Monday, April 26, 2010

THE SHADOW KNOWS, DON'T PISS OFF THE BIG MONKEY

shadow_the_nov_43_v3_8

I must say, that gorilla really does appear to be enjoying himself! This ape may be an odd foe for the mysterious Shadow, but I love how the cover captures that early 20th century notion of the fearsome jungle beast. The simplicity of the layout accentuates the immensity of the enraged ape; the Shadow is tossed aside like a toy and the frantic maiden isn't about to run off anywhere with her locks twisted up in that crazed beast's fist. Typically Shadow covers portrayed the other-worldly detective as an omnipotent demi-god who taunts and dominates his criminal prey but here we have him looking decidedly mortal.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

BOLLYWOOD GOES APE

GORILLA (1953) Indian

Way, way back when I first began this journey into the mysterious cinematic regions of the Gorilla Men, I recall coming across a mention of an East Indian picture called GORILLA that one would naturally assume, had a gorilla suited lead. Unfortunately, I was unable to uncover much about it and apart from coming across a few muddy pics of lobby cards on Ebay, I haven't given it much thought in quite some time. My usual auction crawl revealed the lovely poster above - and the angry fellow tossing about the native has given me a renewed desire to find this early Bollywood offering. The possibilities of a large scale musical dance number featuring a shaggy simian boggles the mind!
The poster above also features a nicely reworked swipe from THE BRIDE OF THE GORILLA, released two years earlier.

BRIDE OF THE GORILLA (1951) Lobby Card detail

Monday, April 19, 2010

DOUBLE CROSS OF THE GORILLA RANGER

tomahawk_107

I'd like to see him sneak up on a buffalo! How a giant ape figures into a comic about colonial America isn't exactly clear but then again the joy of silly Silver Age books like this issue TOMAHAWK is the ease in which the insanity can be explained in a handful of panels and exposition. No message boards with dedicated comic geeks to pick apart the logic of the plot in 1960, just frustrated letters to the editor. Later issues had the Revolutionary freedom fighter face off with another forty foot ape, King Colosso -  if he was from the same Plains tribe as this gorilla in unknown.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

TIPPY TOES

MARK OF THE GORILLA (1951) Still

I have tried three times to watch MARK OF THE GORILLA (1951) and I have yet to make it through without snoozing! It's by no means a terrible film but not one to excite the mind of a sleepy, old curmudgeon who has to watch gorilla suit flicks after the missus has gone to bed. I have a particular fondness for films that have the gorilla suit itself as a plot point. Rascally white men, in full simian regalia, are using the fear of the great ape to intimidate and harass African locals to do something dastardly that I forget because I keep nodding off. Naturally our hero Jungle Jim is not deterred. I was familiar with Weissmuller from the Tarzan films but I was unprepared for his decidedly unimpressive line delivery. When pressed to utter poly-syllabic words he seems to fall a little flat. I certainly prefer, "Me Tarzan, you Jane."
This still recently arrived at the Gorilla Den and features the sneaky tip-toeing of Steve Calvert.

Monday, April 12, 2010

A GO-GO GORILLA WITH A BIG BEAT

hawkman_16

Last week's post on gorilla comic book covers was a fine reminder of how much damn fun I once had perusing the comic bins for ape-ly artwork. It was my curious little project Comic Book Gorillarama that lead me down the jungle path to discover the Gorilla Men of Golden Era Hollywood. It seems fitting that I look back to four colour simians of years past and share some of my favourite comic book covers on a regular feature here at G-Men. I usually need a pick-me-up on Mondays after returning to the drudgery of earning a proper living so I can get more Gorilla Stuff therefore you can depend on a regular post highlighting a favourite cover from my CBG Flickr sets. I hope you return again and again to enjoy.

Hawkman was a Golden Age character who finally earned his own title in 1964 for a short lived run but remains today as an iconic DC character. Murphy Anderson bangs out a beautiful cover with Katar Hol facing off with a distant cousin of those winged monkey bastards from The Wizard of Oz. Even though HAWKMAN only ran 27 issues, the Thanagarian policeman had the distinction of not one, but two flying gorilla covers.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

STRANGLER OF MEN - KIDNAPER OF WOMEN!

