I have some trivia to do with Card Mondor. It would be of interest to Australians but not to anyone else I feel, so I am hesitant to produce it here. If at least two people indicate they are interested I will go ahead and download the information here.
I'm interested but I am not Australian, so I am outside your matrix.
HAS lifetime guarantees on every item - IS eMoviePoster.com HAS unrestored and unenhanced images - IS eMoviePoster.com HAS 100% honest condition descriptions - IS eMoviePoster.com HAS auctions where the winner is the higher of two real bidders - IS eMoviePoster.com HAS up to SIXTEEN weeks of "Pay and Hold" to save a fortune on shipping - IS eMoviePoster.com HAS real customer service before, during and after EVERY auction, and answers all questions - IS eMoviePoster.com
HAS 25% or 26% "buyers premiums" of any kind (but especially the dreadful "$29 or $49 minimum" ones) - NOT eMoviePoster.com HAS "reserves or starts over $1 - NOT eMoviePoster.com HAS hidden bidder IDs - NOT eMoviePoster.com HAS "nosebleed" shipping charges - NOT eMoviePoster.com HAS inadequate packaging - NOT eMoviePoster.com HAS no customer service to speak of, before, during and after any auction, and answers almost no questions - NOT eMoviePoster.com
I want to know more. Anything spook show related is interesting.
Thanks Mathias. Two interested members and both non Australians so marvelous. As I mentioned previously I could write a book on Card Mondor. I will soon write up some trivia that I had in mind to do and possibly some more as well over a period of time. The initial material is to do with a friendship I believe initially formed in the U.S.A. that continued in Australia between Carl Mondor and another American who found fame in Australia.
Married Too Young ( 1962 ) produced by and released in the U.S.A. by Headliner Productions in possibly 1963. U.S. poster at top and a copy of an Australian newspaper advertisement from the Australian Melbourne Victoria theatrical release in 1965. According to IMDB Edward D. Wood, Jr. had an uncredited writing credit. The connection with Card Mondor and this film is in apparently a clip featuring him that was shown at each screening. No record of Card Mondor's CEMP Films releasing the film but CEMP Films had a Hollywood branch office at Headliner Productions at one time. Interestingly the Australian advertisement states ''Showings Limited to ADULTS ONLY. Positively NO ONE UNDER 10 Yrs. Admitted". 10 years ? The film starred among others Anthony Dexter who played Rudolph Valentino in the 1951 Columbia film Valentino and was it a big fall from grace appearing in this minor poverty row film in 1962. Also of interest in the film playing Marla the name featured on the U.S. one sheet was Marianna Hill who went on to appear in High Plains Drifter in 1973 and Jana Lund who had appeared in Loving You in 1957. I believe this to be a 1,000 to 1 chance but do you Pancho happen to have an Australian daybill of Married Too Young ?
A Carl Mondor link with a famous circus performer coming up next.
Hi I'm late to the party. I'm seeking info on Card Mondor, especially the CD-rom about his life. If anyone can help, please get in touch. I have tried all the links, they're all dead, and its publisher (a man who bought a magic store from Mondor) may well have pass on, too. My only hope is to find a kind soul with the CD-rom, willing to part with it or copy it. As for the Dr. Dracula show, the concept of a live show and movie was reworked and played in Australia for 1 week at 1 location.
Hi I'm late to the party. I'm seeking info on Card Mondor, especially the CD-rom about his life. If anyone can help, please get in touch. I have tried all the links, they're all dead, and its publisher (a man who bought a magic store from Mondor) may well have pass on, too. My only hope is to find a kind soul with the CD-rom, willing to part with it or copy it. As for the Dr. Dracula show, the concept of a live show and movie was reworked and played in Australia for 1 week at 1 location.
It is unfair to tease us like this without providing the exact details of the venue, dates, images and any other details you may have. If you would be as kind to supply us all you have?
Thanks so much for the replies. FYI, I am currently prepping for a documentary on the topic. This is a pretty cool story...
