Fellow Svengoolie SvenPals will be jumping for joy for his upcoming big broadcast premiere of a rare classic Columbia Pictures sci-fi thriller masterpiece.
“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast premiere of “The Man with Nine Lives” (1940)
The legendary Berywn/Chicago-based sci-fi/thriller classic film host will present his big broadcast premiere of “The Man with Nine Lives” (1940), this Sat.; June 20 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.
The 1940 rare Columbia classic sci-fi/thriller production was directed by veteran director Nick Grinde. The screenplay for Grinde production of “The Man with Nine Lives” (1940) was written by veteran screenwriter-cinematographer-electrician Karl Brown. Brown’s screenplay was based off of Harold Shumate’s original story idea. “The Man with Nine Lives” (1940) was produced by veteran producer Wallace MacDonald and veteran Columbia executive producer Irving Briskin.
Who was in “The Man with Nine Lives” (1940)?
The players who appeared in Nick Grinde 1940 Columbia classic sci-fi/thriller masterpiece production of “The Man with Nine Lives” were Boris Karloff (as Dr. Leon Kravaal), Jo Ann Sayers (as Judith Blair), Roger Pryor (as Dr. Tim Mason), Stanley Brown (as Bob Adams), Byron Foulger (as Dr. Bassett), John Dilson (as John Hawthorne), Charles Trowbridge (as Dr. Harvey), Ernie Adams (as Pete Dagett), Hal Taliaferro (as Sheriff Stanton) and Bruce Bennett (in an uncredited role as a state trooper).
That same year, horror/monster film legend Boris Karloff appeared in the role of Dr. Ernest Sovac with horror/monster film legend Bela Lugosi in Arthur Lubin’s classic Universal Studios horror-mystery masterpiece production of “Black Friday” (1940). Ann Sayers appeared in numerous stage and film productions throughout her acting career, including the role of Madeline Hammond in Lesley Selander’s Paramount western adaptation of Zane Grey’s “The Light of Western Stars” (1940).
Roger Pryor was dubbed as the “poor man’s Clark Gable” for his appearances in numerous Columbia “B” productions. He played the role of Jimmy Hudson in D. Ross Lederman’s Columbia mystery, “Case of the Missing Man” (1935). Bruce Bennett went onto greater fame for his role of Waco Hoyt in Zoltan Korda’s critically-acclaimed Columbia classic war drama masterpiece with Humphrey Bogart, “Sahara” (1943) and his role of Cody in John Huston’s critically-acclaimed Warner Bros. classic adventure drama masterpiece with Bogart, Walter Huston and Tim Holt, “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” (1948).
“The Man with Nine Lives” (1940): The second film in Columbia’s “Mad Doctor” series
According to Rob Nixon’s Turner Classic Movies online article on Nick Grinde’s Columbia production of “The Man with Nine Lives” (1940), this marked the second feature in the studio’s anthology of sci-fi thrillers with Boris Karloff, with the “Mad Doctor” nickname for the studio’s film series. Karloff’s other Columbia “Mad Doctor” appearances include “The Man They Could Not Hang” (1939, Karloff’s “Mad Doctor” debut; directed by Grinde), “Before I Hang” (1940, directed by Grinde) and “The Devil Commands” (1941, directed by Edward Dmytryk). Karloff played a different “Mad Doctor” character in each of the aforementioned Columbia productions.
Original working titles for Grinde’s 1940 Columbia production of “The Man with Nine Lives”
The original working titles for Grinde’s Columbia production of “The Man with Nine Lives” were “Behind the Door,” “The Man without a Face” and “The Man Who Would Not Die;” according to details from the American Film Institute. The working title of “Behind the Door” was used for the British theatrical release of the 1940 Grinde-Karloff-Columbia production, according to additional information form Rob Nixon’s TCM online article.
