Tag: Bill Feret

ISSUE 2: EDITORIAL, CREDITS, INDEX, AND INDICIA

OH BOY! STAR TREK! A whole issue dedicated to every aspect of the show! Just one question – Why?

That’s a pretty good question…

Well, this special ish of THE MONSTER TIMES serves a 2-fold purpose – to celebrate the first annual STAR TREK CONVENTION, January 21, 22, 23 at New York’s Statler-Hilton, and secondly, to commemorate the convention’s memory.

HUH?

You see, we figured the STAR TREK CON was such a nifty idea, that we put out this special issue in honor of it. However, as our distribution schedules go, some of you readers will be reading this in your (few) spare moments at the hectic bustling TREK-CON, as this ish is made specially available to you there, whereas the rest of you have purchased your copy after the convention, at your local newsstand.

So this issue is both a special supplement and a memento of the gala occasion, and we have made our coverage so thorough, that those who didn’t attend the con can get the spirit and crazy exuberance of the luna-module-tic affair. So it’ll seem to you you were there (poor souls!).

ANCIENT SECRETS REVEALED:

Doubtless there are many questions about the show you have long wanted answering. Just to be pesky, we’ll ask them again:

Q: Who was STAR TREK’s salt-thriving vampire? page 5.

Q: Who kept hiding Leonard Nimoy‘s bicycle in the studio rafters? page 14

Q: Did you know the first STAR TREK model kit was a real lemon? page 22

Q: What did chopped chicken liver get for one wise Trekkie? page 28

Q: What lunacies will we be presenting two weeks from now? See back cover.

So, for those of you who’ve bought this modestly superb effort at the STAR TREK CON, enjoy the festivities – and maybe drop over by THE MONSTER TIMES’ special table in Spaceway Hucksters’ room, and maybe perhaps subscribe (mercenary, ain’t we!). For those who (sadly) missed the convention (details of it are on page 23), we hope this issue makes up for it, and we hope to see you there next year.

Next issue (2 weeks from now), we return to our regular newspaper programming, with Giant Bugs on the Munch. See you and your napkins then!

“MT-Many Thanks! Chuck

CHUCK R. McNAUGHTON: Almighty Editor. JOE KANE: Managing Editor. ALLAN ASHERMAN, PHIL SEULING, STEVE VERTLIEB: Associate Editors. BRILL AND WALDSTEIN. Art Direction. BILL FERET, DENNY O’NEIL, C.M. RICHARDS: Columnists. ALLAN ASHERMAN, JESSICA CLERK, DAVE IZZO, DEAN ALPHEOUS LATIMER, ED NAHA, C.M. RICHARDS, STEVE VERTLIEB, JIM WNOROSKI: Contributing Writers. JACK JACKSON: Contributing Photographer, LARRY WALDSTEIN: West Coast Correspondent. JESSICA CLERK: European Correspondent. RICH BUCKLER, ERNIE COLON, CARLOS GARZON, DAN GREEN, STEVE HICKMAN, JIMMY JANES, JEFF JONES, MIKE KALUTA, GRAY MORROW, B.B. SAMS, LARRY TODD, BERNIE WRIGHTSON: Contributing Artists.

