Universal Classic Monsters (also known as Universal Monsters and Universal Studios Monsters) is a home video line based on a series of horror films primarily produced by Universal Pictures from the 1930s to the 1950s. Although not initially conceived as a franchise, the enduring popularity and legacy of the films and the characters featured in them has led the studio to market them under the collective brand name of Universal Studios Monsters.[1] Steve Jones of USA Today described Universal's most famous monsters as "pop culture icons", specifically Dracula, Frankenstein, the Mummy, and the Wolf Man.[2][3][unreliable source?]
Universal Classic Monsters
Official franchise logo as displayed on home video releases
After the Universal horror films were syndicated to television, this led to a rise in the popularity of merchandise based on Frankenstein's monster and Dracula.[4] Throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s, the Universal monsters were promoted via merchandizing which included: Halloween costumes, Aurora model kits, paperback novelizations, makeup how-to manuals, T-shirt iron-ons, posters, trading cards, and more.[5] Since 1991, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Destinations & Experiences have featured characters from the Universal Classic Monsters franchise. From 2006 to 2014, the characters also appeared in the year-round walk-through attraction, Universal's House of Horrors, at Universal Studios Hollywood. The franchise is also the central theme of Universal Orlando's Horror Make-Up Show. The live show opened in 1990 at Universal Studios Florida and is still in operation.[6] Merchandizing of the characters in formats such as clothing and board games has continued into the 21st century.[7][8]
Home video lineEdit
Louis Feola was the head of Worldwide Home Video for Universal Studios and said in 1999 that "a couple of years ago" he decided to "reinvigorate and re-market" Universal's Classic Monsters catalog which included the series Dracula, Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, The Phantom of the Opera, The Wolf Man, and The Mummy.[1] In 1992, in an interview with Billboard, Feola stated that to market and sell home video, the most important thing was the packaging of their sales which was "probably our single biggest priority and has been for a number of years", and that it was key to make the series of films "look like a line".[9]
In 1995, MCA/Universal released a collection of the films on home video under the title The Universal Studios Monsters Classic Collection.[10] This series included Frankenstein, Dracula, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon series.[10] A collection of stamps featuring Universal Classic Monsters were also released in September 1997 titled the "Universal Classic Movie Monsters series".[11] Other characters included in the series included the Mummy, Frankenstein's monster (Boris Karloff), the Phantom of the Opera (Lon Chaney) and the Wolf Man (Lon Chaney Jr.).[12]
FilmsEdit
The columns show the subsequent home video releases.
^ abAlthough originally produced and released by Paramount Pictures, Universal obtained the rights to the film in 1958 and branded it with Universal Studios Monsters in its 1991 home video release.[30]
ComicsEdit
Dark Horse ComicsEdit
Dark Horse Comics released comic adaptions of several of the films, featuring four one-shots and one collected edition, in 1993 and in 2006, respectively.[106][107]
^ abBessman, Jim (September 4, 1999). "Glass Scores 'Dracula' For Universal; Will Tour in Support". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 36. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
^Papageorgopoulou, Penny; Charitos, Dimitris (2018). "Universal Monsters: The Early Posthuman Cultural Icons" (PDF). National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
^Gavin, Michael (October 24, 2017). "It's Alive! Universal Studios' Classic Monster Café gets updated with new life – and is ghoulishly gorgeous". insidethemagic.com. JAK Schmidt, Inc. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
^"Universal Monsters: The Mummy :: Profile :: Dark Horse Comics". www.darkhorse.com. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
^"Universal Monsters: Cavalcade of Horror TPB Collection :: Profile :: Dark Horse Comics". www.darkhorse.com. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
^Salmon, Will (2023-07-18). "Dracula bites back in the first of a new series of Universal Monsters comics from Skybound". gamesradar. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
^First Comics News (2023-07-14). "James Tynion IV & Martin Simmonds Launch Universal Monsters: Dracula Comic Book Series". Retrieved 2023-08-21.
