From Zombos' Closet

Christopher Lee as Dracula

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.

Dracula Publicity Photo: Bela Lugosi, Dwight Frye, Helen Chandler

Dwight Frye in Dracula Renfield Crucifix Scene

Another Halloween is Coming!

Bela Lugosi, Helen Chandler, Tod Browning On the Set of Dracula

Makes you wish you were there, doesn't it?

Here's David J. Skal's eBay listing notes:

"One of the rarest behind-the-scenes photos from DRACULA (1931): Bela Lugosi, Helen Chandler, and director Tod Browning on a shooting break. Lugosi holds a cigar and Chandler (kimono covering her recognizable costume for the climactic crypt sequence) holds a cigarette. Beautiful 8x10 archival-quality reproduction of a one-of-a-kind original in Motion Picture Academy's Scott Beal collection. Beal was Browning's assistant director on DRACULA, and this photo seems to be a personal memento never intended for publicity purposes (original is approximately 5x7 with no Universal identification of any kind. It is not part of the film's archival keybook). Image has been published only once, in seller's Tod Browning biography DARK CARNIVAL, and no copy has ever been offered for sale by a memorabilia dealer. Seller has not made a copy negative and will not offer digital versions. Photo is in excellent condition, with only minor signs of handling, but no tears, pinholes, markings or damage of any kind. Two AMPAS stamps on reverse including conditions of publication, and book printer's number tag.  Sold collector to collector; no rights of publication are given or implied. Note: the AMPAS Library currently charges at least $50 for an identical research print. From the personal research collection of David J. Skal, author of HOLLYWOOD GOTHIC and THE MONSTER SHOW."

Note: Zombos' Closet of Horror is a commercial-free enterprise dedicated to sharing the history of horror cinema and its presence in popular culture, and as such, I'm posting this scan of the photograph for fellow collectors and enthusiasts of the horror genre to enjoy, free of charge. You can save this scan to your own storage device, but you cannot sell, copy for sale, publish in commercial print format, or produce this image in any way for commerce or monetary gain.

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 8x10 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 8x10 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); 8x10, 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?

Click image to enlarge.

Vincent Price on the Set House of Wax

Photograph courtesy of the Professor Kinema Archive

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