On May 27, 2011, Vincent Price would have celebrated his 100th birthday. A "Vincentennial" commemorating this will be held in St. Louis where Mr. Price was born. It will take place May 19th - 28th at several venues throughout the city with the host hotel being The Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark. More information can be found at vincentennial.com.

I won't go into some fancy biography of Mr. Price. There are several really good ones out there including one at the link above. I just want to comment on some of my favorite movies.

I watched lots of horror movies growing up. If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area and are over 40, you may have watched Creature Features on Friday and Saturday nights with host Bob Wilkins. There were several other stations that played many horror flicks on the weekends and I no doubt, was watching them. A great many of these films starred Vincent Price.

Vincent did many films in the 1940's and early 50's until House of Wax (1953) became his big break into the horror genre. Many horror films in the 1950's followed including The Fly (1958), House on Haunted Hill (1958), Return of the Fly (1959), and The Tingler (1959). He also appeared in The Ten Commandments (1956) and the Bob Hope comedy Casanova's Big Night (1954).

Then in the 1960's Price appeared in many Roger Corman b-movies including The House of Usher (1960), Pit and the Pendulum (1961), Tales of Terror (1962), The Raven (1963), The Haunted Palace (1963) and The Masque of the Red Death (1964).

Probably his most famous role from this time period was The Last Man on Earth (1964) which if my memory serves, inspired George Romero's Night of the Living Dead (1968) but that may just be a rumor. Later, Charlton Heston and Will Smith both did remakes of The Last Man on Earth.

He did many television roles in the 60's and 70's as the horror genre was waning at the time. He did do a couple of episodes of Rod Serling's Night Gallerey (1971-1972). And who could forget his role as Professor Hubert Whitehead when the Brady Bunch made that trip to Hawaii (1972)

Vincent's last film appearence was on Edward Scissorhands (1990) and although his role was shortened because of failing health, he managed to make the most of that role.

Mr. Price died on October 25, 1993 at the age of 82 in Los Angeles.

My film picks:

-House of Wax (1953)

-The Fly (1958)

-House on Haunted Hill (1958)

-The Last Man on Earth (1964)

-The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)

-Vincent (1982)

-Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Other Vital Statistics:

Real Name: Vincent Leonard Price Jr.

Nickname: Merchant of Menace (he had several others).

Height: 6' 4"

Burial Place: He was cremated and his ashes scattered off Point Dume in Malibu, California.

Some Trivia:

In the late 1930's, Vincent was a part of the Orson Welles ensemble for Mercury Theatre radio program. I have two programs available (without Mr. Price) on my Club Haunt Radio Page.

His likeness appeared on such Milton Bradley games as "Hangman" and "Shrunken Head Apple Sculpture" in the 1970s.

Was notoriously superstitious. He once joked that he kept a horseshoe, a crucifix and a mezzuza on his front door.

Quotes:

What's important about an actor is his acting, not his life.

I hate being old and ill! Don't get old if you can avoid it!

Other Places of Interest:

Victoria Price Web Site

Vincentennial on Facebook

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