“Svengoolie” to present his big broadcast of “House of Frankenstein” (1944) with Glenn Strange and Boris Karloff, this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie Super SvenPals everywhere will be dancing for joy for a classic mammoth Universal Studios monster masterpiece with several horror and monster silver screen legends.

“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast of “House of Frankenstein” (1944) with Glenn Strange, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr. and John Carradine

A snippet from Erle C. Kenton‘s classic mammoth Universal Studios monster masterpiece production of “House of Frankenstein” (1944), featuring Glenn Strange, Boris Karloff and Lon Chaney Jr.

“All together- History’s weirdest household!” Latter Realart theatrical re-issue poster art for Erle C. Kenton’s classic mammoth Universal Studios monster masterpiece production of “House of Frankenstein.”

The legendary and iconic Berwyn/Chicago-based monster/horror film host will present his big broadcast of “House of Frankenstein” (1944), this Sat.; May 11 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

The classic mammoth 1944 Universal monster masterpiece production was directed by veteran actor-turned-director Erle C. Kenton. Kenton was part of pioneering silent feature film comedian-actor-producer Mack Sennett’s original pioneering “Keystone Kops” silent comedy players troupe for Sennett’s Keystone Film Company before going into the field of directing films; according to IMDB.

Kenton also directed the classic mammoth Paramount Pictures supernatural/sci-fi screen masterpiece adaptation of H.G. Wells’ “Island of Lost Souls” (1932) with Charles Laughton, horror feature film legend Bela Lugosi, Leila Hyams, Kathleen “Panther Woman” Burke, Richard Arlen and young Alan Ladd.

Kenton also worked on the classic mammoth Universal “Frankenstein” monster masterpiece installment of “The Ghost of Frankenstein” (1942) with  Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi, Evelyn Ankers, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Ralph Bellamy and  Dwight Frye; his classic mammoth Universal comedy masterpiece with  Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, including “Who Done It?” (1942) with Louise Allbritton, Patric Knowles, Mary Wickes, Don Porter and William Bendix and “Pardon My Sarong” (1942) with Charles Fuqua, Hoppy Jones, Bill Kenny and Deek Watson of the legendary jazz vocal singing group The Four Ink Spots; Virginia Bruce, Lionel Atwill, William Demarest (who later appeared on TV’s “My Three Sons/Ernie ‘Binge the Cringe’” from 1965-72), Leif Erickson and Herb Vigran and his classic mammoth Universal thriller masterpiece production of “The Cat Creeps” (1946) with Noah Beery Jr., Lois Collier, Paul Kelly and Douglass Dumbrille.

The original story idea/treatment for Kenton’s classic mammoth Universal monster masterpiece production of “House of Frankenstein” (1944) was written by veteran science fiction author and screenwriter Curt Siodmak; who also wrote the screenplay for George Waggner‘s classic mammoth Universal monster masterpiece production of “The Wolf Man” (1941) with Lon Chaney Jr., Evelyn Ankers,  Claude Rains, Bela Lugosi, Maria Ouspenskaya, Ralph Bellamy, Warren William and Patric Knowles.  Siodmak’s other script/story and screenplay treatments include “The Invisible Man Returns” (1940), “The Invisible Woman” (1940), “Invisible Agent” (1942), “Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man” (1943), “Son of Dracula” (1943), “The Beast with Five Fingers” (1946, for competing studio Warner Bros.) and the Universal production of  “Curucu, Beast of the Amazon” (1956).

Siodmak’s original story treatment/idea for “House of Frankenstein” (1944) was adapted into a screenplay by veteran screenwriter Edward T. Lowe Jr., who also co-wrote the screenplay adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “Sherlock Holmes” mystery novel of  “The Dancing Men” with veteran screenwriters Scott Darling and Edmund L. Hartmann for Roy William Neill’s classic mammoth Universal “Sherlock Holmes” mystery masterpiece adaptation production of “Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon” (1942) with Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Kaaren Verne, Holmes Herbert, Whit Bissell and Lionel Atwill.  The junior Lowe also wrote the screenplay for Kenton’s classic mammoth Universal monster masterpiece production of “House of Dracula” (1945).  “House of Frankenstein” (1944) was produced by veteran producer Paul Malvern.

This will mark Sven’s ninth big broadcast of “House of Frankenstein” (1944) on the airlanes Me-TV.  He previously showcased Kenton’s classic mammoth 1944 Universal monster masterpiece production as a big coast-to-coast Me-TV broadcast premiere back in Jan. 2012* and as regular big broadcasts back in Dec. 2012*, Nov. 2013, April 2014, Dec. 2015, Jan. 2017, Aug. 2018 and Oct. 2021 as part of Sven’s Oct. 2021 “Franken-Fest” month-long big broadcast showcases of classic mammoth Frankenstein/Frankenstein-themed feature film masterpieces.

In Sven’s Berwyn/Chicago “Son of Svengoolie” days, he previously showcased Erle C. Kenton’s classic mammoth 1944 Universal monster masterpiece production of “House of Frankenstein” as a Berwyn/Chicago, Illinois “Son of Sven” big broadcast premiere back on WFLD/32 in 1981; according to video footage that was unearthed by Berwyn/Chicago television archivist Rick Klein’s FuzzyMemoriesTV: The Museum of Classic Chicago Television via the Internet Archive.

Son of Sven/Rich Koz/Sven later showcased “House of Frankenstein” (1944) as a regular Berwyn/Chicago “Son of Sven” big broadcast on WFLD back in July 1984 (during the station’s Metromedia era), according to IMDB.

Sven/Rich Koz later showcased the classic mammoth 1944 Erle Kenton-Universal monster masterpiece production as a big broadcast on his hometown TV station in Berwyn/Chicago, WCIU-TV 26 back in Dec. 2007; according to IMDB.

Who was in Erle C. Kenton’s classic mammoth Universal monster masterpiece production of “House of Frankenstein” (1944)?

The players who appeared in Erle C. Kenton’s classic mammoth Universal monster masterpiece production of “House of Frankenstein” (1944) were Glenn Strange (as Frankenstein’s monster), Boris Karloff (as Dr. Gustav Niemann), Lon Chaney Jr. (as Larry “Wolf Man” Talbot), John Carradine (as Count Dracula, a.k.a. Baron Latos), Anne Gwynne (as Rita Hussman), J. Carrol Naish (as Daniel), Peter Coe (as Carl Hussman), Sig Ruman (as Hussman), Lionel Atwill (as Inspector Arnz), George Zucco (as Prof. Bruno Lampini), Elena Verdugo (as Ilonka), William Edmunds (as Fejos), Charles Miller (as Burgomeister Toberman), Philip Van Zandt (as Inspector Muller), Julius Tannen (as Hertz), Hans Herbert (as Meier), Dick Dickinson (as Borg), George Lynn (as Inspector Gerlach), Michael Mark (as Frederick Strauss), Olaf Hytten (as Hoffman), Frank Reicher (as Ullman) and Brandon Hurst (as Dr. Geissler).

**This week’s “Silver Screen Reflections” will be delayed to Thurs. evening, May 9**

Update (5/8/2024): Due to a mix of internet and computer hiccups, this week’s “Silver Screen Reflections” on Svengoolie’s upcoming big broadcast of the classic mammoth Universal monster masterpiece production of “House of Frankenstein” (1944) will be delayed to the Thurs. evening, May 9, 2024 airlanes.  Be on the lookout.  And again, I thank all my fellow wonderful legendary friends/Super SvenPals/Super Tooners/Super readers of “Silver Screen Reflections” everywhere for their patience. -C.H.

“Svengoolie” presents his big premiere of “The Land that Time Forgot” (1974/75), this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie Super SvenPals everywhere will be dancing and jumping for joy for his upcoming big broadcast premiere of a classic mammoth American-International fantasy/adventure adaptation masterpiece.

“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast premiere of “The Land that Time Forgot” (1974/75)

Original 1974/75 American-International Pictures theatrical release trailer for Kevin Connor*’s fantasy-adventure adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs‘ “The Land that Time Forgot” with Doug McClure, Susan Penhaligon and John McEnery.

“The adventure you will never forget!” Original 1974/75 American-International Pictures theatrical poster art for “The Land that Time Forgot.”

