“Svengoolie” to showcase “The Mummy’s Curse” (1944), this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie SvenPals and Universal Studios horror film aficionados will be interested in an upcoming broadcast of a 1944 monster franchise feature.

“Svengoolie” presents: “The Mummy’s Curse” (1944)

Original 1944 Universal Studios trailer for “The Mummy’s Curse.”

Realart re-issue poster art for the 1944 Universal Studios “Mummy” entry, “The Mummy’s Curse.“

The iconic Berwyn/Chicago-based horror feature film host will be presenting “The Mummy’s Curse” (1944), this Sat., Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

The fifth Universal “Mummy” installment was directed by Leslie Goodwins, who worked on the Lupe Velez–Leon Errol “Mexican Spitfire” series of comedies for RKO Radio Pictures from 1939-43.  Goodwins later directed several episodes of popular television series, including “Maverick,” “My Favorite Martian” and “Gilligan’s Island.”

This will mark Sven’s third showing of “The Mummy’s Curse” on Me-TV.  He had previously showcased the 1944 Universal “Mummy” feature in May 2012 and May 2013.

Who was in “The Mummy’s Curse” (1944)?

The players who appeared in “The Mummy’s Curse” were Lon Chaney, Jr. (as the “Mummy” Kharis), Peter Coe (as Dr. Ilzor Zandaab), Virginia Christine (as Princess Ananka), Kay Harding (as Betty Walsh), Dennis Moore (as Dr. James Halsey), Martin Kosleck (as Ragheb), Napoleon Simpson (as Goobie), Kurt Katch (as Cajun Joe), Addison Richards (as Pat Walsh), Holmes Herbert (as Dr. Cooper), Charles Stevens (as Achilles) and William Farnum (as Sacristan).

 

This would mark Lon Chaney Jr.’s final role as Kharis.  He previously played the title role in “The Mummy’s Tomb” (1942) and “The Mummy’s Ghost” (1944, which was released the same year as “The Mummy’s Curse”).  The fifth Universal “Mummy” film would also mark the final appearance of Kharis.

Two years later, Virginia Christine would play the role of the lady of the streets in the 1946 Universal horror thriller, “House of Horrors” with Rondo Hatton.  She would later play “Mrs. Olson” in commercials for Folger’s Coffee in the 1960’s.

“Flashback” sequences with two iconic cinematic personalities

According to the American Film Institute’s database entry on the fifth Universal “Mummy” film, several “flashback” sequences from “The Mummy” (1932) and “The Mummy’s Hand” (1940) were used in “The Mummy’s Curse.”   According to IMDB, the flashback sequences featured Boris Karloff (in his role of the “Mummy” Imhotep in the 1932 feature) and Tom Tyler (in his role of the “Mummy” Kharis in the 1940 feature).

Jack Pierce’s “Kharis” mask for Lon Chaney, Jr.

Kurt Katch and Lon Chaney, Jr. in “The Mummy’s Curse” (1944).

The “Mummy” mask that was designed by veteran Universal Studios make-up artist Jack Pierce (for the junior Chaney’s role of Kharis in “The Mummy’s Curse”) is one of the few surviving examples of Pierce’s Universal monster make-up designs.

The Pierce “Kharis” mask for Lon Chaney, Jr. was preserved by horror/sci-fi film historian Bob Burns, according to IMDB’s trivia section.  The mask is now on display at the Museum of Pop Culture (“MoPOP,” the former “Experience Music Project Museum”) in Seattle, Washington.

A “Mummy” publicity gimmick for “The Mummy’s Curse” from a movie theater

A “Kharis” dummy publicity gimmick for the (now-defunct) Peru Theater and their Halloween 1945 screening of “The Mummy’s Curse” (1944) in LaSalle, Illinois.

Produced and released by Universal Studios in late 1944, “The Mummy’s Curse” was also released to cinemas in 1945.  According to recent research on the Lantern Media History Archive, a Halloween “Mummy” display (featuring a Kharis dummy display) was constructed by Peru Theater publicist Jack Alger in LaSalle, Illinois.  The theater showcased the film in Oct. 1945.

Be sure to watch (or record) Svengoolie and wrap up with “The Mummy’s Curse” (1944), this Sat. on Me-TV!

Realart re-release lobby card still for the 1944 Universal Studios “Mummy” entry, “The Mummy’s Curse.”

Berwyn’s duo of the Me-TV airlanes!  Svengoolie (portrayed by Rich Koz) and Mr. Kerwyn!

With a cast of recognizable faces, Sven’s extended fun facts, Doug Graves’ musical interlude and Kerwyn’s “mail call,” and final on-screen appearance of Kharis, you won’t want to miss out on Sven’s showcase of “The Mummy’s Curse” this Sat. on Me-TV!  One of many iconic Universal monster thrillers of the silver screen (highly recommended)!

*Before Me-TV was available in the Washington area. -C.H.

Svengoolie presents: “The Mummy’s Curse” (1944)

Sat., Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV (part of “Super Sci-Fi Saturday Night”)

 

In the Frederick, Maryland/Washington, D.C. area: WTTG-5.3/Cable 196/Fios 489/Antietam Cable 194 (also on QAM digital 68.6 for Antietam cable subscribers)

 

In the Baltimore, Maryland area: WBAL-TV 11.2/Cable 208

 

In the Hanover/Gettysburg/York, Pennsylvania area: WGAL-TV 8.2/Cable 248

Have some fun with all fellow #Svengoolie SvenPals everywhere during Sven’s Sat. showing of “The Mummy’s Curse” (1944) on Me-TV (via Twitter)!

Svengoolie and comedian Dana Gould (of “Stan Against Evil” fame, from Sven’s May 2015 broadcast of “Man-Made Monster” on Me-TV, via Dave Fuentes’ “Terror From Beyond the Daves” YouTube channel).

Sven’s alter-ego, Rich Koz and his recent appearance on comedian Dana Gould’s “The Dana Gould Hour” podcast (the “Aging Disgracefully” episode is now available)!  Svengoolie’s alter-ego, Rich Koz recently made a guest appearance during Dana Gould’s recent touring stand-up comedy show with comedian Emma Arnold at Zanie’s Comedy Club in Rosemont, Illinois in Nov.!  Sven (his alter-ego, Rich)’s appearance with Dana and Emma begins at the 2:35:13 mark.  Note: Some parts of Dana Gould’s podcast may not be suitable for younger audiences, listener discretion is advised.

Dana Gould (as Kevin) and John C. McGinley (as Stan, from “Stan Against Evil”) also made a cameo appearance in Sven and Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon’s 2016 music video of “The Svengoolie Stomp” (the hit song/music video recently returned to the Me-TV airlanes during Sven’s showcase of “The Frozen Ghost” last Sat.)!

For Berwyn/Chicago viewers of Sven:

Svengoolie’s upcoming “Sventa Claus” meet and greet appearance at Dreamland Comics’ new location at Stratford Square in Bloomingdale, Illinois (Sat. Dec. 9 from 1-3 p.m. local time, 152 Stratford Dr, Bloomingdale, IL 60108)!

In relation to “The Mummy’s Curse” (1944):

“The Mummy’s Curse” (1944) is alao available on Universal’s “The Mummy: The Complete Legacy Collection 1932-55 (six film set) on Blu-Ray and DVD and is also available on digital download and on demand (from select providers/retailers).  The film is also available in Universal’s double-film “Mummy” DVD set with “The Mummy’s Ghost” (1944).

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Questions/comments about “Svengoolie” or “The Mummy’s Curse” (1944)?  Drop a line at the comments section!