CALLUM MCKELVIE : THE THREE ROLES THAT MADE THE CAREER : RARE GALLERIES

THE THREE ROLES THAT CREATED the career of Peter Cushing! A NEW series of features from CALLUM MCKELVIE starting very soon! The RARE photograph of Peter in this promo banner marks probably one of Cushing's best known roles. Over at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE we asked, which THREE roles would you personally list as being Cushing's TOP THREE? Lots of interesting answers and many suggesting the THREE we have chosen  to focus on, in this new  weekly feature! Feel free  to visit the PCASUK page and join in!

#TOOCOOLTUESDAY: THE MODEL PERFECTIONIST : NO SMALL TIME HOBBY

#TOOCOOLTUESDAY! I have made this #BANNER using a series of promotional photographs that were commissioned by the #HAMMERFILMS  press office, during the publicity campaign of their fourth #FRANKENSTEIN film with Cushing, 'Frankenstein Created Woman' with Susan Denberg. It's true, while the good Baron was very great at making 'Monsters', Cushing was quite an accomplished and expert model maker. 

EVERYTHING FROM his model soldiers, used in his #WARGAME past-time, model aircraft, ships, boats, houses and theater's . . . particularly theaters. After Cushing's death all of his model work, was auctioned to help pay his DEATH TAX bill..a REAL horror story... of the eight or nine that still existed, displayed and fully functional in the attic studio workshop at his Whitstable home, some are now in the 'eat you heart out collectors' MEGA COLLECTION, of huge Cushing fan and director, Guillermo del Toro Gómez. Each of the theaters, consisted of a proscenium arch, scenery, tabs, curtains, actors, props and a fully operational lighting system, complete with lightning board. 

I HAVE LABELLED  the photographs, with close up images, so you can see the amazing eye for detail and authenticity that Cushing really had. Take a look at the handmade GOBO light, with different colored gels and working selection motor. The lighting positioned at the rear of the set in photograph C, a shows that colored lighting gel, was positioned over the lamps, so that the light source on the model stage, depicted daylight! I have no idea just how much the theaters sold for, but from his telephone bidding on the day, it's known their was huge interest in the theaters, and the 'lolly' that went under the hammer, was big bucks.

IF YOU LIKE what you see here at our website, you'll  love our daily themed posts at our PCAS FACEBOOK FAN PAGE.  Just click that blue LINK and click LIKE when you get there, and help us . . Keep The Memory Alive!. The Peter Cushing Appreciation Society website, facebook fan page and youtube channel are managed, edited and written by Marcus Brooks, PCAS coordinator since 1979. PCAS is based in the UK and USA    

CHA-CHA STAGE FOUR AT BRAY A CONE OF SILENCE AND RADIO DUSSELDORF

PETER CUSHING makes his entrance as Capt. Clive Judd in #CONEOFSILENCE (1960). Also in the cast, Michael Griag and Bernard Lee. Lee would turn up again in 1974 as Tarmutin Hammer's #FRANKENSTEIN and the Monster from Hell...Cushing's final hurrah as Baron Frankenstein.

#THROWBACKTHURSDAY: An eclectic mix of subjects in this week's #TBT feature. One of the panels here below, features a radio play that Peter Cushing worked on in 1953. Almost forgotten, and maybe tucked away in a vault somewhere? MORE #TBT #PeterCushing next Thursday...!

#THROWBACKTHURSDAY: 1953... and Peter Cushing is at a radio station in Dusseldorf taking part in a broadcast of the P.N. Walker- Taylor play, 'Portrait by Peko' transmitted on August 31st. The play had been broadcast live by the BBC on the 23rd and 27th August.

REMEMBERED AND CELEBRATED TODAY : HAPPY BIRTHDAY VINCENT PRICE

SO, PETER YESTERDAY, Christopher Lee AND.... VINCENT PRICE today! Nothing I can say here that hasn't already been said about the versatile Vinnie... certainly a 'Man of the Arts', whose distinctive voice and excellent performances in fantasy films, made him a firm favourite for over 40 years!

His career spanned other genres, including film noir, drama, mystery, thriller, and comedy. He appeared on stage, television, radio, and in over one hundred films.... a good friend of both Peter and Christopher, though only appeared on screen with them BOTH just the once, in 'The House of the Long Shadows' in 1983.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT VINCENT PRICE'S ROLE WITH PETER CUSHING IN AMICUS FILMS, MADHOUSE HERE : FEATURE AND RARE STILLS: HERE

 

AN EXTENDED FEATURES AND GALLERY AT OUR SUPPLEMENT WEBSITE THEBLACKBOXCLUB.COM  : THE FLY  CLICK HERE

 

VINCENT PRICE IN THEATRE OF BLOOD : HERE

THE HOUSE OF WAX :HERE

You are still greatly missed and much celebrated, Vincent... a man and actor who could never be replaced... HAPPY BIRTHDAY Vincent Price!