Bela Lugosi Facts

Here are some Bela Lugosi Facts that you may not have known.

Hey, everyone. Mike T here, and with the recent launch of our Bela’s Brew Bundle pre-order, I wanted to research and learn a little more about Bela Lugosi himself. So sit back, sip some Dead Sled Coffee and check out some of these facts that you may not have known.

Let’s start with something you already know. Bela Ferenc Dezso Blasko (Bela Lugosi) was born on October 20th, 1882 in Lugos, Austria-Hungary, which now Lugoj, Romania. His father was Hungarian, and his mother was Serbian-born.

Did you know he fought in World War I? That’s right! The National Theater gave him an exemption from military service. However, Lugosi voluntarily enlisted in the Austro-Hungarian Army in 1914. For a year and a half he fought against Russian forces as a lieutenant with the 43rd Royal Hungarian Infantry, being wounded on three different occasions. He left the armed forces in 1916.

In December of 1920, Lugosi came to the United States on a cargo ship. Two years later, he was cast in the Broadway stage play, “The Red Poppy”, where he played Latin lover, Fernando. At that particular time his understanding of the English language barely existed. Even though he didn’t understand the meaning of the lines, he practiced them over and over with a tutor was able to memorize and reproduce the syllables so he could deliver on the stage.

In 1927, Bela Lugosi was offered the role of a lifetime. A play based on Bram Stoker’s novel, Dracula opened up in London in 1924. Then, Horace Liveright, who was an America producer chose to create a U.S. of the show. In the summer of 1927, Lugosi was cast as Count Dracula. “Dracula” stayed on Broadway for a year, and the toured the country for the following two years.

Then, in 1930, Universal decided to turn the show into a major motion picture. You may already know that, but did you know that Lugosi was not their first choice? At that particular time, Lugosi was still relatively unknown and the director Tod Browning was hesitant, as they were considering more established actors of that time. However, Lugosi was chosen for the role, which would then forever immortalize him as Count Dracula. The movie was released in 1931, and the rest is history.

We’d like to thank the incredible Lugosi Estate for choosing Dead Sled Coffee to create the officially licensed Bela Lugosi coffee, Bela’s Brew.

Also, thank you to all of the Deadlies who have participated in the pre-order thus far, and to those who will participate. Pre-orders are still happening and will continue for approximately the next two weeks.

Much love and respect. – Mike T