Well, darlings, death may have dimmed her mortal light, but not even the grave could keep The Bride of Frankenstein from stealing one more spotlight! On a golden October afternoon—her 123rd birthday, no less—Elsa Lanchester finally got the billing she deserved.
By Allan R. Ellenberger - The Hollywoodland Revue
Oct. 28. (HLR) - Nearly forty years after her passing, some one hundred of us fans, film buffs and Hollywood historians gathered at Valhalla Memorial Park in Burbank to witness the unveiling of a gleaming new plaque for one of filmdom’s most unforgettable creatures.
The affair was emceed by Scott Michaels—the indefatigable impresario of Dearly Departed Tours—who’s made a career of rescuing Tinseltown’s forgotten souls from obscurity. Dapper and witty as always, Scott reminded us that Elsa’s ashes had been lost to rumor for decades until he unearthed the truth: the Bride had been here all along, quietly resting beneath the roses.
Among the speakers was the BBC’s James Bartlett, who first broke the story of Michaels’ discovery. He shared a charming tidbit from actor Bruce Davison—yes, the Oscar-nominated star of Longtime Companion—who worked with Elsa on Willard. She played his delightfully eccentric mother, and though Davison couldn’t attend at first, Bartlett told us he still treasures an 8mm home movie he took on set: Elsa descending the staircase, arms outstretched, re-creating her legendary Bride pose. Can you imagine? The monster’s bride, reborn in color and motion once again!
Bartlett also read a touching note from Lynne Lugosi Sparks, granddaughter of Bela himself. “Elsa and my grandfather,” she wrote, “belong to that elite company who brought the classic monsters to life—Elsa the Bride, Bela the Count.” The crowd sighed in unison, as though the ghosts of Universal City had just taken a bow.
Then came one of those moments only Hollywood could script. Michaels, ever the showman, spotted a young woman in the crowd and invited her to speak. She turned out to be Jo Beth Wagner, who channels Elsa daily as the Bride of Frankenstein at Universal Studios. With genuine affection, she spoke of the fans—some in tears, some in laughter—who still whisper with reverence and delight when they see her.
And then, as if summoned by applause, in walked Bruce Davison himself! He’d wrapped filming on NCIS just in time to surprise the gathering. With warmth and wit, he painted a portrait of Elsa that was all sparkle and sincerity—her outrageous humor, her London charm, her gatherings at home with Christopher Isherwood and Don Bachardy. He remembered her tenderly recalling her husband, Charles Laughton: the brilliance, the disappointments, the mudslide that damaged their Pacific Palisades home, and the heartbreak of The Night of the Hunter’s cruel reviews. Through it all, Davison said, Elsa loved fiercely. He ended his tribute with her admonition, delivered with perfect timing: “It’s Burt Lan-CASTER and Elsa Lan-CHESTER!” The crowd roared with laughter and applause.
ABOVE: Oscar nominated actor Bruce Davison. LEFT: BBC writer James Bartlett and Dearly Departed Tours founder, Scott Michaels.
At last, the moment came. A cemetery attendant stepped forward and gently placed the new marker, gleaming in the afternoon sun:
ELSA LANCHESTER
BRIDE OF CHARLES LAUGHTON
October 28, 1902 – December 26, 1986
There wasn’t a dry eye among us. As the crowd drifted away, I couldn’t help but think that somewhere, in that great soundstage in the sky, Elsa threw back her head, flashed that electric smile, and gave one last hiss for the cameras.
God bless you, Elsa—you’ll always be the bride who lit up the dark.
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Excellent recap of a wonderful event. Thank you, Allan!
Thanks Mark. Good to see you yesterday.
Such a wonderful article that captured today’s honoring of a Hollywood legend beautifully! It was a true pleasure to be there in person! Thank you to all who made this such a memorable event, and especially, to Elsa! 💕
Thanks Peggy.