Island to screen classic films
Bannerman Island will host two classic horror films on consecutive Fridays. On Sept. 8, a boat will leave the Beacon Institute dock at 7 p.m. for a screening of Dracula (1931), starring Bela Lugosi. A boat leaves at the same time on Sept. 15 for a showing of Bride of Frankenstein (1935), with Boris Karloff.
The evenings will also include guided tours of the island; the boats will return to the Beacon dock at 10:30 p.m. The cost is $35 per person. The screenings are not suitable for children under age 13. Information: 855-256-4007 or bannermancastle.org.
Wonderful! I love Dracula and Bela Lugosi. I also love Lon Chaney Jr. and Sr. I always wondered why Lon didn’t follow in his father’s footsteps, and why Boris Karloff ended up with Lon Sr.’s career. Now, I really wish they would make a film on the real life of Boris Karloff. I never believed the rivalry rumors, always believed they weren’t rivals but after Bela’s success in “Son of Frankenstein,” per “Black Friday,” director Curt Siodmack’s admission (it’s at IMDb), Karloff did appropriate Bela’s role in “Black Friday” and Bela was left with a bit part in that and “The Body Snatcher.” I researched this: it says Karloff refused to appear with Bela unless he had the most screen time. Their IMDb bios and the trivia pages for these films speak volumes. So sad! So the Karloff biographers have it all wrong.
Since 2006, Canada historian Greg Nesteroff, who digged into legal/court documents such as many marriage certificates, uncovered the real truth about Karloff, from the real causes of his many divorces, his leading a wealthy plush life in a Canada mansion working as real estate broker, while later claiming he was destitute before Frankenstein fame, his alleged unsavory character and life have been unmasked, published in British Columbia History (Vol. 39, No. 1, 2006).
Anyway, you lucky guys enjoy your films!