The full-scale bust of Kong peers out of a fake jungle in front of Grauman's Chinese for KK33's Hollywood premiere in April 1933. Learn more when the 2nd edition of my book KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON is published by Bloomsbury in April 2026. Pre-order now from Bloomsbury or Amazon.

Some of the shots from KING KONG 1933 featuring the full-scale bust of Kong. Learn more when the revised and updated edition of my book KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON is published by Bloomsbury in April 2026. Pre-order now from Bloomsbury or Amazon.

A full-scale bust of Kong made from wood, plaster, rubber and bearskin was built for certain shots in KK33. Inside, 6 men operated levers that opened Kong's mouth, raised his eyebrows, etc. Learn more when my book KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON is published by Bloomsbury in April 2026.

For decades, the 2nd Kong armature was thought lost, but in the 2000s it turned up for auction at Christie's. It is now in the collection of Peter Jackson. Learn more when the 2nd ed. of my book KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON is published by Bloomsbury in April 2026. Pre-order now.

After Phil Ellison rescued 1 of the Kong puppets, he steamed off the remaining fur/rubber to keep it from eating away the armature, which he entrusted to renowned prop collector Bob Burns. Learn more when the 2nd ed of KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON is published by Bloomsbury in April 2026.

After SON wrapped, 1 of the puppets was sent to the RKO prop warehouse, where it spent 30 years rotting away until it was rescued by animator Phil Kellison. Learn more when the 2nd ed. of KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON is published by Bloomsbury in April 2026. Pre-order now.

Marcel Delgado covered the 18-inch Kong puppets in white fur and crafted a new face with a larger snout to create Little Kong for 1933's THE SON OF KONG. Learn more when the 2nd edition of my book KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON is published by Bloomsbury in April 2026. Pre-order now.

A Kong puppet posed atop the miniature Empire State Bldg battling a mini biplane in front of glass paintings of the Manhattan skyline for KING KONG 1933 Learn more when the 2nd edition of my book KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON is published by Bloomsbury in April 2026. Pre-order now.

Assistant Buzz Gibson animates 1 of the 18-in puppets during filming of Kong's climb up the Empire State Building for KING KONG 1933 Learn more when the 2nd edition of my book KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON is published by Bloomsbury in April, 2026. Pre-order now from Amazon or Bloomsbury.

1 of Marcel Delgado's 18-inch Kong puppets posed on the miniature set of Kong's lair during the production of KING KONG 1933. Find out more when the 2nd edition of my book KING KONG; THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON is published by Bloomsbury in April, 2026. Pre-order now from Amazon or Bloomsbury.

Kong 1933's facial features were rubber bits containing wires that could be manipulated to create various expressions. His eyes were glass beads. The face was rebuilt 3-4x so Kong's look changes thru the film. KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON will be published by Bloomsbury in April 2026.

1 of Marcel Delgado's 18-inch tall Kong puppets posed with 1 of 2 Stegosauruses Delgado made for the abandoned film CREATION and repurposed for the 1933 KING KONG. The 2nd edition of my book KING KONG; THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON will be published by Bloomsbury in April, 2026. Preorder now.

Photo of a Kong's duraluminum armature along with a photo of the finished puppet used in the making of KING KONG 1933. The revised and updated edition of my book KING KONG; THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON will be published by Bloomsbury in April, 2026. Pre-order now from Amazon or Bloomsbury.

3 views of a Kong puppet being animated on a miniature Skull Mountain for a scene deleted from the original 1933 KING KONG. The revised and updated edition of my book KING KONG; THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON is published by Bloomsbury in April, 2026. Pre-order now from Amazon or Bloomsbury.

The 2 18-in Kong puppets used in the 1933 KING KONG, built over articulated duraluminum armatures, fleshed out with cotton, wrapped in rubber and covered with rabbit fur. The 2nd edition of my book KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON will be published by Bloomsbury in April 2026. Pre-order now.

Merian Cooper created King Kong, but Marcel Delgado MADE him, fabricating 2 18-inch tall puppets, and a full-scale Kong hand, foot, and bust for use in the original 1933 King Kong. The 2nd edition of my book KING KONG; THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON will be published by Bloomsbury on April 2.

Legendary entertainment journalist Ed Gross interviewed me for this terrific article on the creation of the original 1933 KING KONG. Thanks to Ed for including me and for the mentions of my upcoming book KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON. Here's the link: www.womansworld.com/entertainmen...

Another terrific, deep-dive documentary from the great Tim Partridge. Check it out!

My latest video is finally here! A 90 minute look at Batman Forever. Many thanks to @oliverharper.bsky.social @morninginbrooklyn.bsky.social @raymorton1.bsky.social @themanfrowns.bsky.social @sceclements-writer.bsky.social @stmoo7.bsky.social @markoconnell.bsky.social youtu.be/9xA4QmZDWx8?...

