Welcome to Day 23 of our Halloween countdown, focusing on films with a horror-host connection. 🎃 Tonight we explore Asylum of Satan, William Girdler’s low-budget regional shocker shot in Kentucky, featuring two on-screen horror hosts: The Fearonger and Peter Gory. It surprised me in a good way and shows how these old regional efforts can still be entertaining. If you’ve seen it, I’d love to hear your thoughts on Girdler’s work and this quirky gem. Thanks for watching—see you tomorrow for another spooky pick. Stay mad!
Thursday, October 23
Wednesday, October 22
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 22 🎃
Welcome to Day 22 of the Ghost Host Halloween countdown for 2025. 🎃 Today we explore The Twilight Zone—TV’s iconic anthology series—alongside its later sister series, The Night Gallery, and the lasting legacy their host, Rod Serling. Both series are a master class of great writing, imagination, and timeless themes that resonate to this very day. Share your favorite TZ moment in the comments, and subscribe for tomorrow’s entry.
Buy a copy of the series (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4nahI1r
Tuesday, October 21
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 21 🎃
Welcome to Day 21 of the Ghost Host Halloween countdown for 2025. 🎃 Today we explore the 1975 live-action Ghostbusters TV series and its fun horror-host connections—Tracy the Gorilla (played by Bob Burns) and a witchy nod to Nora Denny, one of TV’s early horror hosts. It’s a light, kid-friendly series with some nostalgic horror host roots. If you’ve seen this one, I’d love to hear your thoughts. See you tomorrow for the next spooky pick!
Monday, October 20
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 20 🎃
Welcome to Day 20 of the Ghost Host Halloween countdown for 2025. 🎃 We’re spotlighting films with real-life horror hosts, and tonight we take a look at Alfred Hitchcock’s Saboteur (1942) — this time not a horror film, but a tense WWII-era thriller that fits our host-centric countdown. Join us as we follow one man's chase for truth, a memorable sideshow twist, and a bit of early Hitchcock history... as well as a nod to horror host Moona Lisa, who has a bit part in this one playing a siamese twin in a sideshow! Tell us your thoughts in the comments and subscribe for tomorrow’s entry. Buy the DVD here (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4nTnNR7
Sunday, October 19
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 19 🎃
Welcome to day 19 of our 2025 Ghost Host Halloween countdown! 🎃 We’re spotlighting films with real-life horror hosts, and tonight’s film is Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (1988). Starring the iconic Cassandra Peterson as Elvira, this fun flick follows the mistress of the macabre to Fallwell, Massachusetts, where she inherits a mansion, a spell book, and a poodle from her witchy aunt. Things go awry when her warlock uncle schemes to steal the book, and the town clashes with her sassy vibe. Buy a copy of the film (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/435WGJY
Saturday, October 18
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 18 🎃
Welcome to Day 18 of our 2025 Ghost Host Halloween countdown! 🎃 We’re diving into films featuring real-life horror hosts, and tonight’s pick is Brain Damage, a wild 1988 indie horror from director Frank Henenlotter. This quirky gem follows Brian, a guy hooked on a hallucinogenic “juice” from a creepy, talking worm-like creature named Aylmer, voiced by the legendary horror host John Zacherle, aka Zacherley, the king of horror hosts! Buy a copy of the film (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4nynHhp
Friday, October 17
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 17 🎃
Welcome to day 17 of our 2025 Ghost Host Halloween countdown! 🎃 We’re diving into films featuring real-life horror hosts, and tonight’s pick is Nightbeast, a 1982 indie gem from Baltimore, Maryland, directed by Don Dohler. This low-budget sci-fi horror follows a small town thrown into chaos when an alien crash-lands and starts zapping folks with a ray gun. Among the cast is Dick Dyszel, aka legendary horror host Count Gore De Vol. Are you a fan of Don Dohler's films, and of Count Gore De Vol? Buy a copy of the film (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4pWQA8u
Thursday, October 16
2025 Halloween Countdown = Day 16 🎃
Welcome to day 16 of our Ghost Host Halloween countdown from the lab! 🎃 Tonight we're looking at Late Night with the Devil, a 2023 indie gem. This one’s a wild ride, styled like a documentary about a disastrous 1977 Halloween broadcast of a late-night talk show hosted by Jack Delroy, played by David Dastmalchian, who has a bit of a horror host history himself in several different ways. Buy a copy of the film (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4o0lifb
Wednesday, October 15
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 15 🎃
Welcome to Day 15 of our Ghost Host Halloween countdown from the lab! 🎃 Tonight we're looking at The Stand, a 1994 ABC miniseries based on the Stephen King novel. This four-part TV movie has a fun cameo from horror host Joe Bob Briggs, aka John Bloom, playing Deputy Joe Bob Brentwood. Joe Bob, the lovable redneck host of Joe Bob’s Drive-In Theater and later The Last Drive-In on Shudder, brings his B-movie charm to this small but fun role. Buy a copy of the series (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4nvNd73
Tuesday, October 14
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 14 🎃
Welcome to day 14 of our Ghost Host Halloween countdown from the lab! 🎃 We’re digging into films and shows featuring real-life horror hosts, and tonight’s a classic you’ve probably all seen: Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, both starring the inimitable director himself as the host!