SourcesEdit
McCullaugh, Jim (October 24, 1992). "Sell-Thru Sales Judged by Cover". Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 43.
Nye, Doug (August 18, 1995). "Horror films making a comeback". The News-Press. p. 6.
Kiss, Dr. Robert J. (2019). "Son of Dracula: The Release History". Son of Dracula. BearManor Media. ISBN978-1-62933-430-1.
Mank, Gregory William (2010). Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff: The Expanded Story of a Haunting Collaboration, with a Complete Filmography of Their Films Together. McFarland. ISBN978-0786454723.
Jones, Steve (October 5, 2012). "'Dracula', 'Frankenstein' in new Universal Blu-ray set". USA Today. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
Early, Rosalind; Malkowicz, Tom (October 16, 2017). "Frankenstein's Monster in Popular Culture". Washington University in St. Louis. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
Murray, Noel; Phipps, Keith (October 25, 2012). "A Guide to the Universal Studios Monster Movies, 1925–1955". The A.V. Club. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
Reimann (February 26, 2020). "The Strange History of the Universal Monsters Franchise". Collider. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
Brooks, Nicholas (February 26, 2021). "How Universal's Classic Monsters Launched the Cinematic Universe". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
Young, Rob (October 16, 2015). "The Original Shared Universe: A Look Back At the Universal Monsters". Retrieved July 18, 2021.
October 20, 2023
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Universal Classic Monsters also known as Universal Monsters and Universal Studios Monsters is a home video line based on a series of horror films primarily produced by Universal Pictures from the 1930s to the 1950s Although not initially conceived as a franchise the enduring popularity and legacy of the films and the characters featured in them has led the studio to market them under the collective brand name of Universal Studios Monsters 1 Steve Jones of USA Today described Universal s most famous monsters as pop culture icons specifically Dracula Frankenstein the Mummy and the Wolf Man 2 3 unreliable source Universal Classic MonstersOfficial franchise logo as displayed on home video releasesProductioncompanyUniversal PicturesDistributed byUniversal PicturesCountryUnited States Contents 1 Merchandizing 2 Home video line 3 Films 4 Comics 4 1 Dark Horse Comics 4 2 Skybound Entertainment 5 References 6 SourcesMerchandizing Edit nbsp Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula in 1931After the Universal horror films were syndicated to television this led to a rise in the popularity of merchandise based on Frankenstein s monster and Dracula 4 Throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s the Universal monsters were promoted via merchandizing which included Halloween costumes Aurora model kits paperback novelizations makeup how to manuals T shirt iron ons posters trading cards and more 5 Since 1991 Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Destinations amp Experiences have featured characters from the Universal Classic Monsters franchise From 2006 to 2014 the characters also appeared in the year round walk through attraction Universal s House of Horrors at Universal Studios Hollywood The franchise is also the central theme of Universal Orlando s Horror Make Up Show The live show opened in 1990 at Universal Studios Florida and is still in operation 6 Merchandizing of the characters in formats such as clothing and board games has continued into the 21st century 7 8 Home video line EditLouis Feola was the head of Worldwide Home Video for Universal Studios and said in 1999 that a couple of years ago he decided to reinvigorate and re market Universal s Classic Monsters catalog which included the series Dracula Frankenstein The Invisible Man The Phantom of the Opera The Wolf Man and The Mummy 1 In 1992 in an interview with Billboard Feola stated that to market and sell home video the most important thing was the packaging of their sales which was probably our single biggest priority and has been for a number of years and that it was key to make the series of films look like a line 9 In 1995 MCA Universal released a collection of the films on home video under the title The Universal Studios Monsters Classic Collection 10 This series included Frankenstein Dracula The Mummy The Invisible Man and the Creature from the Black Lagoon series 10 A collection of stamps featuring Universal Classic Monsters were also released in September 1997 titled the Universal Classic Movie Monsters series 11 Other