The Movie Monster Game (Epyx, 1986)

I actually thought I owned, and knew about, every video game featuring Godzilla that was released in America....I was wrong! I do own them all, now!

Enter Epyx's THE MOVIE MONSTER GAME, made for the Commodore 64 back in 1986.  This game was actually licensed, and even though the title broadens the plot a bit, you can tell by the glorious painting on the cover that Godzilla is the star.

Although the King of the Monsters is the headliner here, you could also choose from parodies of other monster-archetypes that Epyx included, such as "The Glog," which is basically a big blob, but with a face. There's even a giant wasp, decades before Megaguirus, and a joke of the Ghostbusters marshmallow man...or maybe the Michelin tires man, now that I think about it.

I remember Commodore 64 as something I would play at a friend's house--he had the set-up where you would have to upload games from a cassette tape before you could play anything.  As a child, I remember thinking my Atari was much more convenient!

Still though, I'm going to track down an emulator so I can play this game. Ah, floppy disks...I remember you well, but I don't miss you that much!

Some of My Personal FAILs... (part two)

They simply don't make toys like they used to.  We have fancier, better sculpted action figures, but made of cheaper materials.  These three FAILs are my personal ones, and are items I have seen in stores just over the last several weeks! There is a huge headless problem going on!

I especially like the Star Wars one--it looks like Dooku cut his own head off with his lightsaber!

They've Done It To Me AGAIN!

One of the most anticipated items of the year in my house was this upcoming Hasbro "Classic Avengers" three-pack.  We had seen the pictures from previous Toy Fair, and were waiting until it finally hit stores.  I knew I would have to buy at least two to placate everyone.

When I saw them begin to hit Ebay, I knew it was time...imagine the thrill to find ONE left at the local Wal-Mart. Well, the thrill didn't last long!

If you will reference my recent FAIL post, you'll see the Captain America fiasco...the one with two identical hands.  Well, YOU explain the above photo to a very disappointed 7-year old Hulk Maniac!

Great Caesar's Ghost, Hasbro, is there no Quality Control anymore???? I remember a time when things were made in America!

Ironically, in both cases of same-handedness, it was impossible to see this until the product was opened! Captain America's shield was covering his wrong hand, and as you can see here, Hulk's left arm is covered up in the packaging:

Maybe this is how somebody at the factory gets their jollies....I don't know.  Now I'm just waiting to find another one. Sigh.

The 1969 TRUE Report on Flying Saucers!

I found this cool Flying Saucer magazine from 1969 (by Fawcett) on a recent thrift store trip.  Check out this interesting diagram, which I scanned below.  It is supposedly an Air Force chart for different shapes and styles of reportedly-viewed flying saucers! Cool.

Rocky & Bullwinkle Card Game (Ed-U Cards, 1962)

Random Godzilla Goodness

A few random items today. Finishing up the lobby cards (for now), we have a Mexican lobby card for GHIDRA THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER:

Below is a photo, horrible as it is, of a poster from Turkey.  This is one of my favorites, and it's for INVASION OF ASTRO MONSTER (which is the only English on the poster). The King Ghidorah is truly stunning.

Below, the pressbook for YOG, MONSTER FROM SPACE (known internationally as SPACE AMOEBA). Pressbooks were sent to movie theaters to supply them with newspaper ads for reproduction, articles to run in their local papers, ideas for publicity campaigns, and also to show lobby cards and posters that were available for ordering. Often, they were cut to pieces, but luckily this one is intact! "SPEWED FROM INTERGALACTIC SPACE.....!"

Finally, another of my favorite pieces, a Godzilla (and building!) salt and pepper set.  Believe it or not, it's an officially licensed Toho product! Those crazy Japanese; I love them dearly!

Crusader Rabbit Frame-Tray Puzzle (1950's)

Now here's something you don't see every day...check out this awesome 1950's frame-tray puzzle that I found last weekend.  It's Crusader Rabbit, which, in case you don't know, was not only the first (arguably) animated series on television, but also the first Jay Ward series, and a precursor to Rocky and Bullwinkle! I knew as soon as I saw it that I had to buy it.

