“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast of “This Island Earth” (1955), this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie SvenPals everywhere will be jumping for joy for his upcoming big broadcast presentation of a classic Universal Studios sci-fi monster masterpiece.

“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast of “This Island Earth” (1955)

“2 and a 1/2 years in the making to bring you sights of fantastic amazement!” Original 1955 Universal Studios twinfold exhibitors’ ad for “This Island Earth.”

Original 1955 Universal Studios concept poster artwork for “This Island Earth.”

The legendary Berwyn/Chicago-based sci-fi/monster feature film host will present his big broadcast of the classic Universal monster/sci-fi masterpiece production of “This Island Earth” (1955), this Sat., April 11 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

“This Island Earth” (1955) was directed by veteran director Joseph Newman, who directed numerous westerns, crime drama productions and adventure features throughout his screen career.  Newman also directed four episodes of Rod Serling’s “The Twilight Zone” from 1963–64 and 10 episodes of Alfred Hitchcock’s hour-long mystery/suspense anthology TV series, “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour” from 1963-65 (a continuation of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”).  The screenplay for Newman’s 1955 Universal sci-fi/monster production was written by Franklin Coen and George Callahan (Callahan was credited under the name of “Edward G. O’Callaghan”).  Coen and Callahan (O’Callaghan)’s screenplay was adapted from Raymond F. Jones’ sci-fi novel.  Veteran Universal producer William Alland produced “This Island Earth.”

This will mark Sven’s sixth big broadcast of “This Island Earth” (1955) on Me-TV. He previously showcased Newman’s classic Universal sci-fi monster masterpiece entry back in April 2012*, Oct. 2012*, April 2015, Jan. 2016 and June 2017.

Who was in Joseph Newman’s production of “This Island Earth” (1955)?

The players who appeared in Newman’s Universal production of  “This Island Earth” (1955) were stunt performer Regis Parton (in an non-credited role as the Metaluna mutant), Jeff Morrow (as Exeter, Morrow later appeared in Fred F. Sears’ 1957 Columbia sci-fi/fantasy creature entry with Mara Corday; “The Giant Claw”), Faith Domergue (as Dr. Ruth Adams, Domergue also appeared in the 1955 Ray Harryhausen–Robert Gordon Columbia sci-fi/creature classic masterpiece; “It Came From Beneath the Sea”), Rex Reason (as Dr. Cal Meacham, Reason also appeared in the 1956 Universal “Creature” monster trilogy finale, “The Creature Walks Among Us”), Russell Johnson (as Dr. Steve Carlson; Johnson previously appeared in Jack Arnold’s 1953 Universal sci-fi classic masterpiece, “It Came From Outer Space;” he went onto greater fame in Sherwood Schwartz’s smash 1964–67 sitcom, “Gilligan’s Island”), Lance Fuller (as Brack), Robert Nichols (as Joe Wilson), Richard Deacon (in a non-credited role as a pilot, Deacon on to greater fame in Mel Cooley on “The Dick Van Dyke Show” from 1961-1966), Olan Soule (in a non-credited role as a reporter), Coleman Francis (in a non-credited role as a deliveryman; Francis later directed several Z-budget films, including 1961’s “The Beast of Yucca Flats,” 1963’s “The Sky Divers” and  1966’s “Red Zone Cuba;” Francis’ Z-budget features were famously riffed on “Mystery Science Theater 3000.”) and Orangey the Cat (in a non-credited role as the Neutron Cat, the feline film star previously appeared in the title role of Arthur Lubin’s 1951 Paramount screen comedy with Ray Milland, “Rhubarb;” Orangey later appeared in Bert I. Gordon’s Embassy comedic sci-fi/fantasy production with Ron “Ronny” Howard, Beau Bridges and Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon, “Village of the Giants”).

“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast of “The Mummy’s Tomb” (1942), this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie SvenPals everywhere will be jumping for joy for his upcoming big broadcast of a classic Universal Studios “Mummy” monster feature franchise masterpiece.

