Classic Movie Stars-Vincent Price

Vincent Price is most known for his campy horror flicks of the sixtees but you wouldn't know that if you catch his first film, "Service De Luxe." He was touted as a heart-throb by the studio. After this success, he continued to do more theatre and film. He was an ideal, charming, funny leading man and even got press in the hunky celebrity magazines.

Vincent continued to make appearances in movies such as "Laura" and "Up In Central Park" and had also taken up doing radio shows until 1953, when he made the picture that is perhaps his most famous, "House of Wax". Following that film, he did others such as "The House on Haunted Hill" and "The Fly".It was from this period that Price became known for his horror movies.

In early 1960, he began a relationship with American International Pictures that would produce some of his best known films, all based on Edgar Allan Poes short stories and poems "The Fall of the House of Usher", "Pit and the Pendulum" "The Masque of the Red Death" and "The Raven."

In 1971 Price starred as the Narrator on the wacky Canadian TV series "Hilarious House of Frightenstein". What can be said about a great locally produced kids show that was on in mornings? I remember always getting up in the morning to watch the show before going to school. All of us who were kids in the 70's from Southern Ontario miss this classic. The show that had all hilarious characters mainly played by Billy Van. The Wolfman was the best with is "Chime Time" and then throwing a golf ball at a clock to tell what time it was. Then watching Igor dance with him with psychedelic visuals behind them to some 60's rock. Or Aaron the ape getting nailed with a golf ball and falling over. I hope it isn't true but I heard that an ex- station manager of what ever network ownes the rights hated the show or something and burned all the masters. I hope this isn't true and Global TV, which ownes CHCH TV here in Hamilton where the show was produced, gets a hold of the rights, because I can still remember Vincent Price's words at the end."The castle lights are growing dim, there's no one left but me and him. When next we meet in Frankenstone, Don't come alone"

In a previous post I gave a symnopsis of one my favorite movies (1987) in which "The Whales of August".
Vincent Price plays Mr. Maranov a down and out Russian immigrant trying to win the love of Libby played by Bette Davis. In 1990 Price gave his last motion picture performance as the Inventor in "Edward Scissorhands".

In a career that spanned some sixety years, Vincent Price offers people of all ages and genre tastes many memories whether its his eerie disentation of Poes classic "The Raven" or his "rap" and cackling laugh at the end of Michael Jacksons "Thriller".

The Pit is an interesting web site that offers many great sound clips of Vincent Price and other horror ledgends.

A quote from him states "A man who limits his interests, limits his life". A lesson to learn.

Kenaz

Vincent Price in his element as an evil scientist. 

Early Photo of Vincent Price.