Famous Monsters of Filmland #54 cover painting of the Martian from INVASION OF THE SAUCER-MAN by Ron Cobb 🔍 Click to enlarge

Famous Monsters of Filmland #54

Mar-69 • Ron Cobb
Inside This Issue

A young Ron Cobb paints the saucer-man invader for Issue #54 — years before his designs would help shape Alien and the Star Wars cantina. The issue is a fan’s dream of access: “Dear Mr. Lee” fields questions for Christopher Lee, the Man of a Thousand Faces speaks from beyond in “Lon Chaney Sr. Talks… To You!,” and King Kong stomps back for an encore.

Cover Spotlight

The bug-eyed saucer man from INVASION OF THE SAUCER-MEN in paint — AIP's most lovably absurd alien invader, forever immortalized on an FM cover.

Roll The Film

Captain Company mail-order ads (FM 54 - Dracula's Dragster, Iron-Ons, Magnajector)

Ads and Backstage 0:16

The Midnight Reel — all 59 reels →

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Contents

  • Filmonster News
  • Dear Mr. Lee
  • Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
  • Fantastic Frankensteins from France
  • Lon Chaney Sr. Talks... to You!
  • Behind the Ape Ball
  • King Kong Returns
  • The Men Behind the Monsters
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Recurring Departments

  • Mystery Photo
  • You Axed for It
  • Fang Mail
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Films Featured

Invasion of the Saucer MenDr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeChandu the MagicianKing KongOuter Limits
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Personalities

Christopher LeeLon Chaney Sr.Verne Langdon

☠ Collector's Notes

The séance issue: “Lon Chaney Sr. Talks… To You!” resurrects the Man of a Thousand Faces in his own voice, while “Dear Mr. Lee” opened a mailbox straight to Christopher Lee. Issue #54’s conceits are pure FM — intimacy with legends, living or otherwise.

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Related Issues

From the Crypt-Keeper's pile — the Monster Squad
Famous Monsters of Filmland #51 cover painting of Oliver Reed in CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF in multiple colors by Basil Gogos #51 Aug-68 Famous Monsters of Filmland #25 October 1963 cover with King Kong in red letters four stills and drawing from film #25 Oct-63 Famous Monsters of Filmland #42 cover painting of Frankenstein Monster fighting the Wolf Man by Ron Cobb #42 Jan-67 Famous Monsters of Filmland #17 May 1962 cover painting by Basil Gogos of Elsa Lanchester from Bride of Frankenstein #17 May-62 Famous Monsters of Filmland issue #180 January 1982 cover featuring uncredited painting of Karloff's Frankenstein Monster and photo from The Grim Reaper #180 Jan-82 Famous Monsters of Filmland #87 November 1971 cover painting of The She-Creature by Ron Cobb featuring horror monster themes #87 Nov-71 Famous Monsters of Filmland #39 June 1966 cover painting by Vic Prezio of boy monster from Frankenstein Conquers the World #39 Jun-66 NEXT ISSUE → Famous Monsters of Filmland #55 cover uncredited painting of snake attacking people from LAND OF THE GIANTS #55 May-69

Discussion

FM #54 — March 1969

The bug-eyed saucer man from INVASION OF THE SAUCER-MEN in paint — AIP's most lovably absurd alien invader, forever immortalized on an FM cover. Inside: INVASION OF THE SAUCER MEN, DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE, CHANDU THE MAGICIAN, and KING KONG, and Christopher Lee, Lon Chaney Sr., and Verne Langdon.

What's your memory of FM #54? Got a copy? Got a favorite bit? Let's hear it. ⬇️

☢
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