WHEN THE MUMMY COMES TO LIFE, WHEE!

Universal's in-house publication, The Universal Weekly, was distributed as an advertising periodical to various theater owners and distributors across the country. Publication began soon after Carl Laemmle and his associates formed Universal Pictures until it ceased publishing in 1936 when the Laemmle's--then the sole owners--were forced to give up their company for non-payment of a large cash loan from Standard Capitol Corporation.

The cartoon shown below is from the January 14, 1933 issue. It is drawn by Ralph C. "Woodrow" Faulkner. Faulkner was born in 1890 in San Antonio, Texas. He worked in vaudeville and on the stage where he became quite popular as an impersonator, especially that of President Woodrow Wilson during his administration. He was also a reporter for east coast newspapers, as well as a cartoonist for the San Francisco Daily News.

Faulkner turned his talents to acting and is reported to have begun his career at the Albuquerque Film Company in the early 1910's. He also worked for Thanhauser in at least one film and continued his acting career into the late 1930s. He died on August 28, 1940.

VIRGINIA CHRISTINE IN THE MUMMY'S CURSE

One of the most startling sequences to come out of a Universal horror film was Virginia Christine as Princess Ananka rising up out of the swamp to live again in The Mummy's Curse (1944).

Initially, Pierce devised a concoction that was risky to apply to the skin. When Christine learned of the experimental technique, she was petrified that it might disfigure her face. Universal's front office caught wind of it and derailed the idea. Pierce resorted to using a product called Denver Mud (a medicated poultice made from clay local to the Denver area).

Christine explained the process: “I was in the makeup chair, I think, at 4:30 in the morning. They took little patches of cotton, wet with Witch Hazel, put them on and lined them to fill in the youthful contours. Then Jack put on the ‘Denver Mudpack,’ just a little bit at a time, then lined that with wrinkles, then blow-dried it—each little patch until I was an absolutely rigid mask.”

With the help of Pierce’s wife, Blanche Pierce (née Craven), Christine was able to drink and use the restroom as needed while in full makeup. However, she was cautioned not to laugh during any of these humorous situations or the makeup would crack and the process would have to begin all over.

The end result was shocking and made even more so by Christine’s incredible performance. In his 1986 article from Films in Review, horror historian Gregory Mank, citing it as “one of the most dynamic performances of Universal’s long-celebrated horror shows”, recounts the startling scene: “Suddenly a hand rises out of the mud, grasping toward the rejuvenating sun. The quagmire quivers, and there arises a female mummy, horrifically caked with muck, stretching, jerking and falling as she escapes the boggy grave.” While not as iconic as his classic monsters, it still stands as Pierce’s most notable makeup since The Wolf Man.

ON THE SET OF SON OF DRACULA

Horror films were on a tight budget in the 1940s, but not so tight to have the leading actor pitch in as an assistant set decorator as this photograph suggests! Actually, Lon Chaney as Count Alucard is having fun playing with a prop web spinner. Jack is in the background touching up Louise Albritton in between shots. The other woman in the picture is unidentified.

Son of Dracula was released in 1944. It was directed by Robert Siodmak, who went on to helm several stylish film noir thrillers such as Criss Cross. Robert's brother, Curt (noted for writing the screenplay for The Wolf Man), authored the story on which the film was based. Universal's #1 Scream Queen Evelyn Ankers also co-starred.