Fun photos of classic films and horror personalities from Hollywood’s Golden Age.
“I suppose I am the same type as Gable, but why make a comparison? He’s Gable and I’m Chaney, and let the matter end there. I don’t care what sort of pictures they put me in, only I hope I’m to play virile, he-man types. I feel better in a pair of riding pants than […]
“Anyone with a modicum of intelligence and the right kind of physique ought to make a film actor, if they are lucky enough to be told exactly what to do, and I cannot see that the actor for the screen deserves any more credit than a schoolboy who is good at dictation should have for […]
“I am terrible the first week or so, until I begin to synthesize the character. It takes me longer than most, I’m afraid.” — Zita Johann Feisty Johann is most fondly remembered as the reincarnated Princess Ankhesenamón in The Mummy (1932). She probably would have been a bigger star if not for her combative […]
“I can’t knock my pictures. They have tremendous box-office appeal.” — Vincent Price Source: Kevin Thomas (1970) Photo: The Masque of the Red Death (1964) Laura (1944). With Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, and Clifton Webb. “Doing a religious picture is a boring thing because everybody is on their best behavior – hoping for the […]
On the set of Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954). The Gill-Man was actually played by two people: the dry land creature was played by Ben Chapman and the underwater creature was played by Ricou Browning. Notice the Gill-Man’s eyes? They were a fixed permanent part of the suit in the original film, which […]
“Performing for the movies bears about the same relation to acting as sign-painting does to etching. And no offense to the honorable trade of sign-painting. Not that the medium of the screen is at fault. It can really be an art – but not under the maltreatment and mayhem of these fellows in Hollywood. When […]
“I have spent a goodly part of my life in study and research. During the last thirty years I have read every single piece of literature on the subject of Spiritualism that I could. I have accumulated one of the largest libraries in the world on psychic phenomena, Spiritualism, magic, witchcraft, demonology, evil spirits, etc. […]
“If you have a good imagination you can play any kind of role. You should think the way you believe the character you are portraying would think.” — Mary Philbin Source: Dan Thomas (1928) Photo: The Phantom of the Opera (1925) The Phantom of the Opera (1925). With Lon Chaney and Norman Kerry. […]
“People look at me as if I were some sort of monster, but I can’t think why. In my macabre pictures, I have either been a monster-maker or a monster-destroyer, but never a monster. Actually, I’m a gentle fellow. Never harmed a fly. I love animals, and when I’m in the country I’m a keen […]
“There’s nothing funny about a clown in the moonlight.” — Lon Chaney The Penalty (1920) “The history of Lon Chaney is the history of unrequited loves. He brings that part of you out into the open, because you fear that you are not loved, you fear that you never will be loved, you […]