Mel Welles, actor etc. from the Corman school (e.g. LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS) lived in Australia in the seventies. He mounted a show in Sydney with singing, dancing and violence/bloodshed "live" on stage, reminiscent of Grand Guignol, and the warm-up attraction was a horror feature film. Card Mondor collaborated and designed the illusions. The "live" show component was preceded by the Italian feature film LADY FRANKENSTEIN, directed by Welles. The show itself was called... ORGY OF EVIL! Therefore, it's reasonable to suspect that the document on that CD-Rom entitled "Orgy of Evil" is all about the illusions from that show and possibly has interesting artwork and photos. ORGY OF EVIL was billed as the "world premiere" in Sydney at the Metro in Kings Cross, formerly the Minerva - a beautiful art deco cinema. A bit of trivia, the Metro staged the first Oz production of HAIR in 1969 and has been the home of Kennedy Miller Productions since 1983. ORGY OF EVIL cost a fortune to mount, but flopped and vanished a week after opening in mid-July 1973. It might also have been the only time LADY FRANKENSTEIN saw the light of a projector in Australia. There is almost no record of this show's existence, but my colleagues and I are doing our best to uncover as much as we can, conduct interviews with anyone still alive who was involved etc.
So, if anyone has access to a copy of the CD-Rom, please let me know!
...And here is the actual poster. Card Mondor is not mentioned. This was very much
Mel Welles' baby, but utilizing Mondor's idea of the "live" horror show
and film combo.
Thanks so much for the replies. FYI, I am currently prepping for a documentary on the topic. This is a pretty cool story...
Mel Welles, actor etc. from the Corman school (e.g. LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS) lived in Australia in the seventies. He mounted a show in Sydney with singing, dancing and violence/bloodshed "live" on stage, reminiscent of Grand Guignol, and the warm-up attraction was a horror feature film. Card Mondor collaborated and designed the illusions. The "live" show component was preceded by the Italian feature film LADY FRANKENSTEIN, directed by Welles. The show itself was called... ORGY OF EVIL! Therefore, it's reasonable to suspect that the document on that CD-Rom entitled "Orgy of Evil" is all about the illusions from that show and possibly has interesting artwork and photos. ORGY OF EVIL was billed as the "world premiere" in Sydney at the Metro in Kings Cross, formerly the Minerva - a beautiful art deco cinema. A bit of trivia, the Metro staged the first Oz production of HAIR in 1969 and has been the home of Kennedy Miller Productions since 1983. ORGY OF EVIL cost a fortune to mount, but flopped and vanished a week after opening in mid-July 1973. It might also have been the only time LADY FRANKENSTEIN saw the light of a projector in Australia. There is almost no record of this show's existence, but my colleagues and I are doing our best to uncover as much as we can, conduct interviews with anyone still alive who was involved etc.
So, if anyone has access to a copy of the CD-Rom, please let me know!
Cheers Tone
Very interesting Tone and unfortunately although I have been aware of the CD-Rom's existence for a while now I have never had one or seen one advertised for sale. I would love to obtain one as well as vital information regarding the W.E.Smith 1950's poster well may be contained within.
You mentioned the film Lady Frankenstein was directed by Mel Welles. This Italian produced film was also produced by Welles and the applicant's name when the film was classified by the Australian censor on 1st June 1973 was Richard Lewellen Productions. Your poster has Lady Frankenstein shown as being distributed by Richard Lewellen Productions. Orgy Of Evil was written, produced and directed live on stage by Richard Lewellen and Mel Welles and opened on stage in mid July 1973. This release was only around six weeks after the film was passed and classified for exhibition in Australia. The idea to stage this combination must have been planned either before the film was made, possibly during the production or sometime after the film was originally released in Italy on the 22nd of October 1971. All the answers are hopefully contained in the CD-Rom along with the answers I am seeing as well.
If any one has a copy of the CD-Rom or knows where to acquire one please keep me in mind also.
Thanks for the reply! Indeed, we've done a lot of research down under including the censorship classification and more besides. The cd-rom is that piece of the puzzle that will connect a lot of dots with our research. If I manage a copy, I'll let you know and would appreciate same kind thoughts. This is the kind of weird film history that I find fascinating and it needs to be preserved as much as anything else. I enjoy the detective work (despite its frustrations).
Here's another tidbit.... the set designer for ORGY OF EVIL was nominated for an Oscar the same year!
The detective work I personally enjoy immensely and when the research is completed it is a relief, but better still joy in thinking it was work well done and is now there and will be available for those who care to know, even if the number of people may be few. Keep hanging in there and if I find out how to obtain the CD-Rom you will be one of the first to know.
The only poster for LADY FRANKENSTEIN that I have ever seen in OZ was enormous and unlike anything I'd ever seen before. I don't even think it was paper, but cloth.
The only poster for LADY FRANKENSTEIN that I have ever seen in OZ was enormous and unlike anything I'd ever seen before. I don't even think it was paper, but cloth.
Seeing the film was imported by the organisers of the live show there probably was only very limited promotional posters of any style printed.