The legendary and iconic Berwyn/Chicago-based classic mammoth fantasy-adventure feature masterpiece host will present his big broadcast premiere of “The Land that Time Forgot” (1974/75), this Sat., May 4 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

The classic mammoth 1974/75 American-International fantasy/adventure masterpiece adaptation of “The Land that Time Forgot” was directed by veteran feature film and TV director Kevin Connor*.  Before he directed his 1974/75 adaptation of “The Land that Time Forgot,” Connor previously directed the classic mammoth Amicus/Warner Bros. horror-thriller anthology masterpiece production of “From Beyond the Grave” (produced in 1974, released in 1975) with British horror legend Peter Cushing, Diana Dors, Donald Pleasence, Ian Carmichael, Ian Bannen, Nyree Dawn Porter, David Warner, Ian Ogilvy, Lesley-Anne Down, Angela Pleasence and Jack Watson.  Connor also directed two episodes of Gerry & Sylvia Anderson’s classic mammoth ITC sci-fi masterpiece series, “Space: 1999” (Connor directed episodes in 1976) with Martin Landau and Barbara Bain.

He later directed the cult classic mammoth United Artists horror-thriller masterpiece production of “Motel Hell” (1980) with Rory Calhoun, Paul Linke, Nancy Parsons, Nina Axelrod, legendary radio disc jockey Wolfman Jack, Elaine Joyce and Dick Curtis and the CBS television modern made-for-TV mystery movie inspired by the novel in Arthur Conan Doyle’s “Sherlock Holmes” mystery novel series, “The Return of Sherlock Holmes” (1987) with Michael Pennington, Margaret Colin, Lila Kaye and Connie Booth (of 1971’s “Monty Python’s And Now For Something Completely Different” fame, 1975’s “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” fame and of TV’s “Fawlty Towers” fame, all with her real-life husband at the time, John Cleese).  Connor also directed two episodes of the brief Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) war drama TV series adaptation of the 1967 classic mammoth MGM war drama feature film masterpiece production of the same name, “The Dirty Dozen” (1988); the brief 1988 series adaptation featured Ben Murphy (of TV’s “Alias: Smith and Jones” fame), John Bradley, John D’Aquino, Mike Jolly, Frank Marth, John Slattery and Jon Tenney.   He also directed the NBC made-for-TV movie production on the screen career of Elizabeth Taylor, “Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story” (1995) with Sherilyn Fenn, Nigel Havers, Katherine Helmond (of TV’s “Soap” fame), Angus Macfadyen, Kevin McCarthy (of 1956’s “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” fame) and William McNamara.

Connor later directed two episodes of the modern classic made-for-cable monster-horror masterpiece miniseries adaptation of Mary Shelley‘s “Frankenstein” (2004) with Luke Goss, Alec Newman, Nicole Lewis, Donald Sutherland, William Hurt. Jean Rochefort Mark Jax, Julie Delpy and Daniel Williams and the modern classic made-for-cable mystery movie masterpiece productions of the revival of “McCloud” (2005’s “Murder Past Midnight,” “The Chameleon Murder” and “It’s Murder, Madam“) with John Larroquette (of TV’s “Baa, Baa Black Sheep/Black Sheep Squadron” fame, of 1981’s “Stripes” fame, of TV’s “Night Court” fame- including both the original 1983-92 NBC/Warner Bros. series and the recent 2023-present NBC/Warner Bros. revival series and of TV’s “The John Larroquette Show” fame), Marta DuBois and Matt Lutz.

Adapted from author Edgar Rice Burroughs (of “Tarzan” fame)’s 1918 novel of the same name, the screenplay adaptation for Connor’s classic mammoth American-International fantasy masterpiece adaptation of “The Land that Time Forgot” (1974/75) was written by James Cawthorn and veteran author/songwriter/screenwriter Michael Moorcock.     The American-International adaptation of “The Land that Time Forgot” (1974/75) marked James Cawthorn’s only screenwriting credit.  Of interest to fellow Super Tooners/Super SvenPals of Toony & Bill’s “Toon In With Me,” Moorcock later wrote an original song for the legendary rock group Blue Öyster Cult, titled “Veteran of the Psychic Wars” that was featured in Gerald Potterton‘s classic mammoth Columbia Pictures animated rock masterpiece production of “Heavy Metal” (1981) featuring the vocal stylings of Don Francks, Richard Romanus, Susan Roman, Al Waxman, Harvey Atkin, Marilyn Lightstone, Jackie Burroughs, SCTV legends John Candy, Joe Flaherty, Eugene Levy and Harold Ramis and John Vernon (of 1978’s “National Lampoon’s Animal House” fame and of 1988’s “Killer Klowns from Outer Space” fame).

James H. Nicholson and Samuel Z. Arkoff, ca. 1960s.

Kevin Connor’s classic mammoth fantasy/adventure masterpiece adaptation of “The Land that Time Forgot” (1974/75) was produced and released by American-International Pictures. The independent distribution-production-releasing firm was established by Samuel Z. Arkoff and James H. Nicholson in 1954 as the American Releasing Corporation; according to the Samuel Z. Arkoff papers collection/archives housed at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California.   American-International was later acquired by Filmways in 1979, which was later acquired by Orion Pictures in 1982.  Orion, along with the majority of the American-International/Filmways holdings was later sold to the present incarnation of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in 1997.  Inspired by MGM’s revival of the “Orion Pictures” moniker for modern feature film releases & modern syndicated TV programs in recent years, the current incarnation of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) also revived the “American-International Pictures” moniker.

Arkoff co-produced the 1974/75 production with veteran producers Stan Atkins, John Dark, Robert H. Greenberg, Max Rosenberg and Milton Subotsky.

John Dark previously worked on the classic mammoth Ray Harryhausen–Don Chaffey–Charles H. Schneer–Columbia Pictures Dynamation adventure-fantasy stop-motion masterpiece, “Jason and the Argonauts” (1963).  Dark, Greenberg, Rosenberg and Subotsky were mostly known for their involvement with British-based production company Amicus Productions, a company that was established by Subotsky and Rosenberg in 1962 that specialized in sci-fi and horror feature film productions to compete with Britain’s Hammer Films; according to the British Film Institute.  Rosenberg and Subotsky’s Amicus co-produced the two classic mammoth British Lion sci-fi/thriller feature-length “Doctor Who” masterpiece adaptation productions with British horror legend Peter Cushing in the feature title role of the Doctor, “Dr. Who and the Daleks” (1965) and “Daleks’ Invasion Earth: 2150, A.D.” (1966). The two Cushing-Flemying-Amicus-British Lion “Doctor Who” feature productions were inspired by the classic mammoth BBC television sci-fi masterpiece series, “Doctor Who”).  Fun Fact: Cushing’s feature “Doctor Who” screen portrayals were billed as “Dr. Who” instead the full “Doctor” title- perhaps to differentiate itself from the aforementioned BBC “Doctor Who” TV series.  In the United States, the two Amicus/British Lion “Dr. Who” feature film productions were released in the United States through the Continental Releasing subsidiary of New York/New Jersey-based theater group and film/TV distribution firm Walter Reade-Sterling/the Walter Reade Organization. -C.H.

Dark, Greenberg, Rosenberg and Subotsky’s Amicus produced Paul Annett’s classic mammoth horror-monster-mystery masterpiece production of “The Beast Must Die” (1974, released via Cinerama Releasing in the United States) with Calvin Lockhart, Peter Cushing, Marlene Clark, Charles Gray, Anton Diffring, Ciaran Madden, Tom Chadbon, Michael Gambon, Sam Mansary, Andrew Lodge, Carl Bohen, Eric Carte, plus the vocal stylings of Annie Ross and Valentine Dyall.  For “The Land that Time Forgot” (1974/75), it was a co-production between Arkoff’s American-International and Dark, Greenberg, Rosenberg and Subotsky’s Amicus; according to IMDB.

Who was in “The Land that Time Forgot” (1974/75)?

