Picture Show
Movie Scene:
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein
A wonderfully evocative scene showcasing Bela Lugosi and Glenn Strange in their iconic horror roles. Lugosi was perfect at playing the timing and the mechanics of both straight and funny horror roles, and his Dracula persona here is an excellent example of his ability to lighten up or go darker as needed for the role (any role) he was given.
Karloff, Stuart, and Bond
In The Old Dark House
Acquired this gem of a photograph, with Boris Karloff, Gloria Stuart, and Lilian Bond in a scene from The Old Dark House, from ebay; once again, from David J. Skal. Looking forward to his future offerings 😉
Here's Mr. Skal's listing details:
"For Karloff completists: a rarely seen image of Karloff, Gloria Stuart, and Lilian Bond in James Whale's THE OLD DARK HOUSE (1933). A crisp repro 8×10 bordered darkroom print on traditional fiber paper (not resin-coated). In immaculate condition (item is a barely handled file copy acquired by seller in the 1980s). Image has sharp contrast with no negative flaws, specks, or scratches in image. Only markings (on reverse) are film title and two small reference numbers in light pencil, with very small gray corner smudge (also on reverse). Seller has never seen image in any book or magazine."
Dracula: Bela Lugosi and Dwight Frye
I acquired this photograph of a deleted scene from Dracula, courtesy of David J. Skal, through eBay.
Here's Mr. Skal's listing details:
"This is such an iconic horror image it's easy to forget that scene doesn't actually appear in the final release print of Universal's 1931 horror classic DRACULA. Short scene of Renfield (Dwight Frye) pledging his fealty to Dracula (Bela Lugosi) appears in the shooting script, was recorded as filmed (by the numbered scene still), but was cut from the release print for unknown reasons. The footage itself has been lost, and this photo is all that remains. Item is an older print (from the 1970s) on 8×10 glossy fiber stock, bordered, in pristine condition (has been carefully stored for the last twenty years). Custom darkroom print with unusually nice gray scale–the folds of Dracula's cape, for instance, are sharply visible. No marks, crimps, pinholes. or damage of any kind. A few very small spots in background are negative artifacts, not a flaw of the print. From the personal research collection of David J. Skal, author of HOLLYWOOD GOTHIC and THE MONSTER SHOW."
Lon Chaney as Frankenstein Monster
I recently acquired this dramatic Lon Chaney Jr as Frankenstein’s Monster photograph from noted monsterkid David J. Skal through his eBay listing. Now if only Lon Chaney could have delivered this mood in Ghost of Frankenstein, that would have been wonderful to see.
Here’s Mr. Skal’s listing note:
“This dramatic portrait of Lon Chaney, Jr. as the monster in GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN (1942) was the central for several image-flopped original posters, including some international ones. The posters would have been vastly better had they retained the full shadowy impact of the original photo! This is a midcentury darkroom print (likely 1960s, though perhaps earlier); 8×10, bordered, on traditional glossy fiber paper (not resin-coated) in excellent condition for a photo previously used editorially. Signs of normal handling wear, with some lower right corner border crimping. Some printer’s instructions on the back in light repro blue ink, a small piece of clear tape, and the stamp of original owner, the late Stephen Jochsberger, (d. 1989) a noted New York collector and fan magazine contributor. Seller purchased item from the Jochsberger estate in1990. From the personal research collection of David J. Skal, author of HOLLYWOOD GOTHIC and THE MONSTER SHOW. “
Boris Karloff All Wrapped Up
As the Mummy
This fascinating original photograph of Boris Karloff being prepared as the Mummy was offered on eBay by David J. Skal from his collection. Bidding reached hundreds of dollars. I don’t think Mr. Karloff is enjoying the process, do you?
Peggy Moran Lends a Hand
in The Mummy’s Hand
“Peggy Moran assists her screen nemesis, Tom Tyler, with his make-up by holding a hand dryer over the coat of paint applied to his mummy wrappings. Miss Moran has the [femine] lead and Tyler plays a 3000-year-old mummy in Universal’s horror drama, “The Mummy’s Hand.” “– (1078-P. 2 accompanying press photo information)
Photograph courtesy of Professor Kinema’s Archive
Boris Karloff in Jack Pierce’s Makeup Chair
Photos courtesy of Professor Kinema (Jim Knusch). Note: I believe the photos were taken at different times and for different makeups, based on the hairstyles and how Jack Pierce is dressed, so no sequential order is implied.