Buy a copy of the film (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/46U7jAK
Monday, October 13
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 13 🎃
Welcome to Day 13 of our Ghost Host Halloween countdown! 🎃 Tonight’s pick is The Milpitas Monster, a super charming, low-budget indie film from 1976, shot on 16mm by a high school teacher, Robert Burl, and his film class in Milpitas, California. It’s a wild story about a giant, winged creature born from a landfill, wreaking havoc and scaring folks at a high school dance. Enter TV horror host Bob Wilkins, playing a monster expert, Dr. Lindsford. Bob, a Bay Area legend from Creature Features, brought his warm, cigar-smoking charm to this scrappy little movie. It’s a fun, ambitious project with a big heart, and you can watch it right here on YouTube.
Sunday, October 12
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 12 🎃
Welcome to Day 12 of our Ghost Host Halloween Countdown 2025! 🎃 Tonight, we’re diving into Bubba Ho-Tep (2002), a horror-comedy gem starring Bruce Campbell as an aging Elvis Presley (or is he?) teaming up with “JFK” to battle a soul-sucking mummy in a Texas nursing home. Featuring horror host Dan Roebuck as Dr. Shocker, playing a bumbling coroner, this cult classic mixes laughs, heart, and a quirky monster. Check it out and tell us what you think! Buy a copy of the film (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4nBMSzC
Saturday, October 11
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 11 🎃
Welcome in to Day 11 of our Ghost Host Halloween Countdown 2025! 🎃 Tonight, we’re
revisiting The Hilarious House of Frightenstein (1971), a quirky
Canadian kids’ show set in Castle Frightenstein. Starring Billy Van as
vampire Count Frightenstein and other zany characters, it’s a
monster-filled variety show with jokes and sketches. Vincent Price
narrates and pops in for fun bits. This fast-paced gem aired 190
episodes and is streaming on Tubi. Are you a Frightenstein fan? Comment
below and join us tomorrow!
Friday, October 10
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 10 🎃
Welcome to Day 10 of our Ghost Host Halloween Countdown 2025! 🎃 Tonight, we’re diving into The Outlaws Is Coming (1965), a wild slapstick comedy with the Three Stooges, Adam West, and Nancy Kovack as Annie Oakley. Set in 1871 Wyoming, this film has a fun twist: the villains, including Wyatt Earp played by horror host Bill Camfield (aka Gorgon from Nightmare), are all kids’ show hosts! Gorgon hosted classic horror flicks in Texas during the ‘50s, and his cameo makes this a unique pick for our countdown. Check out this gem for some Stooges chaos and clever marketing. Join us tomorrow for more!
Buy a copy of the film (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/46Q9mpw
Thursday, October 9
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 9 🎃
Welcome to Day 9 of our Ghost Host Halloween Countdown 2025! 🎃 Tonight, we’re sharing a special treat: The Dreadful Hallowgreen Special (2010), a fun half-hour film featuring three horror hosts—Dr. Gangrene, Penny Dreadful, and narrator Count Gore De Vol. When pumpkins turn pink and candy corn goes sour on Shackle Island, Dr. Gangrene and Penny Dreadful team up to save Halloween from their own mad science and witchy spells. Made to feel like a quirky ‘70s TV special, this collab is one to check out - watch the entire film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPX63yPMxYM&t=12s
Wednesday, October 8
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 8
Welcome to Day 8 of our Ghost Host Halloween Countdown 2025! 🎃 Today, we’re diving into One Step Beyond, a 1959 anthology series hosted by John Newland. This public-domain gem blends eerie stories, haunting music by Harry Lubin, and Newland’s excellent narration.
