American Monsters

American Monstersthe creepy, scary, shocking & bizarrecreatures, characters and storiesof American folklore, legend, literature and cinemaUniversal ClassicsDracula, Frankenstein, the Bride of Frankenstein, the Mummy, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, Invisible Man, the Werewolf, Phantom of the OperaUniversal Monsters (or Universal Horror) is the name given to a series of distinctive horror, suspense and science fiction (sci-fi) films made by Universal Studios from 1923 1960.

Creature from the Black Lagoon

The Invisible Man

. . . Mad Scientist

def. a scientist who is insane

. . . and Megalomaniac

def. a person who is obsessed with their own power

DraculaMy name is Dracula.I am, indeed, a vampire.And I vant to suck your blood.Other Vampires

The Wolf ManIts called a werewolf.

FrankensteinIts my name, yo!

Frankenstein; or the Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley (1818)1910: First Frankenstein film by Edison Studios1931: Universal Studios FrankensteinThe Bride of Frankenstein

Phantom of the Opera

BAH!Mummy

OtherHollywood Movie CharactersThe Blob, King Kong, Gremlins, Pinhead, Freddy Krueger, Mike Meyers, and . . . JasonThe Blob (The Blob, 1958)

King Kong (King Kong, 1933)One of the most well-known characters in cinema historyMade by RKO (not Universal . . . Rare at the time)Quiz Time!What is the name of Kongs island?What other animals live on the island?What building does Kong climb up in New York City?

Quiz Answers

Do you know who I am?Gizmo!From the movie Gremlins (1984)

MogwaiGremlin

Pinhead (Hellraiser, 1987)First appearance in Clive Barkers novella, The Hellbound Heart

Freddy

Mike Myers

Jason

Know YourBasicsWeve already discussed: vampires, werewolves, mummies, and killers, but theres more. . .ghosts, poltergeists, witches, the Devil, demons and aliens

Ghosts

PoltergeistsKnocking spirit

WitchesDefinition 1: a woman who is thought to have magic powers 2: a person who practices magic as part of a religion (such as Wicca) 3: a very unpleasant woman 4: one that is credited with usually malignant supernatural powers;especiallya woman practicing usually black witchcraft 5: an ugly old woman 6: a charming or alluring girl or woman 7: a practitioner of Wicca

The DevilDemons

From The Simpsons (season 5 episode 5)

Aliens

Uniquely Americanurban legends, folklore, Native American monsters, and local sightings

Goat suckerVampire attacking livestockFirst sightings: Puerto Rico 1995Many sightings in TexasDescriptions change

WendigoAlgonquian (Native American) beliefLegend prevalent in northern U.S. and Canada

A demonic spiritPossesses humans and turns them into cannibalsRoams around woods in cold areas

Bigfoot/SasquatchCalifornia is Bigfoot Country!Hundreds of sightings

Shy, curious, rarely aggressiveGood swimmer, bad smellVaried diet (fish, deer, berries, plants, etc.)HUGE! Up to 14 feet tall.

Is he real?Champin Lake Champlain, New York

A giant sea creature. . . like the Loch Ness Monster (Scotland)

?Mothman-Point Pleasant, West Virginia(1966 1967)

Rumors he appears before upcoming disasters to warn people of them

Made famous by The Mothman Prophecies (book by John Keel)

Skin WalkersNative American loreEvil!A witch in animal formCan turn into any animalCan run faster than a carCan read human thoughtsCanNOT enter a home without invitationDont make eye contact!

Bloody Mary

4.5 oz tomato juice1.5 oz vodkaIce cubesCelery stickWorcestshire sauce

2014The #1 Monster in America

American-MadeGeorge A. RomeroNight of the Living Dead (1968)Commandment II: The undead crave human flesh.

Today:Walking Dead is the #1 show on television.

The End . . . Or is it? . . . BonusThe Jackalope