There are conflicting dates recorded for when The Monster Squad had it’s official movie premiere party, at least if you go by the dates associated with celebrity sitings at the event (I’ve seen June 3rd and August 11th, 1987 as potential dates.) But I do know that it was held at the Hard Rock in Hollywood and there was an interesting mix of A-B list celebrities that came out for the flick. Though normally I wouldn’t find this terribly interesting, it’s kind of neat that the production brought out actors to portray the monsters in costume for the event and I believe they ended up using the Stan Winston suits and appliances for at least the Gillman, Wolfman, and Mummy, and I think Frankenstein’s Monster as well.
So, who showed up for the event? Michael Douglas for one…
Also, Arnold-freaking-Schwarzenegger!
I’m not sure but based on these two photos it looks like there were either a couple of different stand-ins for Duncan Regehr playing the part of Dracula (both of which look like Joe Flaherty’s Count Floyd from SCTV)…
…it’s either that or maybe there were two premiere parties for the movie. One of my favorite celebrity sitings at the party is none other than Kiefer Sutherland who was hot off the release of The Lost Boys. I love the idea of him hitting up other horror flicks at the time, specifically this film…
“Look out David, there’s a Wolfman behind you!”
Now I kinda want to see a battle between the Lost Boys vampires and the monsters from the Monster Squad, but I am way too old to be writing fanfic. I’ll just leave that one in my head…
This next set of pictures I have features Michelle Phillips from the band The Mamas & The Papas who had a run in with the Gillman, which make for some really neat photos. The keen observer will notice Jason Hervey (EJ in the film) in the background too!
Next, here’s a picture of Andre Gower attending the premiere in his rad Stephen King shirt and Crew jacket…
I also have this super rad clipping from the August 1987 issue of Teen Set magazine featuring Gower, Drew Barrymore, Kirk Cameron, Jason Lively (from Night of the Creeps), and director Fred Dekker!
Lastly, here’s another picture of Fred Dekker (with his family), which is one of the few shots of him I was able to find from the time in and around the making of The Monster Squad…
So, based on Dekker’s outfits being different in the two photos I think this points to the fact that there were at least two premiere screenings events for the flick.
Other guests that attended that night included Billy Crystal, Meatloaf, and Regis Philbn and family. Unfortunately there are no photos of them being accosted by monsters (damn!) Star Studded indeed…
So without further to do, here’s today’s trading card!
Today’s card is #8, Dracula!