The players who appeared in Connor’s classic mammoth American-International/Amicus fantasy-adventure masterpiece adaptation of “The Land that Time Forgot” (1974/75) were Doug McClure (as Bowen Tyler), Susan Penhaligon (as Lisa Clayton), John McEnery (as Capt. Von Schoenvorts), Keith Barron (as Bradley), Anthony Ainley (as Dietz), Godfrey James (as Borg), Bobby Parr (as Ahm), Declan Mulholland (as Olson), Colin “Col” Farrell (as Whiteley), Brian Hall (as Schwartz), Ben Howard (as Benson), Roy Holder (as Plesser), Andrew McCulloch (as Sinclair), Ron Pember (as Jones), Grahame Mallard (as Deusett), Andrew Lodge (as Reuther), Stanley McGeagh (as Hiller), Peter Sproule (as Hindle) and Steve James (as a Hatchet Man).

**This week’s “Silver Screen Reflections” is cancelled**

**To all my fellow wonderful legendary friends/Super SvenPals/Super Tooners/Super readers/suscribers of “Silver Screen Reflections:”** I have decided to cancel this week’s edition of “Silver Screen Reflections.”

In connection to Svengoolie‘s upcoming big broadcast of Dan Curtis‘ classic mammoth ABC made-for-TV thriller movie masterpiece production “Trilogy of Terror” (1975) with  Karen Black , Robert Burton, John Karlen, George Gaynes, Jim Storm, Kathryn Reynolds, Orin Cannon, Gregory Harrison, Tracy Curtis and the vocal stylings of Walker Edmiston this upcoming Sat., April 27 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV, please enjoy these classic “Silver Screen Reflections” articles on Sven’s past Me-TV big broadcasts of Curtis’ classic mammoth ABC made-for-TV thriller movie masterpiece production of “Trilogy of Terror” (1975) from Oct. 2022, Sept. 2023 and Oct. 2023.

My weekly “Silver Screen Reflections” Sven classic film blog will continue in its regular format next week.  Again, I thank you all for your patience.  -Peace/Take Care & All the Best, Chris Hamby

“Svengoolie” to present his big broadcast of “The Wolf Man” (1941) with Lon Chaney Jr., this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie Super SvenPals everywhere will be jumping for joy for his upcoming big broadcast of a classic mammoth Universal Studios werewolf monster masterpiece.

“Svengoolie” to present his big broadcast of “The Wolf Man” (1941) with Lon Chaney Jr.

“Night Monster! Prowling! Killing! Terrifying!” Latter 1948 Realart/Film Classics theatrical re-issue poster for George Waggner’s classic mammoth Universal monster masterpiece production of “The Wolf Man” (1941) with Lon Chaney Jr. and Evelyn Ankers.

The legendary and iconic Berwyn/Chicago-based classic mammoth monster feature film masterpiece host will present his big broadcast of “The Wolf Man” (1941), this Sat., April 20 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

The classic mammoth 1941 Universal werewolf monster-thriller feature masterpiece was directed by veteran director George Waggner.  Alongside his numerous feature film and television productions throughout his film and television career, Waggner also worked on numerous episodes of the classic mammoth Twentieth Century Fox (Twentieth Century Studios)/ABC television live-action “Batman” TV series adaptation of the DC Comics superhero with Adam West and Burt Ward (Waggner directed numerous episodes of the series from 1966-67).

The screenplay for Waggner’s classic mammoth Universal monster-werewolf masterpiece production of “The Wolf Man” (1941) was written by veteran science-fiction author and screenwriter Curt Siodmak, who also worked on screenplays for numerous classic mammoth Universal monster/thriller/sci-fi masterpiece productions throughout his screenwriting career, including “The Invisible Man Returns” (1940), “The Invisible Woman” (1940), “Invisible Agent” (1942), “Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man” (1943), “Son of Dracula” (1943), “House of Frankenstein” (1944) and “Curucu, Beast of the Amazon” (1956).

Outside of his classic mammoth Universal feature film screenplays, Curt Siodmak also worked on the screenplay for Robert Florey’s classic mammoth Warner Bros. horror-mystery masterpiece, “The Beast with Five Fingers” (1946) with Peter Lorre, Andrea King, Robert Alda, Victor Aller, J. Carrol Naish, Patricia Barry, Pedro de Cordoba and William Edmunds.  Siodmak’s brother, Robert Siodmak was a feature film director, who was best-known for his classic mammoth Universal feature film masterpiece productions of  “Son of Dracula” (1943) with Lon Chaney Jr., Louise Allbritton, Robert Paige, Evelyn Ankers, Frank Craven, Etta McDaniel and George Irving and Ernest Hemmingway’s “The Killers” (1946) with Burt Lancaster, Ava Gardner, Albert Dekker (of 1940’s “Dr. Cyclops” fame), William Conrad (in his pre-“Cannon” days) and Virginia Christine (who later rose to greater fame for her role of “Mrs. Olson” in numerous television commercials for Folgers Coffee).

This will mark Sven’s tenth big broadcast of “The Wolf Man” (1941) on the airlanes of Me-TV.  He previously showcased Waggner’s classic mammoth 1941 Universal werewolf monster masterpiece production on the airlanes of Me-TV back in Feb. 2013 as a coast-to-coast big broadcast premiere and as regular big broadcasts back in July 2013, Oct. 2014, Feb. 2016,  Sept. 2017,  Aug. 2018, Dec. 2019, July 2020 and April 2022.

In Son of Sven/Sven/Rich Koz’s home area of Berwyn/Chicago, Illinois; he previously showcased Waggner’s classic mammoth Universal werewolf masterpiece production of “The Wolf Man” (1941) as a Berwyn/Chicago big broadcast premiere during his days as the “Son of Svengoolie” on WFLD/32 as a “Son of Sven” big broadcast premiere back in Oct. 1979 and as regular “Son of Sven” Berwyn/Chicago big broadcasts back in Nov. 1980 and Nov. 1983.   On Svengoolie/Rich’s hometown TV station in Berwyn/Chicago, WCIU-TV 26; he previously showcased “The Wolf Man” (1941) as a Berwyn/Chicago big broadcast back in Jan. 2008, according to IMDB.

Who was in George Waggner’s classic mammoth Universal monster masterpiece production of “The Wolf Man” (1941)?

The players who appeared in George Waggner’s classic mammoth 1941 Universal monster-werewolf masterpiece production of “The Wolf Man” were Lon Chaney Jr. (credited as “Lon Chaney” in the dual role of Lawrence “Larry” Talbot/the “Wolf Man”), Evelyn Ankers (as Gwen Conliffe), Claude Rains (as Sir John Talbot), Bela Lugosi (as Bela), Maria Ouspenskaya (as Maleva), Ralph Bellamy (as Col. Montford), Fay Helm (as Jenny),  Warren William (as Dr. Lloyd),  Patric Knowles (as Frank Andrews), Forrester Harvey (as Twiddle) and J.M. Kerrigan (as Charles Conliffe).

“Svengoolie” to present his big broadcast of “Island of Terror” (1966) with Peter Cushing, this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie Super SvenPals everywhere will be dancing and jumping for joy for his upcoming big broadcast of a classic mammoth sci-fi/creature masterpiece that was released theatrically by Universal Studios.

“Svengoolie” to present his big broadcast of “Island of Terror” (1966) with Peter Cushing

A snippet from Terence Fisher’s classic mammoth sci-fi/creature masterpiece production of “Island of Terror” (1966) with Peter Cushing, produced by Planet Film Distributors in Britain, released one year later throughout North America by Universal Studios; sourced from Universal’s High-Definition restoration of Fisher’s 1966 production for the Shout! Factory (Shout! Studios)/Scream Factory Blu-Ray edition.

“Unstoppable beasts crave human bone!” 1990s MCA/Universal (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment) VHS cover art for Terence Fisher’s 1966 production of “Island of Terror.”

The legendary and iconic Berwyn/Chicago-based sci-fi/creature feature film masterpiece host will present his big broadcast of “Island of Terror” (1966), this Sat.; April 13 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

“Island of Terror” (1966) was directed by veteran director Terence Fisher.  Fisher was best known for his numerous classic horror/monster/creature film masterpiece productions for Britain’s Hammer Films, including “The Curse of Frankenstein” (1957), “Horror of Dracula” (1958), “The Revenge of Frankenstein” (1958), the Hammer-Universal adaptation of “The Mummy” (1959), “The Brides of Dracula” (1960), “The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll” (1960), “The Curse of the Werewolf” (1961), the Hammer-Universal adaptation of “The Phantom of the Opera” (1962) and the Hammer-Columbia feature production of “The Gorgon” (1964).

