GODZILLA VS. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, PART II:
The Volcano Monsters & Legendary Comics’ NEW project with Ron Chaney
By Christopher Gomez
RECAP
In part one of this two-part article, which dropped on Halloween, we discovered how Akira Ifukube’s method of creating Godzilla’s roar may have been inspired by a chapter in the original novel THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA by Gaston Leroux. A scene in which Erik, The Phantom, imitates the roar of a lion in a torture chamber by using a resin-coated glove and rubbing the strings of a musical instrument. According Ifukube biographer Erik Homenick, one of Ifukube’s favorite films was indeed the 1925 version starring the great Lon Chaney Sr. It’s possible that after seeing the film, he may have had the urge to trace down the original source material, but that remains unconfirmed.
This November, the original GODZILLA celebrated its 71st anniversary and speaking of the 1925 PHANTOM, this November also marks the 100th anniversary of the nation wide release of the classic Universal Studios thriller! Kaiju United takes another dive into more connective tissues the two characters share, as well as an upcoming project involving Legendary (yes, THAT Legendary of the “MonsterVerse”) and the great grandson of original Phantom actor Lon Chaney Sr., Ron Chaney.
MYSTERY OF THE VOLCANO MONSTERS (SOLVED?)
The novel was serialized in newspapers in 1910 and then published as a novel in 1911. Shortly after, Carl Laemmle, founder of Universal Studios, Hollywood was visiting Paris in the 1920’s and met Gaston Leroux on that trip. Leroux in turn gave Laemmle a copy of his novel. Laemmle couldn’t put it down and immediately began plans for a film adaptation which eventually came to fruition with Lon Chaney Sr. on loan from his contract with MGM.
Carl Laemmle had let guests visit the Universal backlot in the early days of its inception, allowing visitors to witness how movies were made. But it wasn’t until the 1960’s that the film studio truly opened its doors to guests. Actors dressed as various characters from classic films would interact with guests, much like those at Disneyland. Only, instead of cute, big-eyed animals or princes and princesses, some of these would be starlets, comedic impersonators and of course, the classic monsters of the 20’s – 40’s. Among them was of course Chaney’s Phantom.
Recently, a photo had been making the rounds on various Godzilla Facebook groups showing a character actor dressed as Chaney’s Phantom wrestling with someone in a Godzilla suit. The most peculiar thing about the photo was its Godzilla design. This photo may have shed some light onto a decades old mystery revolving around an unproduced Godzilla film entitled THE VOLCANO MONSTERS!
I had come across this photo years ago in 2012 during my younger days working at the studio’s theme park. Displayed behind a glass cabinet, the photo seemed as though it was taken around the late 60s or sometime in the 1970’s. The Godzilla suit looked like an amalgamation of 1955’s GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN and 1962’s KING KONG VS. GODZILLA, as if this design was the transitional missing link between the two films. Something was a bit off, but there was a familiarity. I had seen this suit before. Upon closer inspection, this design looked like one of the suits Toho Studios had lent out to an American production company to film additional scenes for a project called THE VOLCANO MONSTERS.
THE VOLCANO MONSTERS was intended to be a heavy re-working of Toho’s first Godzilla sequel GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN but, using only some of the effects scenes from that film. All new scenes would be shot with new American actors and additional special effects were to be shot. For those additional special effects, the costumes for both Godzilla and Anguirus were sent overseas to California. THE VOLCANO MONSTERS never came to be. The film company folded before a single frame could be shot and both costumes went missing. Confirmation of the existence of these costumes came from suit actor and historian Bob Burns. According to interviews and several sources among Godzilla academia, Burns was eye-witnessed to these suits and even tried some of them on when a friend of his were both working late night at the studio. Both men were goofing off, stumbled upon strange crates with Japanese writing, opened them up, tried on each of costume, and placed them back in their crates.
The photo provides evidence that the Godzilla suit somehow ended up at Universal Studios to be used for promotional materials. It’s assuring to know it ended up on the Universal lot and met its fate at the hands of The Phantom. However, since this photo was taken, its current whereabouts are now unknown. Perhaps it is decaying somewhere deep within the bowels of Universal Studios?