THE GORILLA (1927) Print Advertisement 3-4-28

Print Advertisement for the first film adaptation of the smash hit stage production - March 4th, 1928.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

ORIGINS OF A BEAST AND HIS BEAUTY

It's rare that I have a mystery dispelled so quickly but my recent creation of a Tumblr page has revealed the origins of the image in the previous post THE BEAUTY OF THE BEAST. As I discussed in the post, the photo of Ray "Crash" Corrigan had been retouched and manipulated to produce the drooling monstrosity that hunches over the limp half naked body of a fair woman. While the risque setup suggested some sort of relation to a burlesque promotion, it was an odd arrangement for Corrigan to be involved in. I could not recall where I had stumbled across the photo on the web but this evening I was shocked to bump into it again. Following the bread crumbs of attribution links, I finally came upon a Tumblr page where the photograph had credits and a title.

William Mortensen, L'Amour

William Mortensen, L'Amour

I confess that I have not heard of Mortensen before but his career and creative work is fascinating.

From
Monsters & Madonnas: Looking at William Mortensen An essay by Cary Loren


William Mortensen (1897 - 1965) was one of the most well known and respected photographers in America in the thirties. He worked primarily in Southern California as a Hollywood and studio portraitist and later taught his methods and ideas to younger generations. (See Larry Lytle's online biography of Mortensen.) Mortensen's obscurity today is mainly due to his championing of Pictorialism, a force within photography that promoted retouching, hand-worked negatives, chemical washes, and an artistic, painterly approach that soon faded with the advance of modernism.

William Mortensen, Mad Hatter

The Mad Hatter above is the man himself. While Mortensen's technique has an appeal for modern viewers who have been tempered by the pervasive manipulation of reality in all types of media, his contemporary critics were not as accepting.

From
Monsters & Madonnas: Looking at William Mortensen An essay by Cary Loren


Mortensen was considered an anachronism in photography, an outsider in a field that rejected the theatrical set-ups, retouching and strong imaginative subject matter. Ansel Adams, high priest of the straight print, described Mortensen as both "the devil" and "the anti-Christ." Historians seem to have sided with Adams, as there are few mentions of Mortensen in most of the major photo histories.

From what I can see of Mortensen's subject arrangements, it appears that he worked with live models and props (during the creation of L'amour). My brief perusal of his work seem to indicate he did not alter photos of this period by compositing separate photographic elements. My supposition is Ray posed for the photo but I will have to contact those more learned about Mortensen to lend their thoughts on the matter.

To learn more about William Mortensen read the essay quoted above and also check out another fine page on the artist at The Scream Online. The second article also features a illuminating description of Mortensen's process-well worth checking out.

Friday, April 9, 2010

BEAUTY IS THE BEAST


I adore burlesque "Beauty and Beast" acts of old where ill-fitting, gorilla suited guys sweated it up on stage, pawing and groping pretty gals in skimpy, diaphanous outfits. A delightfully surreal twist on the act blends the two elements together in a Siamese twinning of the fair maiden and her animalistic tormentor. Pictured below is Little Brooklyn, a modern burlesque dancer I discovered on MySpace, who still cavorts about the stage in the same fashion as her predecessor above.


Gorilla Men wants you to check out a photo on MySpace in the My Photos album

Image originally discover on Tumblr courtesy of PHANTOM OF THE RADIO

Thursday, April 8, 2010

ROAMS THE AUDIENCE IN THE DARK!

DR. MORRIS AND HIS DUNGEON OF DEATH Print Ad 6-26-56

Ladies accompanied by one of those squeeky voiced, pimply punks can expect things to go very badly once the house lights dim.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

GORILLAS SERIOUSLY THINK

strange_adventures_88

I just don't spend enough time with my favourite four-colour simians anymore. Several years ago, I cobbled  Comic Book Gorillarama together to celebrate my love of the Gorilla Cover - a devious sales ploy cooked up in the 1950's by editors at DC Comics to suck the hard earned coinage out of the pockets of unsuspecting children. Ah, simpler times....

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

GORILLA VS BELA

MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE (1932) still

I have such mixed feelings about RUE MORGUE - I love Lugosi without refrain, he can do no wrong, even in a somewhat muddled rendition of the classic Poe tale but the butchery of Gemora's role as Erik the ape is painful to watch. Ludicrous inserts of a real chimpanzee was substituted for all of Gemora's suit closeups. Why it was thought to be necessary when Gemora's talents in INGAGI(1930) had fooled audiences into believing the ape was the real deal just 2 years earlier, I cannot fathom. I will simply have to soothe my savage emotions with this wonderful still of our two stars having a difference of opinion. Unfortunately, this gem surpassed $100 on Ebay some time ago and I had to let slip through my fingers.