The veteran director decided to direct fewer films in the latter part of his film career for his home studio, Hammer Films.  Alongside his latter Hammer feature productions, Fisher decided to concentrate on independently-produced productions after his unsuccessful Hammer-Universal monster-horror screen adaptation of “Phantom of the Opera” (1962); according to the British Film Institute’s database on the life and career of Terence Fisher,

Fisher’s 1966 sci-fi/horror/creature production was produced by Tom Blakeley with executive producers Gerald A. Fernback and classic mammoth horror/sci-fi feature film masterpiece exhibitor-production veteran Richard Gordon.  Years earlier, Gordon helped veteran horror feature film legend Bela Lugosi return to the United States after the abrupt ending of his 1951 British stage tour of Hamilton Deane‘s stage adaptation of Bram Stoker‘s “Dracula” by encouraging Lugosi to appear in John Gilling‘s production of “Vampire Over London” (released in Britain in 1952, released by Columbia Pictures in the United States under the title of “My Son, The Vampire” in 1963  to capitalize on Allan Sherman‘s title 1963 comedy recording that was released on the record label of rival/competing studio Warner Bros.); which was an entry in the “Old Mother Riley” comedy film series with Arthur Lucan for Britain’s Renown Pictures (Renown was known as the British production-distribution company that co-produced Brian Desmond Hurst‘s classic mammoth 1952 Holiday feature film masterpiece adaptation of Charles Dickens‘ “A Christmas Carol/Scrooge” with Alastair Sim), according to IMDB.

Gordon later served as executive producer of Lindsay Shonteff’s cult classic thriller feature masterpiece production of “Devil Doll” (1964) with Bryant Haliday (who was one of the original co-founders of independent art-house producer/distribution firm Janus Films, the company behind The Criterion Collection line of critically-acclaimed feature film masterpieces from Janus and productions leased from other studios/production firms for Blu-Ray, DVD and select streaming platforms ), Yvonne Romain, William Sylvester and the vocal stylings of Sadie Corre.  The Shonteff/Gordon production of “Devil Doll’ (1964) was later famously riffed on “Mystery Science Theater 3000” in 1997.

The screenplay and original story treatment for “Island of Terror” (1966) was written by Edward Mann and Allan “Al” Ramsen.   Fisher’s production of “Island of Terror” was produced and released in Great Britain by independent production/releasing firm Planet Film Productions/Planet Film Distributors.  Universal Studios obtained the North American releasing/distribution rights to Fisher’s 1966 Planet production of “Island of Terror” in 1967; according to IMDB.

This will mark Svengoolie’s fifth big broadcast of “Island of Terror” (1966) on the airlanes Me-TV.  He previously showcased Fisher’s classic 1966 horror-creature masterpiece entry back in May 2014, May 2015, Sept. 2016 and Sept. 2020.

Who was in “Island of Terror” (1966)?

The players who appeared in Terence Fisher’s production of “Island of Terror” (1966) were Peter Cushing (as Dr. Brian Stanley), Carole Gray (as Toni Merrill), Edward Judd (as Dr. David West), Eddie Byrne (as Dr. Reginald Landers), Peter Forbes-Robertson (as Dr. Lawrence Phillips), Sam Kydd (as Constable John Harris), James Caffrey (as Peter Argyle), Niall MacGinnis (as Mr. Roger Campbell), Keith Bell (as Halsey), Margaret Lacey (as an elderly woman), Liam Gaffney (as Ian Bellows), Joyce Hemson (as Mrs. Bellows), Roger Heathcott (as Dunley), Shay Gorman (as Morton) and Richard Bidlake (as Carson).

“Svengoolie” presents his big premiere of “The Time Travelers” (1964), this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie Super SvenPals everywhere will be dancing and jumping for joy for his big broadcast premiere of a classic mammoth American-International sci-fi/fantasy feature masterpiece.

“Svengoolie” presents his big premiere of “The Time Travelers” (1964)

Original 1964 American-International Pictures theatrical release trailer for Ib Melchior‘s “The Time Travelers” with Preston Foster, Philip Carey, Merry Anders, Dennis Patrick and John Hoyt.

“Step through ‘The Time Portal’ beyond the crack in Space and Time where the fantastic world of the Future will freeze your blood with its weird horrors!” Original 1964 American-International theatrical poster art for “The Time Travelers.”

The legendary and iconic Berwyn/Chicago-based classic mammoth sci-fi/fantasy feature film masterpiece host will present his big broadcast premiere of “The Time Travelers” (1964), this Sat.; April 6 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

“The Time Travelers” (1964) was directed by veteran director-turned-screenwriter Ib Melchior.   Melchior directed numerous network TV specials featuring legendary crooner Perry Como for Kraft Foods from 1948-67.  Five years before directing “The Time Travelers,” Melchior directed an earlier cult classic mammoth sci-fi feature film masterpiece for American-International Pictures, his classic mammoth sci-fi masterpiece production of “The Angry Red Planet” (1959, in “Cinemagic”) with Gerald Mohr, Nora Hayden, Les Tremayne, Jack Kruschen, Paul Hahn, J. Edward McKinley, Joan Patrick/Joan Fitzpatrick, Billy Curtis and the vocal stylings of Ted Cassidy (later of TV’s “The Addams Family” fame).  Fun Fact: Melchior’s “The Angry Red Planet” (1959) was co-produced between American-International and veteran producer-writer Norman Maurer, the real-life son-in-law of Moe Howard of “The Three Stooges” fame.  Maurer married Moe’s real-life daughter, Joan Howard in 1947; both Norman and Joan were married until Norman Maurer died in 1986. -C.H.

For his screenwriting career, Melchior wrote the screenplay for the North American dubbing of Motoyoshi Oda‘s classic mammoth Toho Studios Gojira/Godzilla kaiju creature masterpiece sequel production of “Godzilla Raids Again” (1955, released by Warner Bros. in the United States in 1959 under the title of “Gigantis: The Fire Monster”) with Haruo Nakajima,  Hiroshi Koizumi, Setsuko Wakayama, Takashi Shimura, Minoru Chiaki, Ren Yamamoto, Masao Shimizu and the vocal stylings of  George Takei (later of “Star Trek” fame), Keye Luke, Paul Frees and Marvin Miller (later of “The Millionaire” fame). Fun Fact: The North American dubbing of “Godzilla Raids Again”/”Gigantis: The Fire Monster” contained the famous “Banana Oil” phrase. -C.H.

Melchior also wrote the screenplay for actor-turned-director Paul Henreid‘s classic mammoth Universal Studios modern film noir/drama masterpiece production of “Live Fast, Die Young” (1958) with Mary Murphy, Norma Eberhardt, Mike Connors (later of TV’s “Mannix” fame), Sheridan Comerate, Peggy Maley, Troy Donahue, Joan Marshall, Gordon Jones, Robert Karnes and young Dorothy Provine; the factual research for Oscar Brodney‘s screenplay for Kenneth G. Crane‘s classic mammoth Paramount Pictures war drama masterpiece production of “When Hell Broke Loose” (1958) with Charles Bronson, Richard Jaeckel, Violet Rensing, Robert Easton, Eddie Foy III. Dennis McCarthy, Robert Stevenson, Joe Conley and Kurt Katch; the co-writing of the screenplay for Sidney W. Pink‘s classic mammoth American-International creature masterpiece version of Poul Bang‘s classic mammoth Danish creature masterpiece production of “Reptilicus” (1961) with Bent Mejding, Ann Smyrner, Mimi Heinrich, Dirch Passer and Marlies Behrens; the screenplay adaptation of Daniel Defoe‘s novel with veteran screenwriter John C. Higgins for Byron Haskin‘s classic mammoth Paramount Pictures sci-fi masterpiece adaptation of “Robinson Crusoe on Mars” (1964) with Paul Mantee, Victor Lundin, Adam West (later of TV’s “Batman” fame) and The Woolly Monkey.

Melchior also co-wrote the screenplay adaptation with veteran screenwriter Louis M. Heyward for the American-International dubbed edition of Mario Bava‘s cult classic mammoth Italian vampire masterpiece production, “Terrore nello Spazio/Planet of the Vampires” (1965, in “Colorscope”) with Barry Sullivan, Norma Bengell, Ángel Aranda and Evi Marandi.