characters included in the series included the Mummy Frankenstein s monster Boris Karloff the Phantom of the Opera Lon Chaney and the Wolf Man Lon Chaney Jr 12 Films EditThe columns show the subsequent home video releases Universal Studios Monsters films Year Title The Classic Collection 1991 94 Classic Monster Collection 1999 The Legacy Collection 2004 Universal Classic Monsters Ref s Essential Collection 2012 Complete Collection 2018 1931 Dracula nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 13 14 15 16 17 18 Dracula Spanish nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 13 14 15 16 17 19 Frankenstein nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 20 21 22 16 17 23 1932 Murders in the Rue Morgue nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 24 25 The Mummy nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 26 27 28 16 17 29 Island of Lost Souls a nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 31 32 1933 The Invisible Man nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 33 34 35 16 17 36 1934 The Black Cat nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 37 36 1935 The Bride of Frankenstein nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 38 39 22 16 17 40 Werewolf of London nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 41 42 17 43 The Raven nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 44 45 1936 Dracula s Daughter nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 46 15 17 47 1939 Son of Frankenstein nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 48 22 17 49 Tower of London nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 50 51 1940 The Invisible Man Returns nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 52 35 17 53 The Mummy s Hand nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 54 28 17 55 The Invisible Woman nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 56 35 17 57 1941 The Monster and the Girl a nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 58 59 Man Made Monster nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 60 61 The Wolf Man nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 62 63 42 16 17 64 1942 The Ghost of Frankenstein nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 65 22 17 66 Invisible Agent nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 67 35 17 68 The Mummy s Tomb nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 69 28 17 70 1943 Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 71 42 17 72 Captive Wild Woman nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 73 74 Phantom of the Opera nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 75 76 16 17 77 Son of Dracula nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 78 15 17 79 The Mad Ghoul nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 80 81 1944 The Invisible Man s Revenge nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 82 35 17 83 The Mummy s Ghost nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 84 28 17 85 House of Frankenstein nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 86 22 17 87 The Mummy s Curse nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 88 28 17 89 1945 House of Dracula nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 90 15 17 91 1946 House of Horrors nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 92 93 She Wolf of London nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 42 17 94 1948 Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 17 95 1951 Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 17 96 1954 Creature from the Black Lagoon nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 97 98 99 16 17 100 1955 Revenge of the Creature nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 101 99 17 102 Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 17 103 1956 The Creature Walks Among Us nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 104 99 17 105 a b Although originally produced and released by Paramount Pictures Universal obtained the rights to the film in 1958 and branded it with Universal Studios Monsters in its 1991 home video release 30 Comics EditDark Horse Comics Edit Dark Horse Comics released comic adaptions of several of the films featuring four one shots and one collected edition in 1993 and in 2006 respectively 106 107 Original 1993 One ShotsTitle Creatives Publication Date Ref Writer Artist s Editor DesignerUniversal Monsters Frankenstein Den Beauvais Den Beauvais Dan Thorsland Scott Tice May 01 1993 108 Universal Monsters Creature from the Black Lagoon Steve Moncuse Arthur Adams Penciller Cover Terry Austin Inker Lois Buhalis