Like many monster kids, I grew up with Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine. I loved the Captain Company ads in the back of this magazine. They showcased so many cool monster toys and collectibles. One ad in particular always drew my attention; it was the one for Don Post Studios masks. My favorite has always been the Grey Timberwolf. At the time, I couldn’t afford one. Each month, all I did was look at the ad and dream.
After I graduated high school and got a job, I found myself with some disposable income. I started buying masks from companies like Be Something Studios, House Of Horror Studios, Distortions Unlimited, and of course, Don Post. Unfortunately, I did not appreciate at the time what Don Post was offering in design. I also overlooked the quality. By the time I truly appreciated it, they were cutting costs at every opportunity. Don Post masks became known for paper thin latex pours that would not hold their shape.
Their inconsistent paint jobs also became the norm. Consequently, people started to look elsewhere for their mask fix. This change happened largely because Don Post outsourced their masks to China in the early 90’s. They aimed to cut costs but sacrificed quality. Masks that would once survive for 20 or more years would now start to rot within a year. Keep in mind though that many companies were also doing this, cutting costs and quality at the same time. It was the only way they could compete and it almost destroyed mask collecting as a hobby. More often than not what looked great in a catalog looked completely different when you actually received it.
Thankfully I located some of my favorites on the collector’s market. I found it interesting that masks from the 70s and early 80s held up better. New designs bought in the late 90s and up until 2012 did not fare as well. I still have Don Post masks from the early 80s. They look just as good now as they did when they were produced. They have little to no rot. However, masks produced in recent years soon rot and fall apart. I just wish I had the foresight to buy more of the original designs. I regret not purchasing more when they came out, including the Universal Monsters re-releases.
It was a sad day in September 2012 when it was announced that Don Post Studios had closed. It was such a blow to the mask-collecting community. They were the ones that started it all. At the time, they were making an effort to improve their offerings. They worked on both new designs and quality. They also re-released some of the classics that had made them famous in the first place. It was unfortunately too little, too late. Despite all of this, Don Post Studios will go down in history. It is one of the greatest mask companies that ever existed.
Two years have passed. Now, we have one of the greatest books produced about that company. It is called The Illustrated Guide To Don Post Studios. When this book arrived the first thing I thought of was that you could kill someone with this book! It is that big! At just under 500 pages and measuring 8-1/2″ x 11″ this book is chock full of nostalgia and fun. I quickly glanced through the book and found myself smiling often, commenting to myself “I remember that!” I have always loved things that remind me of my childhood. This book captures that feeling better than anything I have ever experienced before!
I can’t say enough good things about this book, not only in the amazing photos but in its honesty. It is even explained why Don Post opted to go with thinner latex pours for their masks in the 80s. There was a shortage of latex due to AIDS and a high demand for latex condoms and gloves. This forced prices to increase drastically. Lee Lambert frequently presents the original catalog images. He also shows the master used in the catalog photos. Then, he compares them to those sold to the public. Sometimes they were good, sometimes not.
You will never find a more detailed or in-depth biography and this labor of love is worth every penny! Overall, the book is a quick read. The amazing photographs are eye candy. They will cause you to come back to this book again and again. I ordered a second copy. There is no doubt in my mind that this book is going to get a lot of use. It will wear down quickly.
Don Post Studios was a great mask company and so deserving of such a tribute! They laid the groundwork for every company in existence today. If it wasn’t for Don Post Studios, the lives of us monster kids could’ve been a lot different. I want to express my gratitude to Don Post Senior and Don Post Junior. Thank you as well to Lee Lambert for such amazing work! Though this book is out of print, copies occasionally show up on eBay.
Don’t forget to read the other blogs in my BASEMENT BOOK SHELF series.