There were at least two Jaws costumes released by Collegeville, as seen above via Babble and Plaid Stallions. There were also minor variations on each design such as different colored pants, etc. The Jaws 2 costume is below. The mask is the same.
Archive for the 'Jaws' Category
Collegeville Jaws and Jaws 2 Costumes (1975/1978)
Published October 6, 2015 Collegeville , Halloween , Halloween Costumes , Jaws 1 CommentJaws 2 Poster Art (Craft Master, 1978)
Published October 6, 2015 Arts and Crafts , Jaws , Posters/Poster Art/Poster Pen Sets/Paint by Number Leave a Comment
Sega’s Killer Shark Cameo in Jaws
Published June 25, 2015 Arcade Cabinets/Coin-Ops , Jaws , Roger Corman , Video Arcades , Video Games 4 Comments
There’s an excellent article by Keith Stuart at The Guardian about Spielberg’s early interest in video game and computer technology (his father was an electrical engineer) and how the shot of Killer Shark (1972) at the beginning of the film perfectly encapsulates the entire narrative: “It’s effectively Brody’s nightmare, and his objective, rolled into one flickering image on an ancient coin-op display for a few redolent seconds.” Stuart continues:
In a movie filled with legendary cinematic moments, this brief sequence is a minor one, but as with many other elements of Steven Spielberg’s 1975 picture, it was also prescient. The director, a keen games player and watcher of pop culture trends, foresaw an era in which Hollywood would be seduced by the popularity and the visual spectacle of the emerging video game arcade scene. He got the appeal of these new entertainment machines, but he also understood how computer graphics represented a new way to present narrative to audiences – even if, in Jaws, it was a few seconds of footage.
As Stuart notes, Killer Shark was actually Sega’s last mechanical game, not a video game, the shark animation a result of a projector inside the cabinet. You can also see Computer Space (1971), the very first commercial coin-op video game, in the background of the same shot.
In the Roger Corman-produced Piranha (1978), a brilliant Jaws and eco-horror parody written by John Sayles and directed by Joe Dante, there’s a shot (below) featuring Atari’s Shark Jaws (1975): sort of a parody within a parody within a parody.
(Images via Jaws Wikia, Pinterest, and The Electronic Playground)
Jaws in Valletta, Malta, Circa 1975
Published June 25, 2015 Jaws , Movie Theaters/Marquees 3 Comments
Jaws Blue Jean Repair Patch, (Joy Insignia, Circa 1975)
Published June 24, 2015 '70s Decor/Design/Fashion , Jaws Leave a Comment
We could argue about what the best piece of Jaws tie-in merchandise was, but why bother?
(Image via eBay)
The ad ran in the trades shortly after Benchley’s novel came out in February 1974—I’ve seen it for sale with “in preparation” written around the borders. Zanuck and Brown read the novel and bought the film rights before it was even published. Looks more like it’s going to be a Roger Corman picture, based on the exploitation concept and lurid art, a point Corman has always enjoyed making:
Vincent Canby wrote in the New York Times: “What is ‘Jaws’ but a big-budget Roger Corman film?” What he didn’t say was it was not only bigger but better. I’m perfectly willing to admit that. When I saw “jaws,” I thought, I’ve made this picture. First picture I ever made was “Monster From the Ocean Floor.”
The book seen in the ad is the hardcover edition, with a cover illustrated by Paul Bacon. Roger Kastel redid the cover for the paperback, and it was his art that was used for the film. I have a very high opinion of both Spielberg’s film and Kastel’s poster, though the novel is awful.
Jaws turned 40 years old on June 20th.
(Image via Blu-ray.com)
Jaws 2 Activity Book (Grosset and Dunlap, 1978)
Published April 21, 2015 Coloring/Activity Books , Jaws 1 Comment
Keep your eyes open.
Because we weren’t terrified enough of entering any and all bodies of water after Jaws came out. Look at the girl’s face. And look at the blood on the shark’s gums and teeth! Recommended for children over 5 years old!
Stupendous. Outrageous. One of the tastiest morsels of pop culture licensing I’ve ever seen. We must find one.
(Thank you, Lost Entertainment, for the photographic evidence.)
Halloween in the Classroom, 1976: Batman, Jaws, Snoopy, Witchiepoo, and More
Published October 9, 2013 Halloween , Halloween Costumes , Jaws 8 Comments
Witchiepoo is the antagonist in Sid and Marty Krofft’s H.R. Pufnstuf, which originally ran in late 1969 but stayed in syndication until 1985. The bat costume has an image of Vampira on it—I have a better shot I’ll post soon. I also see a Tweety Bird costume. What’s the yellow costume with the blue tie and suspenders? It looks familiar. Any others I’m missing?
They’re all eating cupcakes on a Halloween napkin, drinking out of Halloween cups. The cupcakes are not gluten-free or sugar-free. Construction paper jack-o’-lanterns hang from the blinds. And those desks!
Movie Theater Marquees: Jaws (1975)
Published June 28, 2013 Jaws , Movie Theaters/Marquees 6 Comments
Above: The Rivoli Theatre, New York City, June, 1975.
Below: The State Theatre, Sydney, Australia, 1975.
(Images via Thin Ghost, Feej, Sydney Morning Herald)
2 Warps to Neptune 