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Retro Cover Gallery #3: Horror Comics.

In the 1970s there were comics and then there were Mature comics that were placed a little higher up on the rack. The covers were a little bit more lurid and violent and I was too scared to buy them ... that's if I could reach them. The covers were great though. Here's a selection of some Australian reprints (I think). Interesting that traditional looking vampires were still quite popular in horror.

[glenhannah]

Remembering: Batman 66

The classic TV series was much anticipated in Australia and these covers and clippings give you some idea of the interest surrounding it.

Above: Batman and the Boy Wonder even scored a pin up in popular TV Wee

Above: Flash Forward to 1981 and Adam West is keen to star in the new Batman movie but gets a nasty rebuff. Interesting that it was in the planning stages in 81 just a few years after Superman. The film version with Michael Keaton in the role (and not even a cameo for West and Ward) made it to the screen in 1989.

Below: 1983 TV Week Letters section

Bonus: The Classic Life Magazine Cover shot.

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Retro Records: James Bond on a Budget!

In the 1960s, into the 1970s and a little bit of the 80s, there was a strange phenomenon called Budget LPs. These were the cheap "covers" albums for those who couldn't afford the originals or just saw the album cover and thought...good enough!. They were popular here in Australia... and plentiful.

Budget Bond soundtracks like those below could sometimes be faithful to the John Barry originals but they could also go in wild directions and go jazz or Latin or funky or lounge with the music. You never quite new what to expect. The album covers too could look like bad paperback fiction as they tried to emulate the world of 007.

Does anyone own one of these albums? Tell us about it!

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Retro Cover Gallery #2: Crime Pulp

The golden years of crime pulp fiction produced some glorious covers.

A selection of images I've come across lately.

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Ask Uncle Ernest a question about classic horror or your retro cult favourites. This AI bot that I created will answer in a creepy voice and suggest movies for you. Start a conversation with Uncle Ernest today...or rather, TONIGHT!

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Flashback: 1960s Television

Australian TV magazines from the 1960s. Colourful covers but TV at the time was black and white.

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Australia's Parade magazine.

Australia's Parade magazine was published from the mid 1940s to 1981 and was one of many general interest publications to adorn the magazine rack. In the 1950s and especially in the 1960s it sported eye-catching illustrated covers that made it look a bit like a pulp fiction magazine. In the 1970 it converted to photograph covers as it tried to keep up with the times. Parade featured true life tales, often scandalous, as well as profiles and biographies on famous names and unknown pioneers. Stories about historical events were also common.

You can read an interesting critique of the magazine at this blog

Parade magazine – know your ancestors

and see another gallery of covers here

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Vampire Cinema. Bites 11 to 15. More rare movies for you to consider getting your teeth into.

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Retro Cover Gallery #1

I've always like the illustrations from old magazines. Pulp magazine covers from the 1930s to 1950s get a lot of fan love, but other magazines could could also have interesting and striking covers. A selection of recent finds.

Radio Times from 1923-24 from Britain has a family friendly look

Cute cover for McCall's magazine, a women's magazine with a long publication record - 1873 to 2002. This cover from 1918. I couldn't find out anything about the artist unfortunately.

Another American magazine for women was Redbook (1903-2019). This dog friendly cover is from 1942.

New Idea is an Australian women's magazine that is still running. Founded in 1902 it's undergone many changes. This cover from 1949 features Elizabeth Taylor. Is this an illustration or a treated photo?

I couldn't find out much about this Australian women's magazine. It may be a British or US import or Australian edition of an overseas counterpart. I like the simplicity of the main images but it's a shame they cluttered up the covers with smaller pictures

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Vampire cinema. Bites 6 to 10. Did you know about these?

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1978 Technology.

Flashback to the era of VHS, Super 8 films, cube flash cubes and Kodak film stock. Look at the features on that VHS player. It can record for up to 3 hours. I recall when 4 hour VHS tapes came out and you could actually record TWO movies on a tape. Later came Long Play (LP) a feature that could extend the recording time of a 4 hour tape to 8 hours. Do you have memories of this equipment!

Prices are Australian Dollars. See the Kangaroo!

Those early VHS players were big beasts weren't they?

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New trailer for The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee

This looks very good indeed. Coming in 2024!

[glenhannah]

Pulp Action!

An article from 1941 about the radio and pulp character The Shadow. It's a great spread! For the life of me though, I can't recall where I got this or from what magazine. Perhaps, Only The Shadow Knows (wink)

Bonus material: Just some pulp action covers that I like. Great art!

Those Shell Scott detective stories are a hoot by the way!

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Vampire Cinema: Bites 1 to 5. Have you seen these?

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The Author went to prison for writing this saucy sea story.

I spotted this small collection of banned and controversial books at Melbourne's Immigration Museum. Was familiar that PEYTON PLACE, PORTNOY'S COMPLAINT, THE NAKED LUNCH and the EC comics being controversial but didn't know about Mickey Spillane and what the heck was LOVE ME SAILOR?

Apparently it was quite the scandal in the 1940a and an indecency court case resulted in a fine and short stay in prison for the author.

You can read about the trial here and read a positive review of the book here. A brief look at the author and his work here. Copies of the book are still out there from antiquarian book sellers if you want to sail this particular ship.

[glenhannah]

Flashback: Apocalypse Now

Because, Francis Ford Coppola is back in the news with his new film, let's flash back to 1979 and the Classic Apocalypse Now. In Australia, the movie was given a this promotional pictorial.

Bonus article: From the same issue, a report on Marlon Brando's "dark side" and claims made by his ex-wife.

[glenhannah]

Nostalgia Trip or History Lesson? Step Inside the JOY Video Store Recreation

Forget dusty VHS tapes and rewinding malfunctions! The Immigration Museum's new exhibition, JOY, has brought a blast from the past to life with a full-scale recreation of a 1980s video store.

Step inside and if you lived through that era, prepare for a serious flashback. Remember those Friday night trips, browsing aisles packed with colourful cases to find the perfect double feature?

But JOY isn't just a nostalgia trip. There's a whole generation who've never known the thrill of the hunt for a hidden gem on VHS. This exhibition offers a unique window into a bygone era of entertainment.

The Immigration Museum is in Melbourne (Australia). If you can't make it, enjoy these photos I took.