Listen up, all you boys and ghouls! Some very awesome props from the iconic HBO horror anthology seriesTales from the Cryptare now up for auction. And they can be yours if the price is right. Makeup effects legend Kevin Yagher is emptying his garage, and dusting off some iconic pieces of TV history. And they include the creepy babyCrypt Keeper. Who wouldn’t want this little darling crawling around the house?
Kevin Yagher is credited with designing and executing the original Chucky doll forChild’s Play. But perhaps a bigger part of his legacy is the fact that he designed the iconic Crypt Keeper, the animatronic host ofHBO’s legendary series Tales from the Crypt. The man’s list of credits is incredibly impressive. He created Station forBill and Ted’s Bogus Journey, and is responsible for the fan-favorite redesign Freddy Krueger received inA Nightmare on Elm Street 2. Now, some of his greatest creations can be yours, if you have deep enough pockets.
Kevin Yagher, who directed the underrated sequelHellraiser: Bloodline, is one of the historical leaders in the practical effects industry. He has started to open up his archives, and is now sharing some photos and memories on social media. He’s also opened up a cool online shop, where he is selling many of his one-of-a-kind creations. These are all true pieces of art that were used on screen.
Yagher just recently opened up aTales from the Cryptsection in his shop. The items include the mechanical baby Crypt Keeper that was featured in the episodeLower Berth. This episode is rather notable because Kevin Yagher himself directed it. He is also auctioning off the two-faced head from the same episode. And he has a recreation of Jon Lovitz’s face from the episodeTop Billing.
Yagher goes onto note that the Crypt Keeper baby understructure was screen used. Perhaps most notable is that the baby has a set of eyes that were borrowed from an original Chucky puppet, as seen inChild’s Play, and never returned.Lower Berthis notable in that it tells the story of the Crypt Keeper’s birth. The animatronic used to be covered in foam latex skin, but rotted away over time.
Also up for auction is a Vincent Schiavelli head that was screen used in the episodeMourin' Mess, where Vincent plays a homeless man who gets eaten by ghouls. There are also a set of three more masks from thisTales from the Crypt episodewhich are based on the likeness of Tom Hank’s wife Rita Wilson, Frank Kopyc and Nick Angotti, who all appeared in the episode with Schiavelli.
Along withTales from the Crypt, Kevin Yagher also has quite a few very cool props available fromBill and Ted’s Bogus Journey, including the original Station heads. He also has items forHellraiser: Bloodline,Man’s Best Friend, and a few selected pieces fromStarship Troopers. If you want to make an offer to get these items in your home, you can visitKevin Yagher’s online shop.
