Inside the Collection: Meet Rudy Munis
Rudy's mask collection is a scream!
Oct. 13, 2024
We're stepping into a collector's crypt. Rudy's fascination with Halloween masks began when he was just a child during his days of dressing up and trick-or-treating. Today, he has a one-of-a-kind collection featuring vintage Halloween masks.
Rudy will show us some of his rarest masks, including three special masks from Halloween III, a classic Frankenstein mask that will give him a helping hand in his collection's value, and much more.
This collection isn't a trick; it's a treat! Take a look!
1. Verne Langdon Zombie Mask
This mask is truly something special—and not just for Rudy, but for any mask collector in the country!
This Verne Langdon zombie mask is considered one of the rarest of all time. Langdon, famous for creating masks in the 1960s, sculpted this piece in 1972.
The mask gained widespread attention after it was featured on the cover of Creepy magazine's 1972 annual issue, causing a frenzy among fans.
After the magazine’s release, it became one of the most sought-after masks of the decade—and for good reason!
Rudy was able to acquire the only known original copy of the mask. At the time, it was the most expensive mask he had ever purchased, costing about $12,000.
According to our expert, this mask would be worth around $24,000 today, but Rudy would never sell it. To him, it represents much more than just its rarity.
2. The Mummy B Mask
This is a classic Don Post Studios mask, called the Mummy B, produced in the late 1960s. There was an earlier version, Mummy A, made in the mid-1960s, but it was a bit too small, so a new version was crafted.
What makes this mask special is that the hands are the original mid-1960s hands, which are extremely rare to find in this good of condition. According to Rudy, it's one of only two known pairs in top-notch condition.
Some spooky season fans may recognize this mummy from the 1932 classic The Mummy, starring horror icon Boris Karloff.
According to our expert, this mask is considered extremely rare because of its beautiful condition—especially for a mummy with such great skin! He estimated its value at about $8,000.
3. Halloween lll Masks
These three masks are hauntingly rare! These cult classics went from flop to top, and they are among Rudy's favorites in his entire collection.
They are the Silver Shamrock masks from Halloween III.
These masks hold special meaning for him because they had been on his wishlist since he was about 10 years old. He first saw them in Fangoria, a horror film magazine, in the 1980s.
After decades of searching, he was finally able to find them in good condition.
These original masks are highly sought after because the film has become a cult classic over the years. It's the only film in the series without Michael Myers, so it initially didn’t perform as expected, but now it’s a significant part of horror history.
Our expert values these Halloween masks at $12,000.
4. Smooth Frankenstein Mask
Everyone can recognize this one—even Lisa!
This is an original Smooth Frankenstein mask made by Don Post Studios.
When the studio created the mask, they used the original movie prosthetics from Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), specifically from the scene when Frankenstein was on fire.
Originally made in 1967, this is the 1973 version, which is nearly identical. What makes it special is its unusual smooth appearance.
He found this mask from a collector and friend and would never sell it. It’s one of only two sets he has ever seen in this condition.
Our expert said it’s worth around $5,000 today.
They made three versions of this mask, and Rudy has all three, so even if this isn't the most expensive, he has more to go around!
5. Metaluna Mutant Mask
This mask is from This Island Earth (1955), and it represents the sci-fi section of Rudy's mask collection.
This was a wearable Halloween mask for children made by Don Post Studios. This is the very first version that Don Post released in 1966.
They have made others since, with several color variations over the years, but this green one is rare and is the only one he has been able to find.
When he originally got this, it was in poor condition, so he had to do a full restoration to fix it. Today, it looks brand new and maintains about 90% of its original finish. It took him several months to restore.
Today, it would be worth around $5,000, but he wouldn't sell it because it's part of history and reflects the time and energy he put into restoring it.
6. Heavy Metal Mask Prototype
This alien mask is a mass-produced mask that came out in 1983 by Distortions Unlimited. In the mask world, it’s a highly sought-after and collectible piece.
He wanted this mask since he was 10 or 12 years old. There aren’t many of these around anymore, which drives people to pay a lot of money for them—including Rudy!
The other mask is the prototype made by Rick Stratton, a legendary special effects artist who worked on Beetlejuice, Star Trek, and more.
He created it in 1981, and it was originally designed to be heavy metal before being mass-produced. It’s extremely rare, and only a handful remain. Most people who collect this type of memorabilia have never seen it before.
Today, it would be worth around $10,000.
7. The total value of Rudy's collection:
