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Live Events!

From time to time the HPLHS hosts live events at its global headquarters in Glendale, California. Click THIS LINK or the image above to see the current list of upcoming events.

HPL cartouche

R.I.P. H.P.L.

  • March 15, 2018

81 years ago today H.P. Lovecraft passed away. We are glad he lives on through his letters, his stories, and the influence he has had on generations of writers, artists, musicians, and dreamers of all kinds.

HPL's death certificate

Cree-Pee folder

  • March 8, 2018

We are in the manufacturing phase for our new Cree-Pee Lovecraftian portfolio. Above is a video of the press check at LA Impressions, the printer who has undertaken this insane project. They're adjusting the levels of brown ink, using white paper so as not to waste the precious goldenrod stock that the real folders will be printed on. Next will come custom die-cutting, then assembly, and we are on target to ship them in a week or two! Click here for more details and to pre-order!

Sterling

Troy Sterling Nies

  • March 8, 2018

We were delighted to see this genuine tintype of our very own composer extraordinaire, Troy Sterling Nies, taken by Los Angeles photographer Anton Orlov. Troy was in town not long ago to attend the screening of Aurora, a film for which he wrote the music, and this picture was taken to mark that august occasion.

Bad Medicine

Valdemar Cast

  • March 8, 2018

Dark Adventure Radio Theatre veterans John McKenna (center) and Barry Lynch (right) joined Sean Branney in the booth at The Jungle Room to record new material for the upcoming CD release of "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar". The story by Edgar Allan Poe is the middle chapter in the three-part anthology episode Bad Medicine, sandwiched between HPL's "Cool Air" and "The Picture in the House". We're currently in post-production now, working on all the prop documents, music and sound effects. We anticipate shipping the CDs in April! Pre-order to get the bonus prop document with your CD!

Bad Medicine

Bad Medicine

  • February 27, 2018

We are very pleased to announce that the next episode of Dark Adventure Radio Theatre will be "Bad Medicine". It is an anthology episode that features two stories by HPL, "Cool Air" and "The Picture in the House", and one by Edgar Allan Poe, "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar". We are now taking pre-orders and estimate the completed episode will be shipping in April. The artwork shown above is a temporary cover by our own Darrell Tutchton. He's working on the real cover art now.

"Valdemar" was released previously as a bonus episode for free download. We have made some changes for the CD version, so those of you who have already heard the free download version will get a new take on the story, along with the bonus props that we always include with the CD.

winning raffle number

Raffle 2018!

  • February 26, 2018

For the month of February we raffled off some original props from our various motion pictures to benefit hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico. Thank you so much to those who purchased tickets. Generous people from all over the world participated, buying a total of 3650 tickets and raising $7300 for the cause. Card-carrying HPLHS members who purchased 50 or more tickets, total, are eligible for a special bonus stamp and we will be working to send out those stamps as quickly as possible. HPLHS members and customers are amazing and we are inspired by you!

Congratulations to the winners of our four main raffle prizes: James B. of Stony Brook, N.Y.; Thomas P. of Portland, Ore.; Caleb L. of Toney, Alabama; and Kieran S. of Brookline, Mass. Eight runners-up received DVD copies of the movies in which the props appeared.

Although Hurricane Maria hit the island back in September, recovery has been slow and at least 30% of Puerto Rico is still without electricity. Many homes and businesses have been destroyed, too many people still lack access to safe drinking water and the other bare necessities of life. Our raffle is now over, but you can always consider donating directly to the relief agency of your choice.

Ryan Collection Ryan Collection

Ryan Art Collection Event

  • February 18, 2018

Joe and Maria Ryan brought some of their impressive collection of animation cels and comic art and turned HPLHS headquarters into an impromptu gallery this Saturday evening. Visitors were treated to up-close and personal glimpses of original works by Bernie Wrightson, Stephen R. Bissette, Mike Mignola and others. Thanks to Joe and Maria for sharing their collection and to those who attended!

Darby Dixon contribution

An Amazing Donation

  • February 12, 2018

HPLHS member Darby Dixon sent this amazing contribution to the Society's library: a 1930s booklet full of photos and inside information about Richard Byrd's second Antarctic expedition, including some fascinating advertisements from some of the many companies that provided supplies. Darby really knows how to send a package: a hand-typed letter on personal letterhead, sealed with wax and wrapped up in vintage airmail tape and retro postage stamps! If he hadn't already earned an Epistolarian bonus stamp we'd have to invent one for him! Lovecraft would have been wowed. Thanks, Darby!

Lee Ann and Reber Clark

Achtung! Cthulhu

  • February 2, 2018

This is the intrepid crew that gathered recently at global Headquarters to play a rousing round of Achtung! Cthulhu, the Call of Cthulhu gaming supplement by Modiphius. Keeper Sean Branney led the team through two sessions of WWII mayhem, and a grand time was had by all.

Check out Sean's review in our reviews section!

Håkan Torevik

Featured Member

  • February 1, 2018

Our Member of the Month for February 2018 is Håkan Torevik of Rättvik, Sweden.

