Face Front, True Believer!
Here's a digitially-remastered and restored print based on the HTF poster from January 5th, 1972, the MARVEL-ous night when Stan Lee and the Marvel Bullpen filled Carnegie Hall with song and story!From the Bullpen Bulletins that ran in all July, 1972 Marvel comic books:
"ITEM: January 5, 1972! Mark that date in your memory-book, faithful one - 'cause that's the night the batty Bullpen got it all together at Carnegie Hall, in the hectic heart of New York City!
As we told you last month, the whole magilla was called 'A MARVEL-OUS EVENING WITH STAN LEE' - and it was a way-out compendium of music, magic, and madcap Marvel mayhem!
Smilin' Stan himself was Master of Ceremonies - presiding over the frantic goings-on while images of mighty Marvel superheroes flitted across a giant movie screen.
A trio of our titanic artists got into the act, too, as Jazzy Johnny Romita, Happy Herb Trimpe, and Big John Buscema did sensational sketches of Captain America, ol' Greenskin, and Thor - which in turn were projected onto that selfsame screen. (There was a passel of our cavortin' characters in actual attendance, too, including Spidey, Daredevil, Doc Doom, and even J. Jonah Jameson himself!)
The standing-room-only crowd exploded with applause, also, at the roster of famous names who had gathered to pay homage to the madness that is Marvel: World-famous film director Alain Resnais translated a few of Silver Surfer's soliloquies into his native French; and there were also a few pungent paragraphs about our heroes which were intoned by radio personalities Alec Bennett and Earl Doud, by actors Rene Aberjonois and Chuck McCann (you've seen the latter a zillion times as the 'Hi Guy' neighbor on the other side of the medicine cabinet in those Right Guard commercials), and neo-journalist Tom Wolfe, resplendent in red, white, and blue as he read about - you guessed it - Captain America.
As for the music mentioned about, most of it was provided by the far-famed Chico Hamilton and the Players - but some more Marvel Madmen got into the act, too, as Hectic Herbie and Bashful Barry Smith plunked a couple of wild electric guitars while Rascally Roy Thomas belted out a rousin' rocker or two!
Then, for the grand finale, just about everybody in the blamed Bullpen crowded onto stage to sing the Merry Marvel Marching Society theme-song - while, not to be outdone, dozens of cheering fans rushed onstage as well, and the show closed amid a revel of handshaking and autograph signing all 'round.
And that was that!
All in all, it was a wildly successful evening - and not necessarily the last of its kind, either!
And, if there were a few bleary eyes and sore throats among the Bullpenners come the morning of the 6th - well, that's show biz, people!"
With astounding art by Merry Marie Severin, this poster is a funky composite of major Marvel stars as of 1972!
Top Row: Captain America, DareDevil, Mr. Fantastic, Ant-Man
Second Row: Dr. Strange, Information, Spider-Man, Thor
Third Row: Falcon, Invisible Girl, Hulk, Sub-Mariner
Forth Row: Dormammu, Iron Man, Nick Fury, Human Torch
Bottom Row: Black Widow, Thing, Silver Surfer, Conan
Available as a magnificent high-end print here.
The perfect centerpiece to your comics library or bedroom!
Or, if you're looking for something a bit more discreet (and less expensive), there's always a t-shirt emblazoned with the image...
Since I was an audience member 1972, I do recall at the end of the Carnegie Hall presentation a non MARVEL COMICS an actor I presume was costumed as a competing Super-Hero from a rival Comics Company named Superman appeared ......
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