Svengoolie presents his big broadcast of “The Mummy’s Tomb” (1942)

Original 1942 Universal Studios poster art element for “The Mummy’s Tomb.”

Original 1942 Universal Studios theatrical poster artwork for “The Mummy’s Tomb.”

The legendary Berwyn/Chicago-based monster film host will present his big broadcast of the third Universal classic “Mummy” monster masterpiece series installment, “The Mummy’s Tomb” (1942); this Sat., April 4 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

“The Mummy’s Tomb” (1942) was directed by veteran editor-director Harold Young.  Young also directed the live-action segments for Walt Disney’s “The Three Caballeros” (1944).  He also directed the fourth installment in Universal’s “Inner Sanctum” feature film mystery-thriller adaptation series, “The Frozen Ghost” (1945).

The studio originally released “The Mummy’s  Tomb” as a double-feature presentation to theaters from coast-to-coast with another Universal monster-thriller production, Ford Beebe’s “Night Monster” (1942, with Bela Lugosi, Irene Hervey, Lionel Atwill, Don Porter and Leif Erickson); according to IMDB.

This will mark Svengoolie’s fifth big broadcast of Harold Young’s production of “The Mummy’s Tomb” (1942) on Me-TV.  He previously showcased the 1942 Universal “Mummy” monster installment back in Nov. 2011*, June 2012*, Aug. 2013 and June 2017.

Who was in Harold Young’s 1942 Universal “Mummy” monster production?

The players who appeared in Young’s Universal monster production of “The Mummy’s Tomb” (1942) were Lon Chaney, Jr. (as the Mummy Kharis, this marked the junior Chaney’s first Universal “Mummy” monster appearance, the veteran actor re-teamed with Young in 1945 for his Universal “Inner Sanctum” production of “The Frozen Ghost”), Elyse Knox (as Isobel Evans, Knox later married Heisman champion athlete Tom Harmon in 1944; she was the mother of actors Mark Harmon and Kristin Harmon), Turhan Bey (as Mehemet Bey, in the latter part of his screen career; Bey recounted that his appearance in the 1942 Universal production of “The Mummy’s Tomb” was one of his favorite film roles, according to a 1995 interview with Los Angeles public access television host Skip E. Lowe), George Zucco (as Andoheb), Wallace Ford (as Babe Hanson**), Dick Foran (as Stephen A. Banning; the three aforementioned actors reprised their roles from the 1940 production of “The Mummy’s Hand” for Young’s 1942 Universal “Mummy” monster installment), Frank Reicher (as Prof. Norman), Glenn Strange (in a non-credited role as a farmer, Strange previously appeared in the role of Peewee with Dick Foran in the 1937 Warner Bros. singing cowboy western, “The Devil’s Saddle Legion;” Strange later played the role of Frankenstein’s monster in several Universal classic monster masterpieces with Lon Chaney Jr. as Larry “Wolf Man” Talbot; including 1944’s “House of Frankenstein” 1945’s “House of Dracula” and 1948’s “Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein”), John Hubbard (as John Banning), Mary Gordon (as Jane Banning), Virginia Brissac (as Mrs. Evans), Grace Cunard (in a non-credited role as the farmer’s wife), Vinton Hayworth (in a non-credited role as Frank; Hayworth later played the role of Gen. Winfield Schaeffer in the remaining seasons of “I Dream of Jeannie” with Barbara Eden, Larry Hagman, Bill Daily and Hayden Roarke from 1968–70) and “flashback footage” of Tom Tyler (as the Mummy Kharis) and Peggy Moran (as Marta Solvani, both Tyler and Moran  appeared in Christy Cabanne’s 1940 Universal “Mummy” classic monster masterpiece sequel, “The Mummy’s Hand”).

“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast of “Village of the Damned” (1960), this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie SvenPals everywhere will jump for joy for his upcoming big broadcast of a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer classic sci-fi thriller/horror masterpiece.

“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast of “Village of the Damned” (1960)

Original 1960 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer lobby card artwork for “Village of the Damned.”

