H.P. Lovecraft (1890-1937) is my hands down, all-time favorite writer, and I’ve been a Lovecraft fan since the age of 10, when I read a comic book version of Lovecraft’s 1921 story, “The Outsider.” I’ve been hooked on Lovecraft ever since and have wanted to join the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society ever since I learned of its existence.
Lovecraft is best known for his horror, fantasy and science fiction short stories, most of which were published in pulp magazines like “Weird Tales.” Lovecraft’s most famous story is arguably “The Call of Cthulhu.” Other well known Lovecraft tales include “The Shadow Over Innsmouth” (my personal favorite) and “At the Mountains of Madness.” His stories had a huge impact on later writers like Stephen King, Clive Barker, Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman and Mike Mignola.
The H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society was founded in 1984 and is currently based out of Glendale, Calif. Not only does the HPLHS work to promote Lovecraft’s work and memory, but they also engage in a lot of other Lovecraftian related activities. Members are heavily involved in role-playing, film and sound recording and prop making. It’s all in good fun. In fact, the HPLHS’s motto is “Ludo Fore Putavimus,” which is Latin for “We thought it would be fun.”
One of the best-known projects the society has pulled off was the production of a black and white, silent film version of “The Call of Cthulhu,” which came out in 2005. For more information about this movie, visit http://leepeacock2010.blogspot.com/2012/10/bucket-list-update-no-529-watch-silent.html.
Official membership in the society were discontinued in the 1990s, but were eventually brought back due to their popularity. Membership dues are only $20 a year and when you join, you receive a very cool, personalized 8x10 membership certificate, like the one pictured above. You also receive a cool, tri-fold membership card, which features the society’s tongue-in-cheek membership oath. The oath reads as follows:
ON MY HONOR I WILL DO MY BEST:
1. To honor and promote the works and legacy of H.P. Lovecraft, and celebrate the times in which he lived,
2. to preserve inviolate the secrets and solemn mysteries of the Society and its members, and to come to their aid whenever possible,
3. to bear in mind always the Society’s motto: “Ludo Fore Putavimus.”
Some of you may be asking yourselves why a grown man would spend good money on something like this. In my defense, I’m a lifelong Lovecraft fan, membership costs just $20, and I spent my birthday money on it this year. Membership is good for a year and costs just $10 to renew.
In the end, if you’re a Lovecraft fan and are interested in becoming a member of the HPLHS, visit the society’s officials Web site at www.cthulhulives.org. How many of you out there consider yourselves Lovecraft fans? What’s your favorite Lovecraft story? Let us know in the comments section below.
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