Hilarious history. Over the course of many years, I’ve produced a lot artwork for my favouirte cult kids show. Starring actor and comedian Billy Van and Vincent Price, it originally aired in 1971 and broadcasted out of Hamilton, Ontario’s independent station, CHCH-TV. It still appears on various networks like Space TV, Drive-In Classics and MTV2. The show turned me into a monster kid with the very first note of the bizarre and strange theme song coming from my TV, simultaneously introducing me to Mr. Price and a gaggle of ghoulish misfits which was clearly spoofing Universal Monster movies. Simply put, Frightenstein was my gateway drug to horror. In anticipation for a 2008 dvd release of episodes, Critcial Mass commissioned the use of the illustration I first created in ’06 as a personal tribute. Concerned there may be some copyright issues, Vincent Price was replaced by the Librarian (pictured) and an extremely limited quantity of t-shirts and prints were made. Limited to 100, a high quality art print (with the Librarian) is available in my store.
This artwork was commissioned again, two years later, when Anchor Bay and Critical Mass teamed up for Gory Gory Transylvania, another set of nine newly restored episodes. I sold them on featuring “Colour Your Own DVD art” with an outlined version of the print. Anchor Bay later hired me to colourize many never-before-seen photographs from the show, for their various DVD episode compilations, supplied by on set photographer David Cramasco. This image has led me up the steps to Castle Frightenstein more than a few times so I decided it’s own category to display the various work I’ve done was necessary.
A lot of people ask about the t-shirt design and where they can get one. I wish I knew. There was less than 1000 made, printed by Stacey Case, and as far as I know are sold out or unavailable until a licence for any more merchandise is renewed. Stacey has been a leader in keeping the cult of Frightenstein firmly rooted in the minds of thousands of fans who remember the show, has organized Frightenstein events with original cast members and is currently shooting his documentary about the show called “FIEND”.