Son of Frankenstein: 20 Weird Facts You Never Knew!

Son of Frankenstein (1939): 20 Weird Facts You Never Knew! video by Iconic TV Rewind.

Summary:

Discover 20 weird and disturbing facts about Son of Frankenstein (1939)—one of the most iconic films in the entire Universal Monsters franchise. In this deep-dive horror documentary, we reveal shocking behind-the-scenes secrets, rare Karloff and Lugosi stories, brutal makeup truths, lost color test footage, grueling production chaos, and the hidden history that shaped this legendary Frankenstein sequel. Whether you're a fan of classic horror movies, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, or vintage Hollywood filmmaking, this video uncovers the wild and unsettling mysteries that Universal tried to bury. Perfect for fans of old monster films, Universal’s Frankenstein trilogy, horror film history, and the darker side of 1930s cinema.

In this video, we explore everything from Karloff wearing full Monster makeup to his daughter’s birth… to Lugosi’s exploitation by Universal… to massive script rewrites done minutes before filming. You’ll hear how Son of Frankenstein nearly collapsed under studio pressure, how lost footage mysteriously vanished, how child actor Donnie Dunagan became the youngest Marine drill instructor, and how this film became the longest—and one of the most expensive—classic horror productions of its era.

If you love learning shocking Hollywood secrets, rare Universal Monsters trivia, and hidden stories from the golden age of horror, you’re in the right place.

The Movie That Got Horror BANNED!

The Movie That Got Horror BANNED! video by Antonia Carlotta.

Summary: 

In 1935, The Raven starring Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff pushed horror to its breaking point. Disturbing and psychological, it was banned in multiple countries, and nearly ended the golden era of the Universal Monsters. But why was this movie considered so dangerous? 

I’m Antonia Carlotta and this is Universally Me, the channel for all things Universal and classic horror. My family started Universal Studios, they made the Universal Monsters, and they made The Raven. 

7 MILLION SOLD: INSIDE THE RISE OF THE WINCHESTER ’94

7,000,000 SOLD: INSIDE THE RISE OF THE WINCHESTER ’94 by Legacy of Gunpowder

Summary:

Discover the incredible story behind the Winchester Model 1894 — one of the most iconic rifles in American history. From its creation by John Browning to its role in shaping the frontier, this lever-action rifle became a symbol of the Old West and a favorite among hunters and collectors. Learn why the Winchester 1894 remains a legend over 100 years later.

The Reason Why Karloff Stopped Playing The Monster

Son of Frankenstein (1939) was Boris Karloff's swan song as the Frankenstein monster. 

Antonia Carlotta of the Laemmle family posted a video the reasons why.

Summary: 

Boris Karloff played Frankenstein's Monster in three Universal films: Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, and Son of Frankenstein, becoming one of cinema's most iconic figures. His performance gave the creature soul - part horror, part heartbreak. But after Son of Frankenstein, Karloff never played the Monster again. Why?

Let's go behind the scenes with Karloff, producers Carl Laemmle and Junior Laemmle, make up artist Jack Pierce, directors James Whale and Rowland Lee, and all the other major players that contributed to Karloff's decision to walk away.

I'm Antonia Carlotta and this is Universally Me, the channel for all things Universal and classic horror. My family started Universal Studios, and they made the Universal Monsters, including Frankenstein and the Bride of Frankenstein.

4 Iconic Guns That Made Billy the Kid a LEGEND

Above, a Winchester 1873 once owned by Billy the Kid
at the Billy the Kid Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2024, I took a little trip to Fort Sumner, New Mexico to see the Billy the Kid Museum. 

It was a museum with plenty of historical items besides those of Billy the Kid. I highly recommend a visit.

I also visited Billy's gravesite. 

Here is a video on the guns used by Billy the Kid by Clean Caliber.  

Summary: 

Billy the Kid became more than an outlaw—he became an idea wired into metal. In a brief, violent arc through New Mexico, he moved with pistols, carbines and shotguns that together wrote the story people still read today. We’ll follow four weapons closely tied to his life, and stay to see which one sold for over $6 million.