LEGENDARY LEGACIES
Legendary Pictures, responsible for producing the American Godzilla movies from Warner Bros., have their own publication division.
As mentioned earlier, an adaptation of Leroux’s book in graphic novel form is underway. To also commemorate the film’s 100th Anniversary, it is Leroux’s original text but using the likeness of Chaney’s unholy visage. The project was kicked off by Ron Chaney, the grandson of Lon Chaney Jr. (THE WOLFMAN, OF MICE AND MEN) and great grandson of Lon Chaney Sr., the original PHANTOM. Mr. Chaney continues to keep the family legacy alive as the owner of CHANEY ENTERTAINMENT. Licensing all sorts of products with the likeness of the many colorful characters his grandparents played. CHANEY ENTERTAINMENT partnered up with LEGENDARY COMICS on a graphic novel adapted from the original Gaston Leroux novel. The adaptation is from the novel but the Phantom remains true to Lon Chaney’s incarnation in the 1925 classic film. Ron Chaney worked with Robert Napton of Legendary Comics, and their team to create the incentives led by Legendary’s successful Kickstarter campaign. We caught up with Ron Chaney, to discuss his involvement with the graphic novel and about the career of both of his grandparents Lon Sr. and Jr.
CG: How did you get involved with Legendary Comics?
RC: I was contacted by Robert Napton of Legendary Comics to license Lon Chaney’s image as The Phantom. They had done a similar campaigns for Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi for their likeness in their FRANKENSTEIN and DRACULA releases. Robert agreed with me that when you think of The Phantom of the Opera, you can only imagine my great grandfather’s interpretation. As I said to Robert, “Lon’s make-up was perfect.” What Robert didn’t know was the vast archives we have of the film, which were utilized in the incentives for the Kickstarter campaign: 1st draft of the script, programs, etc. The fan response was amazing and we exceeded our goal so everyone was quite pleased.
©Legendary Comics
CG: How old were you when you first saw Phantom?
RC: I saw clips, photos, magazines while growing up but I saw the entire film sometime in the 1980’s. If I remember correctly, it was shown in coordination with the release of Forrest Ackerman’s book LON OF A THOUSAND FACES in L.A. somewhere.
CG: How did you feel knowing your great grandfather played this role?
RC: It’s pretty awesome to think he created that character’s look. How it has withstood the test of time, Lon has thrilled, horrified and inspired future actors, makeup artists and fans for a hundred years and counting! Pretty special!
CG: What do you look forward to the most about the graphic novel?
RC: I have watched the film, reviewed the script many times, and collected the music and parts for an orchestral score. But, I have never read the Leroux novel so I’m excited to see other parts of the story that I am unaware of.
CG: Your great grandfather’s movie is celebrating its 100th Anniversary, what would be the most ideal way for you to present that film for its centennial celebration?
RC: Not going to make it this year but I had hoped to play the complete original music score that I’ve collected that matches the film. That would be special and unique. Expensive too, thus the pause.
CG: Your grandfather, Lon Jr., starred in a movie with Raymond Burr called BRIDE OF THE GORILLA. Has your grandfather ever talked about working with him or other actors in general?
RC: Not that I recall if he mentioned Raymond. But I knew they worked together.
CG: With Legendary’s ties to the Godzilla character it’s amusing to know that Raymond Burr starred in the additional footage shot for the American release of the original GODZILLA.
RC: Ah, well there’s another connection right there! I just knew him (Lon Jr.) as “Gramps” but he never really talked about the other people he had worked with.
CG: The director of Godzilla once said that monsters are tragic beings. Why do you think audiences are attracted to monsters?
RC: I think the director nailed it with that comment. The best, and longest lasting monsters you fear but also sympathize with. Akin to human nature maybe.
CG: What other projects are you currently working on?
RC: My intention is to finish the book A CENTURY OF CHANEYS Volume 1, which is being edited now and looking for a 2026 release. The book was originally started by Lon Chaney Jr. More recently, I produced and acted in a western zombie titled DEVIL’S DEN, a short film which won several film festivals. I also acted in a couple of other independent films which I believe are in post-production now and soon to be released.
