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

"SEX is of course the subject interest, which is here given additional morbid pungency by the sadistic implications of the theme." -- Mortensen

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.

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.

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

GORILLAS SERIOUSLY THINK

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....

THE BEAUTY OF THE BEAST

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.

$500 REWARD FOR ESCAPED GORILLA!

Repost from PCL LINKDUMP with addition of Window Card



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)

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.

PRIMARY PRIMATE

ORIGINALLY POSTED 5-18-2009

Is he available for adoption?

ORIGINAL GORILLA

ORIGINALLY POSTED 5-14-2009

I have been meaning to get this scanned and up for consumption for bloody ages. Many moons ago I missed out on an Ebay auction for an issue of THEATRE MAGAZINE that featured a wonderful photo spread of the stage production of THE GORILLA. The dark house mystery comedy was immensely popular with the theatre crowd and critics, leading to no less than 3 direct film adaptations. Before Ebay made bidding completely anonymous, the winning bidder realized he had beat me out for the mag and dropped me a line. I am kicking myself that I can't recall exactly who it was but I am pretty damn sure it was Gary Prange.  I believe that Gary was gathering research for his stellar article APE FIENDS OF THE SILENT ERA for MONSTERS FROM THE VAULT and he shot me an email mentioning he would be happy to pass it along once he was finished with it. I would have been perfectly pleased with a decent scan but true to his word, he sent me the book we had sparred over and HE had purchased with his hard earned dollars - even paid for the darn shipping. Now you can see why I am feeling like a wee bit of a twat for not having a 100% recall about the act of generosity. Anyhow - check out Gary's article in MFTV #22 and #23, they are still available on the site.

PERVERSE GORILLA POLKA

ORIGINALLY POSTED 5-10-2009

This mag's been kicking around the Gorilla Den for some time now - hell, it was already sitting in the scanner waiting for me to get my ass in gear.
Truly awful title for the photo spread - polka doesn't quite capture the essence of provactive interspecies courting. The text names the gorilla as Scotty Roche, who apparently learned the craft from his Hungarian poppa who also performed a similar act back in the homeland. Scotty's wife, Diane Revere, is the Beauty to his Beast.
I haven't come across any other references to this particular act outside of this men's mag but the duo worked the Sunset Strip and there is likely local publications of the period that mention them.
Enjoy!

THE GORILLA IS COMING!

ORIGINALLY POSTED 5-7-2009

I had entertained the notion of redesigning the family letterhead but I will venture a guess the wife will not allow any damn, dirty apes on her correspondence.
This beautiful piece turned up on Ebay recently - a unique scrap of ephemera from what was reportedly Charles Gemora's entry into the world of cinema simians, although he only created the suit and did not slip into it.

GIRLS GONE WILD!

ORIGINALLY POSTED 1-5-2009

The recent post GORILLA VS SINDIE VIRTUE got me hankering for more apes and jungle girls. There is a long lineage of jungle flicks revolving around pale fleshed, scantily clad beauties like SHEENA but comics also featured a variety of women in the wild.

PRIMAVERA PONGO

ORIGINALLY POSTED 12-04-2008

This Italian poster for WHITE PONGO (1945) has a hairy leg up on the domestic release at depicting Corrigan's stunning albino ape as a fearsome beast though I don't recall the film's femme, Maris Wrixon appearing quite so disheveled .

EL GORILA MAGNIFICO!!!!

ORIGINALLY POSTED 11-30-2008












I have a weakness for pop culture viewed through a Spanish prism - there's just a little extra charm with that Latin flair. The comics above are from a massive Flickr set created by a recent admirer of my very own pics. Check em out!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

ORIGINALLY POSTED 10-31-2008



Every ape appreciates a good night out!
Hope your Halloween's a hellishly fun one.

BY INVITATION ONLY

ORIGINALLY POSTED 10-20-2008



The hairy fellow above features in a comedic sequence of the oddball MGM film HOLLYWOOD PARTY (1934). Although the picture had a cast that included Jimmy Durante, the Three Stooges, Laurel and Hardy and even Mickey Mouse, this jumbled musical comedy ensemble failed to excite either audiences or critics. I will give it a gold star because we get to enjoy a bit with an ape announced to the party revelers as "Ping Pong, the son of King Kong". I have the clip on VHS somewhere and I would have to give another viewing before I could recall the details of the few minutes of film. Apparently Ping was striking enough to make it onto the VHS box art below. I have not come across any subsequent appearances so this may have been a one-shot appearance for this suit.



Although the clip lacks any sign of Ping Pong or any other apes, this excerpt with Jimmy Durante as Schnarzan the Conqueror is good for a chuckle.

GORILLA VS BETTY BOOP

ORIGINALLY POSTED 10-19-2008



I've always found Betty Boop pretty creepy - that oversized head does nothing for me - but this Halloween cartoon has a great gorilla finish.

TOR NOT GORILLA!!

ORIGINALLY POSTED 10-09-2008

When is a gorilla not a gorilla?
When he is a hu-man..

YOU GOTTA LIGHT YA BIG MONKEY?

ORIGINALLY POSTED 10-07-2008

Ah bliss!
...by way of PCL Linkdump

THE "KING KONG" GORILLA THAT TERRORIZED A TOWN

ORIGINALLY POSTED 9-29-2008

Fresh out of the mailbag, straight from the Gorilla Men Den, I present this salacious tale of an escaped 500 pound Circus ape rampaging about the countryside pursued by bloodthirsty rednecks. Don't worry there's a moral in there somewhere.
I have been enjoying Taschen's MEN'S ADVENTURE MAGAZINES - the result being my brain has steeped in blood, sweat and breasts for the past week. It's a delight to have this issue of FOR MEN ONLY arrive on my doorstep to further illustrate how bizarre and unabashedly male these publications were.
Enjoy!

IT AIN'T PRETTY

ORIGINALLY POSTED 9-15-2008

I thought I would break my habit of posting vibrant, bold, stylized foreign poster material that creatively re-imagined the original domestic source with a post about the other side of the coin. This Pakistani one sheet of JUNGLE GIRL is butt ugly - that giant ape creature is beyond creepy. Anyone aroused by the hotty with poor posture about to be chewed on by a gator? Now that I think about it...I don't think there's a damn gorilla in JUNGLE GIRL, let alone a Kong sized one.