Tomb of the Topstones: Shock Monster
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- čas přidán 8. 09. 2024
- This is the first in a series of videos exploring the Halloween masks produced by the legendary Topstone Rubber Company of Connecticut.
Video No. 1 examines the most famous Topstone mask - the Shock Monster. All the information presented is based on first-person research, interviews and documentation, unless otherwise stated.
(For my electronic music subscribers who might be scratching their heads, some context is necessary. I am a longtime member of the horror community. I have been involved in horror filmmaking and acting, but I am best known for being an expert in the world of horror collecting. Since the 1990s, I have collected monster toys, masks and movie posters. I have contributed to several books, written magazine articles, and have been interviewed in print, on radio and in documentaries. I created one of the earliest websites on monster toy collecting. I have organized museum-style exhibits on horror collectibles. If you look at some of my older CZcams uploads, you will see horror content. I thought about starting a new channel for these Halloween mask videos, but no. Just like the music, it's part of who I am...all one big, weird mess. If it's not your thing, don't worry. More music videos are coming in the future...and with no monsters involved. Well, you might catch me wearing a Svengoolie T-shirt while I play the synths. We'll see.)
This takes me straight back to the halloween of 1979. I was 8. I still remember the smell of the rubber mask and how i would sweat under the mask....but i was a horrifying monster on a door-to-door prowl for candy-bleeding victims! Pure topstone magic! Thank you for the flashback!
Thank you!
Candy bleeding victims lol, i love that so much!
Great video
Very well done!
EPMGFM thank you!
I bought that skull mask from K&K Toys in 1979. I wore it with a plastic Dracula cape. What a goofball. haha
Great memory!
this is amazing. it made my day. thank you!
Thank you!
Thanks CZcams recommendations, this is perfect! SUBBED❣️👏🏻🎃🧟♂️💀👻
Thank you!
Thank you for making this video it explain a lot to me.
Thank you!
Raymond, I thoroughly enjoyed watching this! Informative, concise, and entertaining. Looking forward to watching the other Tomb of the Topstones installments. Bravo, my old friend!
Terry Ingram thank you!
That Shock Monster mask was EVERYWHERE in the 1960s. My little friend’s mean big brother had one and would delight in surprising & scaring the sh_t out of us with it. It always worked. Kids weren’t that desensitized to horror stuff back then. Topstone Masks were legit frightening.
Thank you for that recollection.
I’m so excited to see this! I found a metal sign in an antique shop that I instantly fell in love with. It’s an image of a shock monster! I’m so excited to learn my monster has a story!
Thank you!
I definitely want to see more of this series
As these masters fell into private hands ,its no wonder that an average collector has not seen even ONE of these modern re-pulls for sale ...anywhere.i am not connected to any mask collectors group ,or on any social groups. Too bad that none of the top 3 manufactures today grabbed any. i end this with a truly sad face. : (
This is awesome! Thank you,thank you,thank you for producing these vids!!!!!
Chain Claw thank you!
This is just great. I,m so glad I lead myself here. Thanks so much. The video is so informative and comprehensive. I love it.
james weddle thank you! I should have a Mummy one ready soon.
I take from an earlier comment that Keith Ward did the iconic illustrations used in all the old ads? Are these known to still exist? For me the old ad illos are what really tweak my feels.
Ease54 I’ve tried to find original Keith Ward Topstone illustrations, but I haven’t found anyone who has them. There are printed catalogs, but not the hand drawn originals. I suspect there are two or three people who might own some of this material, but are not motivated to dig it up and share it. Or maybe it was all thrown out and just doesn’t exist anymore.
Wonderful job, Ray and perfect Halloween viewing! Look forward to the next installment and thanks for using my pic.
Thank you!
I am just starting to get myself caught up with your videos my friend. I am very happy that you are making your videos and sharing you collection and knowledge. The history of these masks really blew me away!
Thank you! I appreciate it!
Excellent job, Ray. Thank you!
Thanks!
Great info. Thanks Ray!
Thanks!
This is so great. I love it. Thanks for doing this!
Thank you!
Desde mexico 👹 eccelente video
Thank you!
Mr Castile, do you know where i can find high resolution scans of the old Topstone Mask drawings/catalog pictures? i wanted to try my hand at Re-Drawing some of these, but i can't seem to find them on Google.
I used to have scans online, but I took them down years ago.
I had 2 versions of the Shock Monster: 1 a recast from Vxxfx back in 2004 and an original from the 50's-60's that I bought from Goodwill back in 2010 for $5.00. I also owned the Skull mask featured in the video.
Philip Defibaugh I guess you no longer have the one you bought from Goodwill? What happened to it?
It really is a shame most vintage topstones have rotted away i guess its how thin they were cast mixed in with kids not knowing how to take care of masks in the 60s and 70s
'Fun seeing Shock in all its various forms. Thanks, Ray. ~ Dante
Thanks Dante! I'm glad you saw it.
Do you have the original copyright and trademark pages from the U. S. Patent office? Keith had his designs protected from Day One.
Wim Grundy I have what you can find online in the US Catalog of Cooyrights. There is a 1961 listing and a reference to 1954. Did you know Keith?
@@RaymondCastile I did not know him, but wish I had. I was born in 1950. My first purchases were from "Famous Monsters" #4: the Shock Monster and the toothy vampire! I see you have elsewhere published the copyrighted images created by Mr. Ward for his earliest masks. Thanks so much for your wonderful videos!
Please post more!!!
I will! Thanks!
"sim-u-lar" ;)
Another plastic vacuum formed Shock Monster turned up on ebay in December 2018. It is missing its hair, but looks pretty cool. I don't know who bought it. In the video, I say that only one was known to exist, so I thought I should post an update.
I have like a ultra rare topstone dracula mask. And i have been trying to figure out why there seem to only be 2 left in existance. (Apart from the few the band my chemical romance owns) I have a dracula (draculoid) mask. It can be seen in the mcr video Na Na Na & Sing. Mine isnt repainted like the bands were but mine is kinda u heard of.
I watched Na Na Na. I have seen that mask before, but I don't think I own one. That's a late 80s or early 90s mask, probably 90s.How do you know it is called Draculoid? Is there a tag or an advertisement that calls it that?
@@RaymondCastile i am just calling it what the band called it so its easy to search. There is 0 sesrch proof of its name apart from dracula or vampire. All I know is that its topstone.
Btw im glad you saw and respinded to this comment. It took me like a half hour to figure out how to word it and have it make sense lol
@@RaymondCastile if it helps, the mask is in assortment 1100 in the catalog. Thats all I can find..
@@DEFALT_HORROR Oh, then maybe I do own that mask. I'm pretty sure I have the Dracula that is pictured on that page. But it looks very different from the one in the video.
Great video
MICHAEL C. Thank you!
raycastile
Thank you, Ray. UMA, rules!
(Marsattacks666)
this is amazing. it made my day. thank you!
Thank you!
Are you still planning on writing a book? I'd be first in line for a pre-order.
I still plan to write it, but I need to overcome some logistical/financial hurdles.