Jo Ann Sayers’ recollections of “The Man with Nine Lives” (1940)
According to Tom Weaver’s 2010 classic sci-fi feature film retrospective book, “A Sci-Fi Swarm and Horror Horde: Interviews with 62 Filmmakers;” Jo Ann Sayers mentioned that the “ice room” scenes for Boris Karloff’s characterization of Dr. Leon Kravaal in Grinde’s Columbia production of “The Man with Nine Lives” were filmed in an unknown ice house in Los Angeles, California. Additional scenes were filmed at Columbia’s Sunset-Gower studio complex in Hollywood (the former Columbia Sunset-Gower studio lot is now known as Hudson Pacific Properties’ Sunset-Gower lot, part of Hudson’s “Sunset Studios” portfolio of classic Hollywood studio lots/soundtstage facilities). Sayers also mentioned that Karloff ordered to stop filming for one kitchen scene, as he offered to instruct Sayers on the proper method of brewing/making tea.
“The Man with Nine Lives:” 1947 theatrical re-issue and 1958 syndicated television airing
Grinde’s 1940 Columbia-Karloff production of “The Man with Nine Lives” was re-issued to theaters from coast-to-coast in 1947 by independent distributor Favorite Films Corp., according to a 1947 Film Daily article. The rights to “The Man with Nine Lives” reverted back to Columbia eleven years after the Favorite Films theatrical reissue, beginning in 1958 for the studio’s television unit; Screen Gems and the firm’s “Son of Shock!” syndicated film package of select Columbia and pre-1948 Universal* monster/horror/mystery/sci-fi classic masterpieces; according to a 1958 article in Broadcasting (Broadcasting and Cable).
Be sure to watch/record Svengoolie’s big broadcast premiere of Boris Karloff in “The Man with Nine Lives” (1940), this Sat. on Me-TV!
With Boris Karloff, Jo Ann Sayers, Roger Pryor, Stanley Brown, Byron Foulger, John Dilson, Charles Trowbridge, Ernie Adams, Hal Taliaferro and Bruce Bennett, you will not want to miss out on Svengoolie’s big broadcast premiere of Nick Grinde’s classic Columbia “Mad Doctor” sci-fi/thriller masterpiece, “The Man with nine Lives” (1940); this Sat. on Me-TV! This will be also be a first glimpse at the classic 1940 Columbia-Karloff “Mad Doctor” entry for many of us fellow super SvenPals everywhere! Escape from anxiety and stress! Relax and have fun with Sven’s big broadcast of “The Man with Nine Lives” (1940) Sven’s extra fun facts, the musical stylings of Doug Graves, Kerwyn’s “home office” mail call segment, a Sven surprise and much, much more! A wonderful and perfect treat! You will not be disappointed! Highly recommended to all fellow super Svengoolie SvenPals and fellow classic sci-fi/thriller feature film enthusiasts everywhere!
*Note: Universal licensed the TV syndication rights of their pre-1948 features to rival studio Columbia’s Screen Gems unit in 1957, notably for the famous “Shock!” package of classic Universal monster masterpiece features for local stations. The TV rights to the classic Universal pre-1948 monster/horror/mystery/sci-fi features would revert back to Universal/MCA in the early 1970s. The pre-1948 Columbia monster/horror/sci-fi features would wind up in later Screen Gems/Columbia and Sony Pictures television film packages/contracts for local stations, along with cable and digital sub-channel networks. –C.H.
Svengoolie presents his big broadcast premiere of Boris Karloff in “The Man with Nine Lives” (1940)
Sat., June 20 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV (part of “Super Sci-Fi Sat. Night”)
Me-TV’s official coast-to-coast affiliation finder
In the Frederick, Maryland/Washington, D.C. area: WTTG-5.3/Cable 196/FiOS 489/Antietam Broadband 194 (also on QAM digital 68.6 for Antietam subscribers)
In the Baltimore, Maryland area: WBAL-TV 11.2/Cable 208/FiOS 460
In the Hanover/Gettysburg/York, Pennsylvania area: WGAL-TV 8.2/Cable 248/FiOS 460
Escape from stress and anxiety by joining in on the fun by and live-tweeting and relaxing with the entire crowd of fellow super SvenPals everywhere on the airlanes of Twitter during #Svengoolie’s big broadcast premiere of Boris Karloff in “The Man with Nine Lives” (1940), this Sat. on the airlanes Me-TV!
