It's Alive: The Birth of the Universal Monsters

Universal Pictures released a series of horror films between 1913–1956. Founded by Carl Laemmle, Universal was not a big player during Hollywood’s early years. But when Universal discovered audiences wanted thrills, the studio turned its energies into the horror genre.  What connected most of Universal’s classic monsters was their roles as outsiders, earning sympathy and terrors. Universal’s first step in defining horror was collaborating with Lon Chaney, “The Man of a Thousand Faces.”  Anchored by some of the most iconic movie monsters, the classic Universal Monster films have continued to resonate with horror fans for nearly a hundred years.  This is the story of their creation and legacy.