20. Plastic model kits for the Classic Monsters appeared in 1960
With Shock Theater and Famous Monsters of Filmland driving up interest in the Universal Monsters, the Aurora Plastics Company approached Universal with the idea of producing styrene plastic models of the most venerable of the monsters. Post-World War II the plastic model industry in America had focused on weapons of the war, as well as cars and trucks. Aurora believed that there was an untapped interest in the models, one in which the company could compete with companies such as Monogram and Revell. In 1961 they introduced Frankenstein, modeled after the image of Boris Karloff, which was a success.
The following year Lugosi as Dracula and Chaney as the Wolf Man appeared. Since the original films had been made in black and white, the first time the monsters appeared in color many fans were on the boxes containing the kits. In 1970 the kits were released a second time, enhanced by the addition of glow-in-the-dark details such as hands, bases, and accessories. Aurora eventually became part of Nabisco, and the molds and rights for the kits were sold to rival companies, including Revell and Monogram. They continue to appear from time to time, usually marketed by smaller boutique companies, but in 1965 they were easily found in the models’ section of any drugstore.