COMPETITION! TWO SETS OF PC BOOKS UP FOR GRABS WITH TWO GREAT RARITIES!

I AM SURE MOST of you will know TWO of these books, the one other maybe not. The first published in 1986, 'Peter Cushing An Autobiography' was reviewed at the time as ' Peter Cushing discusses his childhood, his early acting career in films and on stage, his BBC television work and his renowned years at Hammer, all with literary wit and charm. While Mr. Cushing's humour will tickle readers' funny bones, the everlasting love story between Mr. Cushing and his dear wife Helen will touch their hearts' It is I am happy to say, all that and more . . 

THE SECOND AUTOBIOGRAPHY , 'Past Forgetting : The Hammer Years' published in 1988 picks up from the end of the first, covers lots of anecdotal material from his TV and theatre years, he does dip into 'Hammer Time' but many thought at the time... not enough. It's a good read and links with Volume one perfectly

THE THIRD BOOK 'Peter Cushing' was edited and published by Donald Fearney in 1996. It's Mr Fearney...and a whole raft of actors, directors and friends paying tribute to Cushing, with personal stories and impressions of working with Peter. Every page carries one or more very nice photographs, beautifully produced with large-format glossy pages. The tributes include contributions from Ingrid Pitt, Christopher Lee, Joyce Broughton, Francis Matthews, Charles Gray, Barbara Shelley, Freddie Francis and many more. 

THIS BOOK RARELY sits on eBay, but when it does it sells for £25 and up to £40, depending on its condition. This one is mint! You can enter this competition either by sending your entry via email to 'theblackboxclub@gmail.com' label YOUR entry 'BOOK COMPETITION' OR you can zip along to the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE and send your entry via the chat / message box! Any entries posted onto the post or the thread below the post, will be deleted and not entered into the competition.   Good luck Everybody! Have fun!

ABOVE: IF YOU ALREADY OWN the Peter Cushing autobiographies, if you haven't read them yet... have you CHECKED them??? READ HERE!

ORIGINALLY POSTED AND SHARED HERE  two years ago. ANOTHER great story, with a Peter Cushing Autobiography connection: READ HERE!

ONE MAN AND HIS PASSION FOR TOYS WITH THEATRES FULL HOUSE AND SOLD OUT!

PETER CUSHING was certainly a man of hobbies. MANY hobbies. Collections, books, stamps, coins, figures, soldiers, trains, cigarette cards, models .. and toys! After Peter's passing, it took two major auctions and several smaller charity sales, to clear a vast collection of passions. Toys were something he had a great love for and the older and simpler it was, the more he liked it 😀 Eighty years after it was purchased and given to him . . he still owned his first and most favourite toy... Piglet!

This weeks quote is taken from Peter Cushing: Past Forgetting' Weidenfeld and Nicolson 1988.

EVERY LITTLE HELPS! A SURPRISE AND A LITTLE EXTRA FOR YOUNG PETER CUSHING FAN AT TESCO'S!

FOR COLLECTORS of Peter Cushing material and any other full time movie fans, there is a preoccupation, that seems to kick in, anytime we are in town, out shopping or visiting a high street or mall. Personally, my first trip is into any book shop. I change spectecles and scan the shelves looking for something interesting. I can usually find something, but it's rarely as rewarding as where I venture off to next. The CHARITY shop! I have lost count of the many messages and stories I have received at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE from the many of you who have bagged a bargian finding hardback releases of the very popular Alan Frank 'Horror Movies' books from the 1970's and 80's. For some of us, these book were purchased when we were teenagers, read and read until the glue spine broke, pages fell out, and the book get lost and parted company, when we left home for Uni or to start our own families. Finding any of these books, after a sometime 30 or more years separation, is like meeting an old friend!