1 THE STAR TREK SAGA:
The show’s origins, exploits and fateful (shudder!) destiny.

4 STAR TREK… A GOURMET’S DREAM OF FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Some of the greatest missions.

7 BOOK REVIEW: THE MAKING OF STAR TREK:
A handy reference, if you write S.T. comics.

12 TV SPACEMEN:
A playful portfolio of early rabbit-eared star-raiders.

13 INTERVIEW WITH WILLIAM SHATNER:
Capt. Kirk lets it all hang in outer space, Star-flight-on!

15 LEONARD NIMOY:
An informal, ear-perking portrait of one Vulcanized actor.

16 STAR TREK COLOR POSTER:
Worth the price of the whole dang Trekkified issue!

18 MONSTER TIMES TELETYPE:
Facts, flashes and fore-tollings of monster film news.

20 M.T. PRODUCT TEST:
Star Trek Model kits… and a couple of interesting facsimiles.

23 STAR TREK CONVENTION NOTES:
What’s happening at Ye olde whole sha-bang!

25 THE COP WHO LAUNCHED THE ENTERPRISE:
An Encyclopedia Film-Fannica portrait of Genius Gene Roddenberry.

26 STAR YECCH! – A PIX-PARODY:
A special photo-comix takeoff, so’s we don’t take this adulation business to seriously.

28 THE LAST DAYS OF THE ENTERPRISE:
The last laughs and last heartbreak of the last day of shooting.

THIS ISSUE’S COVER is excerpted from this issue’s super color centerfold poster which we especially commissioned Gray Morrow to concoct for this special all-STAR TREK issue. We trust you’ll find Gray’s fantastically designed poster even more exciting than our cover. We sincerely believe our poster and your wall will be very happy together.

THE MONSTER TIMES, No. 2, Feb. 16th, 1972 published every two weeks by The Monster Times Publishing Company. P.O. Box 595, Old Chelsea Station, New York, N.Y. 10011. Subscriptions in U.S.A.: $ 6.00 for 13 issues, outside U.S.A.: $10.00 for 26 issues. Second-class mail privileges authorized at New York, N.Y. and at additional mailing offices. Contributions are invited provided return postage is enclosed; however, no responsibility can be accepted for unsolicited material. Entire contents copyrighted (c) 1972, by The Monster Times Publishing company. Nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Subscriber change of address; give 8 weeks notice. Send an address imprint from recent issue or state exactly how label is addressed.

Printed in U.S.A.

ISSUE 1: THE MONSTER TIMES TELETYPE

…is our way of getting the latest hot-off-the-wire info to you; reviews, previews, scoops on horror films in production, newsworthy monster curiosities, bulletins, and other grues-flashes. There are several contributors to our hodge-podge Teletype page … BILL FERET, our man in Show Biz (he’s a professional actor, singer, dancer with the impressive resume list of stage, film and TV credits to his name), makes use of his vast professional experiences and leads to Feret-out items of interest to monster fans, and duly report on them in his flashing Walter-Wind-chill manner.

LEAPING LIZARDS! … or rather: “ambling amphibians?” frogs are upon us!

AIP is at present shooting “FROGS” in Florida. This is about an EEEEEk-ological monster. Starred are Ray Milland and Judy Pace. While the previously announced “LIVING DEAD” has been retitled “THE FROG.” George Sanders and Beryl Reid are in this one which concerns motorcyclists and occultism. Potential new titles: “My Heart Went Leaping”, “Hell’s Reptiles on Wheels?” or “Hell’s Angels Get Warts!” (?)

Keep thine eyes glued to your TV set for KING KONG to endorse Volkswagon.

There seems to be a fetish for Monsters in Advertising. Binaca Mouth Spray is the most noticeable. There are hordes of others. Looks like monsters sell. Reminds us of comedian Stan Freberg’s album-fable entitled “Grey-Flannel Hat-full of Teenaged Werewolves” the heart-wrenchingly sad tale of a normal, well-adjusted werewolf who by day (Horrors!) turns (shudder!) uncontrollably into (ye gods!) an Advertising Man.

..; Look for: “THE LIVING DEAD” with George Sanders, “THE BEAST IN THE CELLAR,” “A TOUCH OF MELISSA,” “CAULDRON OF BLOOD,” “CRUCIBLE OF HORROR,” (How ’bout a Glass of Gore” or “Thermos-jug of Terror”? “Decanter of Doom?) and a new George Pal production “DIE THE YOUNG.”

AIP’s also giving us “GODZILLA VS. THE SMOG MONSTER“. This one’s a real one; kiddies! No Kidding! The said monster lives on pollution. Wish we had a few of those monsters in real life. The title song has to be “Smog gets in your eyes.”

Up and coming is “THE RESURRECTION OF ZACHARY WHEELER.” A really top-notch science-fiction/medical opus, it’s somewhat the same rip-off as “THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN.” Tight and crisp direction by Robert Wynn lends authenticity to the portrayal of Leslie Nielsen, Bradford Dillman, James Daly, and Angie Dickinson. The pic was filmed in a new process of tape-to-film and seems to have been a rather successful experiment. With the desolate setting of the New Mexican desert, Hithcockian intrigue and the sci-fi plot, this is sure to be a hair-raiser, or at least a Zachair-raiser.

Follow the bouncing eyeballs to the re-issue of “HOUSE OF WAX,” in the original 3-D process. This time around, Charles Bronson, then an unknown, gets billing above, the then-star, Phyllis Kirk.

Veteran villain Vincent Price, is doing an encore of “THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES,” and there’s to be a sequel to “WILLARD” called … natch … “BEN,” starring Joseph Campanella. Sequels usually need something to bolster them up … a song, perhaps? (“… the way you wear your rat…”)

Russ Meyer plans a change of pace from his usual sexpot-boilers with a thriller called “THE ELEVEN.” He’s been scouting for an Austrian-type castle setting … in Macon, Georgia? “Well shut my moat!”

Ken Russell‘s “THE DEVILS” is a superb film about Church-run witch-hunts, possession, and persecution … but it’s a gory little number. Bring your stomach liners, it’s worth it…

Public TV is planning a special titled “BETWEEN TIME AND TIMBUKTU,” described as an “existentialist space satire,” based on several Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.. works, including “Cat’s Cradle,” “Player Piano,” and “Welcome to the Monkey House.” Bob and Ray will be among the performers. Bob and Ray are the funniest comedy duo radio was ever graced with.

OUTER SPACE: Oh, boy. Lovers of the dreadful have an object for worship in this item. Now, we’ve seen evil-smelly-awful invaders bent on – ominous bass chord – Ruling The World zapped by seawater, volcanoes, bacteria, rockets, artillery, fission, fusion, fire, electricity, chemicals, earthquakes, other invaders and natural mutation, to cite a few improbabilities. Yog, you will be pleased to hear, is done in by sonic waves from bats. Yep, this incredibly malevolent, supremely cunning baddie is cheep-cheep cheeped to death. And that’s the best part…

Acting honors go to the bats.

And … are … you ready? … A new country and Western album just released by “Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen” entitled “LOST IN THE OZONE” (I believe that was the first chapter title in the film serial.) Some of the numbers on the platter must be “O-Zone River,” “The Wizard of Oze,” and “Nobody Oze the Trouble I Seen.”

B.F

ISSUE 1: EDITORIAL, CREDITS, INDEX, AND INDICIA

DESTINY DEMANDS:

Destiny has brought forth this first issue of The Monster Times, and the theme of the issue is Destiny at work. Hark work.

It takes a lot of back-hunching work to bring out a publishing sensation like The Monster Times – a tabloid monster newspaper of films, comics, fantasy and science fiction, news, reviews, previews and interviews – appearing every two weeks! But ol’ Destiny had a hand in it, and now we are the thankfully proud purveyors of the phenomenon.

The theme of Destiny is evident in our crypt-full of “firsts” as seen for instance in this first issue’s QUIZ:

Q: What did a fellow named “Max Terror” have to do with the first Vampire Film? (Page 4).

Q: Did you know that Dracula’s name was really “Irving?” (Page 5).

Q: Did you know the first Frankenstein monster had long hair? (Page 6).

Q: Who were the first blabbermouths to warn that people from the lost continent of Atlantis were secretly controlling us? (Page 11).

Q: What real-life 9-foot lizards inspired the first film appearance of King Kong? (Page 22).

Q: What 1936 film first accurately predicted World War Two, television and the atomic bomb? (Page 27).

Q: How often will The Monster Times be appearing on your newsstands? (see below).

