Famous Monsters of Filmland

[erik1925]

I was recently looking at several of my issues of Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine, and for a minute or 3, got very excited when I saw this CGC-graded (8.5) copy of #24 being offered on ebay for a BIN of $3,308.00!!    The seller is Stephen Fishler, the owner of Metropolis Comics AND proud owner of the only known copy of the Frankenstein 6 sheet. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/FAMOUS-MONSTERS-OF-FILMLAND-24-VF-8-5/372005443939?hash=item569d409963:g:wE8AAOSw5bFZXzhE



There is black writing on the "R" of Monsters (looks like $24) and some surface scratches or scuffs.

So I pulled out my copy. Based on the condition of mine - no writing, scuffs, spine tears, I was figuring it should sell for at least $3500.00 (I wish). Until I did a further search and saw that others are selling the same issue, in various grades, ranging from about 19.95-60.00

So I dont know if Fishler's price is a typo? Dunno. 

My dream of retiring and bubble burst...     


My copy (sorry for the slightly blurry pic):

[erik1925]

Ive been occasionally working to complete the run of my Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine collection, hat I began buying when I was about 12.

The magazine is still published today, but after issue #210, Forrest J Ackerman was not involved with the mag any longer as its Editor, so I'm looking to collect issues #1-210 only. This would include mags from 1958-1995.

Though not rare or even scarce, I recently picked up two of the more later issues, #200 and #207, that I didnt have. Tho more recent, #200 is already 25 years old (1993) and #207 is 23 years old (1995).

Both issues are in NM-M condition.

#200





#207

[erik1925]

Very excited to have this arrive today.

Issue #13 of Famous Monsters of Filmland, published in August, 1961. One of the issues becoming a little harder to find at a good price when in good-very good condition.

[okiehawker]

Very excited to have this arrive today.

Issue #13 of Famous Monsters of Filmland, published in August, 1961. One of the issues becoming a little harder to find at a good price when in good-very good condition.

Oh yeah,  keep tuning to that FM station, Jeff!  Okie

[erik1925]

Had another copy of Famous Monsters of Filmland arrive today. Another "hole" plugged scattered among the earlier issues of the collection.

This is issue #19, from September, 1962, with the cover art by Basil Gogos. 

(The slight glare is from the magazine sleeve that it's already been placed into).

[okiehawker]

Had another copy of Famous Monsters of Filmland arrive today. Another "hole" plugged scattered among the earlier issues of the collection.

This is issue #19, from September, 1962, with the cover art by Basil Gogos. 

(The slight glare is from the magazine sleeve that it's already been placed into).

Aged horror stars by Gogos! Great goobly goo, I love it, Jeff!  FM, FM, FM!!! 
Okie

[erik1925]

Another plug filled in the Famous Monsters collection.

This came today -- issue #82 from February 1971. Always seemed to be slightly less common, for some unknown reason to me.

[paul waines]

Just noticed this, nice going Jeff. I have a full set of FM up to when Forry left, including the Yearbooks, etc.

I loved filling in the holes, and got the last one I needed a few years back, which was number 6.

Jeff do you have the Monster Worlds that make up the 10 issues Forry used to jump the 70's to get to 100 quicker?

[erik1925]

Thanks, Paul. I have several of the MONSTER WORLD issues only. Those were always more on the back burner, as I focused on FM.

And I only just decided to look for FM "holes" again in the last month or 2, so Im sure any number of issues I still need has passed me by.

I'll fill in those MW gaps, too, as copies that look good (and also dont break the bank), pop up for sale, too.

[paul waines]

Great stuff Jeff.   I've never looked at prices for sometime, with getting my last one. Must have a look through on the Bay see how they are fairing..

I have been tempted to go for the ones after Uncle Forry left.. I have a couple, but not sure if it would cost me too much now.. may have a pick at them...

[erik1925]

Great stuff Jeff.   I've never looked at prices for sometime, with getting my last one. Must have a look through on the Bay see how they are fairing..

I have been tempted to go for the ones after Uncle Forry left.. I have a couple, but not sure if it would cost me too much now.. may have a pick at them...

Back in the '90s, I also picked up a handful of the post-FJA copies, (issues after #210). But I later decided that I wasnt interested in those copies. After issue #210, FJA was gone as editor, they owed him $ for work he had done on previous issues and then he was finally out of the pic.

Plus, from what Ive read, the new owner, Ray Ferry, was a bit of a sheister, too. He even wrote copy, trying to mimic the writing style of FJA, so that readers thought Ackerman was still with the mag.   

I decided to list that handful of those post-Forry copies (as well as a couple dupes I had of the earlier run) for sale on ebay:

http://www.allposterforum.com/index.php/topic,13089.0.html

[paul waines]

Quite right, yes, you've talked me out of buying any more of these newer ones.... Always in two minds, but it's Forry we grew up with, so will stick as I am..

Good luck with the sales.

[erik1925]

I'm very excited to have had this issue of FM arrive today, that was long on the "collection holes to fill" list."

This is issue #20 from November, 1962.

Great cover art of Lon Chaney Sr from LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT, by Basil Gogos.

(Slight glare is from the clear, comic storage bag the mag is in).

[okiehawker]

I'm very excited to have had this issue of FM arrive today, that was long on the "collection holes to fill" list."

This is issue #20 from November, 1962.

Great cover art of Lon Chaney Sr from LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT, by Basil Gogos.

(Slight glare is from the clear, comic storage bag the mag is in).

Nice going, Jeff!  You know, it looks like there is at least a bit of Gogos himself in that Lon Chaney image.  I had not noticed it before.  Okie

[erik1925]

Thanks, Okie. It was nice to be able to check this issue off of the list.

[erik1925]

I'm very excited to have had this issue of FM arrive today, that was long on the "collection holes to fill" list."

This is issue #20 from November, 1962.

Great cover art of Lon Chaney Sr from LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT, by Basil Gogos.

(Slight glare is from the clear, comic storage bag the mag is in).

Interesting to be able to compare the 1962 version of Chaney Sr, from LAM, and the more recent version Gogos did many years later. To see how his artistic style and technique changed and developed over the years. He's been gone a little over a year now, passing away on Sept 13, 2017.

[okiehawker]

Maybe Gogos was adding more senescence to his later Chaney painting, Jeff?! 

[erik1925]

Maybe Gogos was adding more senescence to his later Chaney painting, Jeff?!

I was referring to changes in his overall painting technique, not if he might have added some age to Chaney's vampire character. 

[okiehawker]

I was referring to changes in his overall painting technique, not if he might have added some age to Chaney's vampire character. 

Original version seems crazed to me, though the later version seems much more scary.  What do you think, Jeff?  Okie