SO MANY CHARITIES now, have moved into our high streets in the UK. Every one of these stores seems to be packed and selling clothing, second hand shoes, small furniture and what my Mum used to call, 'Bric-a-brac'! All for a reasonable price, but it isn't any of those tidd bits, which brings me in. I am after BOOKS. If I can find any book that has a film angle, I'll pick it up, and if it isn't something I want to keep after reading, I'll take it back, for the store to resell. There have been a few days, that have resulted in a real find, but nothing as good a find, as JAKE CRACKNELL made a few months ago . . 

JAKE LIVES on the Isle of Wight. And on this day, Jake was shopping on his own, in his local 'Tesco Extra; supermarket. 'I was just doing some shopping by myself. Went to the check out, filled my bags and just as I was leaving the store, I noticed they had a charity book shelf. I could see they had quite a few books and they were all being sold for a donation. So, I put my bags down and had a look. As usual with these type of things, there were lots of romantic novels, which don't interest me. I am a huge Peter Cushing and Star Wars fan, so anything on that, would make me very happy.' says Jake. It was while he scanned the spins of the books and paperbacks, he spotted a spine that was dark blue, and unbelievably, he could see the name, CUSHING in gold lettering! ' I couldn't believe it, it was a hardback of Peter Cushing's Biography Volume One!' says Jake. 'I quickly picked it up, checked the dust cover for any damage. It was just like new! I couldn't beleive my luck! So, making my contribution in the charity box, I popped it in my bag and made off for home.' 

THAT WAS THREE MONTHS AGO. Just two days ago, Jake sent us a message. 'I was in Tesco's a few months ago, and was lucky to find a copy of Peter Cushing's autobiography in a charity book pile! I was very happy to find it and now have my own copy. A few days ago, I thought I would start to give it a read' Then Jake's message got very interesting. 'The book had been clumsily stacked with the others in the charity pile at the supermarket, and the dust cover flap had slipped and was folded in and over, holding the first few pages of the book. It was only when I opened it, and rearranged the pages and put the dust cover leaf back in place, I noticed something written on the title page in ink!! 'STEPHEN : 86 : Peter Cushing'. I am REALLY SHOCKED! Please could you tell me if this IS Peter Cushing's autograph? Many Thanks, Jake.'

JAKE HAD MADE the rare find of bagging a SIGNED Peter Cushing Autobiography, in a charity box pile! I KNOW Tesco's strap line slogan is 'EVERY LITTLE HELPS' and they provide what they say is a LITTLE XTRA' but this purchase was certainly, special with MORE than a little extra! I have often had messages from many of you who have found copies of BOTH autobiographies in charity stores, for a POUND or LESS! But, this is the first time, I have heard of a SIGNED one being found. I wrote back to Jake and told him, he was a lucky chap! It was indeed, Peter's signature. Well done! Jake is one of many younger followers to this society, who are just as interested in Peter's work and films as we are. What an amazing bit of luck to have found not just a copy of Peter's book, but a signed copy. For those of you, who this weekend have cruised your weekly trip into the charity shops and their book piles, have faith. It MIGHT just happen again!

CONTACT SHEETS CLOTHING AND SHEET MUSIC : CUSHING COLLECTABLES

#CushingCollectables : I have been asked quite a few times over the last few weeks, since we have themed our Wednesday's on, what is out there worth collecting Cushing Fan..if you were so inclined! Well, here are three selections, which might interest you.

#CUSHINGCOLLECTABLES: CONTACT SHEETS. Some people like to collect cinema posters, some press kits and books, some photographs front of house sets from cinemas...and then there are the contact collectors. Contact sheets are also from the age of paper, and hard copy photographs in press kits. Now everything can be placed on a disc or sent digitally.

INFINITELY rarer than most posters or front of house stills, contact sheets were made by placing three strips of negative 35mm film roll, onto 10 x 8 photographic paper, then exposing and developing just like a conventional photograph. They would be usually 10 x 8 colour or black and white sheets with 12 small photographs, that the studio photographer had taken during production and the studio press office would send onto the films distributor, for use in exhibition or publicity... they are rare because only a small amount were printed. From these sheets, the distributor would select maybe 50-100 -300 or depending on budget 30 -40 stills, and then the studio or press office would process those stills into 10 x 8 photographs for promotion use by the distributor....the distributor would then package these stills into 'free press kits' aimed at magazines and print, and kits that could be purchased by cinema and exhibition.