“Beware of the stare!” Original 1960 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer advertising artwork element for “Village of the Damned.”

The legendary Berwyn/Chicago-based sci-fi/horror/thriller film host will present his big broadcast of “Village of the Damned” (1960), this Sat.; March 28 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

“Village of the Damned” (1960) was directed by Wolf Rilla and was produced by Ronald Kinnoch.  Adapted from John Wyndham/John Harris’ novel, “The Midwich Cuckoos;” both Rilla and Kinnoch (the producer’s screenwriting credit was credited to his pseudonym name of George Barclay) also co-wrote the screenplay adaptation of the Wyndham/Harris novelization with veteran screenwriter Stirling Silliphant (Silliphant also created two popular television mystery dramas for Columbia Pictures/Screen Gems, the TV adaptation of “Naked City” from 1958-63 and “Route 66” from 1960-64).

35 years after the original theatrical release of Wolf Rilla’s MGM production of “Village of the Damned” (1960), veteran writer/director John Carpenter directed his own re-make of “Village of the Damned” (1995) for Universal Studios  with Christopher Reeve (of “Superman” fame), Mark Hamill (of “Star Wars” fame), Kirstie Alley (of “Cheers” fame), Trishalee Hardy, Jessye Quarry and Cody Dorkin.

This will mark Sven’s second big coast-to-coast broadcast of Rilla’s 1960 MGM classic sci-fi thriller masterpiece on Me-TV.  He previously showcased “Village of the Damned” (1960) as a big coast-to-coast Me-TV premiere broadcast back in Aug. 2019.

Sven previously aired “Village of the Damned” (1960) for his Berwyn/Chicago big broadcast on his hometown television station in Berwyn/Chicago, WCIU-TV 26/”The U”* back in back in Oct. 1995,  according to details from the official YouTube site of fellow super SvenPal David Fuentes and information from IMDB.

Who was in Wolf Rilla’s MGM production of “Village of the Damned” (1960)?

The players who appeared in the 1960 Wolf Rilla-MGM sci-fi thriller production were George Sanders (as Gordon Zellaby; some of Sanders’ best-known screen roles include his role of Simon Templar in the 1939–41 RKO Radio Pictures feature film adaptation series of Leslie Charteris’ “The Saint;” the title role of Gay Lawrence in RKO’s 1941–42 post-“Saint” screen adaptation series of Michael Arlen’s “The Falcon” and his Academy Award-winning role of Addison DeWitt in Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s smash 1950 Twentieth Century Fox/Twentieth Century Studios screen drama with Bette Davis, “All About Eve”), Barbara Shelley (as Anthea Zellaby, Shelley was known for her various British screen horror roles, including her characterization of Carla Hoffman in Terence Fisher’s 1964 Hammer/Columbia monster classic with Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, “The Gorgon”), Martin Stephens (as David Zellaby, Stephens previously appeared with George Sanders in Guy Hamilton’s 1960 Paramount comedy with James Mason and Vera Miles, “A Touch of Larceny;” Stephens later appeared in Jack Clayton’s 1961 Twentieth Century Fox/Twentieth Century Studios thriller with Deborah Kerr; “The Innocents;” ), Thomas Heathcote (as James Pawle),  Charlotte Mitchell (as Janet Pawle), Michael Gwynn (as Maj. Alan Bernard; Gwynn previously appeared in Fisher’s 1958 Columbia-Hammer monster classic with Cushing, “The Revenge of Frankenstein” and later appeared in the guest role of Lord Melbury in the 1975 pilot episode of John Cleese’s BBC hotel comedy series, “Fawlty Towers”), Laurence Naismith (as Dr. Willers), Richard Vernon (as Sir Edgar Hargraves), John Phillips (as Gen. Leighton),  Richard Warner (as Harrington), Sarah Long (as Evelyn Harrington), Jenny Laird (as Mrs. Harrington),  Pamela Buck (as Milly Hughes),  Susan Richards (as Mrs. Plumpton) and Rosamund Greenwood (as Ms. Ogle).

