Film aficionado Mark Roberts has uncovered a true horror relic.
As Halloween nears its 40th anniversary – John Carpenter’s iconic slasher originally birthed a legacy back in 1978 – Roberts has uncovered the ice-white mask worn by Michael Myers all those years ago. It’s a film prop that belongs in a museum, really, and from what we understand, this is our first peek at the legendary item in all its glory since 2003. Nevertheless, it seems Myers’ mask has been placed in good hands, as the spine-chilling prop is still in remarkably good condition.
While appearing on Michael-Myers.net (via Bloody Disgusting) to discuss the mask and its time-honored legacy, Mark Roberts recalled how he came into possession of the prop in the first place.
I have been building and running haunts for the last 26 years. About 20 years ago I got in contact with an agent who represented Dick Warlock and asked about booking Dick for an appearance at my haunt. So I set up to have Dick at the haunt and his agent said he had the mask and costume from the movie and would wear it at the appearance. When Dick came to the haunt, he was mad at his agent because he said he does not wear the costume for appearances. He did tell me that he still had the costume, boots, mask, butcher knife and scalpel and that he would sell it; he just didn’t bring them out for appearances.
He continued:
Dick was great with the haunted house customers and hanging out with Dick and Cathy for the weekend was a lot of fun and it went so well we set it up for him to come back the next year. I’m not sure if it was after the 1st or second year but I called Dick up and we made a deal for me to purchase the mask, costume, boots, scalpel and knife. My wife and I went to Dick’s house and picked up the mask and costume. It really is amazing that Dick thought to keep that stuff and take care of it; when I went to pick it up, he had kept the mask stored in an Elvis Presley tin container.
As you’ll be able to see from the gallery above, Myers’ grubby boots and weapon of choice have also aged remarkably well. How does Mark Roberts manage to keep his rare collectibles in such good nick? An air-tight container, for one, while Roberts also takes all necessary precautions to ensure the mask – along with those boots and blade – are protected from all forms of decay.
Halloween, meanwhile, will be back in theaters late next year, when David Gordon Green will be directing Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer and, potentially, Zac Efron. October 19th, 2018 is the date for your diaries.