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THE ART OF BASIL GOGOS

During the late fifties and sixties, baby boomers like myself experienced the unforgettable exposure to the classic horror films that were being aired for the first time on television. Imagine being ten years old and seeing THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN or DRACULA for the first time! The Horror boom wasn’t confined to television either: in theaters and drive-ins, films like HOUSE OF USHER with Vincent Price or the HORROR OF DRACULA with Christopher Lee were in the process of creating a second wave of horror films with new horror stars. Studios like American International in Hollywood and Hammer films of England were established as the foremost exponents of horror films throughout the world.

To compliment this phenomena, magazines like ‘Famous Monsters of Filmland’ and ‘Castle of Frankenstein’ hit the newsstands to bring fans and films together in a life altering experience that cast a permanent spell on horror fans everywhere.

The covers of ‘Famous Monsters’ were for the most part real throat grabbers’ thanks to one man….the amazing artist known as Basil Gogos. His paintings for this first and foremost monster magazine began with Vincent Price as Roderick Usher and continued throughout the sixties and seventies. It would be ‘Famous Monster’ number 12 in 1960 that would bring Basil’s art to my little ten year old’s eye, a spectacular yellow painting of Oliver Reed in full flood as the werewolf in Hammer films CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF. I spotted this cover from across the lobby as it glared out at me from the stacks in a hotel’s newsstand. Having just seen the film, I was in monsterkid heaven to discover not only ‘Famous Monsters’ magazine, which connected all monsterkids to the source of our collective obsessions, but to experience the art of Basil Gogos through these Norman Rockwell like paintings of Vincent Price and all the current icons – it was like finding that pot of gold at the rainbow’s end.

Years later I would have issue #130 of ‘Famous Monsters’ dedicated to me. Inside was a photo with Vincent Price captioned “Dapper Del Valle with pal Dr. Phibes” The cover was you guessed, it a Basil Gogos rendering of Peter Cushing from DRACULA AD ’72, the second to the last Dracula film from Hammer studios. Having the Gogos cover was an honor beyond what the editor had done for me inside!!

Vanguard Press has honored Basil Gogos with a jaw dropping book filled with the paintings and artwork of this remarkable man whose talent goes far beyond the work he excelled in with horror personalities. I highly recommend picking this volume up while the supply lasts!!

You may reach Vanguard Productions at vanguardpub@att.net or contact J. David Spurlock at 732-748-8895. Also check out the Vanguard website for their other artbooks to add to your library.

Thank you Basil for making all our monsters “Famous”

UNTIL NEXT TIME, MAY ALL DREAMS BE IN 70MM, OR BETTER YET HIGH-DEFINITION.

Editor’s note: I’m happy to promote the latest exhibition of photos from David Del Valle’s archives.

Mexican horror films have been hidden from American Cinema long enough. Although influenced by American gothic tradition, these films possess quite an antique soul that is uniquely Mexican. They reflect the Mexican heritage of pagan ritual against the dynamic of Catholic theology

The aesthetics to be found in the striking images in this exhibit create a new perspective, reflecting the cultural attitudes in Mexican cinema; including the surreal comic book style poster art, which adds yet another level of appreciation for these films.

The Del Valle Archives is once again collaborating with Drkrm. Gallery to present these bizarre Mexican genre images in all their flamboyant glory. The photographs from this period take on a life of their own, revealing a poetry one could never find in the films themselves. So join us for an excursion into the midnight world of the Aztec mummy, masked wrestlers, doll people and busty Vampire women as we travel through the misty countryside to ‘The Haunted Hacienda’.
“Haunted Hacienda’ will have its opening reception from 7pm until 10pm on Friday, May 5th, 2006. The exhibit will run through June 3rd 2006. The location is 2121 North San Fernando Road, Suite 3, Los Angeles, 90065. You can email us at www.drkrm.com or visit our website: www.marchesacasati.com.
Phone: 323-223-6867.

CONTACT:
John Matkowsky
2121 N. San Fernando Road #3
Los Angeles Ca 90065
323-223-6867

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