Shades of Gray: July 2011

I recently received an absolute treasure trove of info on Gray and various posts on this blog from writer, filmmaker (DRIVE-IN MADNESS), film buff and Morrow friend and fan Tim Ferrante. After trying to figure out the best way to disseminate the information, I decided that Tim had already done such a marvelous job of formatting it so I would present it more or less the way he sent it, complete with links to my original posts here at SHADES OF GRAY.

Here's a ton of data regarding an assortment of pages at SHADES OF GRAY. Perhaps you can use it to supplement the pages.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/06/fangorier-from-cracked.html

Yes, the artwork is most definitely from CRACKED magazine. I owned this art at one time, having obtained it directly from Gray. The b&w text strips are actually applied onto a transparency overlay. The reason I wanted it was because I was one of FANGORIA's writers (~1984-1996).

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/06/grays-movie-posters-1-cinderella-2000.html

The original art used for the CINDERELLA 2000 poster, pressbook, etc. is full color. This looks like an earlier piece. I can't tell if it's a photo of an ad slick or original art itself. The original color painting's whereabouts are unknown.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/06/grays-movie-posters-2-dirty-bookstore.html

DIRTY BOOK STORE is the reissue campaign of THE BOOBY HATCH. This movie was made (and written) by my friend and former business partner, John A. Russo, through his New American Films company. He was partnered with Russell Streiner in New American. It was filmed as THE LIBERATION OF CHERRY JANKOWSKI. Independent-International Pictures (I-IP) released it theatrically as THE BOOBY HATCH and later as DIRTY BOOK STORE. If Russo and Streiner's name sound familiar, they're more well known for NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (Russo was co-writer and producer; Streiner was actor and producer). Gray's original DBS art was b&w and was in I-IP's possession until a few years ago.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/06/grays-movie-posters-3.html

KILLER'S CURSE is the reissue title of the I-IP movie, NURSE SHERRI. Gray also did the NURSE SHERRI art which you, of course, have posted as poster art #13. The whereabouts of both pieces of art are unknown.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/06/grays-movie-posters-5.html

ANGEL'S WILD WOMEN is another I-IP film and I once owned this original art. It somehow turned up in a shop on Long Island. I was told about it by Sam Sherman (I-IP's owner) and contacted the place (not sure what kind of store it was) and paid them $175 for it. It was mailed to me and it hung in my living room for years! I don't know where it is now.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/06/grays-movie-posters-6.html

This is a reissue poster (and art) for DRACULA VS. FRANKENSTEIN. Gray later modified it as a color painting. He also created the original release artwork (a killer!).

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/07/grays-movie-posters-7.html

An I-IP film; the whereabouts of the original art is unknown.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/07/grays-movie-posters-8.html

This art was for a reissue campaign of an I-IP pickup called SHOCK TREATMENT. The company released it theatrically as FEMALES FOR HIRE and later as BEDROOM STEWARDESSES. Nothing helped; Sam said it just never did much business.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/08/grays-movie-posters-10.html

I-IP distributed UNCLE TOM'S CABIN and the original art is still in the company's possession.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/09/grays-movie-postes-12.html

I once owned the original for SPACE MISSION TO THE LOST PLANET. It was done for the foreign market of I-IP's HORROR OF THE BLOOD MONSTERS (that original art was done by Neal Adams). SPACE was a very large painting.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/10/grays-movie-posters-14.html

TEENAGE MODELS is the reissue campaign art for I-IP's GAME SHOW MODELS.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/04/blaxploitation-image-1970s.html

This is the movie art for the I-IP film, MEAN MOTHER. It was originally titled A SOLDIER NAMED (or CALLED) JOE when the company picked it up for distribution. It was also known as MEAN MOMMA in some markets. I-IP shot a substantial amount of new footage and roughly 15-mins. of the original movie remained.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/04/1973-interview-from-collector.html

The b&w art that features Broderick Crawford in the article reprint is for the movie, SMASHING THE CRIME SYNDICATE, a reissue title for HELL'S BLOODY DEVILS. The movie was actually shot and originally released as THE FAKERS. You also have SMASHING's original painting posted here: http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2011/03/hells-bloody-devils-original-art.html and incorrectly call it the art for HELL'S BLOODY DEVILS. HELL'S original campaign was a photo composite, not GM art. I recommend that you clarify that the painting is, in fact, for HELL'S reissue campaign, SMASHING THE CRIME SYNDICATE, regardless of what others believe it to be. I have posters for all three titles and will one day have to supply you with images.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/04/girls-in-top-hats.html

This is one I once owned and had gotten it directly from Gray. I'm pretty certain it was a b&w piece and he modified it when it was returned to him. It's a large painting, too. It's for I-IP's CHORUS GIRLS, a reissue title for a Spanish pick-up the company originally titled THE GIRL FROM THE RED CABARET. The company also released it on video as WILD GIRL with different art. BTW, Ronn Sutton's Comment Entry is correct, but it was not created for the publication he cites! It dates back to 1976 or so.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/03/nurses-with-guns.html

This is one of my favorite pieces. In fact, it was the very first artwork I got from Gray. He was still living in NJ and I went to his house in search of this one. It was around 1985 and I paid him $750 for it. The art was created for the I-IP release, NURSES FOR SALE, which was a foreign pick-up that was originally called CAPTAIN TYPHOON. The company shot some new footage, but it was largely the original movie. When Gray showed me the painting, it had been altered. It was actually a b&w piece and the women have nurses caps and outfits on. He'd turned it into a color piece and painted over the nurse elements. If its new owner looks very carefully at the top of the head of the center woman, he or she will see a faint remnant of a nurse's cap. Even thought he'd changed the painting and colored it, I was still enamored of it and had it for many years.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/02/zipatone-gags.html

The photo of Gray wearing the blue spaceman helmet was taken by me. The original is an Ektachrome slide. It was part of a series of slides I took in his Kunkletown, PA studio. These were for my Gray Morrow article that appeared in COMICS SCENE magazine published by Starlog Communications. The article appears in issue #14 (August 1990) on pages 24-28 with a jump on page 65. All of the photos of the large paintings and those of Gray were taken by me. The "Spaceman Morrow" shot was utilized on page 3 which is the Contents page. It delights me to no end that Ronn Sutton was charmed by it and sent it to you for all to see! Thank you, Ronn. You made my day. FWIW, Gray was up for anything. I honestly believe he would have donned a mink stole and flamboyant feathered hat if I asked him. Such a wonderful sense of humor.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/02/blazing-stooges.html

The original BLAZING STEWARDESSES art is in the possession of the film's producer, Sam Sherman.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/02/brain-of-blood.html

The whereabouts of the original art is unknown. I searched forever and Gray most definitely didn't have it.

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/03/gray-covers-4.html

I owned this PLANET OF THE APES cover painting at one time. It was very large and my recollection is that I did not get it from Gray.

I've heard from Sam Sherman regarding the art you have posted here (at the top of its page):

http://graymorrow.blogspot.com/2010/02/importance-of-being-gray.html

I can't pinpoint its precise use and it may have been something Gray did for his own amusement. But it has I-IP poster material in it. Anyway, Sam says, "The art with the guy at the safe is compiled from GIRLS FOR RENT and who knows what. We never used the guys in the painting for anything, especially not the guy with the safe ..."

So, it remains a piece that is still requires positive I.D.

Tim Ferrante