Alongside his involvement with American-International Pictures, Melchior also wrote the original story concept for Roger Corman and Paul Bartel‘s cult classic mammoth action-adventure masterpiece production of “Death Race 2000” (1975, originally released through Corman’s New World Pictures production-distribution firm) with David Carradine, Simone Griffeth, Sylvester Stallone (one year before going onto greater fame in 1976’s “Rocky“), Mary Woronov, Roberta Collins, Martin Kove, Louisa Moritz, Joyce Jameson, director John Landis and legendary veteran Los Angeles radio broadcaster/radio disc jockey “The Real” Don Steele.

Alongside directing “The Time Travelers,” Melchior also wrote the screenplay and co-wrote the original story concept with veteran screenwriter-turned-director-turned-visual effects supervisor David L. Hewitt.  Hewitt also worked on the visual effects for Melchior’s cult classic mammoth 1964 American-International sci-fi/fantasy feature masterpiece production.  Hewitt later directed his own cult fantasy/creature/special effects feature production of “Journey to the Center of Time” (1967) with Scott Brady, Anthony Eisley, Gigi Perreau, Andy Davis and young Lyle Waggoner (later of TV’s “The Carol Burnett Show” fame with Carol Burnett, Vicki Lawrence, Harvey Korman and Tim Conway from 1967 until Waggoner left the series in 1974 and of TV”s “Wonder Woman” fame with Lynda Carter from 1975-79).

James H. Nicholson and Samuel Z. Arkoff, founders of American-International Pictures.

Ib Melchior’s cult classic mammoth fantasy/sci-fi masterpiece production of “The Time Travelers” (1964) was co-produced and released by American-International Pictures. The independent distribution-production-releasing firm was established by Samuel Z. Arkoff and James H. Nicholson in 1954 as the American Releasing Corporation; according to the Samuel Z. Arkoff papers collection/archives housed at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California.   American-International was later acquired by Filmways in 1979, which was later acquired by Orion Pictures in 1982.  Orion, along with the majority of the American-International/Filmways holdings was later sold to the present incarnation of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in 1997.  Inspired by MGM’s revival of the “Orion Pictures” moniker for feature film releases in recent years, the current incarnation of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) also revived the “American-International Pictures” moniker.

The Ib Melchior/American-International feature production of “The Time Travelers” (1964) was co-produced by veteran producers Don Levy and William “Bill” Redlin.   Melchior’s cult classic mammoth American-International feature masterpiece production of “The Time Travelers” was produced under the name of Dobil Productions for theatrical release by Arkoff and Nicholson’s production-distribution releasing firm, according to the American Film Institute (AFI).

Who was in Ib Melchior’s “The Time Travelers” (1964)?

The players who appeared in Ib Melchior’s cult classic mammoth American-International fantasy/sci-fi feature film masterpiece production of “The Time Travelers” (1964) were John Hoyt (as Varno), Preston Foster (as Dr. Erik von Steiner), Philip Carey (as Steve Connors), Merry Anders (as Carol White),  Dennis Patrick (as Councilman Willard), Joan Woodbury (as Gadra), Delores Wells (as Reena), Steve Franken (as Danny McKee), Berry Kroeger (as Preston), Gloria Leslie (as a councilwoman), Molly Glessing and Wayne Anderson (as androids), William F. McGaha (in an uncredited role as an android technician), Peter Strudwick (as a mutant), J. Edward McKinley (as Raymond), Margaret Seldeen (as Miss Hollister) and Forrest J. Ackerman (as a square-frame technician).

“Svengoolie” to present his big broadcast of “Gargoyles” (1972) with Bernie Casey, Jennifer Salt and Cornel Wilde, this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie SvenPals everywhere will be dancing and jumping for joy for his big broadcast of a classic mammoth award-winning made-for-TV creature masterpiece.

“Svengoolie” to present his big broadcast of “Gargoyles” (1972) with Bernie Casey, Jennifer Salt and Cornel Wilde

Fan-made compilation trailer for Bill Norton’s “Gargoyles” (1972) with Bernie Casey. Jennifer Salt and Cornel Wilde.

“They’re Coming For You!” Cover art for the out-of-print DVD edition of “Gargoyles” (1972), featuring Bernie Casey.

The legendary and iconic Berwyn/Chicago-based classic mammoth sci-fi/creature film masterpiece host will present his big broadcast of “Gargoyles” (1972), this Sat., March 30 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

The classic mammoth 1972 made-for-TV sci-fi/supernatural/creature feature masterpiece production of “Gargoyles” was directed by veteran director Bill Norton, who received screen credit under the name of “B.W.L. Norton.”  After directing his own short feature film at the UCLA School of Film, Theatre and Television, titled “Coming Soon” (1966) and one year before production began on “Gargoyles,” Norton directed his own classic mammoth Columbia Pictures drama masterpiece production, “Cisco Pike” (1971) with Kris Kristofferson, Gene Hackman, Gene Hackman, Karen Black, Harry Dean Stanton, Roscoe Lee Browne, a pre-“WKRP In Cincinatti” Howard Hesseman, Allan Arbus and Wavy Gravy.   Norton worked primarily for television throughout the majority of his directorial career after working on his classic mammoth made-for-TV masterpiece production of “Gargoyles” (1972).  Other productions that Norton worked on throughout his directorial career alongside “Gargoyles” (1972) include several episodes of “Tour of Duty” (from 1987-89), “SeaQuest: DSV” (two episodes in 1993) with Roy Scheider and the brief Sci-Fi Channel (pre- “SyFy”) cable miniseries adaptation production  of H.G. Wells’ “The Invisible Man” (Norton directed three episodes in 2001).

The script for Norton’s classic mammoth made-for-TV masterpiece production of “Gargoyles” (1972) was written by the husband-and-wife screenwriting duo of Stephen Karpf and Elinor Karpf.  The Karpfs also worked on the script of Gordon Hessler’s Universal Studios–ABC television made-for-TV thriller production with George Kennedy, Joanna Pettet, Lee Montgomery and Bing Russell, “A Cry in the Wilderness” (1974), one episode of the brief Paramount Pictures TV adaptation of “Love Story” (1973’s “The Youngest Lovers,” adapted from the classic mammoth 1970 Paramount feature film masterpiece production of the same name).  Later in their career, the Karpfs created a television soap opera production for the CBS television network with Constance Towers, Debrah Farentino and Rory Calhoun; “Capitol” (1982-87).

Norton’s classic 1972 creature telefilm masterpiece was produced by veteran television producers Robert W. “Bob” Christiansen, Roger Gimbel and Rick Rosenberg.

Bill Norton’s classic mammoth sci-fi/supernatural creature feature masterpiece production of “Gargoyles” (1972) premiered on the CBS television network as part of the “New CBS Tuesday Night Movies” on Nov. 21, 1972; according to IMDB and a segment from  Broadcasting (Broadcasting and Cable) Magazine.  For the original CBS premiere of “Gargoyles,” Norton’s classic mammoth 1972 made-for-TV supernatural creature masterpiece production aired after an episode of “Hawaii Five-O,” according to the Nov. 21, 1971 edition of the Hanover Evening Sun Newspaper of Hanover, Pennsylvania.

For the original CBS television network premiere of “Gargoyles” (1972): Norton’s classic mammoth made-for-TV supernatural creature masterpiece production aired on CBS-owned WBBM-TV Channel 2 in Berwyn/Chicago, Illinois.  and on a regional scale around the home region/home office of “Silver Screen Reflections;” according to the Nov. 21, 1972 edition of the Hanover Evening Sun from Hanover, Pennsylvania; the classic mammoth 1972 Bill Norton made-for-TV supernatural creature masterpiece production was showcased on WTOP-TV Channel 9 (which later became WDVM in 1978 and became W*USA 9 in 1986) in the Washington, D.C./Frederick, Maryland/Northern Virginia region and on the “Keystone Network” trio of CBS-affiliated TV stations for the Hanover/Gettysburg/York/Harrisburg, Pennsylvania viewing area at the time- the now-former WLYH-TV 15 (which was affiliated with CBS until 1995), WHP-TV 21 (which became the primary CBS affiliate for the Hanover/Gettysburg/York/Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area after 1995) and WSBA-TV 43 (once linked to Pennsylvania’s Pfaltzgraff pottery business– which lost its CBS network affiliation after the station was sold in 1983 and became WPMT-43).  