“Svengoolie” to present his big coast-to-coast broadcast premiere of “Horror of Dracula” (1958) with Christopher Lee & Peter Cushing, this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie SvenPals will be jumping for joy for his big broadcast premiere of a classic horror masterpiece from Britain’s Hammer Films.

“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast premiere of “Horror of Dracula” (1958)

Latter Warner Bros. re-issue trailer for the Hammer Films production of “Horror of Dracula” (originally released theatrically by Universal Studios in 1958)*.

Original 1958 Universal Studios theatrical poster artwork for the Hammer production of “Horror of Dracula.”

The legendary Berwyn/Chicago-based monster/horror film host will be presenting his big coast-to-coast broadcast premiere of “Horror of Dracula” (1958), this Sat., March 21 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

The 1958 Hammer “Dracula” entry was directed by veteran studio director Terence Fisher.  Fisher ‘s other Hammer horror entries include “The Curse of Frankenstein” (1957), “The Revenge of Frankenstein” (1958), the Universal/Hammer rendition of  “The Mummy” (1959), “The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll” (1960) and “The Gorgon” (1964).  Adapted from Bram Stoker’s novelization of “Dracula,” the screenplay for “Horror of Dracula” was written by veteran Hammer screenwriter Jimmy Sangster.

Fisher’s Hammer production of “Horror of Dracula” (1958) was originally released theatrically through Universal Studios, according to IMDB.

Who was in “Horror of Dracula” (1958)?

The players who appeared in “Horror of Dracula” (1958) were Christopher Lee (as Count Dracula), Peter Cushing (as Dr. Van Helsing),  Melissa Stribling (as Mina Holmwood), Michael Gough (as Arthur Holmwood), Carol Marsh (as Lucy Holmwood), Charles Lloyd Pack (as Dr. Seward), Olga Dickie (as Gerda), John Van Eyssen (as Jonathan), Janina Faye (as Tania), George Merritt (as a Policeman), Barbara Archer (as Inga), George Benson (as an official), Miles Malleson (as Marx, the undertaker),  George Woodbridge (as the landlord) and Valerie Gaunt (as a vampire woman).

“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast of “Cry of the Werewolf” (1944), this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie SvenPals everywhere will be jumping for joy for his big broadcast presentation of a classic Columbia Pictures werewolf-monster/creature mystery masterpiece feature.

Fan-made YouTube trailer for the Columbia Pictures production of “Cry of the Werewolf” (1944). Note: As of this writing, the original Columbia theatrical trailer for “Cry of the Werewolf” (1944) is still unavailable on YouTube and/or other video streaming platforms. –C.H.

“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast of “Cry of the Werewolf” (1944)

“When midnight struck, she walked with murder as a ‘werewolf’!” Original 1944 Columbia Pictures theatrical poster artwork for “Cry of the Werewolf.”

The legendary Berwyn/Chicago-based monster/thriller film host will present his big broadcast showcase of “Cry of the Werewolf” (1944), this Sat., March 7 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

“Cry of the Werewolf” (1944) was directed by veteran director Henry Levin (Levin later worked on Columbia’s “Matt Helm” spy/secret agent spoof feature film adaptations with Dean Martin in the title role, including 1966’s “Murderers’ Row” with Ann-Margret, Karl Malden and James Gregory; and 1967’s “The Ambushers” with Gregory, Albert Salmi and Senta Berger). The 1944 Columbia production of “Cry of the Werewolf” was Levin’s first directorial feature.  The screenplay for Levin’s production of “Cry of the Werewolf” (1944) was written by veteran screenwriters Griffin Jay and Charles O’Neal.

This will mark Svengoolie’s second big broadcast of “Cry of the Werewolf” (1944) on Me-TV.  He previously showcased Levin’s 1944 Columbia werewolf creature/monster/mystery masterpiece production as a big broadcast premiere back in Oct. 2018.

Who was in Levin’s Columbia monster-mystery production of “Cry of the Werewolf” (1944)?

