Son of Dracula and Frankenstein's Daughter

Above, a couple of jolly fellows: Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff.

Since Halloween is a week away, I thought I would pay a little salute to the Son of Dracula and Frankenstein's Daughter.

No, they are not the movies of those same names, but rather they are the offspring of Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi: Bela Lugosi Jr. and Sara Karloff. Thankfully, both are still with us and are in their 80s.

Above, Bela G. Lugosi (or Bela Lugosi Jr.) at the 2013 Son of Monsterpalooza. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I had met both at Monsterpalooza or Son of Monsterpalooza in Burbank, California years ago. Of the two, I had a conversation with Bela Lugosi, Jr. (Sara Karloff was too busy signing for fans). The conversation ranged from his father's work to when I saw him listed in the White Pages phone book of the Airport Area of Los Angeles. Where I lived, Hawthorne, and where he lived, Inglewood, were both in the directory. I told him I thumbed through the phone book and saw him listed as Bela G. Lugosi. This was back in the 1960s. (I even found a "Frankenstein" listed in the phone book.) He was unfamiliar with Akira Takarada, he asked me about him when he saw a signed poster I had from Takarada. Takarada had a table nearby. 

He is most notable for the legal case of Lugosi vs. Universal Pictures that led to the creation of the California Celebrities Rights Act. 

Above, Sara Karloff at the 2012 Monsterpalooza. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While Bela Jr. is an attorney, Sara Karloff followed in her father's footsteps and became an actress. She appeared in My Lovely Monster (1991), Deader Country (2009) and The Witch's Dungeon: 40 Years of Chills (2006) according to IMDb.

Universal Sued By Chaney Heirs Over Merchandising and Royalties

From the grave, dead actors demand their fair share of merchandising and royalty money Universal Studios is making off their likenesses.

Well, not exactly.  It is the heirs of the dead actors who are demanding their fair share of merchandising and royalty money made off the deceased's likeness.

Above, Lon Chaney, Jr.

Before, it was Bela G. Lugosi and Sara Karloff.  Now, it is the family (i.e., heirs) of Lon Chaney, Jr. who are after Universal Studios.

According to Deadline Hollywood:

The heirs of Old Hollywood continue to want today’s studios to pay up. Legendary horror movie actor Lon Chaney Jr’s family today went after Universal in the courts for more than $1 million in damages.

I guess there's wads of cash to be made. This year alone, I've seen the Chaney family's (company name: Chaney Entertainment) elaborate merchandise set-ups at the Mad Monster Party in Charlotte, North Carolina and at Monsterpalooza in Burbank, California. I have to admit, they have some pretty cool stuff!

Apparently, Universal breached an expired agreement (a representation agreement expired on December 31, 2008) between them and Chaney Entertainment. They continued to use the Lon Chaney, Jr. rights after the agreement expired allegedly without permission.

To read the full article, go here.

"The Black Cat" At Grauman's Chinese Theater

Above, Sara Karloff at Monsterpalooza.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Hollywood was my destination last night for "Kirk Hammett and Mad Monster Party Present The Black Cat" at Grauman's Chinese Theater.  It featured Hammett, Sara Karloff and Bela Lugosi Jr.

It was an enjoyable event as this marked the first time I set foot into the main auditorium of the theater since I attended the world premiere of Godzilla Final Wars in 2004.

The program began with a screening of a film of Metallica's Kirk Hammett's monster collection hobby.  When I saw the huge painting of a young and dapper Bela Lugosi (the portrait was once owned by Lugosi) in Hammett's collection, I wondered what might have been going though Bela Lugosi Jr.'s mind.  The portrait ended up with Hope Lugosi after Bela Sr. died and Bela Jr. wanted it.  After he had allegedly hounded her to help pay for litigation over his father's image over a span of several years, she was determined that he never got the portrait.  At least, that's how the story goes.

Following Hammett's film, a talk on The Black Cat and the careers of Karloff and Lugosi began, featuring their children and Hammett.  Unfortunately, we couldn't hear too much of Lugosi Jr. and Ms. Karloff as they either spoke too softly or the sound system was off-kilter.  This was finished off with a video of Sara Karloff's home movies which featured the only known color footage of Boris Karloff as the Monster in Son of Frankenstein.

