Super 7 "Official Universal Monsters Thread"

[Mike Scott]

It's 70 years.

Wow! So, 16 more years for Karloff relatives.

[MonsterBaker666]

So 4 more for Lugosi

[Mike Scott]

So 4 more for Lugosi

Hey! Something I'll actually be around to see!   Now you all can get your toys with Bela likenesses!

[Mike Scott]

For those who ordered the Entertainment Earth Exclusive "Thin" Glow In The Dark Creature boxed figure from Super 7, EE just charged my credit card for it, so it is likely shipping soon.

Mine has "shipped" (not at the PO, yet).

[aura of foreboding]

Hey! Something I'll actually be around to see!   Now you all can get your toys with Bela likenesses!

It's going to be interesting to see what steps Lugosi takes when 2026 rolls around.  Bela is not in a vacuum, though.  There are still a few very familiar (and marketable) faces whose rights will be expiring immediately before and after Bela.  You're going to be looking at James Dean, Humphrey Bogart, Lou Costello, Clark Gable, and Marilyn Monroe.  I don't know if protections will be extended or not, but James Dean (2025) is going to be the pivotal case coming up, immediately followed by Lugosi.  Could the families protect the likeness under a trademark even after the likeness rights expire?  We'll see what happens.  I don't foresee Bela all over Universal Studios in 2026, but if it happened, I'd be one happy dude. 

[MonsterBaker666]

My Ent. Earth thin Creature "shipped" - meaning the shipping label was created and DHL is waiting for it, and then it will be on it's way to me. 

[MonsterBaker666]

As to the celebrity families cashing in...they'll probably continue trying to license the likenesses even after their images fall into the public domain.  Chaney Ent. has their logo on the Atlantis Models Phantom Of The Opera reissues of the old Aurora model.  And that kit is based on Chaney Sr who died in 1929. 

[Mike Scott]

And that kit is based on Chaney Sr who died in 1929.

Yeah, what's the deal on that!

[aura of foreboding]

Yeah, what's the deal on that!

Well, it's a matter of good business.  If you want any chance at Wolf Man products, you'd better not tick off the Phantom's estate!

[MonsterBaker666]

Well, it's a matter of good business.  If you want any chance at Wolf Man products, you'd better not tick off the Phantom's estate!

Yep, and apparently it worked since Atlantis just announced the "Chaney Jr" Mummy and Wolf Man Aurora model rerelease kits.

[aura of foreboding]

Yep, and apparently it worked since Atlantis just announced the "Chaney Jr" Mummy and Wolf Man Aurora model rerelease kits.

Are they running them through Uni too or just Chaney?  Cause I feel Chaney has gone the Lugosi route and is just licensing the characters to companies, and no one is giving one hoot about Universal.  I understand how Lugosi can do it, but I don't know how Chaney can.  Must have been something from the lawsuit. 

[Mike Scott]

I understand how Lugosi can do it, but I don't know how Chaney can.

Lugosi (Jr.) uses the image of daddy from the Broadway "Dracula", instead of a Universal movie image.

[aura of foreboding]

Lugosi (Jr.) uses the image of daddy from the Broadway "Dracula", instead of a Universal movie image.

Exactly.  But Chaney seems to be able to use the family characters without interference from Universal, which blows my mind.  Lugosi would have loved that, but he had to find the Broadway workaround. 

[MonsterBaker666]

The Atlantis Phantom model just has info on the Chaney likeness under license from Chaney Entertainment.  No Universal Studios copyright BUT that isn't too surprising since Universal doesn't hold a copyright on the 1925 film anymore.  Will have to wait for the Mummy and Wolf Man kis to come out to see if Universal is listed...probably will be.

Funny thing about the Aurora/Atlantis model box...the phantom box art is based on the makeup on James Cagney in Man of a Thousand Faces and NOT Chaney.

[Mike Scott]

Chaney seems to be able to use the family characters without interference from Universal

Which products use a Chaney Jr. Universal character, but don't have a Universal copyright/TM?