What Happened to the AURORA MODEL KITS?

What Happened to the AURORA MODEL KITS? video by Dan Monroe / Movies, Music & Monsters.

Summary:

Dan Monroe explores the history of the Aurora Plastics Corporation, tracing its origins from a simple injection molding shop to a pop culture icon. The discussion covers the evolution of their legendary monster and sci-fi model kits, their massive commercial impact on youth culture during the 1960s, and the factors leading to the brand's eventual closure.

I bought my first Aurora monster model kit at the 1961 Los Angeles County Fair which was Frankenstein sculpted to look like Boris Karloff. I still have it. I had most of the Universal monsters but they broke over the years. I did buy the Polar Lights Dracula re-issue model kit a few years ago. It is sculpted to look like Bela Lugosi.

I bought further monster model kits at Boys Market in Los Angeles.

James Bama, Realistic Artist, Dies At 95

Above, James Bama with some of the Aurora monster model kit box art he did in the 1960s.

James Bama may not have been a familiar name to Monster Kids, but his artwork was well known to them. Bama passed away at 95 today.

Back in the 1960s, Bama painted the box cover art for Aurora's monster model kits, including King Kong, Frankenstein, Dracula and The Mummy. He was best known for his realistic art style, particularly for his realistic paintings and etchings of Western subjects.

According to Wikipedia:

At the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, when he was the first Honored Artist at the Buffalo Bill Art Show in 2003, Bama commented, "Everything I’ve done — the rodeo, the trappers, the mountain men — has been done around here. The fact that I’m from Cody makes this very significant to me. They’re really honoring Cody and the Buffalo Bill Historical Center."

 

Above, James Bama's painting of Bela Lugosi for the Aurora plastic model kit box. Photo by Armand Vaquer

G-FEST Stuff

Above, toys galore in the Dealers Room. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Genre conventions usually have many things for attendees to see and do. These include panel discussions, movies, dealers room, games and other activities for people to spend their time and part with their cash.

Here's some of the things that G-FEST XXVI had:

Above, Godzilla in the Murray Bros. Caddyshack bar. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Akira Takarada in the hotel lobby. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Mothra looks different. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Dealers Room

Autograph Tables

Above, Akira Takarada. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, directors Shusuke Kaneko and Yoshikazu Ishii chat. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Modelers Room

 History of G-FEST Room

Panel Discussions and Interviews

Above, Akira Takarada interview panel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Shusuke Kaneko interview panel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Collect All Monsters panel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Bringing Godzilla Down To Size with Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Skytree Model Video

One souvenir that caught my fancy during my trip to Japan last month was a tabletop model of the Tokyo Skytree.

The model lights up and it has a feature where it will light up in different colors.

Here's a video I shot with my phone (I don't know why the arrow thingy stays on, this is the first time I've used the video feature):

Happy Birthday, Yuu Asakura!

Today is actress, model and Japanese-language instructor Yuu Asakura's birthday.

Regular readers of the Rancho know Yuu as the first promo model (photo above) for The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

She first came to my attention in Donald F. Glut's movie The Mummy's Kiss: Second Dynasty (which also starred Christine Nguyen). Through Glut, I was able to contact Yuu for the photo shoot.

I found her to be a very nice person and easy to work with.

Last November, I got to see Yuu perform in the play, Utsutsu and she did a great job, especially in her death scene.



We met up at the press and kick-off party for Utsutsu in Culver City (above) a few days before.

Happy Birthday, Yuu!

Photo-Shoot For "The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan"

Today has been spent working on getting a model for some advertising photos for The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan. I also attempted to scout the location for the shoot, but it was closed today. At least the guard gave me a nice 2010 calendar to take with me for ideas.

I plan to do the photo-shoot at The Japanese Garden in Van Nuys, California (Kyoto and Tokyo are just too far and it is only a couple of miles from home). (This picture was taken at home.) I am somewhat limited to when I can use The Japanese Garden as it has certain days and hours when it's open to the public. But it is a nice place with guided and self-guided tours. And it has a gift shop where visitors may buy Japanese gifts.

From The Japanese Garden's website:

Hours and Admission Fees:

We offer docent-led walking tours, by advance reservation only, on Monday through Thursday mornings. Each tour lasts approximately 1-¼ hours and includes an overview of the water reclamation process. (Evening tours are offered during the Summer.)

The Garden is also available for self-guided tours Monday through Thursday from 12:00PM until 4:00PM, and Sunday from 10:00AM until 4:00PM (the last gate entry each day is at 3:15PM). Please call on the day you wish to visit to make sure the Garden is open.

Admission to the Garden for docent-led or self-guided tours is $3.00 per person, $2.00 for Seniors 62+ and Children under 10. (Special Event admission fees are generally higher.)

On the model, I have a couple of "feelers" out. She'll be Asian, naturally! This all should be finalized by tonight, I expect.

UPDATE: Got the model! Here's a clue, she was in Don Glut's The Mummy's Kiss: Second Dynasty.