Monday, April 5, 2010

KILLER-DILLER GORILLA



Somehow "Kink Kunk" sounds dirty to me but I am relatively depraved in the first place. Atom Ant puns like mad in this classic Hanna Barbera toon - a nice light way to cap off a moody Monday.
Enjoy!

Sunday, April 4, 2010

THE BEAUTY OF THE BEAST

Beast and Beauty - Ray Corrigan in doctored photo

Gorilla suit "Beauty and Beast" photos are far from rare but this shot of Ray "Crash" Corrigan in his earliest suit stands out as a particularly odd and unique image of the Cowboy apeman. While Emil Van Horn migrated from the silver screen to the stripper's stage and back again throughout his career, I can think of no other Gorilla Man who cavorted about with scantily dressed erotic dancers. Our resident g-man The Mighty Bongo discussed the shocking still with Bob Burns who recalled seeing the image years ago. Bob felt confident that it is a pastiche of a Corrigan still and some studio elements - he expressed the unlikelihood that Ray would be involved in a risque topless shoot. Ever the sharp eyed ape, Bongo noted the proportional differences between gorilla and gal. With Ray approximately 6'6" in his suit, the lovely lass would measure about 4'6". Bongo also remarked that the eyes have been accentuated with a little white and a tasteful helping of drool was added to the gruesome grimace.
Regardless of the photos dubious origins, it remains a salacious and disturbing tableau, indicative of the twisted undercurrents of the psyche of years past.

Friday, April 2, 2010

$500 REWARD FOR ESCAPED GORILLA!

Repost from PCL LINKDUMP with addition of Window Card

THE MONSTER MAKER RAY-MOND and his "VOODOO SHOW" newspaper advertisement July 1953

The Spook Shows that pervaded the local movie houses of the 50's and 60's must have been a real rush for the impressionable youth who cozied up with their steadies as ghouls, gorillas and ghosts terrorized them as second rate B pictures flickered on the screen. I have been hunting about for any Real Live Gorilla appearances and have been duly impressed by the promises made by the Mad Ray-Mond - forget the 500lb Gorilla that "becomes aroused at the sight of beautiful girls" - Buzz saws cut off heads!!? Oh brother!

Here's a quick history on the Spook Show phenomenon and some handsome window cards also available as T-Shirts.

(The ad above was chopped and stitched for easy blog viewing)

RAY-MOND AND HIS BLOOD CURDLING VOODOO SHOW window card

Thursday, April 1, 2010

SPOOK SHOW AT THE OASIS

ORIGINALLY POSTED 3-28-2010

I love the notion of the spook show - the prospect of a live gorilla (man) rampaging through the crowds as KONG tosses sailor's into the crevasse on Kong Island makes me giddy. I imagine the reality of the experience is something less than the hype but if you were twelve, I'm betting it was pretty damn fun. Below is a great piece on a local Halloween Drive-In spook show in 60's Iowa - the print photo of the menacing ape is pretty muddy but the list of hijinks in the text is awe inspiring. 50,000 crickets dropped from a helicopter! A legion of gorillas and ghouls terrorizing the popcorn munching populace!
Forget AVATAR and 3-D chum, take me back baby!

Thrills, scares and fun will be part of the Halloween program when a giant Spook-tacular takes place at the Oasis Drive-In Theatre, Higgins and Elmhurst Roads, Saturday night.
Weighted ghosts and 50,000 imitation crickets will be thrown from a helicopter over the cars, as a ground barrage frightens off the invaders. Twenty actors dressed as full grown gorillas, apes, skeletons and ghosts will pop all over the place trying to scare the audience and then make up for it by giving each patron a free mask. Each child will also receive a free mask and a real pumpkin
BEFORE THE show starts at 5:30, there will be a costume parade for the kiddies between 5.30 and 6:30, followed by a costume contest at 6:45 with dozens of free prizes.
"Witchcraft," a  story of ghouls returning after 300 years to leap blood havoc, starring Lon Chaney, and "The Horror of It All," a man-monster horror film starring Pat Boone, are the screen fare. The driver of every 13th car will be admitted free, and so will the driver of every car with a 13 in the license. All occupants in every car with a black cat will be admitted free.