Kenner's 100 Vintage Star Wars Figures

Last weekend, I was re-organizing the top shelf of a display case I have, which contains a full set of vintage Kenner Star Wars action figures.  I was putting them on risers made of clear acrylic (which are actually spice racks/cabinet organizers, and are sold at Container Stores and other such places), and I was amazed how dust can get around the tiny crevices at the doors on both sides of the case. I stopped to take this picture before replacing them, and it got me thinking--I think there should be a list somewhere for folks who own complete sets.  Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there are thousands of folks who do, all over the world.  After all, they made zillions of Star Wars figures, but how many ended up lost, stolen, or sold? I'm proud of my set, and very blessed to say I haven't ever had to sell them, although I had a couple of near-disasters where I thought I'd have to! Anyway, if you are with me, and want to join the "Kenner 100 Club*," drop me a line.  I would think some photographic proof would be appropriate, so don't forget to send a picture.

*There's a bit of argument sometimes as to exactly how many there were, because of some variables, but I always get exactly 100 every time I've counted (and I'm not counting paint variations here). Some people don't count Blue Snaggletooth, some don't count Yak Face (because he wasn't technically sold in the USA), and I've even seen some disregard the Max Rebo Band 3-pack, but good grief, they are all Kenner Star Wars Action Figures.

Godzilla Lobby Cards (part three)

Here are a couple more American lobby cards from the greatest film ever made.

Mr. T and the Hang Glider Adventure (CBS Toys, 1984)

And then, there's this.

Yes, Mr. T had an animated series about this time, and yes, apparently that's what they were trying to capitalize on here...I can't decide if it's laughable or commendable that Mr. T actually doesn't speak in this "adventure," and the narrator just talks for him.  It's probably for the best, seeing as how their only option would've been to try to hire a sound-alike, and it would've been even more hilarious.

The moral here goes like this: "Kids, remember that stunt men who fly hang gliders in movies are specially trained to do this. Never, never simply grab a random hang glider you see and leap off of a cliff."

I don't remember a problem in the 80's with children wandering onto movie sets, but hey, there you go. Public service performed, and I pity the fool who tries it.

The real cringe-worthy item here is the B-side, where instead of an adventure, we are treated to a song.  Not just any song, mind you, but a sappy, over-dramatized, downright maudlin ode to imaginary friends.  I think.  Sounding like the theme to a late-70's ABC "After-School Special," or perhaps elevator music you  might have heard in Liberace's house, this one is sure to be heard once by you--just because you have to--and never, ever played again.

Godzilla Lobby Cards (part two)

More lobby cards for your viewing pleasure today:

Poor Angilas gets ambushed in this one from GIGANTIS, THE FIRE MONSTER (1959, U.S. version of GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN).

Here's an American lobby card from the either maligned-or-praised GODZILLA VS. THE SMOG MONSTER (Me, I LOVE it! In fact, this one is very high on my list, and in my top five favorite Godzilla movies!)

An exciting Mexican lobby card for PLANETARY TITANS, er, excuse me, GODZILLA VS. MEGALON.  By the way, that's another film that's both loved and hated (and also in the "love" category for me)! Mexicn lobby cards seem to very often have the picture-within-a-picture format.

And finally today, we have another American card, for KING KONG ESCAPES (1968). Nope, it's not a Godzilla movie, but it IS a Toho Classic, directed by Ishiro Honda, and includes a Gorosaurus death scene at Kong's hairy hands, as well as a Sea Serpent sometimes mistaken for Manda!

Empire Strikes Back Lobby Card (1980)

The Sphinx re-opens once again, this time I have an oddball entry for you. This is a lobby card for THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, and it's a really cool semi-off-screen shot of the Rebel base hangar on Hoth. I love this picture--there are lots of neat details to see. It almost quallifies as a behind-the-scenes shot: is the person tending to the astromech droid, or setting up a prop for filming? There's a Treadwell droid and lots of other cool details to see as well. Also, there's an interesting bit in the fine print that says something along the lines of "This lobby card must be destroyed"! Indeed!

Godzilla Lobby Cards (part one)

And now we come to the Lobby Card area of the Collectibles Storage-Unit that I call a house. On this part of our tour, we will look at a few vintage Godzilla lobby cards. All of these are framed, which explains the matte around them. This first one is from my favorite film, DESTROY ALL MONSTERS. It's a non-movie paste-up that Toho was good at doing, and they got seven monsters AND a UFO in one scene!

