By David Weiner
“Listen to them. Children of the night. What music they make.”
Tod Browning’s DRACULA, starring Bela Lugosi as Bram Stoker’s immortal king of the vampires, endures as a cinematic classic. Lugosi’s turn as the count in 1931, alongside Boris Karloff’s Frankenstein’s Monster, remains one of the absolute pillars of Universal Studios’ dream team of famous monsters, thanks to his indelible performance.
On the 85th anniversary of DRACULA, I had the opportunity to chat with both the son of the late Bela Lugosi — Bela Lugosi, Jr. — and the the iconic actor’s granddaughter — Lynne Lugosi Sparks — for my final issue as executive editor of Famous Monsters of Filmland, No. 288.
One of the super-cool perks of being the editor for Famous Monsters was getting to know the Lugosi family, as FM sold some of their licensed apparel, and advertised them in the magazine. They are incredibly kind and relatable, and being able to say we know each other and are friendly is quite a jewel on my Monster Kid crown.
In the below Q&A, Bela, Jr. talks about growing up in the shadow of his legendary father, and shares some favorite family memories; while Lynne reveals her surprise discovery of just how famous her grandfather was when she was a kid — and as an adult, how important it is to maintain his legacy for future generations to discover.
DAVID WEINER: With his role as Count Dracula, please describe your father’s influence on the horror-film genre.
BELA LUGOSI, JR.: When my dad landed the role of Count Dracula in the 1927 Broadway production of DRACULA, he created his version of the character — the makeup, the mode of dress, the mannerisms, and, of course, the eyes. Along with his distinct accent, this became the characterization for which he is famous. In 1931, Dad brought his portrayal to the screen.
Universal’s 1931 DRACULA was the first talking horror film, and the catalyst for horror as a popular lm genre. My father’s unique portrayal of Count Dracula set the standard for all future interpretations of the character. He personified evil while romanticizing the vampire. With the success of DRACULA and my father’s mesmerizing performance, Universal went on to produce the horror films that introduced the classic monsters to the world.
DW: What insight did your father share, if any, about portraying Dracula onstage versus onscreen?
BLJ: I remember my dad telling me that the difference between performing onstage versus acting on film was that onstage the actor’s voice must carry to the back row of the theater, making for a much more intense performance.
DW: What was your impression after seeing DRACULA for the first time?
BLJ: I can’t remember exactly how old I was when I first saw the 1931 DRACULA, but I very clearly remember realizing what a powerful performer dad was.
DW: Describe your father’s work ethic when it came to the craft of acting.
BLJ: I saw my dad preparing for roles onstage and for films. Dad studied
his parts tirelessly. He would go over and over his lines until they were exactly the way he wanted. When he walked on set he was completely prepared, and he gave every performance his best. Dad was a very hard worker. I developed my own work ethic from watching Dad’s routine.
DW: Did your father talk about the business of Hollywood around you very much? Or did he not like to “talk shop”?
BLJ: Dad did not talk a lot about the business of Hollywood, but he did make a point of explaining to me the roles of agents, producers, and actors. He thought actors were too dependent on agents and producers, and he encouraged me to learn a different profession instead.
DW: Bela Lugosi created such menacing, larger-than-life characters over the course of his career. Can you describe how your father was off-camera, and at home?
BLJ: My dad was a nice man. He enjoyed good food, good wine, scotch, and Hungarian music. He loved cigars and his dogs and taking walks. We went to the United Magyar House in Los Angeles (Hungarian cultural center) on weekends and we also spent time with my grandparents. I have nice memories of my home life. That being said, if I needed a warning about my behavior, all Dad had to do was to give me “that look” with his eyes.
Dad liked to entertain. He socialized mostly within the Hungarian community, and with musicians, dancers, and artists. With this group, things could get pretty lively. I remember sneaking out of my room during one party and peeking over the stairs at the goings-on. At one event, the famous pianist Ervin Nyiregyházi played so intensely that when he finished there was blood on the piano keys. That made an impression on me.
DW: Growing up with Bela “Dracula” Lugosi, what are your thoughts on the effect he had on people?
BLJ: Dad just had something about him — something that exuded from him. It’s hard to describe, but when he walked into a room he immediately had everyone’s attention. People couldn’t help but be drawn to him. Some people just have “it,” and he certainly did. I attended military school in Lake Elsinore, California, and on the weekends parents could come visit. It was a scene every time he and my mom would arrive. I remember realizing that he was unique at that young age, but it wasn’t until I was older that I realized the intensity of the impression he had on people.
DW: What specific memories do you have from visiting the set of ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN, and of meeting the stars?
