“Oldest Living Dracula” Comes Out of the Casket for Drive-In Blood Drives During COVID-19 Pandemic
After almost a fifty-year absence from the Silver Screen, Charlottesville resident/ actor Raphael Peter Engel (aka Zandor Vorkov), who appeared in Al Adamson’s and Sam Sherman’s camp classics, Dracula vs Frankenstein (1971) and Brain of Blood (1971), has decided to return to the Big Screen as the original blood seeker, Count Dracula. However, this time it is for a worthy and heroic cause. In light of the COVID-19 crisis and the associated blood drive cancellations and blood shortages that some hospitals are facing, Raphael has decided to don the cape and fangs once again as “The Count” to get a critical message out to the public: to donate blood.
Engel will donate blood next week locally at the John Paul Jones Arena in conjunction with the Charlottesville Chapter of the American Red Cross and UVA Health.
Raphael has recorded a special PSA encouraging audiences to participate with hospital and community blood drives. The three-minute audience participation spot will play prior to screenings of the film Dracula vs Frankenstein with selected bookings at drive-ins across the country. Dracula vs Frankenstein is one of the films included in Sam Sherman’s Retro Road Show “Camp Classics” Tour of the Independent-International Pictures Corp. library. Upcoming screenings of The Vampire’s Oath of Blood donation PSA and the films Dracula vs Frankenstein and Brain of Blood will include THE SKYWAY DRIVE-IN in Warren, Ohio on June 24 & June 25 and at THE FAMILY DRIVE-IN in Stephens City, Virginia on July 1 & July 2.
Blood donations, and especially testing for anti-bodies is an important process during the COVID-19 epidemic. Beginning this week, and for a limited time, the American Red Cross is testing all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies, providing donors insight into whether they have been exposed to this coronavirus. At the same time, there continues to be an urgent need for blood donations as hospitals resume surgeries and treatments that require blood products. Antibody testing will indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether they developed symptoms. Donations will be tested using samples pulled at the time of donation and sent to a testing laboratory where they will also undergo routine infectious disease testing. A positive antibody test result does not confirm infection or immunity. COVID-19 antibody test results will be available within 7-10 days in the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org. The test has been authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross provides shelter, food, and emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
UVA Health includes a 612-bed hospital, the UVA School of Medicine, a level I trauma center, nationally recognized cancer treatment, heart centers, primary and specialty clinics throughout Central Virginia. UVA is recognized for excellence by U.S. News & World Report, Best Doctors in America and America’s Top Doctors.
WHEN: Tuesday, June 23, 2020, Noon
WHERE: John Paul Jones Arena
295 Massie Rd. Charlottesville, VA 22903
Are you a fan of Raphael Peter Engel/Zandor Vorkov? Will you be attending one of the blood drive drive-in events? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! You can also carry on the convo with me personally on Twitter @josh_millican.
Categorized:News
