“FICTION IN A FLASH CHALLENGE” #19. #IARTG #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

karenringalls

Award-winning author, Suzanne Burke, provides a photo prompt and invites everyone to write a short story, poem, or one-liner based on the photo. This week’s photo inspired me to write one of many stories or poems, because I lived in Hollywood the last two years of high school. I walked down Hollywood Blvd. to go to school where I had classes with Annette Funicello and Stephanie Powers.

The story within the Tanka Poem is true. I hope you enjoy it. Some happy memories about an amazing film personality came back to me.

HOLLYWOOD WAS HOME
TO THE FAMOUS MOVIE STARS
SOME LIVED IN MANSIONS
SEEN DRIVING EXPENSIVE CARS.
 
BELA LUGOSI
WHO STARRED AS COUNT DRACULA
WAS MY NEW NEIGHBOR
WHO DAILY WALKED BY MY HOUSE
SURPRISED I KNEW WHO HE WAS.
 
HE SIGNED A PHOTO
WHICH I TREASURED ALL MY LIFE
WHILE WE TALKED AND LAUGHED
ABOUT DRACULA’S STORY
NOT LIKE BELA LUGOSI.
 
HE DIED ALONE, POOR
 NOT FROM A WOODEN STAKE PLUNGED
DEEP INTO HIS HEART,
 NOR SUNLIGHT AS TOLD IN BOOKS
ABOUT THE COUNT DRACULA.
 
A HEART ATTACK TOOK
HIS LIFE OF FAME, WITHOUT WEALTH
ENDING IN A GRAVE
WEARING DRACULA’S BLACK CAPE
BURIED IN CULVER CITY.

Unfortunately, I have lost the autographed photo of Bela Lugosi. He was a sweet gentleman, who lived and died in a small apartment three houses away. He was type-cast in the role as a monster or vampire. His career declined quickly once the Dracula movies were no longer in demand. He earned large sums of money which he spent unwisely on alcohol and opiates for his chronic sciatica pain. In those days, there were no residuals.

Thank you for taking the time to read this Fiction in a Flash piece. I encourage you to go to Ms. Burke’s website: https://sooozburkeauthor.wordpress.com/. Let your imagination go and write a poem or short story based on that week’s photo prompt. Have fun!

15 thoughts on ““FICTION IN A FLASH CHALLENGE” #19. #IARTG #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts”

  3. How wonderful to have such marvelous memories of Bela Lugosi. His name will always be synonymous with the part of Count Dracula. I’m so saddened to learn that he passed that way. So many talented and gifted people have died broken and alone. I’m sure he’d be pleased at being remembered so fondly. This is a marvelous contribution to this week’s challenge, Karen. I’ve just shared it on my blog. Thanks again for joining in the fun. 😊

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  4. Oh, Karen, this is so sad. “Bela Lugosi” is a name that will live forever, however his career and his life ended. I had no idea. Thank you for sharing this amazing story with us, and drawing attention to Mr. Lugosi.

    It’s also very cool that you had classes with Annette Annette Funicello and Stephanie Powers.
    Stephanie Powers was always a favorite of mine.

    Wonderful Tanka and wonderful share!

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    1. Annette was in my class, was a bit of a snob, and transferred to the studio school after her junior year. Stephanie Powers if her stage name. I can’t remember her birth name now. She was two years behind me, but we were the same height and stood next to each other in the drill team. She was fun and loved to laugh. Little did I think she would ever be a famous celebrity.
      I am grateful that I got to know Mr. Lugosi and considered him a friend for the short time I knew him.
      Life is amazing!

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    1. I do feel honored to have met him and developed a bit of a friendship the short time he lived near me. Even at 16, it was hard to believe this kind and gentle old man ever played Count Dracula, who had such an evil side.

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  6. Great poem and story, Karen… How sad that some stories are so heart-breaking… So glad you got to meet Bela and that you recognized him. Thanks for sharing these poignant memories.

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