Here's a Mexican lobby card for GHIDRA THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER. Mexican lobby cards are prized for their unique artwork and vibrant colors, as well as being primers in Spanish for the uninitiated. You can keep your Mona Lisas and your one-eared Van Goghs...this is one of the most beautiful works of art I've ever seen.

You may know it as MONSTER ZERO, but it's INVASION OF THE ASTRO MONSTER in some parts of the world. This Mexican lobby card is not only gorgeous, and not only includes the scene of kaiju being transported in UFO bubbles, but it contains the word "vomitando" which, in my childishness, cracks me up endlessly.

Godzilla Movie Poster Collection (part two)

Time now for part 2 of my gallery of original American Godzilla movie posters!

Pardon the string bass, but here is the stunning artwork for what I daily refer to as my favorite film of all time, 1968's monster slug-fest, DESTROY ALL MONSTERS. Where else can you see eleven, count them, ELEVEN of Toho's finest in one place? One interesting thing about this poster is how some of the monsters are spot-on, and some are sort of improvised--namely Godzilla and Minya! Squint, and you will notice blood dripping from Angilas' claws!

I always knew this film as GODZILLA vs. GIGAN (1972), but here in the U.S. it was released as GODZILLA ON MONSTER ISLAND, which is actually now the rarer title card. I like the comic-book-paradigm of making one character huge and grabbing others, but as the movie features an amusement park with a giant observation tower in the shape of Godzilla, this art works both ways!

And here we have the much-maligned GODZILLA vs. MEGALON from 1973. Here each monster is perched atop one of the Twin Towers, which is a complete misleading of anyone heading into the movie theater. Helicopters swarm around the foes like flies, and the air is filled with explosions. I am not ashamed to say it, I love this film, and I love this poster.

Yes, there are better Godzilla films, but it's fun! And that's what's missing from many of the later films.

Skipping all the way up to GODZILLA 2000, we find the last Godzilla film to play in American theaters, and the first poster in my collection that is double-sided (with a reverse image on the other side, since posters are intended to be displayed in light boxes.)

Next time around, we'll look at some various lobby cards from all over the place.

Godzilla Movie Poster Collection (part one)

And now for another article on the various Godzilla collectibles I have found over the years. I have several original, theatrical Godzilla movie posters framed throughout my house. Not only are they historical, very cool, and full of great art and graphics, but I love the thought that these actually were used in movie theaters across the US when these films were released.

This 1959 poster for GIGANTIS, THE FIRE MONSTER is the oldest one I own. Sure, it's a far cry (and four years) from GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN, but it's the only way we got the film in the United States. I love the red-on-black, almost woodcut imagery. Sure, they would be the best of friends later, but when they first met, Godzilla and Angilas went to the mat!

Another stark image, this time black-on-yellow, is this poster for 1964's GHIDRAH THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER. Ah, the first appearance of my very favorite Toho monster. At least, my favorite of Godzilla's foes. This is one of the all-time great Toho films, the best part being where Mothra convinces Godzilla and Rodan that they should work together to defeat Ghidrah. The defeat was so humiliating that Ghidrah had to change his name from the shame of it, although all he did was add a letter "O," as if no one would notice.

And then there was the summer of love in 1967, and the psychedellic, pop-art feel of the times was perfectly expressed in the poster for SON OF GODZILLA. ("Roar!") This one is really a conversation piece, and everyone that sees it can't help but really like it. Godzilla's hands are huge, and the jungle girl swinging on the vine is almost invisible because of the interesting layout--as you are looking at the poster, she just emerges all of the sudden. Movie posters as a rule are 27"x41", but this one was an inch or so bigger all the way around and had to be custom-framed.  This one is actually Toho's International poster for the film, as this film went straight to TV in the USA.

More sloppy photographs of great posters to come!

Some of My Personal FAILs (part one)

FAIL as a meme of the Internets makes me laugh. In fact, I guess I will never get tired of it. Probably because we are all surrounded by so much FAIL in everyday life, and it just serves as some sort of philosophical reminder that we will never attain perfection.

