Boris Karloff's Trip to Anchorage, 1957

As Halloween draws near, it might interest the reader to learn that actor Boris Karloff, famous for playing Frankenstein's Monster in the Universal Studios classic film Frankenstein (1931), visited Alaska back in 1957. Karloff's trip to Alaska was not a planned one, but materialized from a phone call from a desperate Anchorage Theater. Karloff happened to answer and the rest is history.

Director Frank Brink at Anchorage Community Theater had the task of raising money for the construction of a new theater. The work was to begin in 1959 and there was a financial shortfall of $40,000. Something extraordinary would be needed to be able to draw the big crowds necessary to raise the required revenue for this project. 

Pat Christensen, the theater's publicity manager, decided to call Karloff up on a whim. Karloff's biographer Stephen Jacobs writes, "Using her title of Publicity Director she managed to obtain Karloff's personal telephone number...picked up her telephone and dialled the actor's number. Boris Karloff listened politely to Christensen's offer but as she recalled, 'Mr. Karloff apologized and said that he was so busy and literally buried in his work that he would not be able to come.' 

Christensen pleaded. 'There was silence on Mr. Karloff's end of the line,' she said. 'He finally asked what he would be expected to do' She told him he would 'come in a few days ahead of time, go to receptions, hit some points of interest and wave at people and three shows at the end of the week.'" Karloff remarkably agreed!

Karloff and his wife arrived at the Anchorage Airport on March 16. Christensen and other theater officials were there to greet them. The Karloffs were driven around to a variety of publicity events around Anchorage. There was even a float announcing Karloff's arrival downtown. The Karloffs dined with Lt. General Frank A. Armstrong Jr., the commander of the joint Alaskan Command headquartered at Elmendorf Airforce Base, then went sight-seeing and participated in yet more publicity events. By March 21, the time for Karloff to star in the play had begun.

When Karloff had finished his third and final performance he told the play director Brink, "I want to give you a gift and I don't want it to be something stupid or useless, so I want you to tell me what you would like." Brink said, "Your shoes!'" Karloff was a little confused about Brink’s request but made good on his pledge and handed Brink his shoes.

Karloff's Alaska trip made an impression, as he reminisced later, "Three years ago I played in Anchorage, Alaska, a place so remote the people have to create their own entertainment. The local group rehearsed two months in their school auditorium; we did three performances which were a roaring success. I wouldn’t exchange anything that's ever happened for that experience." Karloff left Alaska with fond memories, Brink received Karloff’s shoes and the money raised by Boris Karloff helped build the first permanent facility for the Anchorage Community Theater (ACT). A win-win ending for all involved.

Interesting Facts:

Before leaving Alaska Karloff boarded a Cessna 180 seaplane and visited his oil investments in the Havenstrite Drilling Company located in Chinitna Bay. Karloff and his wife received a small bottle of oil as a token gift before departing.

Boris Karloff was actually Karloff's stage name. Karloff's real name was William Henry Pratt.

Karloff narrated the animated film How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966).

The massive boots Karloff wore when he played Frankenstein's Monster weighed in at a whopping 13 pounds apiece! His full Frankenstein costume weighed 48 pounds!

Further Reading:

Stephen Jacobs, Boris Karloff: More Than a Monster: The Authorized Biography (Sheffield, England: Tomahawk Press,2011), pp.394-407.

Photo captions:

Boris Karloff, out of costume. Public domain photo. 

Boris Karloff, as Frankenstein’s monster. Public domain photo.