# Don Post

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American mask maker and prop fabricator (1902–1979)

Don Post Sr. Born Donald Post Sr. (1902-03-14)March 14, 1902 Connecticut, U.S. Died November 17, 1979(1979-11-17) (aged 77) Encino, Los Angeles, U.S. Occupations Mask maker, prop fabricator

**Donald Post Sr.** (March 14, 1902 – November 17, 1979) was an American mask maker and prop fabricator. In 1938, he founded the [Halloween](/source/Halloween) mask company Don Post Studios, creating the first commercially sold full over-the-head latex rubber masks.

## Career

Born in 1902, Post founded Don Post Studios in 1938 in [Chicago](/source/Chicago), [Illinois](/source/Illinois), initially producing masks for films and stage productions, as well as simple face masks. The Studio later moved to [California](/source/California). In 1963, the studio became an official licensee of [Universal Studios](/source/Universal_Studios) for a new line of Universal Monsters Characters masks, the "Universal Horrors". In 1965, Post released a deluxe version of the line, with more lifelike faces by man sculpture Pat Newman, and hand-laid hair instead of the previously used sculpted hair. The 1965 creations were dubbed the "Calendar Masks" after the *1966 Monster Calendar* on which they appeared. This increased the studio's popularity. [\[1\]](https://monstermasks.blogspot.com/2010/10/monster-calendar-don-post-masks.html)

Their mask of actor and wrestler [Tor Johnson](/source/Tor_Johnson) became their best-selling mask of all time, starting in 1966 and ending in 1994.

In 1967, the Studio (including master make-up artist [John Chambers](/source/John_Chambers_(make-up_artist))) sculpted a 7'5" [King Kong](/source/King_Kong) statue, that was the biggest monster statue made for a Wax Museum. The finished latex armature casting was then purchased by the Hollywood Wax Museum in [Niagara Falls](/source/Niagara_Falls), where it remains to this day.[\[2\]](https://monstermasks.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-masks-of-famous-monsters-issue-42.html)

In 1978, the studio released a *[Star Wars](/source/Star_Wars_(film))* mask line, made of heavy vinyl.[\[3\]](https://monstermasks.blogspot.com/2013/06/1978-faces-of-star-wars-mask-ad.html)

Earlier in 1975, Don Post Studios released a *[Star Trek](/source/Star_Trek%3A_The_Original_Series)*line, consisting of [Captain Kirk](/source/Captain_Kirk) and [Spock](/source/Mr._Spock) masks derived from the actors' life casts, as well as ones representing a [mugato](/source/Mugato), a [Gorn](/source/Gorn) and the [salt vampire](/source/Salt_vampire). The Kirk mask, was purchased and modified for the mask of the murderer [Michael Myers](/source/Michael_Myers_(Halloween)) in the 1978 [slasher](/source/Slasher_film) film *[Halloween](/source/Halloween_(franchise)).* [\[4\]](https://screenrant.com/halloween-william-shatner-franchise-appearance/) In 1982, the studio created masks for the third *[Halloween film](/source/Halloween_(franchise))*, *[Halloween III: Season of the Witch](/source/Halloween_III%3A_Season_of_the_Witch)*.

## Legacy

After Don Post's passing in 1979, the company was taken over by his son, Don Post Jr. From the early 2000s to 2012, the company was property of its parent company Paper Magic Group. In 2012, after 73 years in business, it was announced that the company would be shut down. The liquidation auction included most of the company's molds and foam masters. In 2023, the company was acquired by Trick or Treat Studios.[\[5\]](https://trickortreatstudios.com/blogs/it-came-from-the-blog/trick-or-treat-studios-acquires-don-post-studios-topstone-industries-and-more)

Today, Don Post Studios creations are highly sought after by collectors. Post inspired many make-up artists, costume designers, and mask makers.

## Notes

## External links

- [Don Post](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14222738) at [Find a Grave](/source/Find_a_Grave)

- [Don Post](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0692819/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

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