…EVERY TWO WEEKS

Future issues of “MT” will theme themselves about Star Trek (next issue) Frankenstein, Flash Gordon, Werewolves, The War of the Worlds, Giant Bugs on the Munch, Edgar Rice Burroughs, the Ghastly and Great Horror Comics of the 1950’s, etc.

Plus a captivating cornucopia of creative creepish comix, pulsating posters, nerve-numbing news releases, freakish fan-happenings and wrenching reportage of general goings-on in the ever-expanding cantankerous cosmos of the 20th Century’s Popular Arts Renaissance.

INITIAL INSPIRATION:

“MT” – Monster Times! “MT” – Merely Terrific! “MT” – Morbidly Tasteful! “MT” – More Than Merely Timely, Mighty Topical, Modestly Trend-setting! For these are the best of times and the worst of times, these indeed quite are; THE MONSTER TIMES!

Destiny Demanded that The Monster Times came to be-And you, dear reader, have helped us fulfill our destiny by buying our premier issue. See you in two weeks!

“MT” – Many Thanks! Chuck

CHUCK A. McNAUGHTON: Almighty Editor. JOE KANE: Managing Editor. ALLAN ASHERMAN, PHIL SEULING, STEVE VERTLIEB: Associate Editors. BRILL AND WALDSTEIN: Art Direction. BILL FERET, DENNY O’NEIL, C.M. RICHARDS: Columnists. ALLAN ASHERMAN, JESSICA CLERK, DAVE IZZO, DEAN ALPHEOUS LATIMER, ED NAHA, C.M. RICHARDS, STEVE VERTLIEB, JIM WNOROSKI: Contributing Writers. JACK JACKSON: Contributing Photographer. LARRY WALDSTEIN: West Coast Correspondent. JESSICA CLERK: European Correspondent. RICH BUCKLER, ERNIE COLON, CARLOS GARZON, DAN GREEN, STEVE HICKMAN, JIMMY JANES, JEFF JONES, MIKE KALUTA, GRAY MORROW, B.B. SAMS, LARRY TODD, BERNIE WRIGHTSON: Contributing Artists

THE MEN WHO SAVED KING KONG from the cutting-room floor – page 1

NOSFERATU: the first Vampyr – but not the last! – page 3

DER GOLEM: Mud, sweat & tears that made Czechs bounce – page 6

BUCK ROGERS: His rockets roared thru a vacuum of space! – page 9

THE MONSTER MARKET: Is the Wolfman better than George Washington? – page 15

MONSTER TIMES POSTER BONUS! Frankenstein, by Berni Wrightson – page 16

THE GHOULS, A BOOK REVIEW: of Ghouls, by Ghouls and for $7.95 – page 18

MUSHROOM MONSTERS: An MT series on the ’50’s bomb Bomb movies – page 19

NOSFERATU, A GRAPHIC INTERPRETATION: Special comic strip treatment – page 20

THINGS TO COME: The most prophetic film ever made – page 22

MY TELETYPE & CON CALENDAR: Reviews, previews and news of fan conventions – page 18

MONSTER FAN FAIR: Where you can advertise for monsters and comix – page 31

Our premier cover has been specially rendered by ace science fiction illustrator and syndicated cartoonist (Big Ben Bolt), Gray Morrow. Gray found time away from his prolific chores to prepare this fantastic mini-poster of King Kong for our first issue.

THE MONSTER TIMES, No. 1 January 26, 1972, published every two weeks by The Monster Times Publishing Company. P.O. Box 595, Old Chelsea Station, New York, N.Y. 10011. Subscriptions in U.S.A.: $ 6.00 for 13 issues, outside U.S.A.: $10.00 for 26 issues. Second class mail privileges authorized at New York, N.Y. and at additional mailing offices. Contributions are invited provided return postage is enclosed; however, no responsibility can be accepted for unsolicited material. Entire contents copyrighted (c) 1972, by The Monster Times Publishing company. Nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Subscriber change of address; give 8 weeks notice. Send an address imprint from recent issue or state exactly how label is addressed.

Printed in U.S.A.