I guess everybody collects something. For me it's funny Halloween masks. I line the tops of my book shelves with them.
Here's (above) one of my favorites. Look at the planes in the face, and the beautiful lines! It has that combination of strength and grace that characterizes true art, and it's funny, too! I wish I could meet the artist who sculpted this.
A mask (above) derived from Tim Burton's "Mars Attacks." The film was fatally flawed but it had some great moments, and the Martians were originally designed by Wally Wood.
Of course, the mask doesn't do justice to the magnificent creature in the film.
Another brain Martian (above). We can only hope that real aliens from other planets are ugly bloodsuckers like this one.
Oliver Hardy (above) wearing a fez.
A Frankenstein mask, with wonderful detail in the face.
The Penguin from Batman #2!
Remember when Max Headroom's face (above) was all over the billboards and toy stores? The fedora doesn't fit, but it'll do until I can get one that does.
Here's my Bobby Bigloaf mask (above), which is sadly bland and brittle now. When I tried to restore the old shape by stuffing the mask with newspapers, it started coming apart in my hands. I lost a lot of masks that way: my old Sadie Hawkins mask, the Nairobi Trio caveman, and my Roy Orbison and Borneo cannibal masks suffered the same fate.
I'm afraid to use Amour All-type preservatives because of outgassing, and I don't want to keep the masks in plastic or in heat-safe areas where I can't see them. *Sigh!* I guess nothing lasts forever.
Haw! Mike F. just sent me this (above) Halloween news item. See what you think!
Those are some great masks, Eddie!
ReplyDeleteI would of loved to see what the Roy Orbison one looks like.
Your masks are so cool!!!
ReplyDeleteWhen will someone make an Uncle Eddie mask?? I mean that in a nice cartoony way.
ReplyDeletethankyou! thankyou! thankyou!
ReplyDeleteYou realize that's not actually a "news" item, right?
ReplyDeleteCartoonSteve: I concur.
ReplyDeleteOh and BTW this guy is awesome.
Very nice masks Eddie!
ReplyDeleteThe Mars Attacks! brings me memories.
Funny video too, thought it was the real thing!
I'm officially jealous of your masks!
ReplyDeleteCartoonSteve: I wouldn't mind a mask of me if it looked as good as the yellow and white painting of me in the sidebar. That was me copying two John drawings and merging the best elements of each into one colored sketch
ReplyDeleteRooni, Kali, Anon, Zoran, Joe: Many thanks!
Zoran: Sure, I knew it was fake. I just didn't want to spoil the surprise for other people reading it.
Hey check out my mask Eddie!
ReplyDeleteThat Onion video was great, as almost all videos by The Onion are.
ReplyDeleteOn a similar topic, Mr. Fitzgerald, here is another article by The Onion that you might like. (It contains some bad language, though.)
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/33540
re: Deteriorating Masks. . .
ReplyDeleteSadly this is what happens to latex. Olga told me that when she first started working for the Bil Baird Marionettes between shows she would have "Christmas every day" exploring his myriad puppet boxes. And so many of the rubber puppets had deteriorated into crackly powder or gummy messes. In fact, Pookie the Lion was last seen in the bottom of Soupy's closet with his face melted and jaw glued shut. What price fame?
[...which is sadly bland and brittle now. When I tried to restore the old shape by stuffing the mask with newspapers, it started coming apart in my hands]
ReplyDeleteEasy. Your masks are made of latex, which needs humidity. California's dry climate will make them oxidize and disintegrate. Put them just outside the bathroom door, where they'll absorb dissipating shower steam on a daily basis. I collect Li'l Abner masks, made of the same material. They're all still soft and pliable, even though they're almost 60 years old.
Also, instead of using newspapers, why not buy some styrofoam heads? They're fairly cheap, and will retain the shape of your masks a lot better.
Disturbing, but the vampire kid in the video looks like Isabella Rossellini!
ReplyDeleteI've got a hunch they're not all boys...
the onion video..is everyone who works there some kind of comedic genius? cant stop laughing! ok here i go..the second mask..was a disney tarzan mask...if not then who..it does look great..thinking about dressing up like ralph bashki this year..normal clothes..big hair..unshaven..were both big guys so ill throw my weight around a little while i bluster about cartoon ideas and pitches..no one will get it and thats the point..opportunity to annoy people..the true spirit of halloween..hes from brooklyn im from the bronx so i can even do his voice right..happy halloween!
ReplyDelete"I'm a big ol bear!". Wonder if the child actors were naturally effeminate, if not how would you get them to act like that, show them tape of liberace?
ReplyDeleteExcellent and quite unusual masks, Uncle Eddie!
ReplyDeleteThat video was twisted in a funny sort of way. The "I'm a big ol' bear!" was way too funny. I think that Mike needs to get hit with a wet spaghetti noodle for that tidbit.
"I've got a hunch they're not all boys..."
ReplyDeleteJesus! Thank GOD! I can't imagine the bullying a young child actor who was ACTUALLY that effeminate would get once that video was sent around when the kid entered the older grades!
"I can't imagine the bullying a young child actor who was ACTUALLY that effeminate would get once that video was sent around when the kid entered the older grades!"
ReplyDeleteYou can't, but I'll bet Hunsecker can!
Great masks!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd that video is hilarious!
Check out this guy's DIY big head mask
ReplyDeleteA bit off the grid, but why do you insist on desaturating ALL of the photos of yourself, of taking them in B/W ONLY?
ReplyDeleteYou can't possibly look any different in color than you do here in black & white, and certainly the masks would be shown off even better.
I think this aversion to seeing yourself in color is nonsense! Uncle Eddie is all about color, to my way of thinking. Don't go all grey!
Jenny: Interesting comment! I did this post without color in order to cover up discoloration on the masks, but the reason for doing it in other posts has to do with graphic control.
ReplyDeleteUnless you have time to art direct your clothes and backgrounds they can be distracting. The viewer's eye darts all around the picture instead of staying on the elements you want him to see. With b&w I can wear a red cowboy hat and it won't compete for attention with my face.
Eddie,I think This video is not so funny! I agree with Mr. Mike F that is disturbing.
ReplyDeleteThe purpose of what they present was to avoid kids humiliation?The host of the show was very hypocrite and the woman don't love childs (no matter which gender),she uses them and doesnt care about their feelings,and what happen reveal how she project her own bully feelings to them.