All Human Beings Are Eligible!

The 1964 ad seen below, widely printed in comic books and in Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine (of course), promoted Aurora's popular line of Universal Monster Model Kits with a frighteningly fun contest. It was actually diabolically clever for entrants had to purchase (that's right, purchase necessary for this contest) an Aurora Movie Monster Model Kit and create (Kreate?) a Kooky Konstruction using "a little nerve and a lot of imagination." Young monster makers were encouraged to "Build a bizarre Frankenstein" or "Put together a phrightful Phantom," with such terrible touches as real wires and bolts for the Frankenstein monster. As you can see from the ad, the grand prize was an apperance in a monster movie to be made in Hollywood, and one wonders in which monster movie the winner appeared, though we can safely assume it was a Universal movie. (Just in case you are tempted to take up the "dare" by entering the contest yourself, sorry—it came to "a horrible end" at midnight, on April 30... April 30, 1964, that is.) This was a pretty cool contest, and was held as a pretty cool collaborative effort between Aurora Plastics, Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine and Universal Studios. What better way to promote the Aurora Monster Model Kits than a trip to Hollywood to appear in a monster movie? After all, these are movie monsters. (Be warned—more Universal monster movie madness to come this month, so be on the lookout!)

Trick Or Treating (But Mostly Tricking) With Mr. Mxyzptlk

Here's a fun Halloween comic-book treat... or is it a trick?  Cover Artists Todd Nauck (Penciler) and Larry Stucker (Inker) created this cover art for the December, 1998 issue of Young Justice (#3), with Robin masquerading as Batman, Superboy (punk version) costumed as Superman and Impulse as the Flash. (Cute, right?)  Imagine their horror when the doorbell was answered not by the friendly neighborhood grandmother-type with fresh baked cookies but instead Mr. Mxyzptlk. (Don't say that out loud!) If there was ever a perfect character for Halloween mischief, it's ... well, you-know-who. Check back here at Tulgey Wood for more Halloween tricks (and treats) all month.

You Can Never Have Too Many Monster Models

This scarily spectacular comic-book ad from 1964 promoted the new additions (namely King Kong and  Godzilla) to the already popular line of Aurora Monster Model Kits (the first, the Frankenstein Monster, was released in 1961 and it was a, well, a monster hit).  If you look closely you will note under the feet of Godzilla not Tokyo but the Universal Pictures copyright notice. This is a clue as to why these monster models are as cool and as collectable as they are—they are not cheap knockoffs but rather fully authorized replicas of the most famous movie monsters ever. (Of course, neither Godzilla nor King Kong were Universal properties but that's beside the point.) Check in here at Tulgey Wood for more Universal Monster madness in these October days leading up to Halloween itself...and on the big day I'll have a particularly fun Universal Monster-related surprise.

Trick Or Treat With That Twickster Wabbit

Halloween month is here, so like pieces of candy corn scattered through a treat bag, Tulgey Wood will be featuring some comic-book eye candy throughout October...including but not limited to Bugs Bunny. To start off this spook-tacular, here is a hauntingly good painted cover (front and back) from Bugs Bunny Halloween Parade #1 (1953).

A Vision Of Walt's Final Vision

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the opening of Epcot (then called EPCOT Center) on October 1, 1982. It was a realization of Walt's final dream (or at least as close as Disney could get without Walt). The booklet below which celebrates in lavish style the "Dawn of a New Disney Era" was handed out to all Disney cast members. The dedication, which was actually read a few weeks later, was designed as a tribute to the man after whom the Walt Disney World Resort, the home of Epcot, was named:

To all who come to this place of joy, hope and friendship, welcome.

Epcot Center is inspired by Walt Disney's creative genius.  Here, human achievements are celebrated through imagination, the wonders of enterprise, and concepts of a future that promises new and exciting benefits for all.

May EPCOT Center entertain, inform and inspire.  And, above all, may it instill a new sense of belief and pride in man's ability to shape a world that offers hope to people everywhere."

E. Cardon Walker, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Walt Disney Productions, October 24, 1982

For an in-depth look at the creation of Epcot be sure and check out Micheal Crawford's extensive multi-part article on the D23 website.

Celebrating The Anniversary Of A New Disney Era...

Thirty years ago today, Disney fans everywhere were looking forward to a new tomorrow...and a new way of looking at tomorrow... (See tomorrow's post for a futuristic look back thirty years...)

Wonderful, Wonderful Color! (Color! Color! Color!)

Today a new article written by me was posted on the D23 website. Featuring many colorful photos, the exclusive online piece is an in depth look at the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color TV series that was colorcast from 1961 through 1968. The continuation of the Disney anthology hour made its debut on September 24, 1961, which was the start of the 1961-62 TV season... and as we are about to start the 2012-2013 season, meaning this is still the 2011-2012, technically we are still celebrating the 50th anniversary of  Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color. Anyhow, to celebrate the show and its golden anniversary here's a marvelous two-page advertisement from the September 1961 edition of Reader's Digest, promoting the soon-to-debut show. Enjoy (in case you are wondering that's the Wonderful World of Color adaptation of "Hans Brinker" on the RCA television screen, and be sure and check out "The World is a Carousel of Color," written by Jim Fanning at D23.com.

Christmas in July 2012

That's right, only six months from now, will be Christmas Day...and to get you in a merry mood in the middle of this hot summer (cooling thoughts will cool us off, won't they?) here's the cover of The First Christmas (in New Super Three-Dimension! Every Page in Panoramic 3D!), published in 1953 by Fiction House. The awesome art was drawn by acclaimed science-fiction artist Frank Kelly Freas, who did quite a bit of comic-book art early on, as well as many Mad and paperbook book covers, and is now perhaps best known for his Hugo Award-winning sci-fi art. This is by way of a preview for the incredible "Christmas in 3D" celebration that will be swinging and ringing your way all through December here at Tulgey Wood. Be sure and stop by then. In the meantime, Merry Christmas in July!

Walt Disney's Original "Newsie"

In light of Disney's newly Tony Award-anointed musical Newsies (and Jeff Kurtti's article about Walt and Newsies), I thought it was an opportune time to mention that Walt Disney showcased his own "newsie," Gallegher, on Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color. Though Gallegher wasn't a newsboy like the characters in the Broadway show, he was a copy boy on an 1890s newspaper who wanted to be a reporter—and in fact proved himself a headline-hunting scribe better than his elders in every episode. And his trademark cap was very much in the Newsies tradition. The photo above gives a glimpse at the detailed sets, props and costumes created for this elaborate TV series. For those who haven't already seen it, you can "read all about it" in the D23 article I wrote about Walt Disney's "Gallegher," starring the always-excellent Roger Mobley. 

Newsies News: A New Online Jeff Kurtti Feature

Since we can never get enough of Disney historian and author Jeff Kurtti, here's some news that's (not so) coincidentally about the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Newsies. As many of you probably already know, Disney Insider has just launched a weekly feature by Disney historian/author Jeff Kurtti. Entitled The Wonderful World of Walt, this will be a weekly must-read for all Disney fans. The first installment, centering on the Tony Award-winning Newsies, was just posted. What does Newsies have to with Walt, you ask? (Well, some of you may be asking... many of you already know there is a connection.) Read this all-new online article and find out, and be sure and check out The Wonderful World of Walt by Jeff Kurtti each and every week.