Tuesday, October 7
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 7 🎃
Welcome to Day 7 of our Ghost Host Halloween 2025 Countdown! 🎃👻 Dive into the spooky season with Dr. Gangrene's review of The Private Eyes (1980), a horror-comedy gem starring Tim Conway and Don Knotts. This old-dark-house mystery follows bumbling detectives Inspector Winship (Knotts) and Dr. Tart (Conway) as they investigate murders at the eerie Morley Estate, complete with hidden passages, cobwebs, and a torture chamber. Featuring Fred Stuthman (aka Jeepers Keeper, a legendary LA horror host) as Lord Morley, this film blends creepy atmosphere with classic comedy reminiscent of Abbott and Costello.
Is The Private Eyes a Halloween must-watch, or does its humor fall flat? Join us as we explore its spooky sets, quirky characters, and horror host connections! 🕸️💀 Perfect for fans of horror comedies, Halloween movie marathons, and vintage mystery vibes. Don’t miss our take on this cult classic—subscribe and hit the bell 🔔 for daily Halloween countdown videos leading up to October 31, 2025!
Grab The Private Eyes on Blu-ray: https://amzn.to/4gVelKm
Grab The Private Eyes on Blu-ray: https://amzn.to/4gVelKm
#Halloween2025 #HorrorComedy #ThePrivateEyes #TimConway #DonKnotts #HorrorHost #JeepersKeeper
Monday, October 6
2025 Halloween Countdown Day 6 🎃
Welcome to Day 6 of our horror countdown! 🎃 Dive into the 1968 classic Night of the Living Dead, George Romero’s groundbreaking zombie masterpiece that redefined horror. We explore its low-budget brilliance, its accidental public domain status, and its lasting impact. Plus, we celebrate Pittsburgh’s iconic horror host Chilly Billy Cardille, the WIC-TV reporter who starred in the film and hosted Chiller Theater from 1963-1984.
💀 Join Dr. Gangrene for a nostalgic look at this 5-skull film, Romero’s legacy, and Chilly Billy’s unforgettable charm.
What’s your favorite Romero movie? Comment below and check out our Top Romero Films list linked here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba6vEQ5-5RI
Subscribe and hit the bell for more horror host history! 🔔
#NightOfTheLivingDead #GeorgeRomero #ChillyBilly #HorrorHost #ClassicHorror
Sunday, October 5
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 5 🎃
🎃 Welcome to Day 5 of our Ghost Host Halloween Countdown! 🎥 Join us as we dive into iconic horror hosts and the films/TV shows they star in. Tonight, we spotlight Boris Karloff’s Thriller (1960), one of the greatest horror anthology series ever!
In this episode, we explore The Hungry Glass (Season 1, Episode 16), featuring William Shatner and Joanna Hayes as a couple moving into a haunted seaside mansion. Learn about the eerie legend of Laura Bellman, played by horror host legend Ottola Nesmith, whose chilling performance ties to her real-life role as a 1957 KTLA Channel 5 horror host. We’ll also dive into Thriller’s shift from crime to supernatural horror, its Weird Tales vibe, and its stellar cast, including Boris Karloff, Russell Johnson, and Elizabeth Allen.
🔮 Plus, discover Ottola Nesmith’s incredible career, from The Wolf Man to The Return of the Vampire to her career as a TV horror host. Don’t miss this deep dive into horror history!
🔔 Subscribe and hit the bell for more spooky content in our Ghost Host Halloween Countdown! Join us tomorrow for another chilling horror host feature.
💀Love classic horror? Drop a comment with your favorite Thriller episode or horror host!
