Carla Laemmle was the last surviving cast member of “Dracula” (1931) and “Phantom of the Opera” (1925).  And she had a ball making the rounds on the convention circuit signing her book “Growing Up with Monsters”. 

As the niece of Universal Studios founder (and “Dracula” producer), Carl Laemmle, she had a lot of tales to tell and really enjoyed mingling with fans until her death in 2014.   

She appeared briefly in “Dracula” in a scene where the stagecoach is being driven by Renfield.  Carla also appeared in a movie called “Topsy and Eva” which starred The Duncan Sisters.   

Vivian Duncan (of The Duncan Sisters) was the first celebrity who invited me into her home (when I was a teenager) and played her hit song “I Never Had a Mammy” on the piano for me and my friend, Ray.   

But that’s a whole other story …