this, too, i will survive but i really wish i didnt have to

Bela Lugosi in stage production of Dracula , c. 1927.

"When I was playing Dracula on stage, my audiences were women. Women. There were men, too. Escorts the women had brought with them. For reasons only their dark subconscious knew. In order to establish a subtle sex intimacy. Contact. In order to cling and to feel the sensuous thrill of protection. Men did not come in of their own volition. Women did. Came - and knew an ecstasy dragged from the depths of unspeakable things. Came - and then came back again. And again. Women wrote me letters. Ah, what letters women wrote me! Young girls. Women from seventeen to thirty. Letters of a horrible hunger. Asking me if I cared only for a maiden's blood. Asking me if I had done the play because I was in reality that sort of Thing. And through these letters, couched in terms of shuddering, transparent fear, there ran the hideous note of - hope,

They hoped that I was Dracula. They hoped that my love was the love of Dracula. They gloated over the Thing they dared not understand... It was the embrace of Death their subconscious was yearning for. Death, the final triumphant lover. It made me know that the women of America are unsatisfied, famished, craving sensation, even though it be the sensation of death draining the red blood of life." - Bela Lugosi

From Motion Picture Classic, January 1931.

the worst is wanting to create and create and create but being trapped in a body that is so so so so tired

It makes me sad that more adaptations don’t include the scene where Dracula goes “you know what? Fine! I’ll let you leave!” And then shows him he will never escape, but leaves just enough plausible deniability that Jonathan can’t break politeness. It’s a key scene to me, the demonstration of all the horror that Jonathan experienced.

Because then the best part, the wonderful juicy actors would love it bit. He sends Jonathan off, and kisses his hand at him, and we KNOW that he KNOWS!!! He FLAUNTS it!!! It’s pure villainous joy. And it’s the crux of Draculas character. He enjoys using his power over people. Plus, it’s terrifying! Why wouldn’t you use it!

Bela Lugosi and Edward Van Sloan (this actor also played Van Helsing in the film) in Dracula on stage (1928)

Bram Stoker’s most common pair-ups: Jonathan and Mina, Arthur and Quincey, Jack and Van Helsing

Bram Stoker’s vampire hunting plan pair-ups: Jonathan and Arthur, Jack and Quincey, Mina and Van Helsing

Bram Stoker’s ‘I avoid this as much as possible’ pair-ups: Jonathan and Jack, Mina and Quincey, Arthur and Van Helsing

Bram Stoker’s “If these characters end up in the same room together, one of them will evaporate” pair-up: Renfield and Jonathan

Bela Lugosi as Dracula on stage, c. 1928.

Bela Lugosi in Dracula stage play, 1928

i need an entire series dedicated to every detail of gru’s life. from birth to death. show me his best and worst heists with the minions. show me his rivalry with maxime. show me his relationship growing with dr. nefario. show me his reaction to when lucy told him he was going to be a father. i need it all.

in love w this photo of Béla’s gorgeous/scary makeup for the stage production of Dracula

he liked to do his own makeup for theater, so at some point in the 1930s he was backstage doing fire smokey winged eyeliner for his look as the lord of vampires

Dracula (1931)

I’m not bitter

seasonal reminder: it’s the thought that counts, and it’s the count that’s a thot

A Pragmatic and surprisingly comforting perspective about the Trump 2nd Presidency from the ACLU

***Apologies if this is how you found out the 2024 election results***

Blacked out part is my name.

I’m not going to let this make me give up. It’s disheartening, and today I will wallow, probably tomorrow too

AND

I will continue to do my part in my community to spread the activism and promote change for the world I want to live in. I want to change the world AND help with the dishes.

And I won’t let an orange pit stain be what stops me from trying to be better.

A link to donate to the ACLU if able and inclined. I know I am

I never want to hear “rape allegations ruin a man’s life” ever again because a convicted rapist just became president of the us