1977 meets 1999 with a THUNDEROUS clap!
If you would have told 11 year old me, that one day, I would be in my favorite magazine WITH my favorite rock-n-roll band on the cover(s), I would have told you (and I quote) "umm, yeah, RIGHT?!...shut up."
Well in 1999, it actually happened...here's a brief history.
In 1991, I cofounded a 'Garage-Kit' Company with my best friend from college, Dan Platt, called Barker Brothers because we were both HUGE fans of Human Oddities and Circus Sideshows/Freakshows etc. We specialized in Resin Model kits of Sideshow performers and other mythological creatures, while everyone else did kits based on Classic Horror and Sci-Fi films. Dan was working in Film SP/FX and I was a toy designer at Mattel. In 1994 we created an event called: The Mad Model Party 
which introduced us to an entire world of like minded weirdos and some insanely talented/creative people that I still call friends to this day. Then, around 1994 we changed the name to Sideshow Productions, because we thought it sounded better than Barker Brothers (which unbeknown to us at the time was the name of a defunct furniture retailer in Southern California!) and still maintained our love for the Freakshow. Then in 1995, Sideshow Productions officially incorporates and becomes Sideshow Inc., Greg Anzalone comes on board to manage the business so Dan and I can concentrate on the creative. It is now that we secure our first license- Bernie Wrightson, and I officially leave Mattel to focus on Sideshow....and that's when things really start to take off. Fast forward to 1998, Greg is able to land our first STUDIO license: Universal's Classic Monsters! At this time my role within the company has officially morphed into Creative Director/Art Director/Lead Designer/Supreme Nerd...I wore many hats. So, I designed and art directed every Classic Monster toy & collectible, packaging, promotional materials etc that we did for that line. This brings us to Famous Monsters of Filmland, and how that 11 year old me, shit his pants.
The Mad Model Party 1994: Dan & Yours Truly (channeling my inner Frank Zappa), posing with our childhood hero: founding editor of Famous Monsters of Filmland, Forrest 'Uncle Forry' Ackerman!
which introduced us to an entire world of like minded weirdos and some insanely talented/creative people that I still call friends to this day. Then, around 1994 we changed the name to Sideshow Productions, because we thought it sounded better than Barker Brothers (which unbeknown to us at the time was the name of a defunct furniture retailer in Southern California!) and still maintained our love for the Freakshow. Then in 1995, Sideshow Productions officially incorporates and becomes Sideshow Inc., Greg Anzalone comes on board to manage the business so Dan and I can concentrate on the creative. It is now that we secure our first license- Bernie Wrightson, and I officially leave Mattel to focus on Sideshow....and that's when things really start to take off. Fast forward to 1998, Greg is able to land our first STUDIO license: Universal's Classic Monsters! At this time my role within the company has officially morphed into Creative Director/Art Director/Lead Designer/Supreme Nerd...I wore many hats. So, I designed and art directed every Classic Monster toy & collectible, packaging, promotional materials etc that we did for that line. This brings us to Famous Monsters of Filmland, and how that 11 year old me, shit his pants.
Because this all happened in the days before Social Media, you and your company lived or died based on paid advertising and/or product reviews and mentions in various publications and this new thing called the internet and it's websites. BUT since we were a small company pouring all available cash into actually keeping the lights on, that left little to no money for legitimate advertising in the toy magazines, so Greg had to think of various ways-to get our name out there, and then people could see how fucking awesome our stuff was, and purchase it...keeping our lights on a little longer.
Well, in 1999, Greg was able to convince the new editor of Famous Monsters of Filmland,' my childhood bible' Ray Ferry, to come to the studio and meet with us and possibly write a piece about Sideshow Toy. We thought it would be a perfect fit for the magazine, since we had released our first collection of Classic Monster toys to great acclaim the year before, and now we could share for the first time what we were planning for the follow up, we'd share concept renderings, sculpts etc. Unfortunately, Ray was the new editor, Uncle Forry was forced from his role with the magazine, much to my dismay. Greg, myself, Mat Falls & Robin Ferguson did lengthy interviews, sharing concept renderings, rough sculpts and finished prototypes to make for a great article for the newly relaunched magazine.
Ray printed some of Robin's packaging concepts but none of my concept sketches/renderings...which pissed me off...considering how long I spoke with him and what I shared. At least Greg and Mat were kind enough to mention me in their conversations or there would be no record (in this magazine) of my involvement. I felt really bad for Robin, who handled all packaging and promotional materials for the product line...who didn't even get a mention.
But what are you gonna do? The bottom line, I had my name AND the toys I designed, printed in my 'childhood bible' AND it was the issue that happened to have my favorite childhood band on the friggin' cover(s)!!!!
I was proud of myself...even though he didn't print any of MY interview!
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