The original CBS network airing of “Gargoyles” (1972) was pre-empted in Baltimore, Maryland by then-CBS affiliate WMAR-TV 2.  Since it was near the then-ninth anniversary of the tragic Nov. 22, 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, a syndicated movie airing of the filmed memorial tribute to President Kennedy, “John F. Kennedy: Years of Lightning, Day of Drums” (1964/65, released theatrically by Joseph E. Levine’s Embassy Pictures, syndicated to television in the early 1970s by Embassy’s then-successor, Avco-Embassy) aired in its place.    CBS later switched affiliations with Hearst-owned (and future Me-TV affiliate) WBAL-TV 11 in 1981 (WBAL returned to NBC in 1995)– CBS later moved to Westinghouse/Group W-owned WJZ-TV 13 in Jan. 1995– shortly before Westinghouse/Group W (which also bought Chicago’s WXRT-FM 93.1/93XRT that same year) merged with CBS. 

Sidebar: Since the original Nov. 1972 CBS airing of “Gargoyles” (1972) competed with a re-airing of another major network made-for-TV feature film that same evening, that will be mentioned in a section of this blog in this week’s “Silver Screen Reflections.” -C.H.

1973 production logo for General Electric’s TV production subsidiary at the time, Tomorrow Entertainment with the familiar GE “monogram” script logo byline. This was introduced about a year after their production of “Gargoyles” (1972).

“Gargoyles” (1972) was produced by Tomorrow Entertainment, the film & TV production arm of industrial giant General Electric at the time; according to IMDB and Broadcasting (Broadcasting and Cable) Magazine; the production firm was set up by GE in 1970 for the three major television networks’ original “movie of the week” series of big broadcasts, along with broadcasts that were entirely sponsored by GE and for television syndication purposes that were either self-syndicated programs and/or syndicated by other studios/distribution firms for local stations.  GE’s “Tomorrow Entertainment” subsidiary was spearheaded by former ABC television network executive Thomas W. Moore.

GE’s Tomorrow Entertainment unit was also involved in Rankin/Bass Productions (a.k.a. Videocraft International); the legendary animation studio that was founded by Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass; both the junior Rankin and Bass were known for their classic mammoth “Animagic” stop-motion animation holiday masterpiece specials on television for many years.

13 years after the original network television premiere of “Gargoyles” (1972), GE later acquired rival network National Broadcasting Company (NBC) as part of their acquisition of the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in 1985 and would later acquire Universal Studios from France’s Vivendi Group in 2004 to form NBCUniversal in 2004; GE later sold off their NBCUniversal broadcast and entertainment properties to cable conglomerate Comcast in 2013, according to the Washington Post  and Encyclopaedia Britannica.

GE’s Tomorrow Entertainment and GE’s Rankin/Bass library was later acquired by veteran producer Lorne Michaels (of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” fame) and his Broadway Video Enterprises firm.  Michaels’ Broadway Video firm later sold the Tomorrow Entertainment-Rankin/Bass holdings to Golden Books (the former Western Publishing Company) in 1996, the Tomorrow-Rankin/Bass holdings were then sold to Classic Media after Golden Books’ financial problems in 2001.  Dreamworks Animation acquired Classic Media in 2012 to form Dreamworks Classics, Dreamworks Animation/Dreamworks Classics was later acquired by Comcast’s NBCUniversal unit in 2016; according to the Associated Press, CNN, the Hollywood Reporter and Variety.  Universal Studios/Universal Television/NBCUniversal Syndication Studios handles the Dreamworks Animation/Dreamworks Classics/Tomorrow Entertainment holdings under the “Dreamworks Classics” and/or “Classic Media” monikers.

Sidebar: In an ironic twist, “Gargoyles” (1972) eventually wound up with a major studio (Universal) that was once owned by the former industrial conglomerate (GE) that produced the aforementioned made-for-TV feature film production. -C.H.

This will mark Sven’s sixth big broadcast of Bill Norton’s classic mammoth made-for-TV supernatural creature movie masterpiece production of “Gargoyles” (1972) on the airlanes of Me-TV. Sven previously showcased the classic mammoth 1972 made-for-TV creature/supernatural movie masterpiece production as a Sven big broadcast premiere on the airlanes of Me-TV back in May 2017 and as regular Sven/Me-TV big broadcasts back in Nov. 2018, May 2020, April 2022 and Sept. 2022.

Who was in Norton’s classic mammoth made-for-TV sci-fi/supernatural/creature masterpiece production of “Gargoyles” (1972)?

The players who appeared in Bill Norton’s made-for-TV movie production of “Gargoyles” (1972) were Bernie Casey (as the lead Gargoyle), Jennifer Salt (as Diana Boley), Cornel Wilde (as Dr. Mercer Boley), Scott Glenn (as James Reeger), Grayson Hall (as Mrs. Parks), Woody Chambliss (as Uncle Willie), John Gruber (as Jesse), Mickey Alzola, Rock Walker and Greg Walker (the three aforementioned actors played other Gargoyle creatures in the 1972 made-for-TV feature), Timothy “Tim” Burns (as Morris Ray), Vic Perrin (in an uncredited role as the voice of the lead Gargoyle, dubbing in Bernie Casey’s dialogue) and Jim Connell (as Buddy).

“Svengoolie” presents his big premiere of Dan Curtis’ “Dracula” (1974) with Jack Palance, this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie Super SvenPals everywhere will be dancing and jumping for joy for his upcoming big broadcast premiere of a classic mammoth made-for-TV vampire adaptation masterpiece.

“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast premiere of Dan Curtis’ “Dracula” (1974) with Jack Palance

British theatrical trailer for Dan Curtis‘ classic mammoth made-for-TV movie masterpiece adaptation, “Dan Curtis’ Dracula” (1974) with Jack Palance; released theatrically in Great Britain by now-former British recording, film & technology giant EMI under the title of “Bram Stoker’s Dracula**.”

British EMI theatrical poster art for “Dan Curtis’ Dracula” (1974) with Jack Palance.

The legendary and iconic Berwyn/Chicago-based classic mammoth monster/horror feature film masterpiece host will present his big broadcast premiere of “Dan Curtis’ Dracula” (1974) this Sat., March 23 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

The classic mammoth 1974 made-for-TV movie adaptation masterpiece of Bram Stoker’s gothic vampire novel, “Dracula” was directed by veteran TV and feature film director-producer Dan Curtis. Curtis was best-known for producing and directing his own classic mammoth ABC television network gothic horror masterpiece series production, “Dark Shadows” (1966-71) with Jonathan Frid (in the lead role of vampire Barnabas Collins) and Grayson Hall (in the lead role of Dr. Julia Hoffman, also of 1972’s “Gargoyles” fame).  Curtis also directed two classic mammoth Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) gothic horror feature film masterpiece adaptations of his ABC-TV “Dark Shadows” series; “House of Dark Shadows” (1970) with Frid and “Night of Dark Shadows” (1971, produced and released around the same time that ABC cancelled “Dark Shadows”).  20 years after the final ABC broadcast of “Dark Shadows,” Curtis reunited with MGM to produce a newer, short-lived primetime “Dark Shadows” series for rival network NBC in 1991 with Ben Cross in the role of vampire Barnabas Collins in the latter/brief Curtis/MGM/NBC “Dark Shadows” series revival.

