Hello everyone and a warm welcome to PART 4) of the entries for my weekly: “Fiction in A Flash Challenge” WEEK #19
Today I’m featuring the contribution from Karen Ingalls.
Last week I set the following Challenge:
Hello everyone and welcome to my new “Fiction in A Flash Challenge!” Each week I’ll be featuring an image and inviting you to write a Flash Fiction or Non-Fiction piece inspired by that image in any format and genre of your choosing. Maximum word count: 750 words.
Here is the image prompt and Karen’s Tanka contribution.
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.
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Karen may be contacted here …
Karen Ingalls Author Page Amazon
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I can be reached here …
Welcome to the World of Suzanne Burke. 
I love your story within the tankas:) Its very sad how he lost all his money, but I’m glad you let him know he wasn’t forgotten.
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Mr. Lugosi was a kind gentleman and I enjoyed my brief but meaningful time knowing him. Thank you, Denise, for sharing your thoughts.
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What a story, Karen. Thank you for sharing.
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For seven years, I was either visited or lived with my dad in Hollywood. I have more interesting stories about that crazy town. I’m glad you liked my story about Mr. Lugosi.
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I would love more of these stories, Karen. 😊
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Ditto!
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John and Soooz, thank you for your encouragement to write more about my Hollywood adventures.
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My pleasure, Karen. I would be first in line to read it. 😊
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This was such a wonderful poem and story from Karen! I loved it!
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Thank you, Jan. I am glad you liked it.
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Exceptional, Karen…the story, the verse. Thank you for sharing this poignant memory.
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The photo prompt brought many stories to mind, but to share about Mr. Lugosi was an easy choice. Thank you, Gwen.
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This one really struck a chord with me. I miss the Old Hollywood heyday and glamor of those who populated it. I really loved Karen’s poem, and her wonderful memories. A beautiful share.
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I miss the old Hollywood as well. It was very sad to see how run-down and unsafe Hollywood Blvd. had become. Mae, thank you for your kind words.
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Wow, Karen. I bet you treasured the autographed photo of Bela Lugosi for a long time. What a great memory. What a wonderful way to write your story in the poem. I loved it. I used to go to that area often also. As the traffic gets worse, I didn’t even want to go to any conferences in that area.
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Hollywood Blvd has always had a lot of people and cars traveling down it. It was a safe walk to school every day in the days of the 1950s. Now, it is 100% different, dirty, and unsafe, which is sad.
I am glad you liked the poem. Thank you for sharing, Miriam.
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As far as the safety, it seems to be the same in many places. It was safe to walk around. I didn’t have to lock the house back in the late 70s.
I enjoyed reading your poem, Karen.
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Great story – anything with Bela….
Thanks for sharing.
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I have always liked horror stories especially if Bela Lugosi or Boris Karloff were in them. It was an easy choice to write about Mr. Lugosi when I saw the photo prompt. Thank you, Bill, for sharing your thoughts.
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A sad tale but a great poem and share from the prompt. Well done, Karen 🙂
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Harmony, thank you for your comment. I enjoyed writing the poem about a man I admired and was honored to meet.
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What a personal look into the past, Karen! We often assume that actors have a luxurious, carefree life, but many suffer, especially when their fame dwindles to nothing. Thanks for sharing those memories with us through a Tanka poem. 🙂
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There were no residuals and contracts favored the studios more than protecting the actor during those early years. Due to Mr. Lugosi’s dependence on pain medications, too much of his money went towards treating his sciatica pain. He was not successful acting in any other role except as Count Dracula, so he did not get acting jobs which meant no income.
Thanks for your comment, Yvette.
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My husband loves the old Dracula movies. Sad that Bela Lugosi died penniless.
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When there is an opportunity, I watch the old Dracula movies also. I am grateful that the old movies have been preserved so people like me can watch and enjoy them.
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My thanks again, Karen. Your entry has had such a marvelous response. It would be a real pleasure to read more of your shared experiences in Hollywood.😊
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Soooz, thank you for hosting me and sharing my Tanka poem. I will share more stories though I am not sure when or how at this time. I appreciate everyone’s comments. Thank you again, Soooz, for providing us these opportunities.
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Thank you, Karen. I look forward to reading them in whatever form they take. Your contributions have been a pleasure to feature. 😊
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I bet he had some wonderful stories to share. It’s sad he died all alone. Enjoyed this, Karen
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He lived down the street from us for a short time before his death. I do recall him telling my dad and me about his deep friendship with Boris Karloff. Unfortunately, I do not remember any details except that they respected and truly liked one another.
Thank you for your comment, Jacquie.
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This is lovely, Karen, very poignant. I had a signed photograph of Sophia Loren when I was a girl. I kept it for years but we moved a lot and it went missing somewhere along the line.
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