Quite a few years ago, I saw a Dracula Kite sell on eBay for quite a high price. I don't recall exactly what it was, but well over $1000.
And I think it was offered in FM, but I'm not sure about that.
Does anyone have a photo of the Dracula Kite? Or the ad in FM? Or know what issue? (assuming it was offered in FM)
Not what you're looking for, I know... but I saw this when I was searching.... it's an 8-foot flapping bat kite---pretty cool.
(http://www.kiteandwind.com/v/vspfiles/photos/PRK45702-2T.jpg)
Bobby,
The Dracula kite was offered in MONSTER MANIA magazine. A picture of it is on page 64 of issue #1 of the Cobweb/Renaissance Mail Bag department. $1.00 plus 35 cents p&h
I knew of a mint in package example a few years back but, inquired about it too late. It had been sold. I don't remember what the final price was but it may have been closer to a mint-in-package Horrorscope price range (~$5,000.00). it was mint, unused and over my price range so I guess my late inquiry doesnt matter.
A very over-priced silly thing if you think about it...but...how many authentic 60s mint-in-package Dracula kites could be out there?
If the economy keeps tanking, maybe a lot of rare collectables will pop up.
Hope thus helps,
Richard
I ran downstairs and found the ad in Monster Mania
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg232/mnroo/f64214a3.jpg)
Also, I don't think it was ever offered in Famous Monsters. Can't remember seeing it
Thanks much, Richard. I don't recall ever seeing it in FM either, but I haven't seen all of the issues. My recollection was that the price it sold for was pretty high, more like $8k but I can't remember and it could have as easily been $1800 or something...
I don't remember ever seeing one on eBay but I guess $8000 is understandable, rare as it is. My chance on one was from a private collection.
Did they only do the Dracula one? Any others in the ad, Richard?
Quote from: Bogey on April 28, 2011, 09:58:34 PM
Did they only do the Dracula one? Any others in the ad, Richard?
Only the Lugosi Dracula that I'm aware of. No other monster. The above ad is the one I remember when I bought Monster Mania in the 60s and took a pic of tonight.
In the Bela G. vs Uni case, the judge writes the following in his opinion.
"The products such as kites and shirts which were licensed to carry the appearance of the Count Dracula character were not sold at all in connection with any advertising of the Dracula photoplay to appear on television or any theatre screen . ."
Quote from: Mike Scott on April 28, 2011, 10:40:46 PM
In the Bela G. vs Uni case, the judge writes the following in his opinion.
"The products such as kites and shirts which were licensed to carry the appearance of the Count Dracula character were not sold at all in connection with any advertising of the Dracula photoplay to appear on television or any theatre screen . ."
And Universal said, "go fly a kite!"
(sorry, couldn't help myself) :)
This is the first I've heard of this kite. Pretty cool. I would love to see a photo of one. On second thought, maybe it's best that I don't see one. What I don't know won't hurt me, or my bank account.
I need to erase this item from my memory or I will end up spending way too much $ on a kite.
Rarity aside, am I the only one that is not that jazzed about this thing? Too bad they didn't make a Frankenstein!
Quote from: Monster Bob on April 29, 2011, 07:38:08 AM
Rarity aside, am I the only one that is not that jazzed about this thing? Too bad they didn't make a Frankenstein!
Not on my wish list, Monster Bob. I've got a very small list of "wants" and an even smaller checkbook :P
I suppose Dracula = bat = flying in the sky = kite ...in the minds of the producer. So no other monsters. Frankenstein could have been cool, I guess. :)
I bet Gary Busey was the buyer of that kite. (That would only make sense if you've been watching "Celebrity Apprentice", and even then it would only make sense to Gary Busey).
Hahahaha!!! RRW- But please don't let Meatloaf think that he bought it instead!
I'd be a buyer at $200 or so, lol. Maybe a little more. The thread was started because I was thinking about it and wondering what info there was out there. I'm not a serious buyer for one.
I started thinking about it looking at this cool Werewolf kite that Packy Paul found in a dollar store a few years ago and sent me one.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3324/3497851350_8d5b7ac4d2_m.jpg)
Quote from: Richard on April 28, 2011, 08:22:50 PM
I ran downstairs and found the ad in Monster Mania
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg232/mnroo/f64214a3.jpg)
I like the part about menacing your neighbours!
tynhrt
I have to say the number a thread like this - reporting a vintage "news to me" item is in my top couple reasons I love the UMA so much. Thanks for the info and pics, Richard and for Bobby starting it!
Looks a little like the kite they used at the of Frank ("Count Disco") Langella's DRACULA...
Quote from: Hepcat on April 29, 2011, 12:26:58 PM
I like the part about menacing your neighbours!
