28: “I’m not scared of Frankenstein!”
Oh yes I was! I reflect on classic horror films, a 1970s Monster Magazine, and that – oh-so-wondrous thing: the video recorder! (Cue: Angelic choir)
A Rough Diamond
We meet Spud. A brand new character. Spud’s rough, and tough and he might box you one now and then for fun, but he’s alright really. Definitely no Class-Bully. In fact, if you’re having trouble with one of those, it’s probably a good idea to stay close to Spud.
Frankenstein(‘s Monster)
Above: Jack Pierce, makeup artist extraordinaire, with Boris Karloff
Above: 1970s Frankie Mask. I actually recall this one! Do you?
Most of us called the monster FRANKENSTEIN – didn’t we? Probably because that’s what we saw on so much toy packaging and in comics etc. As I said in last Friday’s article which accompanied the « Blow-Dried Hair/Vincent Price strip, I was actually terrified of horror Films as a kid, up until the age of about 10 or 11. Even Hammer ones! The one that scared the hell out of me was a version of Frankenstein starring David Sarrazin. My cousins were up in Scotland with us and my Ross who was a year younger than I, and who bragged about staying up ’till midnight each night watching anything he liked! – was especially looking forward to seeing Frankenstein: The True Story, TV movie, starring Michael Sarrazin. So was I.
But then: the arm crawled along the floor by itself, and Sarrazin started to sprout lumps and bumps on his face! I ran to bed and my dad stayed with me until I fell asleep. meanwhile, 1 year younger Ross was – true to his boasting – sat in the living room in front of the TV, having a ball.
Michael Sarrazin scared the hell out of me, even before he turned into the monster, in the 1973 TV movie
Whilst on Holiday in a caravan in Courtown, County Wexford, around 1978 – or 79, I saw two Quasimodo Monster Magazines for sale in the local shop. I bought them, and pored over them, countless times. They were black and white and printed on cheap, pulpy paper, but they were packed with still photos from classic – and more recent – horror films. I was introduced to Lugosi, Lorre, Karloff, Lon Sr. and Jr., and a whole host of films. I was especially fascinated by the articles on makeup and effects. They discussed Jack Pierce‘s makeup work, and how an actor could transform into Mr. Hyde – even on the stage, before an audience’s eyes!
(To be honest, reading about most of the movies, was better than actually seeing them, years later)
Above: One of the 2 exciting mags that I stumbled across on holiday in the late 1970s
Magical Video Recorders!
Oh, the very idea of owning one of these! Record the Incredible Hulk, or Six Million Dollar Man, or Battle of the Planets: and watch them again – a billion times! By 1981 or 1982, some of my friends’ families had them and I started bringing home brochures to my dad, urging him to consider. It took a couple of years! The first film we saw on our new Betamax machine was 1982’s Poltergeist. What a blast that was!
Above: the first one to really blow people’s minds: JVC. We didn’t get one until ’83. And it was a 2nd hand Betamax that kept going back for repairs! From Derek Blog
** Stay Groovy, all you 1970s kids! **
– John White
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This reminds me of a sleepover I attended at some friends house back in…the 70’s.
I was friends with two brothers, Darrel and Eric. I visited them fairly frequently, but this time was a birthday event for one or the other, so there were several other boys there as well. At one point, we found an old black and white B horror film on the TV. (In later years, I learned it was “The Flesh Eaters”).
I was squirming through most of it, but, being amongst school friends, needed to protect my dignity. Eventually, as one more character was eaten alive, this time from the inside (after unknowingly drinking a glass of water containing the nasties), it became too much. I had to escape! I thought quickly though, and declared myself bored and went down the hall to play with toys in their room.
I confess though, to continuing to listen from the doorway…
Hiya Terran,
That was a good story! Where were the adults? Where older kids looking after you while they were out?
John
No older kids. Eric was a year or so younger than us, but we were all roughly of an age.
Since it was a sleepover, Darrel & Erics parents were largely staying out of the way, checking on us now and again, refilling snack-bowls and so on. Otherwise mostly milling about the kitchen, hiding in the back of the house, or escaping to the quiet of outdoors.
I bet you were excited that the adults didn’t know about the film you were about to watch. Until you became terrified!
I’ve really enjoyed these Halloween-themed instalments, John. Funny how Frankenstein, Dracula etc were in our consciousness even if we hadn’t seen the films. As you point out, these characters featured in Scooby Doo and were spoofed in comics, so we sort of knew them. In America, kids could see these movies, whereas they were late night fare in the UK and (I’m assuming) Ireland.
Did you ever read House of Hammer magazine? It took these X-rated movies and adapted them into comics, and I guess a lot of young people experienced the films in this form before they saw them.
Love the arrival of the video recorder. I guess I was first aware of VCRs around 1978, although it would be another three or four years before I even knew anyone who owned one. I remember The Making of Star Wars was one of the earliest titles I saw referenced in ads for VCRs, probably from Radio Rentals, in ’78.
Hiya Damien.
Yes, we LOVED the classic monsters didn’t we? Marvel started publishing horror comics in the seventies when the comic code was made less stringent. Tomb of Dracula was, and still is, amazing. About HoH magazine, I was lucky enough to spot one in a newsagent during a drive down to Kerry or Galway or somewhere on a family holiday. It’s my only one but what what a one! I was lucky enough to get the one with the comic adaptation of the original Hammer Dracula film! I loved the artwork which was so realistic!
I think it was better reading and seeing all the ancillary stuff and using our imaginations than actually seeing the films. I actually gave the 1931 Karloff James Whale ‘Frankenstein’ a second chance last night and was still extremely disappointed. It’s like one third of a movie, with lots of dull stuff left in. Of course the art direction, design and makeup is wonderful though!