SPOOK SHOW SLATED AT OASIS DRIVE-IN 10-29-64

UNBELIEVABLE PICTURES OF THE MONKEY WORSHIPPERS!

ORIGINALLY POSTED 3-25-2010

Between uploading gallery items to Flikr, transferring posts to Gorillamen 2.0 (and here we are), and sifting through NewspaperArchive.com for all manner of gorilla suit film ads, articles and fresh leads on Gorilla Men, I'm amazed I still find the time to post something here! I am still in information overload mode with the archive searches. Here's a wee sample of FORBIDDEN ADVENTURE (1935) print advertisements - another flick following in the deplorably racist footsteps of INGAGI, coupling tedious travelogue footage of Angkor with staged sequences of jungle giants and their amorous native girls. More to come.

FORBIDDEN ADVENTURE print ad 4-20-37

ACTUAL JUNGLE SECRETS

ORIGINALLY POSTED 3-21-2010

It's hard to believe that INGAGI played the roadshow circuit for nearly 25 years or more. Despite the revelation that the film's main attraction, that of native and gorilla coupling, had been exposed as fraud the very year it was released, crowds still flocked in great numbers across the US to see for themselves what the controversy was all about. This ad dates from 1946, sixteen years after INGAGI had it's sensational debut in 1930, yet the copy still proclaims "Attendance records smashed!". While this is most likely to be total hype, the fact that the film remained in circulation is astounding.
Why the Satanic floating head accompanies the proclamations of "Daring! Dynamic! Humane!" I have no idea! But it certainly catches the eye, don't it!

INGAGI (1930) Newspaper ad 4-30-46

GIANT GORILLA VS MONSTER COBRA

ORIGINALLY POSTED 3-16-2010

Gorilla Comic Panel

GAME ON!
via MONSTERCRAZY
SEE THE SHOCKING CONCLUSION!! at COMICS OUGHTA BE FUN!

...A HUGE GORILLA WITH A HUMAN BRAIN! LOOSE!

ORIGINALLY POSTED 3-14-2009

THE MONSTER AND THE GIRL (1941) Newspaper advertisement 7-7-41I have spent a lot of time poking about Gemora ephemera and print articles as of late. With newly purchased access to a few newspaper databases, I have come across scads of material about all of our usual players on GORILLA MEN, Corrigan, Barrows, Calvert, Van Horn and, of course, the Greatest of them all, Charles Gemora. After many years of scrounging Ebay and local libraries for anything to do with these films and performers, I can say that I have uncovered relatively little information about them. Without having close and easy access to the various institutions down in sunny California that house the bulk of American entertainment history, it has been a tough go for a pathologically obsessed geek, trapped on Vancouver Island. The first day I started perusing the LA TIMES and CHICAGO TRIBUNE the wife was disturbed by my little girl screams as I stumbled across item after item about my favourite fellows. There is a surprisingly rich vein of material to be drawn from the daily rags, so rich, in fact, that I have difficulty reigning in the desire to keep searching for the next piece and focus instead on appreciating how a particular discovery fits into the tapestry. It's been a thrill to trip across a number of articles that confirm suspicions I've held and others that have illuminated other Golden Age gorilla men I was unaware of. There's a great deal to digest and share, with more surfacing every week but I've guaranteed that I won't run out of steam any time soon.
THE MONSTER AND THE GIRL (1941) still I posted a few days back inspired me this afternoon to search the year of release for material related to the film and here is nice selection of print ads for the film.
More great stuff to follow!
Enjoy!

THE MONSTER AND THE GIRL (1941) Newspaper advertisement 05-3-41

THE MONSTER AND THE GIRL (1941) Newspaper advertisement 3-26-41

THE MONSTER AND THE GIRL (1941) Newspaper advertisement 6-29-41

THE MONSTER AND THE GIRL (1941) Newspaper advertisement 5-16-41

THE MONSTER AND THE GIRL (1941) Newspaper advertisement 2-27-41

THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE PRIMATE

ORIGINALLY POSTED 3-14-2010

I'm gonna venture a guess that this commercial is Thai but I'm probably wrong. Anyhow, I've got Kong on the brain after Rhoderic sent me his new video and this recent ad made me smile...and the ape's not too shabby!
Enjoy!




