garloo, Louis Marx and Company, c. 1961

Toys for the mellow child like myself. Puzzles and paint by numbers.

Dracula Paint by Numbers, A.A. Gaffney and Sons, 1960s

This Zapatron Prop was used in mad scientists labs to create cool crackling and lightening effects.

Zapatron, Kenneth Strickfaden, mid 20th century

Bela Legosi's jacket and vest from White Zombie, 1932. The silicone figure was created by Mike Hill in 2010.

Below is Boris Karloff's suit from The Black Cat, 1934. Edgar Ulmer, the director, wanted Karloff for this film but had a feeling he would not want the role since it was sadistic. However he was able to lure him in with his stylishly designed fashions for the character. This silicone figure was also created by Mike Hill.

This gorgeous artwork is Dracula Meets the Wolf Man by Frank Frazetta, 1966.

Horror is not my favorite genre since I watched too many scary films at inappropriately young ages. One being The Shining. I never expected to ever see Jack's ax in my lifetime but here it is! Made of foam, metallized sheeting, foil tape and wood grain paint, it was lightweight so it could easily be swung in mad ways to scare the audience.

Some of Kirk Hammett's guitars are also on display. These custom lovelies were created by the ESP Custom Shop in Japan. The artwork featured is from the amazing posters.

Part of the exhibit allows those musically inclined to play 1 of 2 of Hammett's guitars in the museum auditorium for just $5.

Due to the exhibit's connection with music, here is one of my favorite haunting Metallica tunes. Hammett's guitar playing in the beginning came to mind while enjoying the exhibit.

Leaving you with this photo taken while strolling through Soda City that day. Perhaps the most adorable canine outfit ever made, overalls.

If you go, located at 
1515 Main Street
Columbia, SC
open daily 10am - 5pm (closed Mondays)
general admissions is $10 ($5 during Soda City Market on Saturdays)
Exhibit runs thru May 17, 2020.

Thank you for stopping by! ~Val 

It's Alive! - Part I

The latest special exhibit at the Columbia Museum of Art is a fantastically fun one!

Kirk Hammett (lead guitarist of Metallica) is sharing his personal collection of classic horror and sci-fi art.

Palo Alto Productions, 1954

Universal Studios, 1935

Hammett credits these old movies for sparking his creativity thru the fear, anxiety and empathy they cause.

Universal Studios, 1942

Most of these posters are unfortunately uncredited so the artists are unknown.

American International Pictures, 1965

Universal Pictures, 1931

The exhibit also includes foreign posters, such as this Swedish ones.

Universal Picture, 1933

This German poster regarded a film that portrayed the contradictions of mechanical progress and social justice at the time.

Universum Film, 1927

The wackier, the better! As television gained popularity as a source of entertainment, studios had to get more creative to lure movie goers.

Iselin-Tenney Productions, 1964

Mock horror existed back in the day too. I thought Mel Brooks was the first to do so with Young Frankenstein!

Universal Pictures, 1948

Universal Pictures, 1935

Columbia Pictures, 1955

Dracula's Daughter has my favorite wording "she gives you that weird feeling!"

 

Columbia Pictures, 1936

Tempean Films, 1958

American Releasing Corporation, 1955

A beautiful French poster of Beauty and The Beast.

DisCina, 1946

Paramount Pictures, 1932

Columbia Pictures, 1959

This exhibit inspired us to search Amazon Prime when we got home for one of these wacky films. We watched Day The World Ended (1955). IMDB users rate this one 5.4 out of 10. It was pretty bad but totally appropriate for the day! I suppose it was an exciting, scary flick at the time.

Of course there were many more including a wide variety of the typical horror classics we think of like Dracula and Frankenstein. 

If you go, located at 
1515 Main Street
Columbia, SC
open daily 10am - 5pm (closed Mondays)
general admissions is $10 ($5 during Soda City Market on Saturdays)

Thank you for stopping by! Next post will be include other entertaining memorabilia from these genres.  ~Val