THE REMBRANDT OF MONSTER ART: BASIL GOGOS (1929 - 2017)

A LITTLE BIT TARDY TRIBUTE TO THE GREAT BASIL GOGOS FOR OUR COUNTDOWN TO HALLOWEEN.  When we think of the seminal monster magazine FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND, we of course think of Uncle Forry.  However, when we picture the magazine in our mind's eye, we usually see the seminal paintings of artist Basil Gogos. 

I don't think any artist who specializes in painting the horror genre would deny that their work has been heavily influenced by Basil Gogos.  The great man died a few weeks ago so my already-planned spotlight of his paintings for the Halloween Countdown has now got to be changed to a memorial tribute.  Gogos was still producing great monster paintings in the present day and he will be sorely missed by all of us who love the horror genre and celebrate the spooky season of Halloween.  Below you will find a gallery of some of my favourite Basil Gogos paintings -- most of which can be found in the awesome book THE ART OF BASIL GOGOS.

Vincent Price from MADHOUSE

Boris Karloff from FRANKENSTEIN

Rondo Hatton

Bela Lugosi from DRACULA

Ernest Thesiger & Boris Karloff from BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN

Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins from DARK SHADOWS

Lon Chaney Jr. as THE WOLF MAN

THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON

Ingrid Pitt from THE VAMPIRE LOVERS

Christopher Lee from CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN

Metaluna Mutant from THIS ISLAND EARTH

Christopher Lee as DRACULA

Boris Karloff as Ardath Bey from THE MUMMY

Lon Chaney from LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT

Turhan Bey, Lon Chaney Jr. & George Zucco from THE MUMMY'S TOMB

Peter Cushing from DRACULA A.D. 1972

Zacherley the Cool Ghoul

Bela Lugosi as Ygor from SON OF FRANKENSTEIN

Zacherley for his 80th Birthday Bash 

Lon Chaney and Erik THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

Vincent Price from HOUSE OF USHER

Vincent Price as THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES

THE TERROR TRIO:  Forrest J. Ackerman, John Zacherle & Basil Gogos