I recently watched the original, 1933 version of the film KING KONG. And whenever I now see that film, it brings back wonderful memories of a long weekend back in late May of 1998. I have mentioned this event a few times in the past on the Board, and posted the link below many years ago, but thought I would include it again for the benefit of any newcomers. There was a wonderful weekend in, of all places, Omaha, Nebraska back in 1998. There was a theater there (sadly torn down since that time to build a parking lot!) that had one of the very last huge Cinerama screens, and local impresario Bruce Crawford arranged a 65th anniversary tribute to, and screening of, the original KING KONG at the theater. Guests of honor for the event were Forrest J Ackerman, Ray Bradbury, Ray Harryhausen and writer Greg Bear. The original KING KONG is, of course, a film which the two Rays and Forry all loved. The sold-out screening of KING KONG was on a Saturday night. On the Friday night before, there was a ticketed event to raise funds for a local charitable organization that provided care for children in need, where fans could sit and and chat with the guests of honor for a few hours and which I was able to attend. Such great memories! Attached below is the link I previously mentioned, with some photos. The photo at the very bottom is my favorite: three childhood chums Forry, Ray B. and Ray H. all dressed up in their finest, hamming it up for the cameras, and obviously having a great time!

http://www.omahafilmevent.com/past/kong.htm

And here is a link to the poster created especially for the event:

http://www.omahafilmevent.com/past/commemart/Kong.jpg

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Wow, those guys all went to Omaha?

Ray Bradbury told me later that he loved Omaha!

As noted above and at various other places on this Board, the 1933 version of KING KONG was one of Ray Bradbury's favorite films. And PS Publishing has just released a new book, KING KONG: AN ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY, by Edgar Wallace. It looks fantastic! The signed, limited edition is already sold out, but the trade hardcover, priced at only 25 U.K. pounds, is still available. For more information about the book, including how to order, click on the link below:

https://www.pspublishing.co.uk...&utm_term=2023-03-17

While the 1000-copy trade edition of PS Publishing's KING KONG was listed as being available when I made the post immediately above earlier today, the book is now, as of this posting, listed as "out-of-print" on the publisher's website. If you are still interested, you may want to periodically check the PS Publishing website to see if any additional copies turn up.

In the Tachyon Publications book, SPACE SHIPS! RAY GUNS! MARTIAN OCTOPODS: INTERVIEWS WITH SCIENCE FICTION LEGENDS, there is a very funny story relayed by Ray Bradbury's good friend Forrest J Ackerman. It seems that, back in the day, when young Ray had a date and needed money, he would sell one of his books to Forry for the sum of $1.00. (Hey, movies and snacks were a lot cheaper in the 1930's!) Well, one time Ray needed two dollars. As Forry tells it:

"What was the excuse for the extra dollar? He brought me a copy of the novelization of KING KONG, theoretically written by Edgar Wallace, who was the leading mystery author of the day. Actually he wrote about three words and dropped dead, but they kept his name on it. So Ray says, 'Look, look, it's signed by Edgar Wallace. That would be worth an extra dollar.' So I was young and naive. I didn't stop to question how this high school kid got the autograph of this famous writer six thousand miles away. I gave him the extra dollar."

"Many years later, at one of my birthday parties at my house, Ray's eyes fell upon that copy of KING KONG that he had sold me many years ago, and he hesitantly took it off the shelf and opened it up. He said, 'Oh boy, I have a terrible confession. I wrote that "Edgar Wallace."' I said, 'You dirty dog, give me back my dollar!'"

To see a picture of a copy of the first edition of KING KONG, click on the link below. (And FYI, Ray made a bad deal. These days, a copy of that 1932 first edition, in a decent dust jacket, usually sells for several thousand dollars!)

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IMG_0790.jpg (157 Kb, 16 downloads)