Museum to Host Discussion About Early Horror Films and Special Effects

The Pasadena Museum of History will present a lecture on the origins of horror cinema, featuring film historian and musicologist Galen Wilkes, on Thursday, Oct. 24. The event, titled “The First Horror Movies,” will explore the genre’s earliest special effects and iconic characters.

Wilkes will delve into horror films dating back to 1896, coinciding with the birth of the movie industry. These early works introduced special effects techniques that would become staples of the genre for decades to come.

The presentation will showcase the first on-screen depictions of classic horror figures such as Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Dorian Gray. Attendees will learn about the creation of pioneering special effects that shaped the visual language of horror cinema.

The 75-minute lecture is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m., with museum galleries opening for viewing an hour earlier. Due to limited space, advance reservations are required for the event.

General admission tickets are priced at $18, while museum members can attend for $13. Ticket sales end on Oct. 24. The museum offers refunds up to seven days before the event, though Eventbrite‘s fee is nonrefundable.

The Pasadena Museum of History, located at 470 West Walnut Street, is organizing the event. The presentation will feature an image of Charles Ogle as Frankenstein’s Monster from the 1910 film “Frankenstein.”