Universal Monsters
| Universal Classic Monsters | |
|---|---|
 Official franchise logo as displayed on home video releases | |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
| Country | United States |
Universal Classic Monsters is a home video line introduced in the 1990s by Louis Feola to reintroduce the horror films as a connected series. The series includes Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, The Phantom of the Opera, The Wolf Man and The Creature From the Black Lagoon.
Home video line
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 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".[2]
In 1995, MCA/Universal released a collection of the film on home video under the title "The Universal Studios Monsters Classic Collection".[3] This series included Frankenstein, Dracula, The Mummy, The Invisible Man and The Creature From the Black Lagoon series."[3] A collection of stamps featuring Universal Classic Monsters were also released in September 1997 titled "Universal Classic Movie Monsters series".[4] Other characters included in the series included The Mummy, Frankenstein's monster (Boris Karloff), Phantom of the Opera (Lon Chaney) and the Wolf Man (Lon Chaney Jr.).[5]
In other media
Since 1991, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Parks & Resorts 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's Horror Make-Up Show. The live show opened in 1990 at Universal Studios Florida and is still in operation.[6]
References
- ^ Bessman, Jim (September 4, 1999). "Glass Scores 'Dracula' For Universal; Will Tour in Support". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 36. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
Sources
- 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.