Saturday, October 4
2025 Halloween Countdown Day 4 🎃
🎃💀 Welcome to Day 4 of our Halloween Countdown, where we dive into ghost host films—movies and TV shows featuring iconic horror hosts! Today, we’re breaking the rules with a curveball: Fright Night (1985), the ultimate horror host movie, starring Roddy McDowall as the unforgettable TV horror host Peter Vincent. Despite not featuring a real-life horror host, this cult classic earns its spot for its stellar vampire-hunting, horror-comedy brilliance.
From its spooky storyline to Roddy McDowall’s legendary performance, this film will really sink its fangs into you. Curious about why it’s a must-watch for horror host and vampire movie fans? Check out our full review and let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Love Fright Night? Grab the DVD here (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4n9f0tY
Friday, October 3
2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 3 🎃
🎃 Welcome to Day 3 of our Daily October Halloween Countdown! 🎃 Join us as we dive into spooky classics featuring iconic horror hosts. Today, we’re exploring The Legend of Blood Mountain, a regional gem from Atlanta, Georgia, starring the beloved horror host Bestoink Dooley, played by George Ellis. Unique regional horror with a quirky horror host!
👻 In this 1960s cult classic, bumbling reporter Bestoink Dooley investigates the eerie rumors of Blood Mountain, where rocks mysteriously bleed, signaling the return of a restless creature. Filmed in Stone Mountain National Park, this amateur yet charming production captures the creativity of local filmmakers. Learn about George Ellis’s legacy as a horror host on Atlanta’s Big Movie Shocker and Friday Night Fright, and discover why this film is a hidden treasure for horror fans!
Featured in this video:
💀 The Legend of Blood Mountain
💀 Atlanta TV horror host Bestoink Dooley
💀 A nostalgic look at 1960s Atlanta TV culture.
💀 Are you from Atlanta or familiar with Bestoink Dooley? Drop a comment below and let us know if you’ve seen this film! 👇
Thursday, October 2
Dr. Gangrene's 2025 Halloween Countdown - Day 2 🎃
🎃 Welcome to Day 2 of our 2025 Halloween Countdown! 👻 Join our Dr. Gangrene as he dives into films and shows featuring real-life horror hosts. Today, we’re spotlighting the iconic Tales from the Crypt (1989-1996), the legendary HBO series based on EC Comics’ horror classics like Tales from the Crypt, Vault of Horror, and Haunt of Fear.
👻 Meet the Crypt Keeper, voiced by John Kassir, a Horror Host Hall of Fame member! This creepy, pun-loving puppet stole the show with his graveyard humor and cackling laugh. From its amazing opening sequence to star-studded episodes featuring actors such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Christopher Reeve, and Timothy Dalton, Tales from the Crypt became a cultural phenomenon.
💀 Is the Crypt Keeper your favorite horror host? Let us know in the comments! 👇
Featured in this video:
💀 Tales from the Crypt (1989-1996)
💀 Horror host The Crypt Keeper
💀 Fun facts about the 1950s EC Comics, the 1972 Amicus anthology film adaptation, spin-offs like Demon Knight (1995) and Bordello of Blood (1996), and the Saturday morning cartoon!
Love Tales from the Crypt? Grab the DVD here (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/41xr6UZ
Wednesday, October 1
Dr. Gangrene Halloween Countdown 2025 🎃
🎃 Get ready for a spooky start to Halloween 2025 with Dr. Gangrene’s Halloween Countdown!🧪 Day 1 dives into The Incredible Two-Headed Transplant (1971), a wild B-movie that also features Larry Vincent, aka Seymour, the iconic horror host of Fright Night! 💀 Join us in the lab all October as we explore “Ghost Hosts” 👻 — films featuring legendary horror hosts.
🧪 What’s Inside: Daily horror reviews, Seymour’s TV history, and Halloween spirit!
💀 Perfect For: Horror fans, cult movie buffs, and spooky season lovers!