 

Curious Relics #121: Winchester Model 1894 – Part III

Above, the writer's grandfather's Winchester 1894. Writer's photo.

Part 3 of Curious Relics: Winchester Model 1894 has been posted at AllOutdoor.

It begins with:

Dating: Winchester Model 1894

Dating Winchester Model 1894 rifles comes with challenges. Over 7 million guns were produced across 130+ years. A significant portion of Winchester’s factory records were destroyed in a 1959 fire. The hardest part is that getting verified information involves spending money, specifically for factory letters from the Cody Firearms Museum.

Let me give you a personal example. This specific gun has always been in my family’s lore. It is “Grandpa’s 32-40.” As kids, me and my cousins always heard about it. When my grandfather passed, the oldest grandson inherited the 32-40. I made an effort to get the Cody Firearms Museum documentation, and since we all care about this extension of him, I pursued it.

As with part 2, the focus is on dating the rifle and factory records of the 1894.  Some records still exist, while some (as noted above) were destroyed in a 1959 fire. My Winchester 1894 was made in 1962, so records are still available. 

To read more, go here.

Theodore Roosevelt, Big-Game Hunter

President Theodore Roosevelt was a man who did many things in his lifetime. 

He was an author, rancher, hunter, explorer and, of course, president of the United States (among other things). He was a proud owner of several Winchesters.

Here's a photo of Roosevelt with one of his kills:

Buy A Chevy Truck and Get A Winchester 94 With It

Here's something from the 1980s.

1985 Chevy K10 Outdoorsman with Factory Winchester Rifle, video by High Caliber History.

Summary:

Get ready to explore one of the most unique special edition trucks ever made: the 1985 Chevrolet K10 Outdoorsman. Built for rugged adventures and hunting season, this rare classic came equipped with a Winchester Model 94 .30-30 rifle, mounted behind the seat from the factory.

In this video, we dive into the history, features, and collectibility of the Chevy K10 Outdoorsman - a true blend of American truck culture and outdoor tradition. Perfect for classic truck enthusiasts, Chevy fans, and gun collectors.

 Imagine the uproar if Chevy did this today. 

Siskel & Ebert Review "Superman and the Mole Men"

Way back when, film critic Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert managed to give a mini review of Superman's first feature film, Superman and the Mole Men (1951) starring George Reeves, Phyllis Coates and Jeff Corey.

Their review was favorable, although they poked some fun with the Mole Men, saying they "looked like midgets wearing shower caps." They liked the nostalgia aspect of the movie.

They also take a look at Kirk Alyn's Superman (1948).

The Day Japan Faced the Winchester M12

During my university days at Cal State Long Beach, I took a World War II history class. 

The class mainly had us view the television documentary show, World At War. At no time during the class was the use of shotguns in the Pacific theater of World War II mentioned, either in lectures, in the videos or in books. 

Above, your truly taking possession of the Winchester Model 12 shotgun. 

Recently, a spate of videos have been uploaded in YouTube on the topic of shotguns in the war. I have posted one several days ago. I have another posted below.

It is specifically about the use of the Winchester Model 12 shotgun during the war. I bought a Model 12 a year ago and it is fun to shoot.  

Willys Jeep M38A1 Brief History

Above, my 1952 Willys M38A1 at the gate to Fort Wingate Army Depot. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the businesses I use for getting parts for my 1952 Willys Jeep M38A1 is Kaiser Willys Jeep.

To date, I have obtained several replacement parts since I bought it from a friend in 2019. They include a new gasoline tank, carburetor, lug nuts (right hand and left hand turns), wiper blade and arm.

Each year, they have a photo contest and those participating have their Jeep photo included in the following year's catalog. My Jeep was included twice.

They posted a "brief history" of the Willys M38A1 on their website.

