Hamilton Deane

In 1924, Hamilton Deane transformed a forgotten novel into a stage legend by dressing Count Dracula in a tuxedo and hiding his disappearance behind a trapdoor. Born in New Ross in 1879, he wrote the script during a severe cold and convinced Florence Stoker to grant him the rights. His production toured for years, broke American box-office records, and became the direct foundation for the classic 1931 film.