The players who appeared in Levin’s Columbia monster-mystery production of “Cry of the Werewolf” (1944) were Nina Foch (as Celeste, Foch previously appeared in Lew Landers’ classic 1943 Columbia vampire thriller masterpiece, “The Return of the Vampire” with Bela Lugosi, Matt Willis and Frieda Inescort;  She later appeared in in Vincente Minnelli’s critically-acclaimed 1951 MGM screen musical adaptation of George Gershwin’s “An American in Paris” with Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant and Georges Guétary; Foch also appeared in several episodes of the CBS television adaptation of “Suspense” from 1949-54), Barton MacLane (as Lt. Barry Lane, MacLane appeared in numerous film and TV productions throughout his screen career, including the 1937–39 “Torchy Blane” film series for Warner Bros. with Glenda Farrell;  MacLane later appeared in the role of Lt. Det. Dundy in John Huston’s 1941 Warner Bros. screen adaptation of “The Maltese Falcon” with Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre and Ward Bond; MacLane’s final acting role was his role of Gen. Peterson in Sidney Sheldon’s Columbia/Screen Gems sitcom for NBC, “I Dream of Jeannie” from 1965 until MacLane’s death in 1969 with Barbara Eden, Larry Hagman, Bill Daily and Hayden Roarke)*, Robert B. Williams (as Homer, Williams later appeared in Jack Arnold’s Universal classic creature/monster masterpiece sequel to “Creature from the Black Lagoon,” 1955’s “Revenge of the Creature” with Lori Nelson, Ricou Browning, Tom Hennesy, John Agar, Nestor Paiva, young Clint Eastwood and Grandon Rhodes), Osa Massen (as Elsa Chauvet), Stephen Crane (as Robert “Bob” Morris), Blanche Yurka (as Bianca), John Abbott (as Peter Althius), Fred Graff (as Pinkie),  John Tyrrell (as Mac), Fritz Leiber (as Dr. Charles Morris), Milton Parsons (as Adamson) and Ivan Triesault (as Jan Spavero).

“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast of “The Monolith Monsters” (1957), this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie SvenPals from coast-to-coast will be jumping for joy for his upcoming big broadcast of a Universal Studios cult classic sci-fi monster masterpiece.

“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast of “The Monolith Monsters” (1957)

Original 1957 Universal Studios theatrical trailer for “The Monolith Monsters.”

“Mammoth skyscrapers of stone thundering across the earth!” Original 1957 Universal Studios theatrical poster artwork for “The Monolith Monsters.”

The legendary Berwyn/Chicago-based monster/sci-fi feature film host will present his big broadcast of “The Monolith Monsters” (1957), this Sat.; Feb. 29 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

The 1957 Universal sci-fi monster production was directed by veteran studio director John Sherwood.  Sherwood’s other features include “Raw Edge” (1955, with Rory Calhoun and Yvonne De Carlo, later of TV’s “The Munsters” fame) and the finale film in Universal’s “Creature From the Black Lagoon” monster trilogy series; “The Creature Walks Among Us” (1956, with Jeff Morrow, Leigh Snowden, Ricou Browning and  Don Megowan).  Sherwood died in 1959 after serving an uncredited position as a second unit director for the Universal-Michael Gordon–Ross Hunter comedy “Pillow Talk” (1959, with Doris Day, Rock Hudson and Tony Randall; according to IMDB).  The screenplay for “The Monolith Monsters” was written by veteran screenwriters Robert M. Fresco and Norman Jolley.  Fresco also co-wrote the story treatment with veteran Universal director Jack Arnold (Arnold directed the original 1954 Universal classic monster masterpiece production of “Creature From the Black Lagoon” with Julie Adams, Ricou Browning, Ben Chapman, Richard Carlson and Richard Denning).

This will mark Sven’s fourth big broadcast of “The Monolith Monsters” (1957) on Me-TV.  He previously showcased Sherwood’s Universal classic cult monster masterpiece back in Jan. 2014, Feb. 2015 and Oct. 2016.

Who was in “The Monolith Monsters” (1957)?

