#rondo hatton

[hotvintagepoll]

Rondo Hatton (In Old Chicago, The Pearl of Death)—[editor's note: Hatton was submitted to this contest with language I wasn't comfortable repeating. However, I still wanted to include him in tribute to his career as a character actor, so I wrote the following propaganda myself.] Rondo Hatton was a character actor of the 30s and 40s, most recognized for playing henchmen, creatures, and scary fellows. A veteran of WWI and journalist, Hatton developed acromegaly as an adult, which gradually changed the shape of his head and face. While reporting for The Tampa Tribune, he met with a film producer and subsequently moved to Hollywood to pursue a career. While the roles he was given were limited and based heavily on his appearance, Hatton is notable for the steady gravitas he brings to each part and a legacy that has impacted media ranging from Doctor Who to Scooby Doo. To learn more about Hatton, there's a good summary of his career and personal ethos in Character Actors in Horror and Science Fiction Films, 1930-1960 [link, page 100].

Dennis Hopper (Easy Rider)—An odd little man who often played villains. Directors were not fond of him but Vincent Price was his friend. He became a respected photographer as well as a painter and a poet. He was married five times, including to Michelle Phillips for eight days. He was an interesting little human.

This is round 1 of the contest. All other polls in this bracket can be found here. If you're confused on what a scrungle is, or any of the rules of the contest, click here.

Rondo Hatton:

Rondo Hatton appears from 39:41-40:22 as a henchman.

Dennis Hopper:

[atomic-raunch]

One of the great Gale Sondergaard’s last starring roles before being blacklisted by the fanatical Right. I’ve heard people talk about this movie and wonder what she’s striking back from, the answer of course being that this is an extremely loose follow up to 1943 Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce classic, The Spider Woman. Also starring the inimitable Rondo Hatton, although he is not reprising his Sherlock role as the Hoxton Creeper.

[weirdlookindog]

THE CREEPER

[oldshowbiz]

House of Whores

[ilovedamsels1962]

Rondo Hatton in House of Horrors (1946)

[mudwerks]

(via The Grim Gallery: Exhibit 4341)

Rondo Hatton (April 22, 1894 - February 2, 1946)

[zippocreed501]

Actors whose names sound like pulp novel characters:

(10) Rondo Hatton

[lil-doodles]

Drawlloween 2024 Day 2! Today we have Rondo Hatton! Rondo was a journalist, actor, and another real cutie (he suffered from acromegaly which eventually resulted in his death at only 51). They recreated his look for the movie The Rocketeer to great effect. This drawing was created using India ink, a #2 brush, and 100lbs. vellum bristol paper. Join me again tomorrow for another Halloween drawing! All of the drawings that I am posting this month will be available to purchase on my website www.deadcatcomix.com All drawings are 8"x10"

[schlock-luster-video]

On August 12, 1948, The Brute Man debuted in Mexico.

Here's some new Rondo Hatton art to celebrate!

[horrororman]

Remembering Rondo Hatton (April 22, 1894 - February 2, 1946).🕯

#RondoHatton

#horror

[contentabnormal]

22nd Annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards!

The ballot for this year's Rondos has been released. If any of you should vote for Content Abnormal contributor Josh Ryals in the write-in category of Best Fan Artist (Linda Miller Award) PLEASE let us know so that we may thank you!

Vote For The Rondos HERE

[hotvintagepoll]

Rondo Hatton (In Old Chicago, The Pearl of Death)—Rondo Hatton was a character actor of the 30s and 40s, most recognized for playing henchmen, creatures, and scary fellows. A veteran of WWI and journalist, Hatton developed acromegaly as an adult, which gradually changed the shape of his head and face. While reporting for The Tampa Tribune, he met with a film producer and subsequently moved to Hollywood to pursue a career. While the roles he was given were limited and based heavily on his appearance, Hatton is notable for the steady gravitas he brings to each part and a legacy that has impacted media ranging from Doctor Who to Scooby Doo. To learn more about Hatton, there's a good summary of his career and personal ethos in Character Actors in Horror and Science Fiction Films, 1930-1960 [link, page 100]. [editor's note: I wrote this propaganda myself—if someone wants to write a better one PLEASE message me and I will use instead]

Terry-Thomas (It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, Tom Thumb, The Green Man)—a cartoon of himself. A hissing gold toothed shorts-wearing cartoon who I love dearly and cheer for every time he turns up. He would never win any hotness competition but he’s MY weird little man!!!