To all fellow super Svengoolie SvenPals/fellow readers/fellow subscribers of “Silver Screen Reflections” everywhere: Please be safe, courteous, kind and respectful to each other. Put love in your heart. Let’s all look to uplifting/positive enlightenment, wisdom, and encouragement from Svengoolie, all fellow super Svengoolie SvenPals everywhere, all fellow super Mystery Science Theater 3000 MSTies everywhere and all fellow classic film/television aficinados everywhere. And again, to all fellow super Svengoolie SvenPals everywhere; safety first, take all precautions seriously, use a sleeve/tissue when coughing/sneezing, wear a face mask/appropriate face covering, avoid touching your face, practice social distancing measures, wash your hands for approximately 20 sec., stay home, keep healthy and stay well. Again, let’s all take preventative measures/steps by being safe, keeping healthy and staying well- And again, we fellow super SvenPals highly recommend watching Kerwyn’s informative coronavirus/COVID-19 prevention public service announcement! Escape from anxiety, chaos and stress by having fun and relaxing with Sven and his Sat. evening big broadcasts of classic monster/creature, horror and sci-fi feature film masterpieces on the airlanes of Me-TV! Join in on the fun with all fellow super SvenPals everywhere by live-tweeting through the Twitter airlanes during Sven’s Sat. evening big broadcasts! Again, safety first, keep healthy and stay well, Sven/Mr. Rich Koz, the entire Sven/Me-TV production team & the entire crowd of fellow super SvenPals of Svengoolie everywhere! And again, to quote Svengoolie’s executive producer, Jim Roche: “#KeepCalmAndWatchSven!” –C.H.
June 16, 2020: Happy 41st ‘Svenaversary”anniversary in commemoration of (Son of) Svengoolie’s debut big broadcast on the Berwyn/Chicago TV airlanes/to Sven/Rich Koz and all fellow super Svengoolie SvenPals!
The opening to (Son of) Svengoolie/Rich Koz’s June 1979 Berwyn/Chicago debut TV big broadcast on the airlanes of WFLD-TV, with an introduction by the senior Sven (from 1970-73); Jerry G. Bishop! Note how Sven’s coffin still had the illustration of the senior Sven!
Extra! Extra! Extra! June 16, 1979: On the Berwyn/Chicago, Illinois television airlanes; the “Son of” Svengoolie/Rich Koz made his big broadcast debut on WFLD-TV/32 with an opening narration by the senior Sven/radio disc jockey and television personality Jerry G. Bishop (Bishop portrayed the senior “Svengoolie” on WFLD’s “Screaming Yellow Theater” horror film showcase from 1970-73)! Since Me-TV (sister station Berwyn/Chicago’s WCIU, Sven’s hometown station since 1995) came into my neck of the woods in early 2013, I have been watching Sven’s Sat. evening big broadcasts of classic monster/creature, horror, thriller, mystery and sci-fi feature film masterpieces! And since creating “Silver Screen Reflections” with my weekly Sven film blog posts and joining the Twitter airlanes (both in Sept. 2015), I have connected with many fellow super SvenPals from coast-to-coast through live-tweeting Sven’s Sat. big broadcasts of classic monster/creature, mystery, horror and sci-fi film masterpieces, cameo appearance of fellow super SvenPals on Kerwyn’s “mail call” and much, much more! A wonderful crowd of fellow super SvenPals/classic monster-creature-horror-mystery-sci-fi feature film aficionados everywhere!
In connection to today (June 16, as of this writing), fellow super Svengoolie SvenPals from coast-to-coast have celebrated Sven/Rich Koz’s 41st “Svenaversary” anniversary in the Berwyn/Chicago big broadcast television airlanes through the airlanes of Twitter! Fellow super Svengoolie SvenPals from coast-to-coast have showcased their Sven celebrations and classic Sven memories, along with photos, Sven art, animated .gifs, YouTube links to Sven’s past sketches/fun facts/songs with Doug Graves, segments with Kerwyn, Zalman T. Tombstone and much, much more! And kudos to fellow Svengoolie super SvenPal Sarah Rhodes for reminding us fellow super SvenPals about Sven’s 41st “Svenaversary” anniversary celebration by encouraging us to use the “#Svenaversary” tag in our Sven 41st anniversary posts on the airlanes of Twitter! And again, Sarah’s Sven 41st anniversary celebration for the entire crowd of fellow super SvenPals on the airlanes of Twitter was inspired by a conversation/compliment on in connection to the then-upcoming 41st anniversary of Rich Koz’s (Son of) Svengoolie character that we fellow super SvenPals had with fellow super Svengoolie SvenPal Nanette Keir, in connection to a tweet message featuring one of Nanette’s Sven 40th anniversary tees with Kerwyn!