Featured in this video:
The Incredible Two-Headed Transplant (1971)
Horror host Larry Vincent (Seymour) from Fright Night & Creature Features
Fun facts about 1970s horror TV shows and cult classics
Buy a copy of the film (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/48bfY4g
Sunday, August 31
Where the Dead Live - 2001 SOV Horror 📼
In 2001 the Chiller Cinema crew decided we wanted to make a movie. We got together with friends and shot it over a weekend on a farm in Tennessee. #sov #zombies #zombiemovies #wherethedeadlive
2001 Indy zombie movie, shot on video, directed by Chuck Angell. It originally aired on Dr. Gangrene's Chiller Cinema, episode 46 on 12/21/01. 📼 Directed by Chuck Angell Cast: Bryan Dorris - Bryan Annette Jones - Rose Kyle Jones - Kyle Linda Royer - Linda Karlee Bailey (Credited as Karlee Underwood) - Karlee Chuck Angell - Zombie Chris Baldwin - Zombie John Jones - Zombie Brandon Lunday Zombie Larry Underwood - Zombie
Tuesday, August 26
Dr. Gangrene's Horror Hootenanny is right around the corner!
Nashville's longest running rock-n-roll Halloween party is back, Saturday October 4th at EAST SIDE BOWL in Nashville! Dr. Gangrene gives all the details in the video below - 4 bands, costume contest, and big prizes, all for just 10 bucks!
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Monday, July 28
Dr. Gangrene's Creature Feature
Back in the mid-2000s I hosted a program on the WB Channel 58 in Nashville called Creature Feature. It debuted in 2005, and ran off and on through 2010. During the run of the show the station changed named from the WB to the CW. It was an exciting time for me, as it provided a much wider audience and the station provided a terrific package of films for me to host.
Below is a partial list of films hosted by Dr. Gangrene while on the air on WNAB, Nashville's CW58. These were listed on my Wikipedia page, but I decided to move them here to clean up the page a bit, and link to them. First airing only listed (not reruns):
| Film | Date | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bruiser | October 22, 2005 | ||
| Dreamscape | October 29, 2005 | ||
| Sometimes They Come Back... for More | November 5, 2005 | ||
| Piranha | November 12, 2005 | ||
| Specimen | November 19, 2005 | ||
| Total Recall(1990 film) | November 26, 2005 | ||
| DNA | December 3, 2005 | ||
| The Devil Bat | December 10, 2005 | ||
| Beyond Tomorrow | December 24, 2005 | ||
| Nosferatu | December 31, 2005 | ||
| The Descendant | January 7, 2006 | ||
| Aerobicide | January 29, 2006 | ||
| The Giant Gila Monster | February 5, 2006 | ||
| The Ex | February 12, 2006 | ||
| Phoenix The Warrior | February 19, 2006 | ||
| Little Shop of Horrors | March 11, 2006 | ||
| Space Mutiny | March 18, 2006 | ||
| The Screaming Skull | March 25, 2006 | ||
| The Brain That Wouldn't Die | April 8, 2006 | ||
| Future Force | April 15, 2006 | ||
| Future Zone | April 22, 2006 | ||
| Total Recall1 | April 29, 2006 | ||
| Piranha | May 6, 2006 | ||
| The Wraith | May 13, 2006 | ||
| The House That Dripped Blood | May 26, 2007 | ||
| Night of the Living Dead | October 13, 2007 | ||
| The Last Man On Earth | December 29, 2007 | ||
| Five Deadly Venoms | February 2, 2008 | ||
| The Little Shop of Horrors | September 13, 2008 | ||
| The Phantom Planet | September 27, 2008 | ||
| White Zombie | October 11, 2008 | ||
| Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (2002 Version d. by Mark Redfield) | November 1, 2008 | ||
| Night Tide | October 17, 2009 | ||
| They Crawl | October 30, 2009 | ||
| The Hollow | October 30, 2009 | ||
| A Christmas Carol (1949 TV version) | December 25, 2009 | ||
| Deep Shock | July 10, 2010 | ||
| The Cave | July 17, 2010 | ||
| Black Cadillac | July 24, 2010 | ||
| Absolon | July 31, 2010 | ||
| Dark Waters (1993) | August 7, 2010 | ||
| Glass Trap | August 14, 2010 | ||
| Dark Descent | August 21, 2010 | ||
| The Untold | September 4, 2010 | ||
| The Sadist | September 18, 2010 | ||
| Eegah | September 25, 2010 | ||
| The Dreadful Hallowgreen Special | October 31, 2010 |
Following this run we changed the name of the show to Dr. Gangrene Presents. The format changed to a half-hour, with the Doc now hosting public domain TV shows like One Step Beyond, Suspense, and Boris Karloff's The Veil.