It begins with:

The Willys M38A1 was produced from 1952-1971, with a production total of 101,488 (80,290 domestic / 21,198 foreign sales). The M38A1 was the introduction of the first rounded fender Willys Jeep which predates the civilian version CJ-5 (1955) of the Universal CJ series. Following the retirement of the flat fender M38, the M38A1 was redesigned with round front fenders, a contoured hood, two-piece windshield, top mounted windshield wipers, and outfitted with the 4-134 F engine and T90 transmission. The M38A1 (MD) was stronger than its civilian counterpart (CJ-5) with a stronger frame, suspension, reversed springs shackles and a 24 volt waterproof electrical system.

Above, the Jeep at McGaffey Lake, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Curious Relics #119: Winchester Model 1894 Part 1 – Grandpa’s 32-40

Above, the writer's grandfather's Winchester 1894. Writer's photo.

Since 1895, the Winchester 94 (or Winchester 1894) has put many venison (deer) on dinner plates. This is easy to understand why since over seven million of these rifles have been sold.

AllOutdoor has posted the first part of an article on a 1902 Winchester 94 owned by the writer's grandfather. It includes a detailed history of the rifle. It is titled, "Curious Relics #119: Winchester Model 1894 Part 1 – Grandpa’s 32-40".

It begins with:

Welcome, if you are a newcomer to this fun bi-weekly segment of AllOutdoor.com! The last time around, we dove into a bucket list psitol, the S&W 1913. We went through the history, variations, dating, and some range time. Today we get to cover a rifle that holds a special place in American hunting history. The Winchester Model 1894 in these photos is my late grandfather’s deer rifle from his hunting days here in Minnesota. With hunting season approaching, it feels like the right time to dive into what many consider the most successful sporting rifle ever made. There’s a saying that the Model 1894 has killed more deer than any other rifle in history, and with over 7.5 million produced, that’s probably not far from the truth. Let’s dive right into the history of the Winchester Model 1894!

To read more, go here. 

Japanese Forces Stunned by the Power of 12-Gauge Shotguns!

 "Japanese Forces Stunned by the Power of 12-Gauge Shotguns!" by Voices of War.

Summary:

In the Pacific jungles of World War II, Japanese forces faced a weapon they never expected — the 12-gauge shotgun. What was meant for hunting turned into a devastating close-range battlefield equalizer.

Discover how U.S. Marines used raw stopping power, speed, and surprise to dominate close-quarters combat — leaving Japanese troops shocked and unprepared for the brutal effectiveness of this underrated weapon.

 

"Deadwood: Gold, Guns, and Greed in the American West"

It hardly seems possible that already two months have passed since my trip to Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota (along with Colorado and Utah on the way).

One place visited on the trip was Deadwood, South Dakota for a few nights.

Above, the location where Wild Bill Hickok met his demise. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As things strangely happen, a book on Deadwood has been published. It is titled, "Deadwood: Gold, Guns, and Greed in the American West" and is by Peter Cozzens.

According to the posting at Amazon:

Sifting through layers and layers of myth and legend—from nineteenth-century dime novels like Deadwood Dick, to HBO prestige dramas to the casino billboards outside of present-day Deadwood—Peter Cozzens unveils the true face of Deadwood, South Dakota, the storied mining town that sprang up in early 1876 and came raining down in ashes only three years later, destined to become food for the imagination and a nostalgic landmark that now brings in more than two and a half million visitors each year.

This seems to be an interesting book for history buffs.

To read more, go here. 

Book: "Billy the Kid, His Real Name Was..."

Above, the grave of Billy the Kid. Or is it? Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last year, I paid a visit to Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Fort Sumner is famous as where outlaw Billy the Kid met his end at the hands of Pat Garrett and is buried there. 

Or was he?

I came across a book by Jim Johnson titled, "Billy the Kid, His Real Name Was..." 