The players who appeared in John Sherwood’s Universal production of “The Monolith Monsters” (1957) were Grant Williams (as Dave Miller), Lola Albright (as Cathy Barrett), Les Tremayne (as Martin Cochrane), Trevor Bardette (as Prof. Arthur Flanders), Phil Harvey (as Ben Gilbert), William Flaherty (as Police Chief Dan Corey), Harry Jackson (as Dr. Steve Hendricks), Richard H. Cutting (as Dr. E.J. Reynolds), Linda Scheley (as Ginny Simpson), Dean Cromer (as a highway patrol officer), Steve Darrell (as Joe Higgins), young  Paul Petersen (in an uncredited role as Bobby the paperboy), young Troy Donahue (in an uncredited role as Hank Jackson), young William Schallert (in an uncredited role as a weatherman) and young Paul Frees (in an uncredited role as the narrator).

“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast of “The Mummy’s Curse” (1944), this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie SvenPals will be jumping for joy for his big broadcast of a classic Universal monster franchise masterpiece with a silver screen horror legend.

Kurt Katch (as Cajun Joe) and Lon Chaney, Jr. (as the Mummy Kharis) in “The Mummy’s Curse” (1944).

“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast of “The Mummy’s Curse” (1944)

“New thrills!  New terror!” Original 1944 Universal Studios theatrical poster artwork for “The Mummy’s Curse,” featuring Lon Chaney Jr.

The legendary Berwyn/Chicago-based monster film host will present his big broadcast of “The Mummy’s Curse” (1944), this Sat.; Jan. 22 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

The 1944 Universal Studios “Mummy” feature film installment was directed by veteran director Leslie Goodwins, who directed numerous feature film and TV productions throughout his career.  Some of Goodwins’ productions include the RKO Radio Pictures “Mexican Spitfire” comedic film series with Lupe Velez and Leon Errol from 1939–43, the Universal horror-comedy farce with Anne Gwynne and Donald Cook, “Murder in the Blue Room” (1943) and various episodes of “Maverick,” “My Favorite Martian” and “Gilligan’s Island.”

This will mark Sven’s fourth big broadcast of “The Mummy’s Curse” (1944) on Me-TV.  He previously showcased Goodwins’ 1944 Universal classic “Mummy” monster franchise installment back in May 2012*, May 2013 and Dec. 2017.

Who was in Leslie Goodwins’ Universal “Mummy” monster production of “The Mummy’s Curse” (1944)?

The players who appeared in Leslie Goodwins’ “The Mummy’s Curse” (1944) were Lon Chaney Jr. (as the “Mummy” Kharis; the junior Chaney previously appeared as the “Mummy” Kharis in two earlier classic Universal “Mummy” monster masterpiece features; Harold Young’s 1942 production of “The Mummy’s Tomb” and  Reginald Le Borg’s 1944 production of “The Mummy’s Ghost”), Virginia Christine (as Princess Ananka, Christine later appeared in Jean Yarbrough’s 1946 classic Universal horror thriller masterpiece with Rondo Hatton, “House of Horrors” and later appeared in Folgers Coffee commercials in the role of “Mrs. Olson”)  Peter Coe (as Dr. Ilzor Zandaab), Kay Harding (as Betty Walsh), Holmes Herbert (as Dr. Cooper), Napoleon Simpson (as Goobie), Dennis Moore (as Dr. James Halsey), Martin Kosleck (as Ragheb), Addison Richards (as Pat Walsh),  Kurt Katch (as Cajun Joe), Ann Codee (in an uncredited role as Tante Berthe), William Farnum (as Sacristan), Charles Stevens (as Achilles) and “flashback” cameo uncredited footage segments of Boris Karloff (in flashback sequences as the “Mummy” Imhotep from Karl Freund’s original 1932 Universal classic monster masterpiece production of “The Mummy”) and Tom Tyler (in flashback sequences as the “Mummy” Kharis in Christy Cabanne’s 1940 Universal classic “Mummy” masterpiece sequel, “The Mummy’s Hand”).