SOMETIMES a film's still photographer would sell the rights to all the exposures he had taken, if he was freelance and working per contract on a particular film. If he was staff all the pics became the property of the studio that employs him or her! Having said that, quite a few photographs, kept copies or masters of negatives, some of these are still being sold by the surviving photographers today! The next step up in collecta-bilty in visuals is TRANSPARENCIES and we'll be looking at those next Wednesday!

NEXT, Clothing! Not everyone likes the idea of buying second hand clothes, even if they DID once belong to Peter Cushing... but some collectors do. Many items of Cushing costumes, and personal clothing have come up for sale and auction over the years, waistcoats, smoking jackets, trousers, shoes and hats, have all been bid on and bought since Peter's passing in 1994.

HERE ARE TWO ITEMS that recently came up for sale... and the sold, for just over £300 = $230 US. Two quite modern designed, light wear jackets and two very nice items of luggage...and on the left, Peter at a signing wearing one of those items. All the items came with certificates of authenticity...which is a must in anything like this, where the item aren't bespoke.

THERE ARE QUITE A FEW people out there with whole suits, with shirts and ties that came from Peter's personal wardrobe. As to any of this being valuable, it's questionable... as with anything, it's only worth what someone would be prepared to pay for it! Nice though!

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PRIZES GIVEAWAYS BOXSETS BLU RAYS DVDS!! LET US HELP YOU MAKE YOUR HALLOWEEN 2015 YOUR BEST ONE EVER!

For those of you who still remember our HALLOWEEN 2014 COMPETITIONS PRIZES, you'll know we like to treat our friends and followers to only the best...and THIS YEAR will be no exception. Not only are we going to be launching our traditional HALLOWEEN COMPETITIONS, but we are also kicking off a whole raft of GIVEAWAY PRIZES and ONE HOUR COMPETITIONS on the weekends, right across all our websites. Here at petercushingappreciationsociety.com  and our Official Peter Cushing Appreciation Society Facebook Fan Page AND supplement website THEBLACKBOXCLUB.COM.

It's going to be a GREAT OCTOBER and another FEARSOME HALLOWEEN with PRIZES TO DIE FOR!! Look Out For Details!

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'BOOKS DRAW ME TO THEM LIKE STEEL TO A MAGNET!' : PETER CUSHING AND HIS LOVE OF BOOKS PART TWO

The following interview was first published in 'Book and Magazine Collector' magazine issue 31, in October 1986. The interview is presented here in two parts, this being part two. The original published feature had very few images, I have added several new images through out the feature to provide some further visual detail to the original text.- Marcus Brooks

Q: Which are, or were, your favourite old second-hand bookshops?

Peter Cushing: Any and all that I can find of this vanishing breed! Books draw me to them like steel to a magnet!

Q: What was your most unusual buy?

Peter Cushing: I once purchased five second-hand books in an Oxfam bookshop; and when  I got home, found six in my bag! Awaiting for me was a letter from my dear friend, Peter Gray asking me if I'd keep my eyes open for a copy of a book he'd been after for many years - a biography of Cardinal Newman by Maisie Ward. Upon inspecting my purchases, lo and behold, the 'odd-man-out' was that very volume! Quite an extraordinary coincidence, I think you'll agree: having paid well over the odds for my original choice of five - for such a worth-while charity - I felt this windfall was meant by some higher authority, and had no compunction in sending it off to the amazed and delighted Mr Gray, feeling the book had found its rightful home and owner. The assistant must have inadvertently picked it up from amongst the clutter on the counter, and put it in with my selection.

Q: How do you feel old books compare to modern publications, in quality, feel and beauty?