This is round 2 of the contest. All other polls in this bracket can be found here. If you're confused on what a scrungle is, or any of the rules of the contest, click here.

[additional submitted propaganda + scrungly videos under the cut]

Rondo Hatton:

Hatton appears from 39:41-40:22 as a henchman, and is referred to by name by Tyrone Power.

Terry-Thomas:

[mariocki]

House of Horrors (1946)

"Listen closely, Clarence my lad, I have penned a deathly masterpiece of barbed invective."

"Ah, don't kid me, Mr. Ormiston, you don't use a pen. I saw you do it on the typewriter - and not very fast, either."

[weirdlookindog]

Rondo Hatton as The Creeper in The Brute Man (1946)

[oldshowbiz]

The Brute Man (1946)

[chernobog13]

Rondo Hatton schemes to make life difficult for the Iron Skull in Amazing-Man Comics #16 (October, 1940).

And compared to the Iron Skull, Rondo was Adonis.

This is the Iron Skull:

He was created by Carl Burgos, who also created an obscure character named the Human Torch for Timely Comics.

The Iron Skull initially did not have an origin story when he first appeared in the very first issue of Amazing-Man Comics (which, oddly, was numbered 5; there were no issues #1-4). He just showed up at the scene of a crime and started mopping up crooks left and right.

Later it was revealed that the Skull was a soldier gravely injured during World War ll, which was interesting because America had not entered the war at the time the story was written. The soldier's damaged flesh and bones were replaced with metal by a kindly doctor, making the soldier super-strong and bullet-proof. Oddly though, the doctor gave the new cyborg animé cat eyes, and completely forgot to give him a nose.

Don't believe me? Here's the Iron Skull's full origin from Amazing-Man Comics #7 (November, 1939).

Written and drawn by Carl Burgos.

Yeah, that's all the explanation anyone every got as to who he is and how he came to be.

The series took place in the future of the 1960s, when the war - some of which had been fought in America - finally came to an end. The country was rebuilding itself, but crime became rampant, which is why the Ron Skull - so-called because of his noseless appearance - became a crime fighter.

By Amazing-Man Comics #11 the series had jumped ahead to the early 1970s. War broke out in Europe again, and an unnamed nation was instigating terrorist attacks in the States. The Iron Skull now concentrated his efforts on tackling the spies and saboteurs trying to bring America down.

The Iron Skull skipped issues #12 & 13 of Amazing-Man Comics. He was back with issue #14, but gone was Carl Burgos, replaced by Sam Gilman. Also gone was the futuristic setting and any reference to the events of the previous stories. The Iron Skull moved to New York City where, somehow, in the very next issue he could mentally communicate with the District Attorney.

From Amazing-Man Comics #16. Story and art by Sam Gilman.

The Iron Skull continued to smash crime and war saboteurs in now contemporary, pre-War New York until his strip ended in issue #22. He then moved over to Star and Stripes #2 (May, 1941), along with most of other characters from Amazing-Man Comics, which was cancelled after issue #26.

Things progressed quickly for the Skull in his new book. In issue #3 he got a costume, albeit a simple pair of swim trunks. In issue #4 he inexplicably gained the ability to fly. And in issue #5 he became completely bald. However, as compensation the Iron Skull got his true superhero costume (although he just looks like an employee at your local S&M dungeon):

Yes, that's a skull and crossbones tattooed on his chest. Because apparently he just spends his whole day dressed like that, and only dons the cape when he's going into action.

See? I told ya!

Sadly, the Iron Skull didn't get to enjoy the costume for very long. Star and Stripes #6 was the last issue because Centaur Publications went out of business the next month.

The DC hero Steel, not John Henry Irons but the World War ll superhero who later became Commander Steel, has a similar origin.

When I first read Steel #1 back in 1978 I thought he was just a WWll-version of The Six Million Dollar Man, with his body being rebuilt with the 1940s equivalent of bionics. But now that I've delved into the Iron Skull and his one panel origin, I would say Steel is much more similar to him than Steve Austin (whether or not Steel creator Gerry Conway intended that).

Steel did not, however, develop telepathy or the ability to fly. Nor did he, thankfully, decide to run around in leather boy shorts.