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HORROR 101: THE A-LIST OF HORROR FILMS AND MONSTER MOVIES VOL 1
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HOME - INTRO - REVIEWS - FEATURES - MYSPACE - BLOG - STAFF - CONTACT HORROR 101: THE A-LIST OF HORROR FILMS AND MONSTER MOVIES VOL 1
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"Old monsters never die, no
matter how long ago they were shot."
Some may ask why we don’t have someone like Dick Smith or Jack Pierce in here before someone whose name is barely known. Well, that is the main reason for why we are inducting him into our Tombs of Fame. Blaisdell worked for AIP in the early 50’s, on classics like INVASION OF THE SAUCER MEN, SHE-CREATURE & IT CONQUERED THE WORLD. He was paid very little money, and usually had very little time to get the job done. Once again, I know that last statement describes most effects people that are working on low budget films. But I think that Blaisdell had to be one of the first. While Jack Pierce was working back in the 30’s for Universal, I tend to think he had the time and money to be able to do what he wanted. If not in the beginning, definitely after FRANKENSTEIN came out.
Blaisdell happened onto working on his first film for Roger Corman after Corman screened his latest quickie, THE BEAST WITH A MILLION EYES for the ‘money people’. When the ‘money people’ weren’t too happy that the movie didn’t contain a beast with a million eyes, or any beast for that matter, Corman was scrambling to find someone who could help him out. Corman contacted Forrest Ackerman, who put him in touch with Blaisdell. Ackerman was Blaisdell’s agent, and had been selling his artwork of to different sci-fi magazines. He knew of Blaisdell’s interests in model making and put him in touch with Corman. Blaisdell was paid $400 for his work on THE BEAST WITH A MILLION EYES, with ½ of that going for material. And that was just the beginning of Blaisdell work with Corman and later with American International Pictures. Like the future monster makers after him, Blaisdell went through it all. From designing a creature to the specs that were agreed upon by one boss, only to be told to change it by another boss. This happened on INVASION OF THE SAUCER MEN, where the design was taken from discussions with Jim Nicholson of AIP. But after building the large-headed Martians, was told that the heads were too big, and to make them smaller. That wouldn’t be the last time that would happen. The same thing would happened again on designing the creature for IT! TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE.
And what about when AIP wanted another creature for their film VOODOO WOMAN, but couldn’t afford to have him build another creature suit. So they told him just to re-design his costume from SHE-CREATURE. And at one point during the filming, the creature was to have ‘acid’ poured on its leg. Like most of his creatures, Blaisdell was the guy in the suit. And when this ‘harmless’ chemical called Brett Smoke hit his leg, it started to burn. Just another day.
I guess my goal with this entry is that it will educate a few more people out there about not only a forgotten talent, but one that really didn’t get the recognition in the first place. Paul Blaisdell’s creations will live on, so I guess that is one good thing. So break out those copies of INVASION OF THE SAUCER MEN, IT CONQUERED THE WORLD, or even DAY THE WORLD ENDED, and raise a toast to Mr. Blaisdell. Editor's Note: We would like to thank Randy Palmer, who had written an excellent book on Blaisdell, entitled PAUL BLAISDELL: MONSTER MAKER. We would highly recommend picking up if you are interesting in that type of work. It will give you a great idea of what to expect. And also thanks to Bob Burns. We 'borrowed' the above photos and artwork from his book IT CAME FROM BOB'S BASEMENT. Mr. Burns worked with Blaisdell on many of his movies, and was very good friends with him and his wife.
PAUL BLAISDELL FILMOGRAPHY THE BEAST WITH A
MILLION EYES - 1955 |
Paul
Blaisdell…who’s that?
Blaisdell came
up with some pretty memorable creatures from these movies, but nobody seems to
know who he was. Even the beginning horror fans seemed to know who Jack Pierce
was, or Dick Smith, or any of the dozens of modern day effects artists like Tom
Savini, Rick Baker, Steve Johnson or Rob Bottin. But ask them who Paul
Blaisdell was and most likely you’ll draw a blank. But show them a picture of
the mushroom creature from IT CONQUERED THE WORLD or the Martians from INVASION
OF THE SAUCER MEN, and they will recognize those creatures. So that really is
the reasoning behind his induction here. We would like more people to be aware
of the great work this man did, and what he created out of his garage out of the
simplest of items. And for what’s its worth, maybe give him a little of the
credit that he didn’t receive when he was still alive.
Or there was the
time when after building the creature for IT CONQUERED THE WORLD, which according
to the script, would not move, but just sit in a cave. And then being told by
Roger Corman that it was not only going to move around, but fall over when it
died. Just another day.
After all the his
work on the movies, it seemed like Blaisdell and buddy Bob Burns were going to
move into the publishing business, putting out their own magazine called
FANTASTIC MONSTERS OF FILMS. But after only 7 issues, a mysterious fire at
their printers put that that dream to rest, losing both of their savings and
collection of movie memorabilia.