A toast to the entire crowd of fellow super Svengoolie SvenPals everywhere! Happy 41st anniversary to Svengoolie/Rich Koz, along with Doug Graves/Doug Scharf, Kerwyn, Zalman T. Tombstone) and to the entire crowd of fellow super Svengoolie SvenPals from coast-to-coast! Keep up the wonderful and excellent work! We’re all proud of you! Congratulations, kudos, three cheers and two thumbs up, safety first, stay well, keep healthy, peace and “Hi-Keeba” to Sven/Rich and the entire crowd of fellow super SvenPals everywhere! Congratulations to Sarah, Nanette and the entire crowd of fellow super Svengoolie SvenPals everywhere for spreading the word and reminding all of us fellow super SvenPals on the airlanes of Twitter about Sven/Rich Koz’s 41st anniversary celebration and to use the “#Svenaversary” tag in our posts! Kudos, three cheers, two thumbs up, safety first, stay well, keep healthy, peace & “Hi-Keeba!” We’re all proud of you! Keep up the wonderful and excellent work! A toast to Sven/Rich, Doug, Kerwyn, Tombstone, Sarah, Nanette and the entire crowd of fellow super Svengoolie SvenPals everywhere! We’re all jumping for joy!–C.H.
From Berwyn to your home! Download Svengoolie’s famous Me-TV dungeon “studio set” background (featuring Body Sorrell) for your favorite videoconferencing platform, as part of Me-TV’s variety of classic TV show backgrounds for online videoconferencing!
Extra! Extra! Extra! Cameo mentions of fellow super Svengoolie SvenPals!
https://twitter.com/DoctorRhodes/status/1271979749418688512
https://twitter.com/DoctorRhodes/status/1271993685236830209
Extra! Extra! Extra! (At the 0:51 and 1:03 marks): Fellow super Svengoolie SvenPals everywhere jumped for joy when they recognized two Sven photo-art collages created by two of our fellow super SvenPals that was showcased in Kerwyn’s at-home “mail call” during Sven’s big June 13, 2020 broadcast of Terence Fisher’s classic Hammer-Universal horror masterpiece, “The Curse of the Werewolf” (1961); which were created as collaborations as a mix of photography and art by three of our fellow super SvenPals! In order of appearance, fellow Svengoolie super SvenPal Nanette Keir had her cicada Sven photo-art collage on Kerwyn’s home office “mail call,” utilizing the famed Sven “It Came from Berwyn!” tee/poster design with an enlarged cicada photo cut-out element in place of the giant rubber chicken! Fellow Svengoolie super SvenPal Sarah Rhodes had her cicada Sven photo art collage on Kerwyn’s home office “mail call,” utilizing an element from Sven’s classic WCIU/”The U” “It Came From Berwyn” tee commercial via fellow super Svengoolie SvenPal David Fuentes; with a close-up still of the giant rubber chicken munching on an enlarged cicada photo cut-out element! Sarah and Nanette mentioned that the cicada photo elements were supplied by fellow Svengoolie super SvenPal Brian Bernardoni, his cicada photos inspired Nanette and Sarah to create their Sven-cicada art collages (in connection to Berwyn/Chicago’s recent early emergence of the 17-year cicada insects)!
Congratulations to Nanette, Sarah and Brian on their Sven “It Came From Berwyn”/giant Rubber chicken cicada-photo-art collage designs being showcased on Kerwyn’s “home office” mail call segment during Sven’s big June 13 Me-TV broadcast of “The Curse of the Werewolf” (1961)! We fellow super SvenPals are all jumping for joy and we’re all proud of you! Keep up the wonderful and excellent work, Nanette, Sarah, Brian and all fellow super SvenPals everywhere! A toast to Nanette, Sarah and Brian from all of us fellow super SvenPals! Safety first, stay well, keep healthy, three cheers two thumbs up, kudos, peace, kudos, peace & “Hi-Keeba” from all of us fellow super SvenPals, Nanette, Sarah and Brian! –C.H.
