Trick or Treat
Note: Let me begin by saying I'm pleased to remind readers that it's the third anniversary for this little seven-days-a-week entertainment column. Thank you for letting me be part of each day.
Now, on to today's interview entertainment item, which is ideal for Halloween.
The third interview I did earlier this month while at Hollywood Blvd. Movie Theater in Woodridge, Ill., was some sit-down time with Bela Lugosi Jr., the Hollywood attorney who is the son and namesake of the late, great Bela Lugosi, the man so famous for his 1931 portrayal in "Dracula."
Bela Jr., who will turn 70 in January, now is close friends with the subjects of my other recent columns about Hollywood classic movie monsters, Sara Karloff and Ron Chaney. Despite the long crossover careers of their famous family members, these three only just met for the first time a decade ago when they were brought together for a promotional event.
"My father was 49 when he made 'Dracula,' a role he had created for the Broadway stage," Bela Jr. said.
"It was both his blessing and his curse throughout his life and career. He was 56 years old when I was born."
According to Bela Jr.:
* His father was the second choice for the part of Count Dracula, and was only offered the role after the great Lon Chaney Sr. died before filming.
* Though Universal Studio's monster make-up great Jack Pierce advised Lugosi for his creepy count make-up, the actor insisted on doing his own make-up.
* Because of the strict censor film codes at the time, Bela Sr. as Dracula was not allowed to be seen in his casket or emerging from it. The camera always pans away for those scenes and then he is seen already standing next to the coffin.
* Despite his father's vampire-bat transformation magic on screen, in real life, his father did not travel by air because of his fear of flying.
* Bela Jr. really only got to spend time with his father in his classic Count Dracula make-up and costume while he filmed "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein" in 1948. "I spent quite a bit of time on the set, and though I was young, I remember lots of practical jokes," he said.
* His father was among the first members of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). "My dad's membership number was very low, somewhere in the 20s," Bela Jr. said. "However, Boris Karloff had an even lower number."
* On the subject of Boris and Bela, Bela Jr., like Sara Karloff, dismisses the idea the two actors didn't get along.
"There may have been some rivalry, but that's just natural in their business, especially since they competed for so many similar roles," Bela Jr. said.
"And of course, my father, not wanting to go through that rigorous make-up process, did originally turn down the role in 'Frankenstein,' and it went to Karloff. But basically, they were just two very didn't men with different interests. My father loved the city atmosphere and parties and excitement, while Karloff was a country gentleman who tried to avoid all of that." The two men did share a common trait of being "much married," with Lugosi walking down the aisle five times, and Karloff logging in with six marriages!
* Bela Jr. was pleased with actor Martin Landau's portrayal of his father during his final years in the popular 1994 Tim Burton film "Ed Wood," but not pleased with the screenplay's treatment of his father.
* Bela Jr. considers the Dracula cape he has from his father one of his most treasured keepsakes from his father's career. "After my father's death on Aug. 16, 1956, he was buried in A cape, but not THE cape," Bela Jr. clarified.
The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at ppotempa@nwitimes.com or 219.852.4327.
celebBirthdays
Actress Lee Grant ("Valley of the Dolls") is 80. Anchorman Dan Rather is 76. Folk singer Tom Paxton is 70. Actor Ron Rifkin ("Alias") is 68. Actor David Ogden Stiers ("MASH") is 65. Actress Sally Kirkland is 63.
Entrepreneur Xavier Roberts (invented Cabbage Patch Kids) is 62. Actress Deidre Hall ("Days Of Our Lives") is 59. NBC anchorwoman Jane Pauley is 57. Director Peter Jackson ("Lord of the Rings") and drummer Larry Mullen of U2 are 46. Guitarist Johnny Marr of Modest Mouse (and The Smiths) and actor Dermot Mulroney and drummer Mikkey Dee of Motorhead are 44. Country singer Darryl Worley and actor Rob Schneider are 43. Musician Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne is 40. Musician Rob Van Winkle (Vanilla Ice) is 39. Singer Linn Berggren of Ace of Base is 37. Actor Eddie Kaye Thomas ("American Pie") is 27.
