🦍 Lights, Camera… KONG! A Little Old Hollywood Halloween Fun!

A little Pre-Code Hollywood, a little monkey business, and a whole lot of Halloween fun! 

For this year's Cincinnati Actors' Studio costume party, I couldn't resist paying tribute to one of my favorite films, King Kong (1933), and its unforgettable scream queen, Fay Wray.

I've adored this film for years. There's something about the original King Kong, from its groundbreaking effects to its sheer movie magic, that still thrills me every time I watch it. I even introduced my nephew to the film when he was just five years old, and years later, we got to experience Kong together on Broadway.

I was fortunate enough to see the stage production at the Broadway Theatre in 2018, and what an experience that was! Sadly, the show eventually closed after 29 previews and 323 regular performances, but I'm so glad we got to see it. The music didn't quite win me over, and some of the changes to the story didn't work for me either. But Kong himself? Absolutely incredible! And knowing how the story ends, well, let's just say there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

All these years later, my affection for that magnificent ape hasn't faded a bit. So when Halloween came around, I couldn't resist bringing my own Ann Darrow to life.

The fun started with a battered gorilla hand I discovered in a costume shop last year. It was practically falling apart, but I saw the possibilities. After rebuilding it and piecing everything together, I got to work ripping and shredding a dress for that straight-out-of-Skull-Island look. 

Add some blonde curls and a little 1930s glamour, and I was ready for my close-up! My husband joined the fun as a 1930s movie director, megaphone and all.

I had an absolute blast putting this together, and seeing the whole look finally come to life was such a treat!

And since Halloween has always been one of my favorite excuses to get creative, I thought I'd share a little look back at some of my costumes from years past, too. I've had so much fun dreaming up these looks, putting them together, and stepping into different characters along the way.

As The Bride from Bride of Frankenstein (1935), 1950s style

As Luna from Mark of the Vampire (1935)

As Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz (1939)

As Ripley from Alien (1979)

Luna Awakens!

Before the iconic figures of Vampira, Elvira, and Morticia Addams, there was Luna. Carroll Borland is best known for portraying Luna, the daughter of Bela Lugosi's character, Count Mora, in Mark of the Vampire (1935).  But her legacy goes beyond just this role - she is also credited with creating the iconic look of the female vampire with her waist-length dark hair and Adrian-designed shroud in this film.

Two years ago, I was inspired to create my interpretation of her. It was a fun experience to replicate her spooky look!

 

 

 

Carroll Borland was an American actress born on February 25, 1914. She started her career in Hollywood, working in various films and stage productions. She retired from acting in 1953 and passed away in 1994 due to complications from pneumonia. She is most widely remembered and beloved for her iconic role as Luna Mora.

 

 

Borland's as Luna in Mark of the Vampire has become iconic in classic horror films. Her delicate yet menacing demeanor and striking appearance have influenced countless other actresses in the horror genre. The decision to have her character wear a long, flowing shroud designed by Hollywood costume designer Adrian added to the overall impact of her performance.

 

She paved the way for other females in horror film and her influence has lasted for decades, solidifying her as an icon in the horror genre.