Below is an episode of Creature Feature hosting The Brain that Wouldn't Die.
Saturday, May 24
Halfway to Halloween UPDATE
We just passed the halfway to Halloween mark, so here's an update about the Halloween countdown and some of the cool stuff coming up in Nashville this October season.
Tuesday, May 6
Dr. Gangrene in the Hall of Fame!
Greetings Fright Fans - I am excited to share some big news with you all - Dr. Gangrene was inducted into the Rondo Award Hall of Fame this year!
The fact that last year marked my 25th anniversary as a host made it doubly meaningful. It was also my 20th year of hosting movies live at Wonderfest last year, as well as the 20th anniversary of our Horror Hootenanny show held every October (although we missed a couple of years during Covid). AND last year was the year that we got the Sir Cecil Creape historical marker installed in Nashville, something I'm truly proud of.
This is a true honor, and I'd like to thank David Colton, everyone at the Rondo Awards, and everyone who voted for me this year. The Rondos are THE biggest award in our industry, and to be inducted into the hall alongside such greats as Zacherley, Vampira, Morgus, Chilly Billy, etc. is a true honor (I love that David used the photo of me and Zacherley on the website for the announcement). Congratulations to all the other winners as well as everyone who was nominated. Being recognized by your peers is the best part of the Rondo Awards. It makes it all worthwhile. #rondoawards
Tuesday, March 11
It's Rondo Time !
It's awards season, fright fans, and in horror fandom, our special award, THE RONDOS, has just opened voting season. Ongoing now for an impressive 23 years, the Rondos are a fan-voted award for horror (and Science Fiction) excellence. The entries span an impressive variety of categories.
I am very honored to announce Dr. Gangrene has been nominated for 2 Rondo Awards this year:
1. Best Event of 2024 - Historical Marker dedicated near Nashville home of late horror host Sir Cecil Crepe, organized by Larry Underwood
2. Favorite Horror Host - Dr. Gangrene
I would also like to suggest you vote for Dr. Gangrene for Monster Kid of the Year for organizing the marker for Sir Cecil Creape. That makes him the first host in the country to have a permanent marker of this sort dedicated in his honor.
And Dr. Gangrene for Monster Kid Hall of Fame, for the 25 + years of hosting horror.
To Vote, simply send an email to taraco@aol.com and let him know you'd like to vote for Dr. Gangrene in the above categories. I'd be much obliged!
Thanks! And to see the entire ballot go to: rondoaward.com
Thursday, February 27
The Hand of Death is Gripping!
It was my pleasure to appear on the Bride of Monster Kid Radio this week to discuss the 1962 John Agar film Hand of Death. Always fun catching up with Derek, we talked about the Hand of Death, upcoming Dr. Gangrene projects, and much more. You can check it out at the link below, and be sure to check out Bride of Monster Kid regularly, it's a great podcast!
Bride of Monster Kid Radio #014 - Larry Underwood faces 1962's Hand of Death
Returning to the podcast is long-time friend of the show Larry Underwood, aka Dr. Gangrene. He catches up with Derek, letting us know about what he's been up to, what he's got coming up, and his thoughts on the 1962 John Agar film Hand of Death (dir. Gene Nolan). Plus, Mark Matzke's Beta Capsule Review (Ultraman Ace)!
Voicemail: (360) 524-2484
Email: monsterkidradio@gmail.com
Sunday, February 16
Susan Oliver - a real thriller!
I was watching an episode of Karloff's Thriller this week called Choose a Victim. It is episode 19 of Season One (1961 - directed by Richard Carlson). It's about a rich woman who befriends a beach bum and starts a romance with him, but it turns out it is a ploy that leads to murder (of course). I'm a big fan of Thriller. In fact, it might be my favorite anthology series of all time, depending on my mood... It's certainly one of my favorites. This episode starred Susan Oliver as the rich heiress and Larry Blyden as the beach dweller.
A couple of days later I watched an episode of The Twilight Zone and there was Susan Oliver again. This episode was People Are Alike All Over (episode 25 of Season One, 1960). It's about a pair of Earth astronauts (Roddy McDowell and Paul Comi) who crash land on Mars. Susan plays one of the Martians they encounter who are just a little too friendly.
Susan was a prolific actress on television, appearing in dozens of popular television shows the likes of Bonanza, The Andy Griffith Show, Gunsmoke, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Night Gallery, and The Wild Wild West. Her most famous appearance in genre circles was probably her performance as the green dancing alien in the original Star Trek. She appears in the closing credits of that show, so her image is burned into the memory of sci-fi fans everywhere. Her career stretched from the 50s to the 80s and she appeared in films as well, both made for TV and theatrical films.
Susan was a terrific actress, stunningly beautiful and a talented performer. She is great in everything I've seen - I am definitely going to track down more of her work. Her career was tragically cut short when she died of cancer in 1990 at the age of 58.
There is a documentary about Susan called The Green Girl that covers her life and acting career. It is available to watch on Tubi right now.
Friday, February 7
Tales of Terror
Tales of Terror is the fourth film in the series. It is a horror anthology comprised of three stories: Morella, The Black Cat, and The Case of M. Valdemar. Each of the stories features Vincent Price prominently.
In Morella, Price plays Locke, whose estranged daughter Lenora (Maggie Pierce) returns to reunite with him before she dies of an illness. But the drunken, depressed Locke harbors a dark secret in the crumbling, cobweb-laden mansion…
The second tale is The Black Cat, a clever mashup of the Poe stories The Black Cat and The Cask of Amontillado. Matheson managed to combine the two tales flawlessly, and this story features my favorite segment of any film from Corman’s Poe cycle; the drinking contest between Fortunato Luchresi (Price) and Montresor Herringbone (Peter Lorre). Montressor stumbles into a wine-tasting convention and challenges the expert, Fortunato, to a tasting contest. The two actors play off one another perfectly in this segment, with Price genteelly sipping his wine in the approved fashion, while Lorre gulps great goblets of wine.
“I am genuinely dedicated to your destruction.”
All of the Poe films were influential to fellow filmmakers at that time, and it must be noted this was pre-Amicus days. There had been a few anthology films up to this point, but not a lot. This one helped pave the way for more to come, as Amicus’ first portmanteau, Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors, would be made just three years after this. It's not a stretch to imagine that Subotsky and Rosenberg, the founders of Amicus, were influenced and inspired by this film.
Thursday, February 6
The Corman Poe Cycle
I've been thinking about the Roger Corman Poe cycle a lot lately after hosting the double-feature this past weekend. Corman produced and directed this series of films between 1960-1964. All were based on Poe works and all but one of them starred the great Vincent Price.
There are eight official films in the Poe cycle, although I personally like to include The Terror in the cycle too. It isn't officially based on a Poe work, but it looks and feels just like one of those films. It was made in 1963 and was produced and directed by Corman (with other directors shooting additional footage after-the-fact to complete the film). It was also mostly shot on the sets of The Raven. Corman famously wanted to take advantage of the still-standing sets before they were torn down, and hired Boris Karloff and Jack Nicholson for a two-day shoot. If they had included a couple of lines from some work of Poe's at the beginning or end of the film, it would have fit as easily as something like The Haunted Palace, which bears no other Poe ties than a quick quote.
The official films in the Poe cycle are: House of Usher (1960), The Pit and the Pendulum (1961), The Premature Burial (1962), Tales of Terror (1962), The Raven (1963), The Haunted Palace (1963), The Masque of the Red Death (1964), The Tomb of Ligeia (1964).
They raised his reputation in the minds of critics and fans alike,
and are arguable his signature work.
These films were a real game changer for Corman. Prior to this, he had been known primarily as a producer/director who made films fast and cheap. The Poe films, made on a bigger budget, with better scripts and name actors, proved he was capable of more than just exploitation quickies. And they were wildly successful. They raised his reputation in the minds of critics and fans alike, and are arguable his signature work. They raised his stature to that of an auteur - like Bergman, Fellini, or Hitchcock. These films are instantly recognizable as Corman films - they don't look and feel like any other director's work. And they've stood the test of time - they're just as captivating and haunting today as when they originally came out.