Here's another ad with a former Kong co-star by the same outfit that produced the pen commercial. Give it a whirl -it's a damn shade funnier than the first!

KING KONG RETURNS TONIGHT!

ORIGINALLY POSTED 3-13-2010

FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILM LAND King Kong cover

It's been sometime since I first posted about Rhoderic Land and his charming song,  KING KONG TONIGHT and I must admit I haven't spun that tune on the ol' hard drive for many months now. I just received a heads up from Rhoderic himself, that he has created a video for his signature work - it's a simple affair but true to Land's lounge persona. I am quite struck at how catchy and enjoyable KING KONG TONIGHT remains to my ear - a good sign a classic has been crafted.
Give the video a view and pop over to Amazon to download the tune and sample his other wares!

THE RETURN OF NYOKA THE JUNGLE GIRL

ORIGINALLY POSTED 3-9-2010

THE RETURN OF NYOKA THE JUNGLE GIRL
    You would think that anyone with a passion as singular as mine would have a deep and abiding affection for all things gorilla suit but the truth is, my love for the profession wanes somewhat once you look past the work of Bob Burns. With the arrival of effects wunderkind Rick Baker in the seventies , the 'gorilla suit' would eventually become indistinguishable from the real flesh and blood animal it is meant to depict. I love the film and images of Golden Age Hollywood Gorillas because of their evocations of the idea of a mighty jungle beast . Why this preamble to a review of a cheesy ribald tribute to serials of old? Bill Black's new short THE RETURN OF NYOKA THE JUNGLE GIRL not only celebrates and pokes fun at the classic Saturday  matinee cliffhanger but it also features a Modern Gorilla Man, Chris Casteel,  who would not look out of place alongside Gemora, Corrigan or Van Horn in his guise as The Mighty Bongo. Not to confuse names, but Bongo appears as the fearsome ape Satan, played by Emil Van Horn in the original serials.

NYOKA is naturally patterned after the classic source material with other twists thrown in, namely the appearance of the Crimson Skull who has resurrected the devil ape Satan with the mystical Amulet of Vultura (the gorilla's former master). The story unfolds with Satan on the lam and Nyoka Gordon in possession of the charmed bauble. It's not long before our comely heroine is in dire straits at the hands of the Crimson Skull and his simple minded henchmen. Fisticuffs, firefights and fearsome fur on flesh action follows!

One clear difference 50 plus years make from one incarnation of Nyoka to another - Kay Aldridge, the last jungle girl, never looked so shapely. Bill Black obviously has a penchant for well endowed women. His selection of other original offerings at Cult Retro are unmistakably cleavage oriented and I am unashamed to admit it certainly got me interested in forking over the $11.95 to download the flick. Where Black's material distinguishes itself is the execution of a simple premise with a flair, humour and style that I found surprising for what could have been a dreary retread with boobs. A major challenge faced with any tribute work, big budget or no budget, is establishing a psychological bridge to the beloved original. The usage of the classic music cues and sound effects of the 40's production immediately had me engaged - a thrifty and effective choice. The 30 minute 'Chapter' has a lively pace with a decent  allotment of shots and cuts, always keeping the viewer engaged, and  I also found the action and dialogue to be pretty damn snappy for a home grown effort.  NYOKA features a surprising number of laughs as the cast skewer Serial touchstones like not sticking around to witness the hero/heroine done in by the death trap of the day or through the delightfully hammy delivery of their lines. Did I mention breasts yet? I'm a weak, red blooded male and I would be a damn dirty liar if I didn't admit to enjoying Nicola Rae jiggling about while tussling with the villains.  What makes Nicola all the more enjoyable is her capable performance that keeps your eyes above her shoulders - most of the time. I will note however that the outtakes at the conclusion of the serial, reveal Nicola's natural, youthful charm and I hope she can further tap into that for future returns as Nyoka.

And what of the ape you say? Chris Casteel's performance as Satan feels torn from the celluloid of old. The suit appearing in NYOKA is a recent construction that looks impressive in action and the ape's visage is a curious amalgam of gorilla mugs familiar to fans, a bit of Bob Burns, a shade of Barrows, but with a personality that is singular and distinct. For me it is gratifying to see a lost art embraced and represented so effectively.  Satan has a presence in NYOKA that nearly outshines his buxom co-star.
Put simply THE RETURN OF NYOKA THE JUNGLE GIRL is fun. Bill Black's home studio production bears up to repeat viewings because it's true to roots of it's premise but also has a naughty playful attitude that will beckon to me again and again. And it's got a gorilla, so there -  it's just about perfect!



