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When Dracula did Jersey...

31.12.69

Eyeing necks and stretching syllables, Bela Lugosi established himself as a Hollywood horror giant in 1931 with "Dracula."

The Hungarian actor reveled in the dark romance of the role, delivering a portrayal that continues to influence depictions of lonely immortals, from "Twilight" to "True Blood."

Lugosi's monster movies are legend, but lesser known are his travels as a live performer. The star lurked around New Jersey stages during his pre-vampire days and toured the local summer stock circuit after fangs went out of fashion post-WWII.

Between Tinseltown and Transylvania, the Garden State is spattered with Lugosi landmarks.

The classically trained actor joined a Hungarian drama troupe in Newark after immigrating to the United States in 1920. His English-language stage debut was in Atlantic City at the now-closed Apollo Theatre. Lugosi led the cast as a conquistador named Fernando during a test run for a 1922 off-Broadway play, "The Red Poppy."

When the drama moved to a downtown Manhattan theater, the New York Times noted: "Bela Lugosi is a newcomer of quite splendid mien, romantically handsome and young. Hungarian though he is said to be, he looks every inch the Spanish pirate of romance."

Source: The Star-Ledger - NJ.com