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1931 Dracula Bela Lugosi Signed Sketch Personal Gift to Friends w Original 1944 Return of the Vampire Still Death Scene

Hi All,

Here is a 1931 sketch of Bela Lugosi as Dracula by an artist whose name escapes me at the moment. He was well known for doing these sketches. I have his name with the autographed print. Bela commissioned this portrait soon after the film and had these printed on heavy card stock. He would then sign them as gifts for close friends. This example is in Excellent condition, with a bold blue early 1930's Lugosi signature in fountain pen.

The creepy thing about this drawing is that if you look, Lugosi can be seen looking both to his upper right and upper left - when you"see" this, his eyes appear to swivel! I do not believe this has been written about before, despite being a well known piece.

Beneath this is an original still from 1944's Return on the Vampire, which many consider to be the unofficial sequel to the original, and the still depicts Lugosi's final death scene as the vampire. It is a stunning image.

I hope you enjoy them!

Click for large images.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on September 4, 2023 at 3:27pm

At that 1995 Chiller in NJ I met Ben Chapman, the above water Creature. I also loved those films - even when they stuck him in a suit!

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on September 4, 2023 at 3:43pm

Absolutely a great movie with Richard Denner.

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Permalink Reply by Garrett Meadows on September 4, 2023 at 3:20pm

That signed sketch is fabulous.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on September 4, 2023 at 3:28pm

Thank you Garrett! I love it. I have not seen others yet.

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Permalink Reply by Garrett Meadows on September 4, 2023 at 4:37pm

That's a first I've seen. If I had to have ONE signed image of Lugosi, yours would be it.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on September 4, 2023 at 5:12pm

I'll take that as a compliment! Thank you :-)

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Permalink Reply by Garrett Meadows on September 4, 2023 at 4:38pm

BTW, Eric, if you ever run across a signed photo of Louisiana U.S. Senator Huey P. Long, let me know. You may only focus on show biz, but if by chance you enter the political arena, let me know.

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Permalink Reply by Garrett Meadows on September 4, 2023 at 3:23pm

Hammer Films did a very nice revival of the Universal monster films in the 1950s, most of which starred Peter Cushing or Christopher Lee or both. Lee was definitely scary as Dracular.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on September 4, 2023 at 5:11pm

Perhaps, but it is a bit easier (perhaps) with color , music and a moving camera!

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Permalink Reply by Mike Shepherd on September 4, 2023 at 4:29pm

Very nice, Eric. You have been posting some amazing pieces in your recent discussions. I am very happy to see you back. Hope all is well.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on September 4, 2023 at 5:05pm

Hi Mike,

Thank you! I am very happy you like them. And yes, all is well. Very good. I sold my house, moved far away and am getting ready to start getting back to painting :-)

And of course, I am very happy to be back here!