Letterer Matt Hollingsworth Colorist Terry Austin Cover Dan Thorsland Scott Tice August 01 1993 109 Universal Monsters Dracula Dan Vado Jonathon D Smith Artist Cover Clem Robins Letterer Dan Thorsland Scott Tice October 01 1993 110 Universal Monsters The Mummy Dan Jolley Tony Harris Artist Cover Lois Buhalis Letterer Matt Hollingsworth Colorist Dan Thorsland Scott Tice November 01 1993 111 The 2006 Collected EditionTitle Creatives Publication Date Ref Universal Monsters Cavalcade of Horror Various Eric Powell Cover January 11 2006 112 Skybound Entertainment Edit Skybound Entertainment an Image Comics company will publish a new series of Universal Monsters comic books Title Issue s Creative team Release schedule Ref Writer s Artist s Colorist s Premiere date Finale dateUniversal Monsters Dracula 1 4 James Tynion IV Martin Simmonds October 25 2023 January 2024 113 114 References Edit a b Bessman Jim September 4 1999 Glass Scores Dracula For Universal Will Tour in Support Billboard Vol 111 no 36 Retrieved December 4 2020 Jones 2012 Papageorgopoulou Penny Charitos Dimitris 2018 Universal Monsters The Early Posthuman Cultural Icons PDF National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Early amp Malkowicz 2017 Murray amp Phipps 2012 Gavin Michael October 24 2017 It s Alive Universal Studios Classic Monster Cafe gets updated with new life and is ghoulishly gorgeous insidethemagic com JAK Schmidt Inc Retrieved June 8 2020 Unique Vintage Launches Universal Monsters Collection Licesnse Global August 19 2020 Kondrad Jeremy July 10 2019 Universal Monsters Ravensburger Game Horrified Coming August 1st Bleedingcool Retrieved July 18 2021 McCullaugh 1992 p 63 a b Nye 1995 p 6 A Vampire Media Resource Guide The Herald Statesman April 16 1997 p 3C Send In a Monster Los Angeles Times June 19 1997 p 53 Retrieved December 4 2020 a b Dracula VHS MCA Home Video 1991 a b Dracula DVD Universal Studios Home Video 1999 a b c d e Dracula The Legacy Collection DVD Universal Studios Home Video 2004 a b c d e f g h i Universal Classic Monsters The Essential Collection Blu ray Universal Pictures Home Entertainment 2012 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae Universal Classic Monsters Complete 30 Film Collection Blu ray Universal Pictures Home Entertainment 2018 Rhodes 2014 p 245 Rhodes 2014 p 282 Frankenstein VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Frankenstein DVD Universal Studios Home Video 1999 a b c d e Frankenstein The Legacy Collection DVD Universal Studios Home Video 2004 Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 38 Murders in the Rue Morgue VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Mank 2010 p 105 The Mummy VHS MCA Home Video 1991 The Mummy DVD Universal Studios Home Video 1999 a b c d e The Mummy The Legacy Collection DVD Universal Studios Home Video 2004 Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 63 McDougal Dennis 2001 The Last Mogul Lew Wasserman MCA and the Hidden History of Hollywood pp 231 232 Da Capo Press Island of Lost Souls VHS MCA Home Video 1991 At the Theatres This Week Arizona Daily Star December 18 1932 p 8 via Newspapers com The Invisible Man VHS MCA Home Video 1991 The Invisible Man DVD Universal Studios Home Video 1999 a b c d e The Invisible Man The Legacy Collection DVD Universal Studios Home Video 2004 a b Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 78 The Black Cat VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Bride of Frankenstein VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Bride of Frankenstein DVD Universal Studios Home Video 1999 Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 120 Werewolf of London VHS MCA Home Video 1991 a b c d The Wolf Man The Legacy Collection DVD Universal Studios Home Video 2004 Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 129 The Raven VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 138 Dracula s Daughter VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 162 Son of Frankenstein VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 182 Tower of London VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 200 The Invisible Man Returns VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 207 The Mummy s Hand VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 229 The Invisible Woman VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 237 The Monster and the Girl VHS MCA Home Video 1991 The Monster and the Girl American Film Institute Retrieved June 8 2020 Man Made Monster VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 241 The Wolf Man VHS MCA Home Video 1991 The Wolf Man DVD Universal Studios Home Video 1999 Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 261 The Ghost of Frankenstein VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 275 Invisible Agent VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 294 The Mummy s Tomb VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 305 Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 322 Captive Wild Woman VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 337 Phantom of the Opera VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Phantom of the Opera DVD Universal Studios Home Video 1999 Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 345 Son of Dracula VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Kiss 2019 p 95 The Mad Ghoul VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 373 The Invisible Man s Revenge VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 400 The Mummy s Ghost VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 417 House of Frankenstein VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 447 The Mummy s Curse VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 456 House of Dracula VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 501 House of Horrors VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 525 Weaver Brunas amp Brunas 2007 p 539 Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein American Film Institute Retrieved July 14 2021 Abbott and Costello Meet The Invisible Man American Film Institute Retrieved July 14 2021 Creature from the Black Lagoon VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Creature from the Black Lagoon DVD Universal Studios Home Video 1999 a b c Creature from the Black Lagoon The Legacy Collection DVD Universal Studios Home Video 2004 Creature from the Black Lagoon American Film Institute Retrieved July 14 2021 Revenge of the Creature VHS MCA Home Video 1991 Revenge of the Creature American Film Institute Retrieved July 14 2021 Abbott and Costello Meet The Mummy American Film Institute Retrieved July 14 2021 The Creature Walks Among Us VHS MCA Home Video 1991 The Creature Walks Among Us American Film Institute Retrieved July 14 2021 Search Dark Horse Comics www darkhorse com Retrieved 2023 09 01 Search Dark Horse Comics www darkhorse com Retrieved 2023 09 01 Universal Monsters Frankenstein Profile Dark Horse Comics www darkhorse com Retrieved 2023 09 01 Universal Monsters Creature from the Black Lagoon Profile Dark Horse Comics www darkhorse com Retrieved 2023 09 01 Universal Monsters Dracula Profile Dark Horse Comics www darkhorse com Retrieved 2023 09 01 Universal Monsters The Mummy Profile Dark Horse Comics www darkhorse com Retrieved 2023 09 01 Universal Monsters Cavalcade of Horror TPB Collection Profile Dark Horse Comics www darkhorse com Retrieved 2023 09 01 Salmon Will 2023 07 18 Dracula bites back in the first of a new series of Universal Monsters comics from Skybound gamesradar Retrieved 2023 08 21 First Comics News 2023 07 14 James Tynion IV amp Martin Simmonds Launch Universal Monsters Dracula Comic Book Series Retrieved 2023 08 21 Sources EditMcCullaugh Jim October 24 1992 Sell Thru Sales Judged by Cover Billboard Vol 104 no 43 Nye Doug August 18 1995 Horror films making a comeback The News Press p 6 Kiss Dr Robert J 2019 Son of Dracula The Release History Son of Dracula BearManor Media ISBN 978 1 62933 430 1 Rhodes Gary D 2014 Tod Browning s Dracula Tomahawk Press ISBN 978 0 9566834 5 8 Mank Gregory William 2010 Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff The Expanded Story of a Haunting Collaboration with a Complete Filmography of Their Films Together McFarland ISBN 978 0786454723 Weaver Tom Brunas Michael Brunas John 2007 1990 Universal Horrors 2 ed McFarland amp Company ISBN 978 0 7864 2974 5 Jones Steve October 5 2012 Dracula Frankenstein in new Universal Blu ray set USA Today Retrieved July 18 2021 Early Rosalind Malkowicz Tom October 16 2017 Frankenstein s Monster in Popular Culture Washington University in St Louis Retrieved July 18 2021 Murray Noel Phipps Keith October 25 2012 A Guide to the Universal Studios Monster Movies 1925 1955 The A V Club Retrieved July 18 2021 Reimann February 26 2020 The Strange History of the Universal Monsters Franchise Collider Retrieved July 18 2021 Brooks Nicholas February 26 2021 How Universal s Classic Monsters Launched the Cinematic Universe Comic Book Resources Retrieved July 18 2021 Young Rob October 16 2015 The Original Shared Universe A Look Back At the Universal Monsters Retrieved July 18 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Universal Classic Monsters amp oldid 1179615374, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,