Imagine watching Bela Lugosi perform on the stage

 

Welcome to Plan9Crunch. And share with us our celebrations for the great Bela Lugosi's birthday. The blog is posted on October 20. We are starting something new at Plan9Crunch. We are going to ask a cult genre question to a cult genre expert. Our first question is directed to writer Christopher R. Gauthier, author of Rondo Award-winning novel, "Dracula Never Dies: The Revenge of Bela Vorlock." Chris's sequel is planned for publication in early 2025, possibly on Valentine's Day. So, here we go, and enjoy readers!

PLAN9CRUNCH: What would have been your impression of watching Lugosi on the theatrical stage and what would you have thought of him to be in person?"

Christopher R. Gauthier:

"My instinctual personal impression of witnessing Bela Lugosi on stage would no doubt have lured me into the saturnine voracity of a question which enigmatically lingers on a need to be answered and furthermore explored- regarding cryptic mysteries cloaked in the supernatural- I do believe upon becoming aware of Lugosi I without question would have become ensorcelled by his dark mystique and enraptured by his command of theatricality which was unprecedented before.

"I would have been enchanted by this great savant who was living poetry for the theatre and mesmerized by the complete mystique of Lugosi, I would have become enshrouded within the black cape he wore so eloquently and my inner core would have replied to the dark spirituality that emanated from this great force of a man who seemed to have come from a realm entirely like none known to any, if not but for only an obscured few.

"I probably would have been compelled to engage a discourse with him, for how could one not in the presence of Bela Lugosi? I probably would have become a follower of this man like no other, but still respectfully remained proper and inhibited to establish formality and uphold a courteous, cordial diplomacy... And if by chance he would have granted me a conversation my impressions would have changed for the better. I would have come to the lucid realization that here before me was a man of supreme talents and with furthering in the getting to know him, an honorable compassionate humane human being, in fact one of the most generous and kindest, sincere most down to earth human beings Hollywood would ever see - a man of principal, morals and courage, a soul who knew and treasured the people in his life and took seriously and to heart the very meaning of friendship. A man who wore his gratitude like his Dracula creation wore his medallion, for he was grateful for the good in the world and anything beneficial that came in his vocational direction. I probably then would have felt somewhat like the rest of what his audiences felt upon the impressionable encounter of his Dracula incarnation and how everyone came to feel upon having a relaxed discourse with Bela the man- I would have realized that I was in no way an exception to being immune to falling beneath the spell of Dracula. Nor the rare charm of the real man himself, who appreciated and respected and genuinely cared about people, the world and humanity He would then have an adoring aficionado and friend for the rest of time."

Thanks so much Chris, for contributing. We appreciate you very much. Readers enjoy another photo of Lugosi on stage below.