Memo from the Makeup Dept:

This morning I had to root around for a comp card, and rediscovered a long lost treasure hidden in storage- this Fall 1999 issue of Makeup Artist Magazine...

 If you can find a back issue on the interwebs, I suggest you grab it at any cost! It features an outstanding thirteen page spread about the father of Universal monster makeup, the legendary Jack Pierce.

Arguably, his most iconic makeup was Frankenstein's monster. Interestingly enough, Karloff wasn't originally intended to play the role; Chaney was originally earmarked but Universal had difficulties negotiating with MGM, and he passed away in 1930 anyhow. Second in line was Lugosi, who was still riding a wave fame from Dracula. Pierce's first tests with Lugosi as the monster were rejected by studio heads and the photos are long lost to cinema lore. Lugosi ended up opting out of the film, since he felt the subsequent makeups obscured his face too much for his liking. (Fussy clients. I've had a few!!). Enter Karloff, the man with the 'good features' found working in the studio commissary. With Pierce's talent and Karloff's creative input,  the monster makeup was finalised in three weeks, and so pop culture history was made.

This got me thinking- guess I should do some posts about halloween makeup, huh?

Here's an idea: I'd like to post a tutorial near the end of the summer and do a give-away for the products I used- not the actual USED makeup- brand new of course! It can be for an original character, classic character, recreation, blacklight fx, pretty much anything. Drag makeup for the gents?- can do!! Leave a comment and help me decide!... ;)

Grab yer shovels- it's spring!!

Mmm, longer days, the first robin, and little bulbs peeking up from the newly thawed ground. It must be spring. Ready, set, PANIC!!!! Am I on target to finish all the 2011 props on time? Heh heh... not. even. close. And this is about to take up even more precious time:

This is our front garden a few summers back, and it's on the docket for a major facelift this year. Some material is failed to wow me last season, so we'll be switching much of it up. 



rare wildlife: the bottle wielding garden weasel

ornamental weeping cherry- this tree makes me so happy!

rhodo bed

As much as I love the garden, as much peace and serenity it brings, it's also a big ol' pain in the buttocks every October. We've tried to disguise it with landscape fabric, mountains of leaves, and fog, but the cornea burning streetlight directly in front gives it away every time... as well as kill any blacklight effects. Anyone have a creative solution??

Help this Technology Troglodyte... please!!!

Can anyone tell me how- and even IF, I can upload Hauntcast podcasts to my mp3 player (not an ipod)?? 10 points to anyone who can make sense of this for me!!!

Saturday mornings were when you'd wake up, race to the T.V. and tune in to watch super heroes and Bugs Bunny cartoons. But ONLY in Ontario, and at 6:30am, could you wake up to Vincent Price reciting his creepy opening monolog for the scariest...the most bone chilling...horrifying hour of pure locally produced fromage ever! Hilarious House of Frightenstein was a blast, and did I mention really, really campy?

Billy Van was the True North's answer to Lon Chaney. Well, okay, maybe the low-budget, 1970s kiddie sketch comedy version. Van played most of the characters himself, and obviously had a great time of it. Best part is that this series is available on dvd, and definetly worth checking out if you aren't already familiar.