Edison's long-lost Frankenstein to premiere in NJ

[Coyote]

A truly unique event for Frankenstein fans will be unspooling at the Landmark Loew’s Jersey Theater (at Journal Square in Jersey City, NJ) Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27: the theatrical re-premiere of Thomas Edison’s 1910 film of FRANKENSTEIN. This movie was long thought lost until collector Alois Dettlaff of Wisconsin revealed that he had a print in his archives; after holding off from allowing it to be screened for copyright concerns, he has now authorized its DVD release in the near future, as well as the Jersey Theater showings.



Edison’s FRANKENSTEIN is just part of the weekend’s programs, however. Saturday’s show will also include James Whale’s 1931 FRANKENSTEIN, in a new print that restores censored scenes; THIRD DIMENSIONAL MURDER, a rare 1941 Frankenstein short presented in 3-D (glasses provided); a collection of Universal Frankenstein trailers; and Mel Brooks’ YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN. Sunday’s lineup consists of the Edison film; Hammer’s THE REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN in a dye-transfer Technicolor archival print; THIRD DIMENSIONAL MURDER; Frankenstein trailers from the ’50s through the ’90s; and YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN. Admission for each day’s program is $7 for adults, $4 for children and seniors under 12; go to for more info.

[Scott W. Davis]

Wow, that's fascinating! I love it when lost treasures get found like this.

I remember growing up in New Jersey, how my parents took me to see the Thomas Edison Museum. It had all of his stuff there, including the original Black Mariah studio, where we saw a screening of THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY and a few other shorts. Being a rather hyper kid, I was bored stiff. I didn't appreciate the history surrounding me. Now, I would love to go back to see these films. Funny how things change, isn't it?

[chuk hell]

This will be very interesting to see. A lost piece of film history brought back from the edge of obsurity. Very cool.