The Masks of Famous Monsters - Issues # 9-13

Welcome to the seventh installment in The Masks of Famous Monsters Series. Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine was an absolute treasure trove of early mask history. By combing through the 191 issues published between 1958-1983, it's possible to gain a good understanding of the decades of evolution and history of Don Post Studios and Topstone monster masks. The eventual goal of this series is to catalog and archive each monster mask appearance in the pages Famous Monsters.

Compared to the previous issue 8, numbers 9 and 10 offered little in the way of definitive monster mask history. The same three-page full-page Topstone ads that were introduced in previous issues ran in both issues 8 & 9, along with the half-page Zacherley and "Me Worry" mask ads.

Page four of issue #10 gave readers a glimpse of a Topstone Frank and Screaming skull enjoying a good read...

With the release of issue 11,  the half-page combination Zacharley and Me Worry? mask ad was gone. Instead, the Me Worry? mask was now included in with the Topstone monster masks on page 55 in place of the Mohawk Indian mask...

And what had become of the Zacherley mask? It was nowhere to be found. Perhaps the mask had sold out, or run into production issues, as it would not be seen again. This same ad structure would follow with issue #12. Issue 12 would also give readers a glimpse of a Topstone Mummy enjoying a good read...

Issue 13 would prove to be a more significant marking point in the history of monster mask ads featured in Famous Monsters. It was in issue 13 that the Topstone Ghoul ad would make it's Famous Monsters debut on page 84...

Topstone Ghoul Mask Ad

In addition, one of of my all-time favorite Keith Ward character designs, the Horrible Melting Man would also make it's Famous Monsters debut on page 85...

Topstone Horrible Melting Man Mask Ad

Another Famous Monster first that issue #13 is responsible for is this T-Shirt add featuring the Shock Monster. This Topstone mask illustration by Keith Ward would be used in various forms and on different t-shirts and apparel for decades to come. And it all started here...

That does it for another round of the Masks of Famous Monsters. Look for another look at future issues next.