As for my own self, I have submitted a few of my real-life encounters with FAIL to the official source, and I thought I would share them here (in no particular order of FAILness):

1) Vending Machine Card Game FAIL

This is one that I found in a deck of cards I bought out of a vending machine in a pizza parlor several years ago. What I don't know is whether I still have the game or not, someplace. This one always cracked me up, and actually predates the FAIL phenomenon.

2) Disgusting Moldy Cheese FAIL

So they open a brand-new store in my town, and I rush in to see the newness: the shiny aisles, the clean floors...and this cheese on the very front of the peg. Bleah.

3) Toy Tag FAIL

And in that SAME store, many months later, I found this in the dollar section. I noticed the other day that it has since been corrected.

4) Website Calendar FAIL

And the other day, while trying to get into a website I use at work, I was greeted with the revelation that it was indeed the year 1 B.C.

5) Action Figure FAIL

This is my particular favorite. Packaged with his mighty shield covering his other arm, we know now what Captain America has been trying to hide all these years by carrying it! The painful scorn of being born with two left hands. Word is, the new Hollywood movie is going to use CGI to portray this, as they had no luck with casting calls.

But seriously, I have heard of quality control, but this is ridiculous. Imagine your seven-year-old opening this in the backseat while you are trying to drive:

"Dad, something's wrong with his hand!"

"I'm driving; let your brother fix it!"

"Yeah, let me...uh....um..."

DIE, KAIJU! volume 2: BIG G CEREAL (Leaping Fox)

Boba Fettucini - Godzilla, King of the Breakbeats (2006, Mon Mothma)

I recently discovered this one, and I had to dig deep to find a store that still had a vinyl copy for sale (which is how DJ "battle records" are released, which is what this is, so no CD's apparently). This is a newly opened vinyl copy, ripped on the first play, enhanced, and ready for your enjoyment.

This is a short (both sides are 16 minutes each) but entertaining foray into Godzilladom--which is a land I sort of live in--with ample quotes from KING OF THE MONSTERS, GODZILLA'S REVENGE, with a little MONSTER ZERO and TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA thrown in, as well as a few other surprises. I also scanned the back cover and the record label, which is really cool.

Nothing makes my day more than a knowledgable Godzilla fan's audio creation, and I hope you will enjoy it too! If you do, you are my kind of people.

UPDATED UPDATED LINK: Up From the Depths!

Tom Lehrer Discovers Australia (1960) and Songs By Tom Lehrer (1966 remake)

POST #100: So, you have the REMAINS OF TOM LEHRER boxed set, and you also have my 5-disc remastered version of TOM LEHRER RARITIES (available on this very blog)...what else are you missing to "have it all"?

Just this. This is a 2-for-1 package made by Neilytones, which Mr. Neilytone himself was kind enough to send to me, and I indicated to him I would be sharing it with the Lehrer fans who trapse through here! If you have any of their other releases, you know that they are always excellent, and this one continues the tradition.

These are the two rarest Tom Lehrer albums out there. You can find an LP of his 1966 remake of his first album, SONGS BY TOM LEHRER, but it's never been officially released on CD, and it never will, since Mr. Lehrer considers them inferior versions of these songs, what with little lyric changes and updates he made here and there.

However, one album you will NOT find in used shops, online auctions, or bit-torrent download sites is the second part of this disc. TOM LEHRER DISCOVERS AUSTRALIA was a live album recorded just for that country, from his tour there. While the songs are pretty much the same--and half of them were included on the AMERICAN version of TOM LEHRER REVISITED*--the introductions and monologues he did especially for the very responsive Australian audiences are purely delightful, making this essential to own.

Indeed, I was going to incorporate these albums into my RARITIES set, but as they stand on their own so well, and as this is such a high-caliber release, there really was no need!

*Not to muddy the water, but the official CD release of TOM LEHRER REVISITED was the Decca one, recorded entirely at MIT. If this makes your head hurt, don't worry. With DISCOVERS AUSTRALIA, you have it all.

The good news is, these files are entirely FLAC! Link:
Tom Lehrer Discovers Australia/Songs By Tom Lehrer (stereo)