"Happy Birthday!" to the mother of us all

 Miniature portrait of Mary Shelley by Reginald Easton. Image found here. Copyright the University of Oxford.

On this day in 1797 Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin Shelley was born. Her novel Frankenstein is unique in its influence on the popular culture of  English-speaking Western nations. (Of course, non-English-speaking nations have embraced her "horrible progeny" too.) The most successful Gothic novel ever--it has never been out of print--Frankenstein is the first truly important work in the literary traditions that came to be called "science-fiction" and "horror."

It was the work of the fertile imagination of a teenage girl! This fact forced male readers of the first half of the 19th Century to accept, if only grudgingly and privately, that women (or girls, really) were as capable of forcefully confronting dark themes and taboo topics as male writers. She was ahead of her time.

The writer Joyce Carol Oates deemed Frankenstein a unique novel, "if a novel at all;" an awkward patchwork blending Romantic, allegorical, and philosophical materials. (Not unlike Frankenstein's Monster himself.) Oates describes Frankenstein as being held together at its "deepest level" with subconscious elements that are "hallucinatory and surreal."

At the center of the unreal setting that seems to be Europe of the early Industrial Age is Frankenstein's "demon"--as the artificially created man is often referred to Shelley's book--who is both Adam and Satan: unique, alone, outcast.

And powerful only through anger and sin.

What horror-lover has not seen themselves that way? Who in our deliciously morbid community of fans has never identified with a glorious, destructive monster in a book or a movie?

Mary birthed the first monster of the modern age.We are all her stepchildren.

 __________________

Related: My birthday wishes for Mary Shelley in 2007 (where I found a lesser-seen portrait of Mary, perhaps inaccurate) and 2009, when I talked to her ghost!

Mary Shelley: Born 212 years ago today

And this very day I met her! Or the shade of her spirit, anyway--only hours ago.

Mary Shelley appeared to me during the witching hour, just minutes after my clock downstairs rang out its recorded chime at twelve. Yes, I saw her! Or at least I thought I saw her. I could not really be said to think (not the first time!), yet I saw--with shut eyes, but with acute mental vision--that pale author of unhallowed writing kneeling beside me.

So I smiled and wished her "Happy birthday!" and she smiled a brief smile in return.

I remembered that she had written about people returning to life centuries later in Valerius: The Re-animated Roman, and in an essay called The Reanimated Man, so I asked her if she liked the changes in the world since her time on Earth. To that she only lowered her gaze.

Then, thinking of Frankenstein, I asked her if she could now say whether there was any knowledge more valuable than love and sympathy. She seemed to look away, then I suddenly saw a small shape appear near her--I looked closer and it appeared to be a dark reddish-brown, leathery item, about the size of a fist. I had the impression it was very old. It swelled up a bit--then it suddenly faded away, as did Mary's ghost. Oh, damn, she disappeared too soon!

I felt a genuine loss...

Because I had a cake, and it was decorated with trick candles that won't blow out! Man, I was really looking forward to seeing the look on her face when the flames reappeared!



Read a virtual version of Frankenstein at this link--complete with the original illustrations and pages that 'turn.'

Happy Birthday, James Whale!

Born in 1899, red-headed filmmaker James Whale (looking rather like comic book character Jimmy Olson in the above still) is still talked about and highly regarded. Director of classic films like Journey's End (1930), Waterloo Bridge (1931), Show Boat (1936), and The Man in the Iron Mask (1939), his career was brief for someone of his stature in film history. All his best work was done in a ten year period (1930--1939).

But, of course, I love his famous genre titles: Frankenstein (1931), The Old Dark House (1932), The Invisible Man (1933) and, especially, Bride of Frankenstein (1935). The comic touches in the last three are among the most memorable moments in a life spent watching movies.

Because his horror movies are his most influential, his other films, while respected, are largely forgotten. This is a shame, and he will surely be "rediscovered" for the rest of his work.

Now, too, he is celebrated or remembered almost as much for his outsider status as an openly gay man living in a more repressive era as he is for his films. He himself must have appreciated the irony of the title of his penultimate film: They Dare Not Love (1941).

Speaking of ironies, I remember a magazine that had a "bio" of the director which depicted Whale leaving Hollywood to open a harpooning-themed bar called The Blowhole. Of course, that's a cheap irony*, but a post at TDSH would be nothing without a cheap joke, even in a birthday remembrance for a famous director.

A director celebrated for his sense of humor in his work! Happy birthday, James Whale!

An interesting birthday entry on Whale can be found here.

Learn more about Whale and see some photos of the man at these links:

The James Whale Nexus

Senses of Cinema

IMDb





* Still, I slapped my forehead in disbelief AND smiled at the gag, just like you did!

This blog is ONE YEAR OLD!!

Yes, it doesn't seem possible, but this blog is ONE YEAR OLD TODAY!!! (Who knew that Blogger would allow this mess to continue so long?!!) Old enough to be moldy!

Of course my dear wife Jane (the Voodoo Queen) and I celebrated the occasion in high style. We went out to a local Polynesian bar and grill called The Stinky Tiki. The waitress below brought us a very large flaming cocktail called a Mystery. (I think it's called that because after you have one, you're clueless.)


Once we awoke and went back home, Jane and I kept toasting the occasion:


As Homer Simpson might say, "Mmmmmmmm. Alcohol."

But, knowing I had a post to make, I limited my drinks to a reasonable number-- any number below pi squared. (Too much drinking and I become an irrational number.)

