Slowly, they come forth in mind: Lon Chaney Sr. and Jr. both, Boris Karloff, Vincent Price, Bela Lugosi, Claude Rains, masters of promoting fear in my mind as a kid! Later, no fear, but the entertaining part became more important. Some, notably Vincent Price, played both possible horror depiction, such as murder, and impossible stories like "The Fly". I think Lon Chaney, Sr, played the "Phantom of the Opera", maybe still in silent movies. A "possible" theme, unlike his son's portrayals of "Wolfman". Vampires? Depends on your individual "slant". Have I missed some important others, surely? Frank
Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins in Dark Shadows was one of my favorites when I was little. It was very scary.
My favorite was Vincent Price! Thanks for the reminder @Frank Sanoica ...Ive forgotten about most of them. Of course now I feel ancient.
This was the guy that gave me the creeps .............. Especially, the Beast with Five Fingers He kept saying - the hand - the hand ............... Now, I would laugh me head off ...................... I think
I love those old scary movies but no one wanted to see them with me because when the music got scary and the person was going into a location [in the dark] alone and my friends were getting afraid I would say no problem the camera man will help him/her
@Gary Ridenour Speaking of whom, a guy named Bobbie "Boris" Pickett, who did a good impersonation of Karloff, after experiencing numerous turn-downs by recording producers, final found backing, and "Monster Mash" was born. 1962. Even Count Dracula is quoted in it....., Interesting story here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Pickett
and Werewolves of London. drinking a pina colata at trader vicks stay away from him he'll rip your lungs out Jim !!
Peter Lorre was the first to mind for me. You might add Richard Widmark ---established himself as an icon of American cinema with his debut in the 1947 film noir Kiss of Death in which he won a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award nomination as the killer "Tommy Udo". And Christopher Lee fer shur. John Carradine was usually a baddy. Want to 'hear' Lorre? Go to 1.5 minutes in the Spike record. My Old Flame Peter Lorre voice youtube
One of Peter Lorre's often recalled remarks was repeated in our household: "Did you ged the infor-may-zhion"? Why did you not ged the infor-may-zhion"?