Paul Blaisdell

Paul Blaisdell (July 21, 1927 – July 10, 1983) was an American painter, sculptor and visual effects creator, best remembered for his work in science fiction and horror B movies of the 1950s.

Paul Blaisdell
Born(1927-07-21)July 21, 1927
Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.
DiedJuly 10, 1983(1983-07-10) (aged 55)
Topanga, California, U.S.
OccupationVisual effects creator, actor
Years active1955–1959
Spouse(s)Jackie Blaisdell

Life and career

Blaisdell was born in Newport, Rhode Island in 1927, and grew up in Quincy, Massachusetts. He sketched and built models since early childhood, and eventually attended the New England School of Art and Design in Boston. Following his graduation, he married his wife Jackie and they moved to California, where he worked for Douglas Aircraft; on the side, he drew artwork for various science fiction magazines, eventually meeting noted literary agent - and founding creative director/editor of the long-running monster magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland - Forrest J Ackerman, who ended up becoming his agent.

In 1955, Blaisdell was hired to create the creature effects for Roger Corman's low-budget film The Beast with a Million Eyes, after which he spent several years designing the monsters for a number of B movies, earning a reputation for working quickly and cheaply. In many cases, he was also the actor portraying the respective creature on screen. However, after a few years, he became disenchanted with the business. Blaisdell, together with film editor/archivist/actor Bob Burns, formed the company Black Shield, to publish the Famous Monsters-inspired magazine Fantastic Monsters Of The Films for seven issues during 1962-63, for which Jim Harmon and Ron Haydock edited and wrote text. He gave up on the magazine when the plates for the eighth issue were destroyed in a fire at his printers. Eventually he quit all involvement in movie culture to work as a carpenter instead.

He died of stomach cancer at the age of 55 in Topanga, California in 1983.[1]

Filmography

Effects

Acting

References
  1. The Strange Creature of Topanga Canyon: Paul Blaisdell, His Life and Times (Tor.com, 2011)
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