Where will The Mighty Bongo appear next? Well, I'm pleased to report that shooting will commence on another chapter of Nyoka later this month. I'm curious to see what Bill and his players have in store for us and wish them all the best.

You may have noticed the addition of The Mighty Bongo underneath ol' Kong on the sidebar as GORILLA MEN's official Gorilla Man - I'm thrilled to have Bongo's acceptance of this humble honour and eagerly anticipate sharing his lifelong quest to tread in the footsteps of Gemora and his brethren in posts yet to come. In the meantime download or order THE RETURN OF NYOKA THE JUNGLE GIRL - it's GORILLA MEN ape-proved.

THE RETURN OF NYOKA THE JUNGLE GIRL

THE MAGNIFICENCE OF THE MONSTER

ORIGINALLY POSTED 3-8-2010

I love this still of Charlie from THE MONSTER AND THE GIRL - I find it astonishing that this suit was created almost fifty years before Baker's penultimate work on GORILLAS IN THE MIST. Gemora's suit and performance had a natural quality that none of his contemporaries could match.
Enjoy!

THE MONSTER AND THE GIRL (1941) Gemora still

THE MONSTER AND THE GIRL

ORIGINALLY POSTED 3-5-2010

A recent find on Heritage Auctions who graciously post high quality images for poor thieves like myself. Bless their hearts.
THE MONSTER AND THE GIRL one sheet and related materials are in seeming short supply. I have come across very little to do with the film over the past six years - though I do have a handful of nice still repro's compliments of his daughter Diana via Bob Burns I believe and one gem procured from EBAY with the original title D.O.A on the credits. Although this one sheet is not my favourite representation of Charlies suit from the film, I do love the colour scheme and the lovely prostate form of the titular girl.

THE MONSTER AND THE GIRL (1941)

THE MONSTER AND THE GIRL (1941) One Sheet detail

GORILLA MEN OF MARS

ORIGINALLY POSTED 2-27-2010

I was perusing the CLASSIC HORROR MESSAGE BOARDS and stumbled across a request for some pics of the Martian from George Pal's THE WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953). Most persons who even know the name Charles Gemora probably are aware of him for him connection to the classic sci-fi film.  Charlie not only built the uniquely alien Alien, but he also played him in the film with the assistance of his young daughter Diana. I was happy to receive some great scans from Diana a while back and here a host of shots of the unfinished beastie and a wonderful pic of Charles getting under the skin of the extraterrestrial invader.
You can read a detailed account of how the iconic creature came to life at Diana's site here.
Enjoy!


THE WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953) Martian costume construction

THE WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953) Martian costume construction

THE WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953) Martian costume construction

THE WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953) Martian costume construction - Charles Gemora enters the suit

THE THRILL OF YOUR LAFFTIME!

ORIGINALLY POSTED 2-25-2010

Oh to be a copy writer of yore! Truly groan worthy ravings abound in the advertisement for the 1927 film adaptation of the play THE GORILLA. However, the ad does feature prominently the  fearsome creature and his pale unconscious dame. I wanted to post something new and this just arrived in the mail. Work progresses on GORILLA MEN 2.0 (where you're currently reading this post!) and I am doing my best to accelerate the information transfer from Serendipity to Blogger. I imagine there is some high falutin' high tech way to transfer the posts lickedity split but I am going the low tech route of cut and paste, repeat, repeat, repeat...