Besides the graphic novel, Chaney is keeping the family legacy alive by selling merchandise with their best known characters, making appearances at conventions, Q&A screenings, writing scripts and producing.
RC: Chaney Entertainment licenses the likeness of Lon Chaney and Lon Chaney Jr., thereby products are created. I don’t make a whole lot of public appearances but do offer the products we licensed, greet the fans and speak if asked. We also offer them on our website www.lonchaney.com. After the book is finished, it is my intention to produce a feature film in 2026. The film is a script I wrote titled CURSE OF THE WOLF MAN. That’s my plan, God willing. I also hope to do a small tour with the book, graphic novels, films, etc. the latter part of next year.
One project in particular is another short film entitled HAUNTED HARMONY. The short is a cinematic love letter to different iterations of The Phantom of the Opera story and was made partly to coincide with the 100th anniversary. Besides serving as producer, Chaney also plays a dual supporting role. The film stars and highlights the dancing skills of Kyoto native Genevieve Mariko Wilson, Christopher Gomez, Diane March, and a cameo by one of Gaston Leroux’s great, great granddaughters via photograph. The short tells the story of two strangers sharing the same hospital room and, through the presence of a mysterious music box, share memories of a past life where the two began a relationship working in the same theatre, the man a stagehand and she a ballet dancer. The film also utilizes compositions that Ron Chaney recorded from a live performance of the Phantom he produced twenty five years ago, as well as original songs by Wilson.
RC: Yes, most recently I produced and acted in a short film called HAUNTED HARMONY of which I’m also the executive producer. The editor is polishing the final film now which I intend to enter in film festivals early 2026. Christopher Gomez wrote the script, he and Genevieve asked me to be involved. I liked the story and wanted to do more producing and acting and so we did. There were some hiccups along the way but in the end I hope people will enjoy the film. In 2027, I look to return to A CENTURY Of CHANEYS VOLUME II.
OTHER CONNECTIVE TISUUES
With 2025 marking the 100th anniversary of PHANTOM, the 40th anniversary of GODZILLA 1985, and the 30th anniversary of Paul Rudd’s first film HALLOWEEN 6: THE CURSE OF MICHAEL MYERS, in a strange coincidence, HALLOWEEN 6 makes subtle, and not-so subtle, references to both aforementioned films. In the 1995 horror slasher, a shadow of the 1985 Imperial Figure toy, made to tie in with the release of GODZILLA 1985, can be seen on a child’s bedroom wall, mostly in the infamous ”Producer’s Cut”. In both versions of HALLOWEEN 6, an elderly character is seen watching the original 1925 PHANTOM on their television set. If one really looks for a stretch, the prequel to CURSE, 1988’s HALLOWEEN 4: THE RETURN OF MICHAEL MYERS, had its director Dwight H. Little adapt his own cinematic version of Phantom the following year starring Robert (Freddy Krueger) Englund as the mad musical genius.
But the most recent, strongest other connective tissue to Godzilla and The Phantom is embedded with English actor Charles Dance of TV’s GAME OF THRONES. In 1983, a musical play had been penned by playwright Arthur Kopit. Written years before the more popular Andrew Lloyd Webber version, Kopit’s PHANTOM was trying to find investors until Sir Webber beat them to the punch. Kopit then decided to re-tool and extend his script and was able to turn it into a mini-series starring none other than eco-terrorist Alan Jonah himself… Charles Dance of GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS. Dance stars as The Phantom in this two-part mini-series that aired on NBC in the fall of 1990 and starred a pre-MEET THE PARENTS/ FOCKERS Teri Polo as The Phantom’s object of desire. It also bears the distinction of being the ONLY film version to have been shot on location at the real Garnier Paris Opera House (all other adaptations were either built sets or relocated the story to different cities/ countries). The film had a limited release on DVD in the early 2000s but was never again re-issued. More romantic than horror, the mini-series can be found on various YouTube uploads.
With the Godzilla series now acquiring the Guinness World Record as the longest running franchise, Chaney’s Phantom celebrating 100 years, and Leroux’s novel continuing to inspire, it is unlikely that we have seen the last of these two titans of terror.