Peter Cushing: I don't really like comparisons, because what is liked today for any special quality it may possess will be sought after in the computerized years to come. There are many splendid and beautifully produced books today; but ideally speaking, I do prefer those pre 1914 - 1918 War products, lovely leather or calf bound volumes, or cloth covered with attractive decorations imprinted on the boards - and the print used for the narrative. Indeed, they had and still have a 'feel' about them - but I'm not sure when or where, or even if, nostalgia takes over here again as far as I'm concerned. There certainly seemed to be less printers' errors in those far-off days!

Q: How would you describe your main collection, and which novelists do you most like to read and collect?

Peter Cushing: The majority of my books are concerned with knowledge, which I am always seeking - encyclopedias of all descriptions abound about the house: books on nature, British social history, the theatre, period costume, toys, posters, old bound catalogs issued by Gamages, the Army and Navy Stores, etc, cigarette card collecting, paintings and artists, books of quotations, autobiographies, reference books and so on.

But I do also have a large number of novels and here I must admit that I do prefer those of the older generation. Since the lapse in censorship, there is too much that offends my senses today - in books and in films and on television. Not enough is left to the imagination of the beholder, and too much emphasis is put on the wrong sense of values, which i think is great pity, and bad for the morals - and morale - of the younger generation. No doubt I'm 'square' and had better get down from my 'soap-box', and answer your questions as to who are my favourite authors: A.J. Cronin, Howard Spring, Elizabeth Russell, E.M. Delafield, R.F. Delderfield, Nevil Shute, Daphne Du Maurier, Compton Mackenzie and Somerset Maughan.

Q: If you were stranded on a desert island, what seven books would you like to have with you?

Peter Cushing: My dear fellow, this is almost impossible to answer coherently! To start with, I would be the most miserable of men away from England and home, so that I doubt I could even read - or want to! And the books I'd have with me would match the ever-changing, and prevailing, mood I might be in at the time! The same with a choice of records - those Desert Island Discs! I can only hope that the crate to hold my choice will be big enough to convert into a canoe, so that I can row back to Blighty immediately! But I must do my best, and choose - after much heart-searching - the seven (magnificent!) you've allowed me.

I take it The Bible and Shakespeare are over and above that number, as they were with the late Roy Plomley? So that'll make it nine in all. And - here I go making conditions - written on a piece of paper to use as a bookmark, two of Rupert Brooke's poems, Rupert Brooke's 'The Soldier' and 'The Old Vicarage, Granchester'. I must have these: the Complete Works of Sir John Benjeman; Edward Seago's Catalogue Raisonne (not published yet, so you'll have to bide yout time before casting me away!) R.C. Sherriff's play 'Journey's End' (not the novel, so I can I have one more?) 'The Sheperd' by Frederick Forsyth' - this is only a novella, so can this and the previous one be classified as one book?? 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' and 'Through the Looking-Glass' (in one volume) by Lewis Carroll; Elizabeth Russell's 'The Enchanted April'; and 'My Farm Book' by Charles Browne - my mother gave me this for Christmas 1925, when it was first published, and I've adored it ever since.

I also must have, as supplements: 'A Georgian Love Story' by Ernest Raymond; 'President Indicative' by Noel Coward (my beloved wife and I read this to each other - a chapter each!) ; 'The Birds of the British Isles and their Eggs' by T.A. Coward, illustrated by Archibald Thorburn. And I refuse to go anywhere with bound copies of the complete set of 'The Theatre World' and 'Play Pictorial' - to include the covers and all the advertisements!

And when nobody's looking, please slip in a copy of the 'Oxford Book of Quotations'. As I should wish to bring all the books back with me, please insure that the crate is large enough to take them...plus me!

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ON THE RECORD : PETER CUSHING ON SCRIPTS, BOOKS AND TENDRE DRACULA

MEMOIRS AND A LIFE IN FILM: TWO PETER CUSHING BOOKS ON THEIR WAY FOR APRIL AND MAY 2013