28891

Frankenstein - Broadside from the London Theatric

Currency:USD Category:Memorabilia Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 1,000.00 USD
Frankenstein - Broadside from the London Theatric
<B>Frankenstein - Broadside from the London Theatrical Production by Hamilton Deane (1930).</B></I> Before Lugosi hypnotized audiences as the suave, yet deadly Transylvanian count, before Karloff brought a tear to the eye and a scream to the throat as Dr. Frankenstein's misshapen creation, Hamilton Deane was, undoubtedly, the horror king of the early 20th-century. One of the leading lights of the London Theater scene in the 1920s, Deane was a natural promoter and entertainer, who produced popular entertainment for the masses. Always quick to cash in on popular trends, Deane brought Peggy Webling's adaptation of <B>Dracula</B></I>, hot on the heels of the controversy surrounding the unauthorized German version, <B>Nosferatu</B></I>, to the British stage in 1924, with himself playing the part of Van Helsing, which he considered a meatier role than that of the Count (when the play crossed the Atlantic to play in America in 1927, it starred a young Hungarian actor named Bela Lugosi in the title role). The success of <B>Dracula</B></I> encouraged Deane to produce another of Webling's adaptations, this time <B>Frankenstein</B></I>. Another "monstrous" hit, the play ran for several years in Great Britain, beginning in 1927 (it never appeared in American theaters, perhaps pre-empted by the soon-to-be-released motion picture). As successful as they were at the time, however, both adaptations would likely have faded into obscurity were it not for the fact that Universal Studios, emboldened by the success of the monsters on stage, and seeing an economical way to bring such horror classics to the screen, bought the rights to both of the Webling/Deane adaptations, and a dynasty was born. In a very real way, it can be asserted that, without the efforts of Hamilton Deane, such legendary stars as Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff would be no more than forgotten characters actors of the 1930s, and the course of Universal Studios, and movie history itself, would have been quite different. The broadside offered here, measuring approximately 29.5" x 10" overall, is in Very Good condition, with several light folds and creases, none of which are prominent enough to mar the eye-appeal of this unique piece. There is a small nail hole at the middle top, slightly less than .5" across, and the residue of some tape on the back, which does show through a bit, but these are relatively minor flaws. The borders and edges of this piece are sharp and clean, and the reds are bright and unfaded. This is a unique piece of both film and theater history, and would make an excellent addition to any horror poster collection.