After this, The Black Cat was shown.  It was interesting seeing this movie on the big screen.  I never noticed tears on Bela Lugosi's face as he gazed at the embalmed body of his wife before.

Mad Monster Party magazine and Kirk Hammett did a great job in putting the event together.  My grade: A.

Monsterpalooza 2013 - Part 2

Above, Kong dominates the Monsterpalooza Museum.

Text and photos by Armand Vaquer

Along with King Kong, there seemed to be a lot of Erik from The Phantom of the Opera.  The Chaney Family had a booth there as did Sara Karloff and Bela Lugosi Jr.

I was pleased to meet and be photographed with Academy Award winning actor Martin Landau.  I also saw 2001: A Space Odyssey stars Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood.  I had met Gary Lockwood before when I used to patrol in Malibu.  He lives at one of our gated community accounts in Point Dume.

Back in the day, I used to pick up copies of G-Fan at the Creature Features store in Burbank to do the  highlights summaries for kaiju message boards (as issues tended to be slow in coming).  They closed down about 7-8 years ago.  They had a booth at the show and they are now open in Arcadia, California.  We talked a little and perhaps they will be carrying The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan at their store.

Here's some more from opening day:

Above, a rather well-done replica Robby the robot from "Forbidden Planet."

Above, the crew of the "Orca" from 1975's "Jaws."  Great likenesses of
Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss.

Above, yours truly with Academy Award winner (for his role as Bela Lugosi in "Ed Wood")  Martin Landau.

Above, Erik and Christine from "The Phantom of the Opera."

Above, I took this photo because this reminds me of a co-worker in Malibu.

Monsterpalooza 2012

Above, The Monster confronts Elizabeth in "Frankenstein" in Monsterpalooza's  Museum.

It was another fun Monsterpalooza in Burbank this year.  I attended yesterday afternoon.  The crowds waiting to get in were huge, despite an occasional downpour.

The first person I recognized was Godzilla suit-maker Shinichi Wakasa.  We chatted a bit over at The Daily Grill, the Burbank Marriott's restaurant.  I introduced longtime G-FEST volunteer Barbara Weiler to him.

While waiting to get in, a gent in a homemade Gill-man suit entertained people in line (below).

Once inside, I made my way to Mondo Cult magazine's table and met with Jessie Lilley.  Earlier, I had Don Glut snap this shot of actor/writer/film historian Ted Newsom and me (below).

Wandering around, I found that the usual great exhibits one expects at Monsterpalooza were in abundance.   Mike Hill's life-size sculptures (below) of Jack Pierce (with The Mummy) and Rick Baker (with An American Werewolf In London) were terrific.

Naturally, Monsterpalooza had celebritites and big names in the horror genre in abundance.  Sara Karloff (daughter of Boris) had a table (below) as did Bela Lugosi Jr.

After meandering around the vendor areas, I made my way into Monsterpalooza's Museum.  Here's some of the highlights in the museum:

Above, several portraits of Boris Karloff, Vincent Price and Al Lewis.

Above, "Avatar."

Above, Godzilla was represented by this huge sculpture.

Above, The Monster and Henry Frankenstein struggle on the mill.


Following the Museum, I made my way to the autograph section where I obtained this autographed photo of actress Caroline Munro (from 1977's The Spy Who Loved Me) with Roger Moore (below).

And, had a photo taken with her:

After this, I had to dash off to pick up my roomie in Pasadena. Monsterpalooza continues today and tomorrow. 


 If you can, head out to Burbank and have yourself a great time!

Boris Karloff's "Thriller" On DVD

Boris Karloff was known as the Frankenstein monster, the Mummy and a variety of ghouls during his career. In 1960-62, he hosted the anthology series, Thriller, on NBC-TV.

The Los Angeles Times is reporting:

Karloff served up plenty of suspense and thrills as host and frequent star of the 1960-62 NBC anthology series "Thriller." The entire 67 episodes are being released Tuesday [The day before yesterday - A.] on DVD from Image Entertainment. Though not as strong as the landmark anthology series of the era — "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and "The Twilight Zone" — "Thriller" offers some pretty terrific tales.

The article discusses Karloff's career and includes comments by his daughter Sara Karloff.

To read the full article, go here.