BLJ: I was too young to remember being on other sets, but I have very good memories of my experience on the set of ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN. The set was somber, so the studio brought in comedians to keep things light. The actors, as well as everyone behind the scenes, were very nice to me. I remember getting a snack with Glenn Strange and Lon Chaney Jr. in their full Frankenstein’s Monster and Wolf Man makeup. I also remember thinking that Lenore Aubert was beautiful! Most importantly, I was able to see firsthand my dad’s professionalism, and the reverence with which everyone treated him.
DW: Bela Lugosi has said that being identified so strongly with the DRACULA role was a blessing and a curse. Can you share a bit more about what he meant by that?
BLJ: Being so strongly identified with the ultimate horror character earned him many other roles, but it also resulted in him being typecast. While he was always eager and happy to work, the roles he was offered were limited almost exclusively to the horror genre. He always hoped for the opportunity to act in more varied roles that would showcase his talent, like the roles he had been afforded in his early stage career.
DW: Ever since its premiere, DRACULA, and vampires in general, remains a significant part of our pop culture. Please share some insight into your father’s fan following.
BLJ: I have been interacting with my dad’s fans for 60 years and I am continually amazed at how many people still admire him and appreciate his work. Over the years, fans have sent heartfelt letters of praise, presented me with incredible works of original art, and offered pictures of my father from their personal Bela Lugosi collections. We continue to correspond with some of our fans on a regular basis. We read the many tributes that continue to be published in print and online, and we cannot count the number of times we see and hear Bela Lugosi’s name mentioned around Halloween. One special fan here in Los Angeles sets up an altar to Bela Lugosi at the annual Dia de los Muertos celebration at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Another young lady wrote and composed an entire musical based on Tod Browning’s interpretation of Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, paying tribute to my father’s characterization.
Bela Lugosi’s fan base is very diverse, and I hear often from grandparents and parents who are excited to introduce the next generation to the classic films. The fans are the reason we are able to keep Bela Lugosi’s legacy alive, and we are grateful for their dedication.
DW: Would your father have ever believed the popularity his portrayal and the film itself would still have today?
BLJ: At the end of my dad’s life he truly believed that he had been forgotten. He would never have imagined the impression his portrayal has made in our world, or that every actor playing Count Dracula or a vampire after him would be influenced by his performance, and inspired to replicate his depiction of the iconic character. Bela Lugosi is Dracula. He has become an icon, and he has left his mark on film history. That is a legacy of which he would be very proud.
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LYNNE LUGOSI SPARKS: MAINTAINING THE LUGOSI LEGACY
Charming, personable, and incredibly savvy when it comes to navigating the world of licensing, Lynne Lugosi Sparks is also surprisingly a bit shy when it comes to the spotlight that her family is used to having. However, I was able to wrangle a few fun answers for Famous Monsters.
I asked Lynne two questions: How important is it to her to actively maintain the memory and legacy of her grandfather? And in what ways is she going about preserving it?
“As a young girl I knew my grandfather had been an actor, so it seemed perfectly natural to me to have photos in our home of my grandfather as Dracula, Ygor, a Native American, a sheik, and even as Jesus. It was during elementary school when I first became aware that my grandfather existed outside of our family photos. I happened upon a picture book about Dracula in the school library (I believe it was from the Crestwood series) and brought it home to show my mom and dad. I wanted to ask them if they knew that Bela Lugosi was in a book! Growing up it became a source of pride to watch my grandfather’s movies with friends, and as a teenager I thought it was nice that people regularly commented on my last name. But it was not until adulthood that I realized the incredible impact Bela Lugosi has left on film history and his status as an international icon.”
She continues, “Maintaining the memory of my grandfather is very important to me. It is a pleasure and an honor to work alongside my dad to preserve the legacy of Bela Lugosi. As a young man just out of law school, my dad took on the responsibility of protecting the use of his father’s name and likeness. Lugosi Enterprises was formed with the mission to honor Bela Lugosi’s place in history, and to celebrate the icon he has become. In addition to corresponding with fans, attending conventions and events, and maintaining the official Bela Lugosi website, we are proud to enter into selective licensing agreements. I enjoy working with licensees to produce interesting, quality Bela Lugosi products. Almost all of the licensees are fans with great respect for my grandfather, and many have become good friends of our family. My dad and I look forward to continuing meeting fans, encouraging screenings of my grandfather’s films, and finding new opportunities to extend the legacy of Bela Lugosi.”
As stated on their website, the mission of Lugosi Enterprises is “to preserve and protect the image, name and likeness of Bela Lugosi by honoring his place in history as one of the pioneers of the Hollywood film industry, and by celebrating the icon that will forever be – Dracula. Lugosi Enterprises strives to associate the Bela Lugosi brand with quality products that exemplify the great style and distinction with which Bela Lugosi approached life. To foster this goal, Lugosi Enterprises enters into selective licensing agreements in advertising and merchandising, publications and entertainment projects.”
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