Vincent Price
I'm Kind of a Pussycat
by Gail Plumberg
Springfield Daily News February 4, 1977, page 15
"Villains are necessary to a plot and to build suspense in horror movies—and who should know that better than Vincent Price?
"Price spoke on the topic 'Villains Still Pursue Me' to hundreds of students and guests Thursday in a packed Campus Union Ballroom on the campus of Southwest Missouri State University. His show was originally scheduled for Hammons Center but was moved when it appeared from early ticket sales that the arena would not be filled. Tickets in the Campus Union were sold out by 7:15 p.m., and dozens of people stood throughout his lecture.
"The film, television and stage star barely arrived in time for the 8 p.m. performance 'courtesy of Ozark Airlines.' He was to have arrived in Springfield around 3 p.m., but was delayed when 'the engine fell out of the plane in Chicago.'
"He said his first role as the 'bad guy' came on a New York stage in a play called 'Angel Street'.
"'I had played three years of heros[sic] and when 'Angel Street' was over, being a villain had gotten in my blood,' he said, relating how the audience had cheered and clapped for the leading lady and man, but had stood en masse and hissed at Price's curtain call.
"Appearing without fangs or sweeping black cape, but frequently cackling his ghoulish laugh, Price assured the audience that although his roles have given him a villain identification, 'in real life, I'm kind of a pussycat.'
"He listed several reasons why he loves his role as a villain. One was the enjoyment he had in the association with 'some of the best actors who ever lived,' such as Peter Lorre, Bella Lugosi and Boris Karloff. But the main reason he likes villains is because 'they appeal to women.'
"Price said when he first started in his film career he wanted to change his name to something a little more impressive. 'Vincent Price – that sounds so pedestrian, like someone from Missouri (which I am).'
"The native Missourian lived in St. Louis and claims that it was while 'hanging around museums there,' that his interest in art began.
"A well-known critic and collector, Price said at one point he had become so identified with art that 'I was afraid people would forget I was an actor.'
"At a news conference upon his arrival at the airport, Price discussed the impact of the characters he has portrayed and growled at one reporter who asked if the films he made were violent.
"'Don't blame ME for violence,' Price said. 'My work has been about as violent as Grimm's. I do fairy tales.'
"He said he believes that television is 'such a bore now' with everything all alike. 'There would be room for my type of work, but I've tried approaching the networks and they're not interested,' he said.
"Price said writing books, doing some television shows, and college lectures 'gives me plenty to do.'"
There are many examples of Vincent Price's work at the library, including the Vincent Price Treasury of American Art, the Three Musketeers, the Song of Bernadette and many more that can be found in the library catalog. The play Angel Street was made into a movie called Gaslight but does not have Vincent Price in the 'bad guy' role. The 1940 British and the 1944 American version of Gaslight is available.
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