By Michael Wright
“The Horror! The Horror!” – Colonel Walter E. Kurtz (Marlon Brando, “Apocalypse Now”)
I am currently re-reading Stephen King’s “On Writing.” As I do, I again realize how much he and I had in common as kids growing up.
He is two years younger than I am. We both watched Broderick Crawford in “Highway Patrol,” John Newland hosting “One Step Beyond,” “Cheyenne,” “Sea Hunt,” “Your Hit Parade,” and “Annie Oakley;” Jock Mahony as “The Range Rider;” and Andy Devine as Jingles Jones yelling “Hey, Wild Bill, wait for me!”
Literature-wise, we were both avid readers of Forrest J. Ackerman’s monthly publication “Famous Monsters of Filmland.”
My love of monster movies began with the series of “Abbott and Costello Meet…” movies: “Abbott and Costello Meet The Wolf Man,” “Abbott and Costello Meet The Mummy,” “Frankenstein,” “The Invisible Man,” “The Monsters,” “Dracula,” and “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” And of course, the original movies that these were sprung from – anything with Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney, Jr., Vincent Price, Glenn Stranger or Christopher Lee.
Related: 31 Classic Horror Films to See Before You Die
One noteworthy actor of the time was Rondo Hatton, whose facial features aided in his role as “The Creeper” among others. Hatton was born in 1894, and his family moved frequently, eventually settling in Tampa, Florida. He served in France during World War I and after his honorable discharge, he worked as a reporter for The Tampa Tribune prior to becoming an actor.
In the 1920’s Hatton began to experience swelling in his face and was diagnosed with acromegaly, a hormonal disorder that leads to oversized hands and feet and a drastic growth in certain facial features. Universal Studios headlined him in horror films near the end of his life earning him a reputation as a cult icon. He is buried in the Tampa American Legion Cemetery at the corner of Kennedy Boulevard and Church Street.
Finally, mention must be made of the unforgettable William Castle movies, featuring his hokey introductions followed by cheesy gadgetry to draw theater goers to such films as “The Tingler” (a simulated shocking or vibrating device in the seats would jolt audience members at specific suspenseful moments); “Thirteen Ghosts” (each audience member received a “ghost viewer” with red and blue filters which allowed those watching to see or unsee the ghosts depending on which filters they used; and finally “The House on Haunted Hill,” which featured a pulley system that allowed a plastic skeleton to fly over the audience’s heads at a key moment in the film.
The first movies that terrified Mike were “Tarantula,” starring Leo G. Carroll and the original “War of the Worlds.” Let him know your favorites by contacting him at micwrighthamo@gmail.com.