In its first year, the blog is nominated for the prestigious Rondo Award! That is an honor I did not expect. I certainly don't expect to win, but I do hope to get more votes than Ralph Nader does in the November general election! (That shouldn't be too hard.)

To be reeeeeally honest, I'm happy and psyched to be nominated, but if I got enough votes to make "honorable mention" (which is, like, fourth place), I'd be sublimely ecstatic! (Hey, I gotta have enough votes to place, so I can drink at least 4 toasts after the announcement of the winners.)

Vote here by midnight March 8. Or write David Colton and change your vote. (You can until the deadline, hee hee!) And while you're at it, consider writing in Terry Ingram for "Monster Kid of the Year" and Ben Chapman for Monster Kid Hall of Fame.

LUMP IN MY THROAT DEPT.: In a year's time, this blog's had hits from the following countries-- Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, England, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Iran (a major surprise), Iraq, Ireland, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, the Phillipines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, and Turkey.

Wow.

I'm also happy to know that people like to goof off at work by visiting my blog. I've had hits from the offices of several blue-chip companies: businesses like Dow Chemical, General Electric, Federal Express, and others. Government workers, too-- many hits have come from various municipal and state governments (a shout out to whoever works in the state government of Nebraska who regularly checks this blog), as well as NASA, and the Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission! The Ivy League schools, too, have people dumb enough to read my junk: I've had several hits from both Harvard and Princeton.

Wowee wow!

Also impressive (to me, anyway) is the fact that the reading level of this blog went from junior high level to high school level, according to The Blog Readability Test. (It's a website where you plug in a URL and the site you submit is analyzed for the reading level necessary to comprehend the average post.) Incredibly-- I've caught up with the intelligent and famous site Video Watchdog (www.videowatchdog.com)! (Gotta question TBRT's reliability if they put me on the same level as VW! Must be a fluke.) Especially as everyone knows my humor is, at best, junior high level-- and I'm proud of it!

Was very surprised that Tim Lucas' Rondo-nominated Video Watchblog wasn't rated at least at college level. But my friend Pierre over at Frankensteinia should be happy-- his site's gone from "College Post Graduate" to "Genius" level, according to TRBT. Congrats, Pierre! (Me like your blog! It goood!) Both Frankensteinia and Video Watchblog are nominated for Best Website or Blog, and I won't be surprised if either win; both are excellent.

Hey, even if me no write good, people come for the visuals. I've gotten hits by the hundreds (maybe higher-- this first year has seen over 13,000 hits) for the topless picture of model and Cindy Pucci that was featured in this post:

Don Glut, noble patron

The second most frequently seen post at this blog is this one showcasing the pictures of artist Linda Miller:

The art of Universal Monster Army's LINDA MILLER

Both posts feature impressive women! (I like my readers taste.) Perhaps I should get Linda to paint a 3-D Cindy Pucci portrait and REALLY drive up my hits!

Thank you to everyone who has ever looked at this blog. Gratitude-and-a-half to everyone who has ever posted here! Platinum gratitude to anyone who's ever linked here!

Happy Birthday Forrest J Ackerman!

Happy birthday witches to a man I sang Al Jolson songs with in a hotel restaurant at Monster Bash 2006! A man who made my childhood better with his editorship of MONSTER WORLD and FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND magazines.

4E, the Ackermonster, lives eternal!

Below: Dr. Ackula with the 2006 UMA Toy Tour Display at Monster Bash, 2006. Photo courtesy of Bobby Beeman.


Next: The Drunken Severed Head meets FJA and FM cover artist Basil Gogos.

Below: After arduously attaching my life-like prosthetic body, The Ackermonster and I sing Jolson songs and quote old horror movies.

For more on "Uncle Forry", I highly recommend that you visit this post at the Frankensteinia website.

P.S. The DSH says a special thanks to Joe Moe for all he's done for Forry!

Mary Shelley was born 210 years ago today!

Mary Shelley, the mother of the mightiest monster of all time, the author who penned a work as immortal as its nameless creature, was born on this date in 1797.
Here is my favorite portrait of Mary. It was the first I ever saw; it was in Don Glut's book The Frankenstein Legend.

I also found a color version of this portrait. Although it is a less detailed photo, it is in color.

By poking around for images of the Monster, I found a startling image in the Flickr photos of one DerrickT. It is a makeup meant to be the closest representation of the "demon" described in the novel. It is an amazing design and fantastic execution!

Since Mary Shelley cannot blow out the candles on her birthday cake anymore, my friend Coffin Ray and I had to do it ourselves.



















Check out the Frankensteinia blog for its Mary Shelley birthday greeting!

Was out partying with friends tonight. Here's me with the great Zacherley:


We were out on a pub crawl, and dropped in to see Lori Nelson (REVENGE OF THE CREATURE), where she was surprised to see me: (YES, I really did meet Lori Nelson!)

Previous Employment

I couldn't find any info on the Drunken Severed Head's origin as of yet. But, I did run across an old poster showing previous employment for the little fella.

HAPPIEST of BIRTHDAYS, Max my dear friend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Richard

Birthday of the Drunken Severed Head

Well, today is the anniversary of the day that a little severed head was born. My friend Dale A., who is MUCH older than I am, was present at the birth. He tells me that my first words came on that very day: "WHAT? No more WOMB service?"

Coincidentally-- as I have been a fan of the Marx brothers almost since birth-- WOMB SERVICE is the name of one of their weally wame films that they did wate in their caweer.

Friend Jim B. sent this image as a birthday greeting:


Jim is the producer of a few classic albums by Transylvania's fab four flat-tops, The Franks: