Edgar Allan Poe's Birthday: Weirdest, Worst And Most Wicked Pop Culture References (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Today we celebrate what would be Edgar Allan Poe's 202nd birthday. The American writer is best known for his creepy tales and haunting poems, including the iconic "The Raven." Since his death in 1849, the author's work has crept into pop culture at every turn: from movie adaptations to song lyric references, Poe can be found everywhere.

So, today to celebrate his birthday, we've rounded up a collection of some of the weirdest Poe references. What did we leave out? Let us know of your favorite Poe references in the comments section below.

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Roger Corman's Movies

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Roger Corman, the legendary director and producer of B-movies, became famous for his string of silver screen adaptations of Edgar Allen Poe stories. Many of these films starred Vincent Price, including House of Usher (1960), The Pit and the Pendulum (1961), Tales of Terror (1962), The Raven (1963), The Masque of the Red Death (1964), and The Tomb of Ligeia (1965). Although originally intended as horror films, Corman's movies were produced on such small budgets using cheesy effects that they now provide more laughs than shrieks.

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Roger Corman, the legendary director and producer of B-movies, became famous for his string of silver screen adaptations of Edgar Allen Poe stories. Many of these films starred Vincent Price, including House of Usher (1960), The Pit and the Pendulum (1961), Tales of Terror (1962), The Raven (1963), The Masque of the Red Death (1964), and The Tomb of Ligeia (1965). Although originally intended as horror films, Corman's movies were produced on such small budgets using cheesy effects that they now provide more laughs than shrieks.

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Comments

[torgman3]

01:52 PM on 02/09/2011

You forgot UPA's 1953 cartoon "The Telltale Heart", narrated by James Mason.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJb150JRqpQ

[learninglife]

07:46 PM on 01/22/2011

202. What an odd birthday to celebrate, but somehow it fits with EAP.

[cameron d]

01:52 PM on 01/20/2011

Um, sure Poe wrote a few classics but doesn't everyone else notice that the majority of his work was garbage? I own his complete works in an anthology, purchased for University, and it was a chore to get through.

Patton Oswalt also made this same argument in one of his stand-up specials.

[antaeus]

01:02 AM on 01/21/2011

He invented the detective story, and his best writing is startlingly original.

[Laurence Hughes]

12:59 AM on 01/20/2011

You missed a good one: How Hollywood turned Poe's poem "Eldorado" into a cowboy song for a John Wayne western. http://bit.ly/fxIsIS

[NebDem78]

04:24 AM on 01/23/2011

James Caan quotes it in the movie.

[Michael Phillips]

12:51 AM on 01/20/2011

As writer, I am always amused when people expect writers to be better human being then everyone else. We are mere observers, we write about stars from the gutters.

[TimeInterloper]

12:09 AM on 01/20/2011

Hello, the Baltimore Ravens.

[torgman3]

01:54 PM on 02/09/2011

Not gothic enough! They need to pick their cheerleaders from SuicideGirls.

[Chyna Doll]

10:19 PM on 01/19/2011

I heard on NPR today that it was Robert E Lees birthday as well kinda neat that two very big historical figures shared a birthday

[messy]

09:59 PM on 01/19/2011

Poe was a pedophile and a drunk. He was also a great writer.

[LMPE]

08:12 PM on 01/19/2011

Once there was a crossword clue "His name is one letter short of his occupation", and the answer was Poe.

[Indigo1941]

08:03 PM on 01/19/2011

Every grade school boy's favorite author!

[garyd63]

06:56 PM on 01/19/2011

Edgar Allan Poe's problems seem to follow him into the 21st century. Here we see he can't even play himself in a low budget film. GO HERE http://www.classroom20.com/video/video/show?id=649749%3AVideo%3A575802

In truth, biographers have commented on his well received and successful stage presence at readings. In the summer heat in Richmond, 1849, Poe gave a lecture on his "The Poetic Principle" followed by a reading of "The Raven" to a full house. One biographer notes that "the reviews were superlative." There was one exception. John Daniel wrote of Poe's "sing song" delivery. It might be mentioned that Daniel and Poe almost fought a duel a year earlier. Poetry wasn't patty-cake back in those days.

Interested in continuing the discussion of Poe and his works? GO HERE:
http://gotopoe.blogspot.com/

[jl4141]

04:56 PM on 01/19/2011

. . . the bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells (take deep breath and repeat . . .)

[LairdFoster]

04:46 PM on 01/19/2011

The mysterious Poe Birthday toaster in Baltimore fails to show again at Edgar's grave . . three red roses and a bottle of cognac tradition----NEVERMORE? http://bit.ly/gXZFTU

[triplettam]

03:11 PM on 01/19/2011

What about Britney Spears? She had a "Dream Within a Dream" tour. Ha! Alan Parsons released an an album called "Tales of Mystery and Imagination" with songs titled and based on his works. Did a re-issue with Orson Wells doing some narration.

[HailSinfonia]

02:42 PM on 01/19/2011

No mention of Lord Buckley??? Come on!!!!!