Curtis was also involved with two classic mammoth ABC “Movie of the Week”/”Kolchak” made-for-TV movie supernatural masterpiece pilots, “The Night Stalker” (1972, produced by Curtis, directed by John Llewellyn Moxey) with  Darren McGavin (of the 1958-59 “Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer” TV adaptation series fame and later of 1983’s “A Christmas Story” fame), Carol Lynley (of 1972’s “The Poseidon Adventure” fame), Claude Akins (later of TV’s “Movin’ On” fame and TV’s “B.J. and the Bear“/“The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo” fame), Larry Linville (of  TV’s “M*A*S*H” fame), Simon Oakland (of Alfred Hitchcock‘s “Psycho” fame, Peter Yates’ “Bullitt” fame and TV’s “Black Sheep Squadron”/”Baa Baa Black Sheep” fame), Ralph Meeker, Charles McGraw, Kent Smith, Elisha Cook Jr., Stanley Adams, Jordan Rhodes and Barry Atwater and “The Night Strangler” (1973, produced and directed by Curtis) with McGavin, Oakland, Jo Ann Pflug (of Robert Altman‘s 1970 “M*A*S*H” feature film fame), Wally Cox (of TV’s “Mister Peepers” fame and of interest to fellow Super Tooners/Super SvenPals of Toony & Bill’s “Toon In With Me,” of the vocal stylings of TV’s “Underdog“ fame), Margaret Hamilton (of 1939’s “The Wizard of Oz” fame, 1940’s “The Invisible Woman” fame, 1960’s “13 Ghosts” fame and in the latter part of her acting career- “Cora” for TV commercials for Maxwell House Coffee ), Al “Grampa” Lewis (of TV’s “The Munsters” fame and of 1966’s “Munster, Go Home!“ fame), Richard Anderson (of 1956’s “Forbidden Planet” fame), veteran horror actor John Carradine, Kate Murtagh (of 1977’s “The Car” fame and on the album cover of Supertramp‘s “Breakfast In America“ fame), Nina Wayne, Virginia Peters, Ivor Francis, Diane Shalet, Anne Randall, Francoise Birnheim and Regina Parton/Ethel Parker.  The two classic mammoth ABC “Kolchak” made-for-TV movie masterpieces later inspired the 1974-75 classic mammoth Universal Studios/ABC “Kolchak” supernatural masterpiece TV series, “Kolchak: The Night Stalker” with McGavin and Oakland reprising their roles from the two aforementioned classic mammoth ABC “Kolchak” made-for-TV movie masterpiece productions.

Curtis also produced and directed his classic mammoth ABC made-for-TV thriller-horror anthology movie masterpiece production of “Trilogy of Terror” (1975) with  Karen Black , Robert Burton, John Karlen, George Gaynes, Jim Storm, Kathryn Reynolds, Orin Cannon, Gregory Harrison, Tracy Curtis  and the vocal stylings of Walker Edmiston.  Curtis also directed the classic mammoth critically-acclaimed Emmy award-winning Paramount Pictures/ABC made-for-TV wartime drama masterpiece miniseries adaptation of Herman Wouk‘s “The Winds of War” (1983) with Robert Mitchum, Ali MacGraw, Ralph Bellamy, John Houseman, Topol (of 1971’s “Fiddler on the Roof” fame), Polly Bergen and Peter Graves and a follow-up classic mammoth critically-acclaimed Emmy award-winning made-for-TV wartime drama masterpiece sequel miniseries adaptation that was produced entirely by ABC, Herman Wouk’s “War and Remembrance” (1988-89) with Mitchum, Bellamy, Topol, Bergen, Sami Frey, Robert Hardy, Jane Seymour and William Schallert.

For his made-for-TV adaptation of “Dracula,” Curtis co-produced his classic mammoth telefilm adaptation with veteran associate producer Robert Singer.  Singer previously co-produced Curtis’ classic mammoth ABC “Kolchak” made-for-TV masterpiece sequel, “The Night Strangler” (1973).  Singer later served as executive producer of the classic mammoth Warner Bros./NBC sci-fi masterpiece series, “V” (1984-85) with Jane Badler, June Chadwick, Jennifer Cooke, Robert Englund (of “A Nightmare on Elm Street” fame), Faye Grant, Marc Singer, Jeff Yagher and guest appearances by Howard K. Smith (former news anchor/correspondent of rival networks CBS and ABC) and Duncan Regehr (of “The Monster Squad” fame).

Inspired by Bram Stoker‘s gothic novel, the screenplay for Curtis’ classic mammoth made-for-TV adaptation masterpiece production of “Dracula” (1974) was written by veteran author Richard Matheson. Matheson wrote the original story treatment for Jack Arnold’s classic mammoth Universal Studios sci-fi/fantasy/visual effects masterpiece, “The Incredible Shrinking Man” (1957) with Grant Williams, Randy Stuart, April Kent, Paul Langton, a pre-“Beverly Hillbillies” Raymond Bailey, William Schallert and Lock Martin (of 1951’s “The Day the Earth Stood Still” fame).

He also wrote the screenplay adaptation of Roger Corman‘s classic mammoth American-International macabre-thriller-comedy masterpiece adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe‘s 1845 gothic poem, “The Raven” (1963) and he also co-wrote the screenplay with  Elsie Lee for Jacques Tourneur‘s classic mammoth American-International horror-comedy masterpiece production of “The Comedy of Terrors” (1963/64) with Vincent Price, Joyce Jameson, Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre, Basil Rathbone, Joe E. Brown, Beverly Powers, Buddy Mason, Alan DeWitt, Douglas Williams, Linda Rogers, Luree Holmes, Charles Soldani, Harvey Parry, Paul Barselou and Orangey/Rhubarb the Cat. Matheson also wrote the screenplay for Steven Spielberg‘s classic mammoth Universal Studios action-adventure-thriller masterpiece production of “Duel” (1971, originally produced as a Universal/ABC made-for-TV movie masterpiece production and one of Spielberg’s earliest productions) with Dennis Weaver, Jacqueline Scott, Lucille Benson, Eddie Firestone,  Lou Frizzell, Shirley O’ Hara, Gene Dynarski and Amy Douglass.  Matheson also wrote the teleplay for John Llewellyn Moxey and Dan Curtis’ classic mammoth ABC “Kolchak” made-for-TV movie masterpiece pilot, “The Night Stalker” (1972).

Curtis’s classic mammoth 1974 made-for-TV masterpiece adaptation of “Dracula” premiered on the CBS television network on Feb. 8, 1974; according to IMDB.

According to the Feb. 8, 1974 edition of the Hanover Evening Sun newspaper of Hanover, Pennsylvania; CBS programmed “Dan Curtis’ Dracula” (1974) after an episode of “Good Times.”  Curtis’ “Dracula” feature adaptation was showcased on CBS opposite episodes of “The Girl with Something Extra” and The Dean Martin Comedy Hour/Dean Martin Celebrity Roast on NBC and episodes of “The Six Million Dollar Man,” “The Odd Couple” and “Toma” on ABC.

For the original Feb. 8, 1974 CBS big broadcast premiere of “Dan Curtis’ Dracula,” Curtis’ classic mammoth made-for-TV vampire/horror movie masterpiece adaptation aired on CBS-owned WBBM-TV Channel 2 in Berwyn/Chicago, Illinois  and on a regional scale for the home region/home office of “Silver Screen Reflections;” the CBS/Dan Curtis adaptation of “Dracula” was showcased on WTOP-TV Channel 9 (which later became WDVM in 1978 and became W*USA 9 in 1986) in the Washington, D.C./Frederick, Maryland/Northern Virginia region and on the “Keystone Network” trio of CBS-affiliated TV stations for the Hanover/Gettysburg/York/Harrisburg, Pennsylvania viewing area at the time- the now-former WLYH-TV 15 (which was affiliated with CBS until 1995), WHP-TV 21 (which became the primary CBS affiliate for the Hanover/Gettysburg/York/Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area after 1995) and WSBA-TV 43 (once linked to Pennsylvania’s Pfaltzgraff pottery business– which lost its CBS network affiliation after the station was sold in 1983 and became WPMT-43).  

“Dan Curtis’ Dracula” (1974) was pre-empted in Baltimore, Maryland by then-CBS affiliate WMAR-TV 2; a syndicated movie airing of “A Man Called Sledge” (1970, part of a Columbia Pictures/Screen Gems syndicated movie package the station bought at the time) aired in its place.  CBS later switched affiliations with Hearst-owned (and future Me-TV affiliate) WBAL-TV 11 in 1981 (WBAL returned to NBC in 1995)– CBS would later move to Westinghouse/Group W-owned WJZ-TV 13 in Jan. 1995– shortly before Westinghouse/Group W (which also bought Chicago’s WXRT-FM 93.1/93XRT that same year) merged with CBS. 

Who was in “Dan Curtis’ Dracula” (1974)?