Sunday, February 2
Roger Corman Double-Feature intro
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of introducing a Roger Corman double-feature at the historic Belcourt Theater in Nashville, TN. The screening took place at noon and featured two of Corman’s Poe adaptations—The Pit and the Pendulum and Masque of the Red Death. Many consider these to be the best of the series, but of course that's a matter of personal taste.
I recorded my introduction and shared it on YouTube, so I thought I’d post it here as well. The audience was fantastic, and it was truly heartwarming to see a modern crowd applauding films that have been around for over 60 years. Even better, a group of high school students attended, and one of them said afterward that The Pit and the Pendulum was the best horror movie he’d ever seen. How great is that?
A heartfelt thank you to the Belcourt for inviting me—it’s always an honor to be part of these screenings!
Thursday, January 30
The Frozen Dead
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The Frozen Dead stars Dana Andrews as a Nazi mad scientist named Dr. Norberg, speaking with a German inflection no less! I’ve always liked Dana Andrews, so that was a plus for me right off the bat. The plot is suitably ridiculous for this type of film: Norberg is attempting to revive a squadron of Nazi soldiers that have been frozen since WWII, and in the process, has been carrying out wild experiments, which include a wall of severed arms kept “alive.”
He maintains a hidden room full of botched experiments—soldiers that were faultily resurrected as brain-dead zombies. The doctor’s niece unexpectedly arrives for a visit with a friend named Elsa (Kathleen Breck). Their stay doesn't go as well as expected, however, as one of the resurrected soldiers murders Elsa on their first night at the mansion.
(Gotta love that the frozen soldiers are held by clamps on their HEADS, like frozen chunks of beef.)
Not one to let an opportunity go to waste, Norberg uses this as an excuse to perform an experiment he'd always wanted to try. He keeps Elsa’s severed head alive in a box, with a plastic dome mounted over the top of her skull where the brain is now exposed. Her skin is also inexplicably blue.
While I appreciate the mad science shenanigans in this one, it’s unfortunately nowhere near as interesting as it could have been. The setup is great, but the film falls short in the execution; large portions of this one are just plain boring. The film also lifts heavily from the much better film The Brain that Wouldn’t Die (1962). Just as in that film, this one has a female head kept alive through science, a failed experiment locked away (the monster in Brain, the zombie soldiers in this one), and the head develops telepathic powers in each. Elsa begs for them to "Bury me," and in Brain we hear the woman (Jan, played by Virginia Leith) beg, "Let me die." By the way, The Brain that Wouldn't Die in turn borrowed material from the German film The Head (1959), which brings us back full circle with the Germanic influence.
The Frozen Dead was directed by Herbert J. Leder, who also directed It! starring Roddy McDowall. In fact, this film played on a double bill with It!. Leder had also previously written the screenplay for Fiend Without a Face.
Despite the pacing issues, The Frozen Dead is still worth a watch with plenty of outlandish elements, including zombies, frozen Nazi soldiers, gruesome experiments, a dungeon laboratory, severed body parts, and a head kept alive. Plus, it's got some memorable visuals. If you're a sucker for mad science films like me, then check it out!
Sunday, January 26
Cameron Mitchell, Horror Host
Last week, I discussed actor Cameron Mitchell's appearance in the film Nightmare in Wax. A few days later, I posted about my Halloween countdown of films from the Shock! package of Universal movies and the horror hosts who showed those films in their initial run on television in the 1950s and 1960s. Did you know that Cameron Mitchell also took a turn as a horror host?
The movies featured were:
Nightmare
The Eerie Midnight Horror Show
Frozen Scream
Cathy’s Curse
Return of the Alien’s Deadly Spawn
Ruby
Night Creature
Suicide Cult
Scalps
Slayer
2000 Maniacs
Blood Feast
Color Me Blood Red
To the Devil a Daughter
Kidnapping of the President
Vampire Hookers
Alien Prey
City of the Walking Dead
Bloodtide
Madhouse Mansion
The best I can tell, Comet Video shot this for Continental. Either it was a collaboration between the two, or perhaps Comet was a subsidiary of Continental. Either way, it was a clever idea from Continental. Put together a fun little video using clips from their catalog - Instant advertising for their own movies. Ingenious!
This tape is a nostalgic snapshot of a bygone era,
an age of big-box VHS and mom-and-pop video stores.
an age of big-box VHS and mom-and-pop video stores.
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