I never cared for the puns much and I especially disliked reprints of articles surveying upcoming monster movie releases, which by the time of the reprint had been out for years or never made.

But that said, there was so much other fun stuff (I especially liked the layout and look of the mag) that walking into the newsstand and spotting that little Phantom of the Opera indicia peeking out from other mags on the shelf was a special joy in my childhood: the new issue of FM had arrived. I'd stare at the cover, grab my copy and plunk down my 60 cents on the counter and make like a rocket on my bike for home. Dumping my bike out front, I'd burst through the front door ("Hi, Mom! Hi, Dad!"), tear into my room, slam the door and swan dive onto the bed with my copy of Famous Monsters in hand. Usually I'd linger over the Basil Gogos cover for a long time before turning to the contents: perusing the Fang Mail, photos in You Axed For It, questions for Professor Gruebeard, solve the Mystery Photo and read the latest fan info in the Graveyard Examiner. Finally I'd hit the features - - maybe a filmbook for a movie I had never seen but now own on multiple formats of home video. Finally, I'd scan the Captain Company ads for the neatest monster merchandise ever. When I was real little, I thought there must be a real live Captain Company store some place, chock full of monster goodies. It had to be the coolest place on earth. I dunno . . . during the years I read it, I never met an issue of Famous Monsters I didn't like.
GARY L. PRANGE

"Sic gorgiamus allos subjectos nunc."