I like the "Count of Dracula" part.
Wow, I found the Vampire Kite I had as a kid on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Stanbel-Vampire-Plastic-Kite-/110680118079?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c50c933f (http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Stanbel-Vampire-Plastic-Kite-/110680118079?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c50c933f)
I also had one that was inflatable that was a vampire bat with fangs. Neither of them lasted more than one day.
Great information Richard ! Never knew it existed.
Thanks
Quote from: Toy Ranch on April 28, 2011, 06:06:19 PM
Quite a few years ago, I saw a Dracula Kite sell on eBay for quite a high price. I don't recall exactly what it was, but well over $1000.
I remember it as selling for 3500 to 3800, but kept no record of it. Very cool to see the ad.
Quote from: darkmonkeygod on April 30, 2011, 04:30:07 AM
I remember it as selling for 3500 to 3800, but kept no record of it. Very cool to see the ad.
That was another range of price that popped into my head as possible. Just can't remember, but it may very well have been just that.
I love kites. Flying a kite is one of the few activities I did with my dad when I was a kid. I always picked out a Gayla BAT kite with the bloodshot eyes, and we took it to the open field at the Evangelical Church in town. We always flew it until it was destroyed, stuck in a power line or some other such tragedy; I don't think we ever actually brought a kite home from any of our Spring kite flying afternoons. I have a couple replacement kites that I have had since the late 80's - early 90's:
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd71/actionplus/kites.jpg)
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd71/actionplus/kites2.jpg)
Anyway, that is probably a reason why I think this Dracula Kite is so cool. Not 3 grand cool, though!
Quote from: Radioactive Rod Whitenack on April 29, 2011, 07:20:41 PM
Wow, I found the Vampire Kite I had as a kid on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Stanbel-Vampire-Plastic-Kite-/110680118079?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c50c933f (http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Stanbel-Vampire-Plastic-Kite-/110680118079?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c50c933f)
I'm surprised that you haven't bought it.
???
Hepcat,
I needed my spare cash for my Walpurgis Night adventures this weekend. Plus, as cool as that kite is, I wouldn't know what to do with it now. I don't think it would display well, and if I actually took it out to fly, it would get destroyed in one day just like all my kites did! It's just not something that made want to hit the "buy it now" button.
That Lugosi kite is amazing covered in awesome sauce!!! WOW!
I had a Dracula kite as a kid in the early 80's. I can't find pictures, but it was shaped the baby bat, except with an image of Dracula and some tassles. The image was similar to the Ben Cooper Hairy Scary Dracula costume.
Gayla still makes the "Baby Bat" I usually get a new one every few years. Last spring I got my nephew a BB.
Quote from: CreepyJeff on April 29, 2011, 01:07:23 PM
I have to say the number a thread like this - reporting a vintage "news to me" item is in my top couple reasons I love the UMA so much. Thanks for the info and pics, Richard and for Bobby starting it!
I am agree with this text. I'm loving UMA
It's really horrible that, anyone can be "kite". :'(
Quote from: ruby2011 on May 05, 2011, 01:14:22 PM
I am agree with this text. I'm loving UMA
And I'm loving you, Ruby.
Quote from: ruby2011 on May 05, 2011, 01:30:12 PM
It's really horrible that, anyone can be "kite". :'(
I won't blow away, Ruby. I'll stay here with you. The kite has landed.
While I'm always a bit loathe to necro-post, after all these years an example of the kite has surfaced again and it seems appropriate to mention it here. This time around great photos of the sealed package are available, and it sold for about a sixth of the price as the one from 2010 - 2011 to boot!
See the Monster Fly Kite - Factory Sealed (Pressman Toy Corp., 1965) (https://entertainment.ha.com/itm/action-figures/other/see-the-monster-fly-kite-factory-sealed-pressman-toy-corp-1965-/a/49183-88010.s)
Note: the first two images below are quite large if you open them in another window.
(https://i.postimg.cc/1R2Gc4d6/1965-Pressman-Toy-Corp-See-the-Monster-Fly-Kite-Dracula-1-1.jpg) (https://i.postimg.cc/c12RM6zB/1965-Pressman-Toy-Corp-See-the-Monster-Fly-Kite-Dracula-1-2.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/66grLTPL/1965-Pressman-Toy-Corp-See-the-Monster-Fly-Kite-Dracula-close-up.jpg)
Final hammer price before shipping was $687.50 USD.
Quote from: darkmonkeygod on October 28, 2025, 04:28:21 PMWhile I'm always a bit loathe to necro-post....
That's silly. Why would you be reluctant? Isn't it more efficient to update an old thread instead of starting a new thread? Why proliferate threads on the same topic?
???