THE GORILLA (1927) Magazine Ad

GORILLA MEN REDUX

ORIGINALLY POSTED 1-30-2010

Giant Gorilla Head
Oh where does the time go?
It's been five years since I first started scribbling away about Gorilla Men. Though my efforts have ebbed and flowed over these many months, I find I always return to this testament of my strange fascination. This recent lapse lasted longer than than I would have liked but such is life.
Yet, here we are again - and what next? More of the same, naturally, I'm not trying to change the world - just lovin' the monkey, man.
But - before I resume regular transmissions - there needs to be a overhaul of my chosen venue.  I have decided to transfer all the material contained here to a more stable home at Blogger. My current blog software has managed to frustrate me on many an occasion and I have had enough. Add in the prolonged outage caused by a reworking of my hosting provider's software that left this place offline for several weeks without my knowledge and I am ready for a simpler solution.
Frankly, I look forward to revisiting my roots and perhaps trim and brighten a few of my older posts. Not all material will migrate over but I could afford to lose any blog blather not worthy of preservation. Also, the gallery provider I had uploaded much of my pics to went through a refit that has left my former setup inaccessible. No matter - I was planning on expanding the available galleries on Flickr. Lucky me - now I have no excuses to avoid it!
SO- in the meantime, there will probably be not too much in the way of new posts on this outlet, but I might need to break up the renovations with an item or two. Once the work is complete, I will anchor the Blogger page at gorilla men.com. Don't spin that dial - I'll bring the new and improved Gorilla Men to you.
If you're curious to see how it's unfolding pop by to the OTHER Gorilla Men. (If you're reading this you're ALREADY here!)

THE MONKEY FOLK

ORIGINALLY POSTED 5-23-2009

I love the crude, otherworldly ape men of early cinema. The limitations of special effects coupled with a naive design sensibility introduced movie audiences to strange offshoots of the evolutionary tree.
This lobby card from the silent 1918 incarnation of TARZAN OF THE APES has some great details that deserve a closer look.
Enjoy!

TARZAN OF THE APES (1918) lobby card detail

TARZAN OF THE APES (1918) lobby card detail

TARZAN OF THE APES (1918) lobby card detail

TARZAN OF THE APES (1918) lobby card

SPOOK BUSTIN'

ORIGINALLY POSTED 5-22-2009

I can't stand much of the Bowery Boys' antics - to be fair though, they have made a multitude of films and I have only attempted to endure a handful. Naturally, I'm drawn to this little gem because of the incredible gorilla suit worn by Art Miles. I love Art's suit - it is distinctive and has a natural aspect that stands apart from most that you see on film during the 40's. Surprisingly, this suit has appeared in just a handful of films though Art Miles has dozens of credits for bit roles from the early 30's until 1950. I have a notion there may be a few more out there waiting to be discovered since he employed it over nearly a decade.
The trailer below has a quick glimpse of Art about 2/3rd's of the way through, so be sharp.

SPOOK BUSTERS half sheet detail

SPOOK BUSTERS half sheet

GORILLA VS STUART

ORIGINALLY POSTED 5-21-2009

It's a damn shame MadTV has finally bit the dust while SNL chugs along with consistent mediocrity. One character that never fails to delightfully creep me out is the demented man-child Stuart.

WHERE'S THE CRAYONS?

ORIGINALLY POSTED 5-20-2009

THE MONSTER AND THE APE pressbook detail

GORILLA VS GRANDMA'S

ORIGINALLY POSTED 5-19-2009

GORILLA VS GRANDMA's

Found at bighappyfunhouse via hugo-strikes back via RETrOZONe

PAGAN LOVE IN THE JUNGLES!

ORIGINALLY POSTED 5-19-2009

Released under a variety of titles, FORBIDDEN ADVENTURE, ANGKOR, GORILLA WOMAN and others, this depraved tale of African ladies coupling with jungle apes, is 99% rambling travelogue and 1% unnatural interspecies mating. Although the material seems camp and surreal to a modern viewer, it has a truly despicable premise, perpetuating racist portrayals of native women as sub-human creatures willing to submit to the will of jungle beasts. However, having actually seen the SOMETHING WEIRD dvd release, it's hard to keep that reality in mind while plodding through the flick waiting for the monkeys to come for their maidens. Time has dulled the ugly edges of this well worn exploitation road show staple. I have a pressbook from one of the later re-releases, GORILLA WOMAN and have scanned much of the material for your perusal. The one sheet for FORBIDDEN ADVENTURE and GORILLA WOMAN were pulled from Heritage Auctions.
Enjoy!

FORBIDDEN ADVENTURE one sheet

GORILLA WOMAN one sheet

GORILLA WOMAN pressbook detail

GORILLA WOMAN pressbook detail

GORILLA WOMAN pressbook detail

GORILLA WOMAN pressbook detail

GORILLA WOMAN pressbook detail

GORILLA WOMAN pressbook detail