Vincent Price: A Man in Full
Vincent Price’s name is synonymous with American horror movies. He ruled over the genre during the 1950s and 60s in dozens of films, skulking across the screen with sinister intent. His distinctive voice, sneer, and suave malevolence seemed tailor made for moviegoers looking for an unsettling night at the cinema.
Price earned every accolade he received for his work in horror, but there was so much more that is worthy of praise. As we have just passed what would have been the Master of Menace’s 108th birthday, I think it’s worth the time to look back over everything that made Vincent Price a true Renaissance man and patron of the arts.
Born on May 27, 1911, Price grew up never having to worry about money. His grandfather invented Dr. Price’s Baking Powder and his father was president of the National Candy Company. The family’s money (“Not enough to evoke envy but enough to demand respect,” Price would later say) allowed him to get a good education. His father made sure he toured the cultural touchpoints of Europe, and he developed an appreciation of art at an early age.
Price earned a degree in English from Yale, and went to London in pursuit of an art education. It was there that he fell in love with the stage. His acting work in England earned him a Broadway debut when he was 23.
