UNIVERSAL STUDIOS TOUR - THE MONSTER UNMASKED!

[Mike Scott]

I don't know anything about such things.

You don't read the Frankensteinia blog? I figured that would be right up your alley. Everything Frankenstein!

https://frankensteinia.blogspot.com/

[Sir Masksalot]

Awesome post, MFS! I wonder if Universal let him keep his mask after retiring ...
that is, if he ever even wanted to see it again!

[tylerh]

John Squires writes for Dread Central and would probably be all over this story - Ill ping him on Twitter and link back to this with your permission? I feel like this story should be archived somewhere!

[Monsters For Sale]

John Squires writes for Dread Central and would probably be all over this story - Ill ping him on Twitter and link back to this with your permission? I feel like this story should be archived somewhere!

Please do.

I would like to share it with as many people as possible.

The only thing I would request is a link to other future posts - for me, and to share with Mike.

The pictures are on Flikr, under my user name monstersforsale.  I scanned them at 300 dpi, so they would make decent illustrations/prints.

[YoungestMonsterKid]

Wow, I'd seen pictures of these two guys before but I hadn't realized they were seriously always the same two guys.

Were there really never any other monster mascots there throughout all these years?

[Monsters For Sale]

Wow, I'd seen pictures of these two guys before but I hadn't realized they were seriously always the same two guys.

Were there really never any other monster mascots there throughout all these years?

For the first 6 years, only Mike played the Monster.  After that, you can see changes in the costumes and stances of whoever followed.

Don't know about when the Phantom actor was replaced.  Doubt he lasted as long.  This wouldn't be the kind of job a person would make a career of.

I think a big part of why Mike stuck with being the Monster so long, was that Universal was willing to work his hours around his college classes and reserve weekends.

[YoungestMonsterKid]

For the first 6 years, only Mike played the Monster.  After that, you can see changes in the costumes and stances of whoever followed.

Don't know about when the Phantom actor was replaced.  Doubt he lasted as long.  This wouldn't be the kind of job a person would make a career of.

I think a big part of why Mike stuck with being the Monster so long, was that Universal was willing to work his hours around his college classes and reserve weekends.

Yeah, after I posted that comment it struck me that what I said was obviously wrong. We already have photos of other Frankenstein's in this thread. Still good to know.

[SpeedierThantheGrave]

Thank you, Adam for investing the time and energy to research and interview Mr. 'Stein on our behalf.

And thank you, Mr. Bongiorno, for humoring all of us and indulging our curiosities.

[Monsters For Sale]

           Mike Bongiorno as Frankenstein - Universal Studios Hollywood, September 14, 1971

Mike told me that he would give the ladies a friendly shoulder hug - but he would usually pretend to strangle the little monsterkids.

[Monsters For Sale]

         Mike Bongiorno as Frankenstein - Universal Studios Hollywood, April 25, 1972


This picture of Mike escorting a member of the Chinese ping pong team seems bland enough today.  But when the picture was taken this was a very big deal indeed.  Given the importance assigned to the visit, the gentleman pictured is almost certainly the Captain of the team.

After the Mao revolution in China in 1949, the United States refused to recognize the new communist state.  After decades of almost zero contact between our countries, things began to loosen up with then secret negotiations with Henry Kissinger 1n 1971.

In April of 1971, the U.S. table tennis team was invited to China to compete.  Regardless of "Forrest Gump", my recollection is that they creamed us.  In July of 1971 ultra conservative anti-communist President Richard Nixon announced that he would visit China.

In April of 1972, the Chinese table tennis team paid a visit to the U.S. (under heavy supervision to prevent defectors) it was considered a significant gesture at the time.  Citizens of Communist China were NOT allowed to travel to other countries.

This picture is a result of what was being called "Ping Pong Diplomacy" - no, I'm not kidding.


In our talks, Mike told me he remembered visiting with the Captain of the Chinese ping pong team.

 
(Sorry if that was over-long and boring, but I remember the time well.  I thought some of you would appreciate some background with the image.)

[Mike Scott]

I remember the "Ping Pong Diplomacy" and all that other stuff. Didn't know of the Universal Monsters connection, though! 

[Monsters For Sale]

I remember the "Ping Pong Diplomacy" and all that other stuff. Didn't know of the Universal Monsters connection, though! 

Gawd!  You must be old.

[Mike Scott]

Gawd!  You must be old.

Old enough to be your younger brother!

[Sean]

Great pics/ great stories.

[Monsters For Sale]

    Frankenstein Greets Glamor Tram Passengers at Universal Studios, Hollywood - 1970


Smiling First Lady Pat Nixon shakes hands with the Frankenstein Monster (Mike Bongiorno) on February 24, 1970.  At her side, daughter Julie Nixon is laughing at something going on just out of camera range.

(A little over a year later, five men would be apprehended breaking into Democratic Party National Headquarters in the Watergate office complex.)