Here's the Barnes & Noble summary:

He was gunned down at the tender age of twenty- or was he? You've probably heard the legend of William H. Bonney, a.k.a. Billy the Kid, at one time or another. Most folks have. But when it comes to the Kid, few things are completely certain - not his real name, not his parents' names, not even where he was born or just how many people he killed. Sheriff Pat Garrett is commonly credited with killing Billy. He even wrote a wildly popular and somewhat sensational book about it. But there are many scholars who dispute the claim of this bartender and former buffalo hunter because the details of Garrett's story just don't add up. Add to this the fact that throughout the following decades old men from Mexico all the way to England were declaring themselves to be the real Billy the Kid, having cheated death that warm night in New Mexico. Among these many claimants, however, are two men with somewhat credible stories: John Miller and Brushy Bill. Both men seemed to be the right age, the right size, and had stories that certainly sounded authentic. But only one of these men could possibly be the real Billy the Kid. Author Jim Johnson has made an in-depth study of the outlaw's life, and presents here two very plausible accounts. Did Billy the Kid grow to be an old man, or was he killed by Pat Garrett? Read the evidence, and judge for yourself.

When I was in Fort Sumner, I visited Billy's grave and toured the Billy the Kid Museum. Was Billy actually buried there or was someone else (claimed to be Billy) buried there. The book sounds interesting enough. I just might get the book and see.

48th Anniversary of Elvis Presley's Death

Above, Elvis Presley's Grave at Graceland in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was a rainy August day in Hawthorne, California and I was watching the James Cagney movie, One, Two, Three when a news bulletin interrupted the movie.

Elvis Presley had died.

My mom was working out in the yard (she was an Elvis fan) and I went out and immediately told her the news.

It was one of those news events where people can remember where and what they were doing when hearing the news. That is still true with this story, even though we're two years shy of the fiftieth anniversary.

Here's a video from NBC News with David Brinkley reporting:

First Smokey Bear Poster On August 9, 1944

Above, the first Smokey Bear poster.

This is a "little" before my time, but it was on August 9, 1944 the first Smokey Bear poster appeared.

According to RV Travel:

On this day in history: 1944 – The United States Forest Service and the Wartime Advertising Council release posters featuring Smokey Bear for the first time.

Custer's Last Stand Was Worse Than We Were Told (Video)

Above, "Last Stand Hill" at Little Bighorn Battlefield. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Interesting video. You have to watch it on YouTube. Just click on it.

Custer's Last Stand Was Worse Than We Were Told

 

Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial 1940s - 1950s Video

A little while ago, I found a silent video of the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial from the 1940s to 1950s. 

At the end, the video gives a glimpse of the El Rancho Hotel.

Custer's Last Stand: Most Accurate Hollywood Movie?

Above, Last Stand Hill today. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My recent visit to the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana was an interesting one. People can envision how the battle took place as the area looks much like it did back in 1876, with the exception of the monuments placed there over the years.

Above, George Armstrong Custer, May 1865. Library of Congress photo.

One has to ask, "What Hollywood movie is the most accurate portrayal of Custer's last stand?"

From what I have gleaned via Google, Son of Morning Star (1991), a two-part miniseries is the most accurate. 

According to the U.K.'s Television Heaven:

Other than Waterloo, no battle has generated more discussion than the defeat of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer at the Little Big Horn in 1876. News of the massacre of five troops of his 7th US Cavalry at the hands of "uncivilised" tribes came as a profound shock to Americans celebrating the Centenary of their Declaration of Independence with a huge exhibition dedicated to the industrial and technological progress of their country.

Custer himself has been portrayed many times and in many different ways on the big screen: Errol Flynn played him as a self sacrificing hero in 'They Died With Their Boots On,' Ronald Reagan as a dim sidekick in 'Santa Fe Trail,' Robert Shaw as a tightly controlled psychopath in 'Custer of the West,' and Richard Mulligan as comedy relief in 'Little Big Man.' Yet most historians agree that the most authentic portrait was on television - from Gary Cole in Son of the Morning Star, a two part "miniseries." They also tend to commend the production as a whole for its accuracy.

To read more, go here.

Son of Morning Star full movie: