The Other Frankenstein Monster: The Strange Fate of Glenn Strange

The six-foot-five Glenn Strange is almost as well known as Boris Karloff as Frankenstein’s Monster.

He ended his long career with a 12 year-stint as Sam the bartender onGunsmoke.

But hes rarely remembered for any of that.

In 1942 they turned to Lon Chaney, Jr. to play the monster inGhost of Frankenstein.

And well, Lugosi was, at best, an uncomfortable monster.

It was a fine picture, but there was simply something wrong and off-putting about Lugosi.

Maybe it was the sideburns.

So when it came to 1944sHouse of Frankenstein, it was clear a new monster was again necessary.

Strange agreed (though as a contract player he had little choice in the matter).

And what the hell?

He made the picture, which was a big hit and remains a great deal of fun today.

Audiences, if they noticed at all, didnt seem to mind much.

At least he was better than Lugosi.

Karloff, who also filled the role three times, was less fortunate.

Only long after theFrankensteinpictures had come and gone did a number of small ironies begin to reveal themselves.

This confusion was taken to an unhappy extreme with the death of Boris Karloff in 1969.