Håkan says: "I was born in a boring small town in the west of Sweden and had a normal, boring childhood. However, at the age of nine I had my first literary revelation when my mother gave me a copy of The Hobbit. This has led me to a lifelong addiction to reading. The addiction to words had me scour the local library for the fantastic and the terrifying, so there among the shelves I first encountered the magic of HP Lovecraft a few years later.

The first fix was Skräckens Labyrinter, a collection of the master's short stories selected and translated by Swedish SF-legend Sam J Lundwall. I borrowed that many times over the years until I could afford to buy my own books by the master. One of the first stories I remember reading, which still is my favourite, is "The Colour Out of Space". Since then I have read his collected works numerous times and I keep returning to him, no matter how many other authors I read and like.

Out of the many wonderful things created by the HPL Historical Society my definite favourites are the Call of Cthulhu motion picture and the Dark Adventure Radio Theatre.

Since my discovery of HPL, I have grown up and moved to Stockholm to have a career in IT. After some years, I realized my city apartment didn’t fit all my books so we relocated to a 19th-century house overlooking the hinterlands of Dalecarlia in the middle of Sweden. My days are spent as a middle aged public servant and my nights are spent reading, cooking, playing the guitar (badly) and most importantly being the servant of an eight-year-old Cornish Rex cat goddess.

Deeply honoured to make your acquaintance!

(Note, that old grimoire in the back of the picture is most definitely NOT a copy of Olaus Wormius' translation into Latin of the Necronomicon)"

Lee Ann and Reber Clark

Visiting Dignitaries

  • January 28, 2018

Headquarters was graced today by a visit from another composer extraordinaire, Reber Clark, and his wife Lee Ann. Reber has written the scores for several episodes of Dark Adventure Radio Theatre, including "Herbert West—Reanimator" and "The Haunter of the Dark". Reber has also written film scores, orchestral pieces, and more which you can check out at his website. The Clarks were in town for a variety of business reasons and we were delighted that they made time to check out global headquarters on their trip!

Troy Sterling Nies

Visiting Dignitary

  • January 12, 2018

Headquarters was graced today by a visit from composer extraordinaire Troy Sterling Nies. Troy wrote the original score for our film of The Whisperer in Darkness as well as many episodes of Dark Adventure Radio Theatre. We first met him when he saved our musical bacon on The Call of Cthulhu and we're glad he's stuck with us all these years.

He's visiting Los Angeles to attend the premiere of another film for which he wrote the music: Aurora, directed by HPLHS member Thomas Negovan. It premieres tomorrow, January 13, at The Century Guild Museum of Art, 6150 Washington Blvd. in Culver City, CA. From 1pm - 5pm there will be tintype photography with Anton Orlov and an exhibition featuring props and concept/promotional art by Dave McKean • Brom • Gail Potocki • Jeremy Bastian • Andrew Ritchie • Douglas C. Klauba. The film screening starts at 6pm and will be followed by a Q & A with directors and cast/crew.

Greig Johnson pimps Bile Beans

Bile Beans

  • December 20, 2017

The very talented Greig Johnson (pictured) was kind enough to send this snapshot our way. For those of you who haven't listened, Bile Beans are one of the "sponsors" of our Dark Adventure Radio Theatre series, although, unlike the other ones, Bile Beans were a real product. The sign is in York, England, and has been for a great many years. It was restored in 1986 by the York Arts Forum, and has been kept freshly painted since then, even though Bile Beans are no longer manufactured and some of the residents of York are not entirely in favor.

For some more fun holiday cheer, you should definitely check out Greig's YouTube channel, maybe starting with "A Futuristmas Carol" or Christmas Power or his Classic Cartoon Christmas Special. Greig has also collaborated with HPLHS stalwart Chris Lackey of the H.P. Lovecraft Literary Podcast on a wonderful series of short Lovecraftian films that you can check out here!

Ken Shaw

Featured Member

  • December 11, 2017

Our Member of the Month for December 2017 is Kenneth Shaw of Brooklyn, New York.

Ken says: "I am a designer/animator for television living n H.P. Lovecraft's least favorite place to live, Brooklyn, NY. On the weekends I can be found in a print /shop in Gowanus screen printing. My prints often take their inspiration from works by Lovecraft and Poe.

I grew up in Connecticut and Massachusetts, connecting with H.P.L.'s image of a Gothic New England.

I first discovered Lovecraft in a comic adaptation of "Pickman's Model" I read when I was in junior high. H.P.L.'s name kept coming up even amidst the horror media available to a 13-year old in the early 80s. I found the classic Del Rey, gray and red Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre at my local Waldenbooks. I have to admit my attention span at the time made his writing challenging, but I kept returning to it. While reading "The Dunwich Horror"" I felt a key turn in my head and became hooked. I then discovered his hand was in many of the things I loved. Ridley Scott's Alien, John Carpenter's The Thing, Stephen King novels, comics and videogames to name a few.

I am thrilled to be selected as HPLHS Member of the month.

The camaraderie of Lovecraft enthusiasts is amazing. We have inherited not only a connection to his work, but his love of correspondence. The more I mention him online, the greater number of digital pen pals I have."

The HPLHS was proud to offer a limited edition of screen prints of "The Shadow Out of Time" by Ken in our online store, although they are no longer available. Be sure to check out Ken's portfolio online!