It’s day 22, and we’re starting the last full week of the 2011 Countdown to Halloween here at Branded in the 80s. So far there have been 266 different masks from all sorts of different companies like Don Post Studios, Death Studios, Distortions Unlimited, Topstone, and Tony Gardner Studios. Today we can add the cinematic icon of horror, Universal Studios to that list with this 1991 advertisement that I pulled from issue #102 of Fangoria…
Though I like some of these classic monster interpretations, in particular the Frankenstein’s Monster and the full body Mutant mask and costume from This Island Earth, I think it’s kind of weird how off-model the molds are on these offerings. Considering these were officially licensed masks, I’m surprised that they weren’t more accurate to the original designs by Jack Pierce (looking like the Lon Chaney Wolfman or the Boris Karloff monster.) I know that Universal was starting a brand new push for their stable of monsters in the early 90s (with Pizza Hut Promotions, coloring books, lunch boxes, and appearances in their theme parks), so I wonder if the idea was to try and create a whole new look for the creatures to try and make them more hip for the kids? Either way, I wish I had, had the $400 bucks for the Metaluna costume…
Anyway, come back tomorrow for more mask tomfoolery, and if you’re looking for a ton of Halloween content all through the month of October, make sure to stop on by the official Countdown to Halloween site and check out the list of participating blogs for 2011. You’ll be glad you did!
