The Halloween movie poster artwork is so iconic that when you talk to movie poster memorabilia collectors, Halloween is usually in their top 15 most wanted movie posters…and that is not just horror collectors, that is all poster memorabilia collectors. The Halloween artwork IS important in the success of Halloween. I’ve been talking to Bob Gleason, the artist of the artwork and he let me in on how he created this legendary image.
Bob came up with the design himself. I told Bob that I read that Irwin Yablans said he drew something down on a napkin and Bob emphatically said that he came up with the design and as a matter of fact, they wanted the mask as the artwork. Bob said he was thinking of a very sinister image…a striking, shocking image almost. The hand in the image, that is Bob’s hand.
A full image of the Halloween transparency.
So, Bob drew this up and the Ad Agency came in and saw what he did and said that they didn’t like it; a week later they showed back up and said they’ll take it. Bob said he delivered this to the Ad Agency on a rainy day; he brought it in and the exec. walked right up and took it; he never saw it again and that was it…he left. No thanks, no handshake…nothing.
During my conversation with Bob I brought up the face in the hand and he let me in on a secret…he never knew it was there; totally never even thought of. I told Bob that I had a transparency of the original artwork and sent him a copy of it…he was very grateful that someone actually thought something that he created was iconic; Bob never kept track of this artwork…never knowing what it had become.
I will be sending Bob a very high definition copy of this artwork so maybe he can make this available for the fans of image he created; maybe he’ll offer to get it transferred on canvas and autographed by him. I also asked him if he ever thought about maybe recreating the artwork or maybe even adding on to the existing artwork and he said that would be a possibility. Also, attending conventions was discussed and that is a possibility as well.
There are so many people involved with Halloween’s success and I think it’s about time Bob is fully recognized for what he has created.
Bob was asked in the early 1980’s to create a comedy spoof of the Halloween artwork for another movie entitled “Whacco”, a Halloween knock off comedy. Below is the artwork he created for the poster. Again, a different Ad Exec. didn’t like the artwork because there was no blood was on it so he was asked to add blood to it, he refused and they, on a separate transparency added blood to the tip of the banana. I don’t think the blood was necessary.
I never knew the name of the artist who created the Halloween poster art and I’m sure many others didn’t either, so it’s cool that more recognition will be coming his way.
The “Whacco” poster art is very cool, has sort of a Norman Rockwell touch to it.
I’ve vaguely heard about the “face in the hand” before, but I’m not really able to see it. I feel like Willam on Mallrats. Lol.
Billy, thanks a ton for posting that. A great read and something I did not know. Just when I thought I’d heard everything. I’d greatly like to see Bob do some cons and sell some artwork. The man deserves all the credit for creating such an iconic image.
Great stuff Billy!..if memory serves the original art sold at auction several years ( 5?) ago. It did not sell for a ton of money, several thousand I think. I remember being broke but really pizzed I didnt try harder…oh well…Larry
I have that image tattooed on me and yet never looked into who was responsible for the artwork.This was a great read for sure.Thanks a bunch for posting this **
Thanks guys. My hope is that my transparency will someway open doors to new things being developed by the original creator. How cool would it be to have this artwork on a canvas autoed by the man himself…badass if you ask me. Also, think about incorporating something new into the design by Bob.
Here is a Stevie Wonder album that Bob designed. Upon meeting with Stevie, Bob said that Stevie suggested about 20 things he would like on cover and Bob incorporated them in with the piano keys being the narrative.