Extra! Extra! Extra! Fellow super Svengoolie SvenPals everywhere jumped for joy when one of our fellow super SvenPals announced her upcoming role of a legendary pioneering monster/creature/horror/sci-fi film host in a live online broadcast reading of a stage play adaptation of a cult classic horror/sci-fi feature! Fellow Svengoolie super SvenPal Jamie Lee announced that she will be playing the role of Maila “Vampira” Nurmi in John Haderlein’s Online Kovid Theatre adaptation of Ed Wood’s cult horror/sci-fi classic masterpiece, “Plan 9 from Outer Space” (1959)! Jamie and the Online Kovid players’ online reading of “Plan 9 from Outer Space” will be broadcast live on the airlanes of Facebook live on Sat., June 27 at 8 p.m. Central/9 p.m. Eastern! A pre-recorded YouTube edition of Online Kovid’s adaptation of “Plan 9 From Outer Space” will be available after the live broadcast! Stay tuned to Jamie’s official Twitter site for additional details!
Update: If any fellow super SvenPals, fellow super jammers and fellow classic/cult horror/monster/creature/sci-fi film and fellow performing arts enthusiasts are on the airlanes of Facebook, be sure to invite fellow super SvenPals, fellow super jammers and fellow classic-cult horror/monster-creature/sci-fi film and performing arts enthusiasts to see Jamie and the Online Kovid players’ troupe Facebook live reading broadcast adaptation of Ed Wood’s “Plan 9 from Outer Space” before the 27th via Facebook’s event invitation platform!
Congratulations, Jamie and the entire Online Kovid players troupe from all of us fellow super Svengoolie SvenPals, fellow “Jammin’ with Jamie” jammers everywhere and fellow cult classic horror/sci-fi film aficionados everywhere on landing the role of Vampira in the upcoming Online Kovid broadcast reading stage play adaptation of Ed Wood’s “Plan 9 From Outer Space” and your role of Embra in Byot Productions’ “BYOTag” sketch comedy series! We fellow super SvenPals, fellow super jammers and fellow classic horror/sci-fi film aficionados are all jumping for joy and we’re all proud of you! Keep up the wonderful and excellent work, Jamie and the entire Online Kovid players and the entire Byot Productions troupes! A toast to Jamie, the Online Kovid players and the Byot Productions players from all of us fellow super SvenPals! Safety first, stay well, keep healthy, three cheers two thumbs up, kudos, peace, kudos, peace & “Hi-Keeba” from all of us fellow super SvenPals, fellow super jammers and fellow classic horror/sci-fi film aficionados everywhere, Jamie and the Online Kovid players! –C.H.
Extra! Extra! Extra! Fellow super Svengoolie SvenPal Jamie Lee’s archival/pre-recorded editions of “Jammin’ with Jamie” are playing in rotation on the airlanes of Northwestern University Radio/WNUR-FM 89.3/FM 89.3-HD1 in the greater Berwyn/Chicago listening area, WNUR.org and the TuneIn platform from coast-to-coast, around the world and throughout the universe! Again, stay tuned to Jamie’s official Twitter site and/or Jamie’s official website for updates and additional information in connection to “Jammin’ with Jamie!” Again, fellow super Svengoolie SvenPals/fellow super jammers can also listen to archival/pre-recorded editions of Jamie’s past “Jammin’ with Jamie” programs (2016-present), additional details/information can be found via Jamie’s official Twitter site and/or official website! And again, be sure to help out one of Jamie’s friends by donating/spreading the word to help offset costly medical costs! –C.H.
In connection to “The Man with Nine Lives” (1940):
“The Man with Nine Lives” (1940) is also available on DVD in the anthology set of Boris Karloff’s classic Columbia thriller masterpieces (including the “Mad Doctor” features), “Boris Karloff Collection: 6 Films” from Mill Creek Entertainment (by arrangement with Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc./Sony Pictures Entertainment/Sony Pictures Home Entertainment). The Nick Grinde-Boris Karloff 1940 Columbia classic thriller masterpiece is also available as a standalone DVD release from Sony. “The Man With Nine Lives” (1940) is also available for streaming from Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures Entertainment through participating streaming/video-on-demand service providers.
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