Comments
HAS unrestored and unenhanced images - IS eMoviePoster.com
HAS 100% honest condition descriptions - IS eMoviePoster.com
HAS auctions where the winner is the higher of two real bidders - IS eMoviePoster.com
HAS up to SIXTEEN weeks of "Pay and Hold" to save a fortune on shipping - IS eMoviePoster.com
HAS real customer service before, during and after EVERY auction, and answers all questions - IS eMoviePoster.com
HAS 25% or 26% "buyers premiums" of any kind (but especially the dreadful "$29 or $49 minimum" ones) - NOT eMoviePoster.com
HAS "reserves or starts over $1 - NOT eMoviePoster.com
HAS hidden bidder IDs - NOT eMoviePoster.com
HAS "nosebleed" shipping charges - NOT eMoviePoster.com
HAS inadequate packaging - NOT eMoviePoster.com
HAS no customer service to speak of, before, during and after any auction, and answers almost no questions - NOT eMoviePoster.com
I am always interested to learn new things, but I am Australian so I guess it doesn't count
A Carl Mondor link with a famous circus performer coming up next.
I knew that would be the case. Thanks for informing me of this anyway.
I'm late to the party. I'm seeking info on Card Mondor, especially the CD-rom about his life. If anyone can help, please get in touch. I have tried all the links, they're all dead, and its publisher (a man who bought a magic store from Mondor) may well have pass on, too. My only hope is to find a kind soul with the CD-rom, willing to part with it or copy it. As for the Dr. Dracula show, the concept of a live show and movie was reworked and played in Australia for 1 week at 1 location.
It is unfair to tease us like this without providing the exact details of the venue, dates, images and any other details you may have. If you would be as kind to supply us all you have?
Thanks so much for the replies. FYI, I am currently prepping for a documentary on the topic. This is a pretty cool story...
Mel Welles, actor etc. from the Corman school (e.g. LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS) lived in Australia in the seventies. He mounted a show in Sydney with singing, dancing and violence/bloodshed "live" on stage, reminiscent of Grand Guignol, and the warm-up attraction was a horror feature film. Card Mondor collaborated and designed the illusions. The "live" show component was preceded by the Italian feature film LADY FRANKENSTEIN, directed by Welles. The show itself was called... ORGY OF EVIL! Therefore, it's reasonable to suspect that the document on that CD-Rom entitled "Orgy of Evil" is all about the illusions from that show and possibly has interesting artwork and photos.
ORGY OF EVIL was billed as the "world premiere" in Sydney at the Metro in Kings Cross, formerly the Minerva - a beautiful art deco cinema. A bit of trivia, the Metro staged the first Oz production of HAIR in 1969 and has been the home of Kennedy Miller Productions since 1983. ORGY OF EVIL cost a fortune to mount, but flopped and vanished a week after opening in mid-July 1973. It might also have been the only time LADY FRANKENSTEIN saw the light of a projector in Australia. There is almost no record of this show's existence, but my colleagues and I are doing our best to uncover as much as we can, conduct interviews with anyone still alive who was involved etc.
So, if anyone has access to a copy of the CD-Rom, please let me know!
Cheers
Tone
...And rare as hen's teeth
Very interesting Tone and unfortunately although I have been aware of the CD-Rom's existence for a while now I have never had one or seen one advertised for sale. I would love to obtain one as well as vital information regarding the W.E.Smith 1950's poster well may be contained within.
You mentioned the film Lady Frankenstein was directed by Mel Welles. This Italian produced film was also produced by Welles and the applicant's name when the film was classified by the Australian censor on 1st June 1973 was Richard Lewellen Productions. Your poster has Lady Frankenstein shown as being distributed by Richard Lewellen Productions. Orgy Of Evil was written, produced and directed live on stage by Richard Lewellen and Mel Welles and opened on stage in mid July 1973. This release was only around six weeks after the film was passed and classified for exhibition in Australia. The idea to stage this combination must have been planned either before the film was made, possibly during the production or sometime after the film was originally released in Italy on the 22nd of October 1971. All the answers are hopefully contained in the CD-Rom along with the answers I am seeing as well.
If any one has a copy of the CD-Rom or knows where to acquire one please keep me in mind also.
Thanks for the reply! Indeed, we've done a lot of research down under including the censorship classification and more besides.
Here's another tidbit.... the set designer for ORGY OF EVIL was nominated for an Oscar the same year!
Cheers
Tone
A request to Pancho or anyone else. If you have a daybill of Lady Frankenstein I would be more than happy if you would let us see the image.
Thanks for replying. I would think a daybill of this title would be rare.
Seeing the film was imported by the organisers of the live show there probably was only very limited promotional posters of any style printed.