Pritzker: Over the last four years, we have seen homicides drop in half. That’s something the President should pay attention to. I know he doesn’t read but I know he watches TV so perhaps if someone from Fox or Newsmax is here

Pritzker: Trump looked at the cameras and asked for me personally to say, Mr. President, can you do us the honor of protecting our city? Instead, I say, Mr. President, do not come to Chicago. Your remarks about this effort have betrayed a continuing slip in your mental faculties

“This is about the President of the United States and his complicit lackey, Stephen Miller, searching for ways to lay the groundwork to circumvent our democracy, militarize our cities, and end elections.” – Gov. J.B. Pritzker

The release date for the updated version of my book KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON is February 5, 2026. The 2005 chapters have been revised and updated and new chapters added for Jackson's KONG, the Legendary KONG movies, the Broadway musical, and much more. Preorder link in comments.

🧵Today, I joined community leaders in Los Angeles to announce new federal legislation: the No Masks for ICE Act which stops ICE agents from hiding their faces and identities during enforcement. I’m proud to be helping lead this legislation with Rep. @velazquez.house.gov.

@repmikejohnson.bsky.social Trump has violated the Constitution numerous times. The bombing was the most egregious. He is a menace and must be removed. You know this. Grow a spine and do something.

@padilla.senate.gov Trump has violated the Constitution numerous times. This is the most egregious. He is a menace and inside for him to go. You must do all you can to make this happen.

@friedman.house.gov Trump has violated the Constitution numerous times. The bombing in the most egregious. He is a menace and must be removed. You must do all you can to make this happen.

@schiff.senate.gov Trump has violated the Constitution numerous times. This is the most egregious. He is a menace and inside for him to go. You must do all you can to make this happen.

The news is leading their Los Angeles coverage with lines like "L.A. on edge as the Marines move in." From what I'm seeing around me, folks here are not on edge. They are, however, really pissed off. At the presence of said Marines and the convicted felon who sent them here.

why is the president the only person testing the limits of his power? everyone should see what they can get away with. what if zookeepers gave helicopters to gorillas? nobody has tried this

I live in Los Angeles. Everything Trump is saying about the situation here is a lie.

Hi Folks, The updated edition of my King Kong book was supposed to come out May 13, but has been rescheduled for fall. However, Amazon didn't change the listing and is saying its out of stock. It's not. It's coming and I hope you will love it. I apologize for the confusion.

MOVIE OF THE DAY: The best screen version of a Tennessee Williams play, Brando in the role that made him a star, Leigh in one of her two great screen performances, and Kazan working at the top of his powers. And great work as well from Kim Hunter and Karl Malden.

80 years ago today

MOVIE OF THE DAY: If you get it, you get it.

MOVIE OF THE DAY:

MOVIE OF THE DAY: Very silly sex comedy from 1966 that contains a 5 minute slow motion sequence of Sharon Tate (in her debut film) in a bikini jumping up and down on a trampoline that (almost) makes it worth sitting through the rest of the movie.

MOVIE OF THE DAY: Posting this for Easter -- a silent movie made the year my Dad was born and that made a huge impression on him when he first saw it in a religion class years later. It deepened his Catholic faith, which was an important piece of his life. The power of cinema. This is for him.

MOVIE OF THE DAY: Happy Superman Day.

MOVIE OF THE DAY: Agnes Varda's 1962 Nouvelle Vague classic, told in real time, about a singer who spends two anxious hours waiting to learn he results of a medical test to determine whether or not she has cancer.

MOVIE OF THE DAY: THIS 1975 adaptation of Nathaniel West's novel is a sprawling epic: a vast portrait of the sad people living on the fringes of Hollywood in the 1930s. It's a strange movie that begins in realistic fashion, then becomes more and more baroque before turning absolutely grotesque.

MOVIE OF THE DAY: Peter Weir's eerie thriller about an Australian attorney who takes on the defense of 4 Aboriginal men accused of murder and is drawn into the Aborigines' mystical culture and finds himself experiencing alarming premonitions that start coming true.

MOVIE OF THE DAY: RIP Val Kilmer

MOVIE OF THE DAY:

MOVIE OF THE DAY: Sam Raimi's gonzo 1987 sequel to his 1981 debut. The first film was straight horror, but this is a horror comedy. The excess blood and gore is the joke. Humor is also generated from the dozens of ways the movie finds to beat the shit out of star Bruce Campbell.

MOVIE OF THE DAY: RIP Richard Chamberlain.

MOVIE OF THE DAY: Sam Raimi's debut film -- one of the first "cabin in the woods" horror movies. Distinguished by Raimi's ferocious visual inventiveness, it's definitely a first film -- shot on 16mm with a creaky plot and amateurish acting, but damn if the thing doesn't work like gangbusters.

Spent many happy hours here when I was in college (which was quite a few years after this picture was taken).

MOVIE OF THE DAY: This 1924 melodrama was the first film produced by MGM. It stars Lon Chaney as a circus clown with a tragic past. I saw it on Ch. 13 in the 70s and Chaney's brilliant pantomime performance broke my heart. With Norma Shearer and John Gilbert. Shadow-produced by Irving Thalberg.