The Truth About Dracula

From: Hillary Frank
Length: 05:44

Suzanne Muldowney explains why her interpretation of Dracula is the most authentic. Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Playing: The Truth About Dracula
From: Hillary Frank

Dracula3_small You know the story of Dracula, a man who lived on human blood and seduced innocent girls, turning them into the undead. But before Bram Stoker's novel came out in 1897, Dracula had a different lore. Stoker got the name from a 15th-century count in Transylvania. He was known for impaling his enemies on spikes but he wasn't a vampire. Hillary Frank talks with a woman with Asperger's Syndrome who, for the last three decades, has spent every Halloween trying to set the record straight.

More from Hillary Frank

Caption: Like a lot of kids with Tourette's, Finn also has severe ADHD. The flip side of that, Amanda says, is that his high energy makes him a ton of fun., Credit: Amanda Morgan

Making Noise to Prevent More Noise (13:38)
From: Hillary Frank

A toddler sniffs all of his Christmas presents before opening them and his mom realizes something is really wrong. What Tourette’s, OCD, and ADHD look like in a young child.

Caption: Tom and his daughter, Ellen, in his Navy hat, Credit: Heidi Kecskemethy

I've Got News (25:02)
From: Hillary Frank

A newly married guy finds out his wife is pregnant while he’s at sea and just a few years later, to his surprise, becomes a stay-at-home dad.

Caption: Kate at her "battle station," with Adelle at 4 months, Credit: Kate Bowman-Johnston

Nap Boot Camp (16:42)
From: Hillary Frank

An exasperated mom decides that her daughter WILL nap in her crib by the end of the week.

Caption: For many months, this is the only dress Violet would wear. Joyce washed it every night in the sink., Credit: Joyce Slaton

The Emperor's New Onesie (13:36)
From: Hillary Frank

A woman spends a month at home with her naked two-year-old daughter, trying to figure out why she won't wear clothes.

Would've Been the Mean Mommy (12:28)
From: Hillary Frank

A woman becomes a mom at the precise moment that her own mother decides to stop being a mother.

Caption: One of the photos my dad snapped with his contraband camera, Credit: Richard Frank

Nurse, Get the Handcuffs (14:25)
From: Hillary Frank

A mother unexpectedly breaks down and apologizes to her 34-year-old daughter for not being able to breastfeed her.

Endangered Sea Turtle, Yum (11:57)
From: Hillary Frank

A vegetarian of 22 years decides that the way to fix her son’s umbilical hernia is to start eating meat.

Kittens Can Do it, So Why Can't We? (12:11)
From: Hillary Frank

A mom who finds breastfeeding stressful discovers that a machine helps her feel closer to her son.

Caption: Owen, the miracle baby, with colic and reflux

Don't Make Me Be Your Miracle (13:44)
From: Hillary Frank

After having her first child, a woman experiences heart failure and is told she has less than a 50 percent chance of surviving another pregnancy. Through a surrogate, she ...

Caption: Liesl preps S for an Oliver + S photo shoot., Credit: Todd Gibson

Is Class Over Yet? (14:32)
From: Hillary Frank

A woman leaves her dream job to stay home with her baby, and then, out of boredom, starts sewing and unwittingly creates a new full-time job for herself.

Piece Description

You know the story of Dracula, a man who lived on human blood and seduced innocent girls, turning them into the undead. But before Bram Stoker's novel came out in 1897, Dracula had a different lore. Stoker got the name from a 15th-century count in Transylvania. He was known for impaling his enemies on spikes but he wasn't a vampire. Hillary Frank talks with a woman with Asperger's Syndrome who, for the last three decades, has spent every Halloween trying to set the record straight.

Broadcast History

First aired on Weekend America 10.28.06.

Transcript

LEDE: YOU KNOW THE STORY OF DRACULA.

TAPE FOR INTRO?[:11] the original terrifying story of a maniac- and a man who lived on human blood- and lured innocent girls to a fate truly worse than death

WELL, THAT?S NOT WHAT PEOPLE THOUGHT OF WHEN THEY HEARD THE NAME DRACULA UNTIL BRAM STOKER?S NOVEL CAME OUT IN 1897. STOKER GOT THE NAME FROM A FIFTEENTH CENTURY COUNT IN TRANSYLVANIA KNOWN FOR IMPALING HIS ENEMIES ON SPIKES ? BUT HE WAS NO VAMPIRE. WEEKEND AMERICA?S HILLARY FRANK MET UP WITH SOMEONE WHO FOR THE LAST THREE DECADES HAS SPENT EVERY HALLOWEEN TRYING TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.
---------------
START PIECE:

There are lots of different theatrical interpretations of Dracula.

tape?[:08] [oldman] i am dracula

[lugosi] i am dracula

[spanish] soy dracula

Here?s an even more obscure one:

tape?[:02] [suzanne] i am dracula

Suzanne Muldowney performs improvisational dances of Dra...
Read the full transcript

Timing and Cues

THE LEDE INCLUDES :11 TAPE FROM THE ORIGINAL DRACULA MOVIE TRAILER. I'VE UPLOADED THAT HERE, ALONG WITH THE PIECE. I'VE INCLUDED A FEW EXTRA SECS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE CLIP FOR MIXING PURPOSES. PLEASE SEE THE TRANSCRIPT FOR BEGINNING AND END CUES.
+ 5:00 (piece)
+ :18 end music