The players who appeared in Dan Curtis’ classic mammoth CBS/made-for-TV vampire movie masterpiece adaptation production of “Dracula” (1974) were Jack Palance (as Count Dracula), Simon Ward (as Arthur), Nigel Davenport (as Van Helsing), Pamela Brown (as Mrs. Westenra), Fiona Lewis (as Lucy), Penelope Horner (as Mina), Murray Brown (as Jonathan Harker), Virginia Wetherell, Barbara Lindley and Sarah Douglas (as Dracula’s wives, Virginia Wetherell received credit under the name of Virginia Wetherall), George Pravda (as the innkeeper), Hana Maria Pravda (as the wife of the innkeeper), Reg Lye (as the zookeeper), Fred Stone (as the priest), Roy Spencer (as the clerk of the Whitby Inn), John Challis (as the Stockton-on-Tees clerk), Nigel Gregory (as the Midvale Shipping clerk), John Pennington (as the Richmond Shipping clerk), Martyn Read (as a member of the Coast Guard), Gita Denise (as Madam Kristoff), Sandra Caron (in an uncredited role as the maid of the Whitby Inn) and Eddie Powell (in an uncredited role as a patron of the Whitby Inn).

“Svengoolie” presents his big coast-to-coast premiere of “The Comedy of Terrors” (1963/64), this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie Super SvenPals everywhere will be dancing and jumping for joy for his upcoming big coast-to-coast premiere of a classic mammoth American-International horror-comedy masterpiece with several film legends.

“Svengoolie” presents his big coast-to-coast broadcast premiere of “The Comedy of Terrors” (1963/64)

Original 1963/64 American-International Pictures theatrical release trailer for Jacques Tourneur‘s “The Comedy of Terrors” with Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, Joyce Jameson, Peter Lorre, Basil Rathbone and Joe E. Brown.  Fun Fact: At the 0:05 mark, note Les Baxter’s source orchestral cue– that was the same source music cue that American-International later used for their television syndication unit, American-International Television when Samuel Z. Arkoff and James H. Nicholson’s distribution firm entered TV syndication in the mid-1960s. -C.H.

Sidebar: Originally re-presented in Sept. 2014 for the now-out-of-print MGM*/Shout! Factory (Shout! Studios)/Scream! Factory “Vincent Price Collection II” Blu-Ray feature film anthology set, Kino Lorber is currently handling the Blu-Ray edition of Tourneur’s classic mammoth 1963/64 American-International horror/comedy masterpiece (by arrangement with the current incarnation of MGM*, owners of the American-International/Filmways/Orion holdings). -C.H.

“Your favorite ‘creeps’ together again!” Original 1963/64 American-International theatrical poster art for “The Comedy of Terrors” with Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff, Joyce Jameson, Joe E. Brown and Basil Rathbone.

The legendary and iconic Berwyn/Chicago-based classic mammoth horror/comedy feature film masterpiece host will present his big coast-to-coast broadcast premiere of “The Comedy of Terrors” (produced in 1963, released in 1964) this Sat., March 16 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

The classic mammoth 1963/64 American-International feature horror/comedy masterpiece production was directed by veteran feature film & TV director Jacques Tourneur.

Tourneur was best-known for his classic mammoth RKO Radio Pictures thriller feature film masterpiece with veteran RKO producer Val Lewton, “Cat People” (1942) with Simone Simon, Kent Smith, Tom Conway, Jane Randolph, Jack Holt and Alan Napier (later of 1944’s “The Uninvited,” 1956’s “The Mole People” and TV’s “Batman” fame).  After the box-office success of “Cat People,” both Tourneur and Lewton would follow with two more classic mammoth RKO thriller masterpiece productions, “I Walked with a Zombie” (1943) with Frances Dee, Tom Conway, Sir Lancelot, James Ellison, Christine Gordon, Theresa Harris and James Bell and “The Leopard Man” (1943) with Dennis O’Keefe, Margo, Jean Brooks, Isabel Jewell, Tuulikki Paananen/Tula Parma, James Bell, Ben Bard and Jacqueline deWit.

Tourneur also directed his classic mammoth RKO film noir-thriller masterpiece production of “Experiment Perilous” (1944) with Hedy Lamarr, George Brent, Paul Lukas, Albert Dekker (of 1940’s “Dr. Cyclops” fame), Carl Esmond, Olive Blakeney and William Post Jr.

Alongside his earlier RKO feature film collaborations with Val Lewton and alongside “Comedy of Terrors” (1963/64), one of Tourneur’s other noteworthy films was his classic mammoth RKO film noir masterpiece production of “Out of the Past” (1947) with Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, young Kirk Douglas, Rhonda Fleming, Richard Webb, Steve Brodie, Dickie Moore, Virginia Huston, Brooks Benedict and Paul Valentine.

Ten years after “Out of the Past,” Tourneur directed his classic mammoth Columbia Pictures sci-fi creature/horror/thriller masterpiece production of “Curse of the Demon” (1957, a.k.a. “Night of the Demon”) with Dana Andrews, Peggy Cummins, Niall MacGinnis, Liam Redmond, Brian Wilde (later of BBC‘s “Last of the Summer Wine” fame), Maurice Denham, Ballard Berkeley (later of “Fawlty Towers” fame), Athene Seyler, Reginald Beckwith, Ewan Roberts, Peter Elliott and Rosamund Greenwood.

The screenplay for Tourneur’s classic mammoth 1963/64 American-International masterpiece production of “The Comedy of Terrors” was co-written by veteran sci-fi/horror author-screenwriter Richard Matheson and veteran author/screenwriter Elsie Lee. Matheson wrote the original story treatment for Jack Arnold’s classic mammoth Universal Studios sci-fi/fantasy/visual effects masterpiece, “The Incredible Shrinking Man” (1957) with Grant Williams, Randy Stuart, April Kent, Paul Langton, a pre-“Beverly Hillbillies” Raymond Bailey, William Schallert and Lock Martin (of 1951’s “The Day the Earth Stood Still” fame).  He also wrote the screenplay adaptation of Roger Corman‘s classic mammoth American-International macabre-thriller-comedy masterpiece adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe‘s 1845 gothic poem, “The Raven” (1963).  Matheson also wrote the screenplay for Steven Spielberg‘s classic mammoth Universal Studios action-adventure-thriller masterpiece production of “Duel” (1971, originally produced as a Universal/ABC made-for-TV movie masterpiece production and one of Spielberg’s earliest productions) with Dennis Weaver, Jacqueline Scott, Lucille Benson, Eddie Firestone,  Lou Frizzell, Shirley O’ Hara, Gene Dynarski and Amy Douglass.  Matheson also wrote the teleplay for John Llewellyn Moxey and Dan Curtis’ classic mammoth ABC “Kolchak” made-for-TV movie masterpiece pilot, “The Night Stalker” (1972, one of two ABC “Kolchak” made-for-TV movie masterpiece pilots that served as the inspiration for the classic mammoth 1974-75 Universal Studios/ABC “Kolchak: The Night Stalker” TV masterpiece series) with Darren McGavin, Carol Lynley, Claude Akins, Larry Linville (later of TV’s “M*A*S*H” fame), Simon Oakland, Ralph Meeker, Charles McGraw, Kent Smith, Elisha Cook Jr., Stanley Adams, Jordan Rhodes and Barry Atwater.  Matheson also served as an associate producer on the 1963/64 American-International feature production.

“The Comedy of Terrors” marked one of two productions that Elsie Lee was involved with during her brief screenwriting career.  She previously wrote the screenplay for 1 episode of the MCA/Revue (Universal) adventure TV series, “Soldiers of Fortune” (for the 1957 episode “Pipeline to Danger”) with John Russell, Chick Chandler and guest Edward Platt (later of TV’s “Get Smart” fame).

Samuel Z. Arkoff and James H. Nicholson.

*The 1963 Tourneur production of “The Comedy of Terrors” was released theatrically through American-International Pictures, the independent distribution firm that was established by Samuel Z. Arkoff and James H. Nicholson in 1954; according to the Samuel Z. Arkoff papers collection/archives  housed at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California.   American-International was later acquired by Filmways in 1979, which was later acquired by Orion Pictures in 1982.  Orion, along with the majority of the American-International/Filmways holdings was later sold to the present incarnation of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in 1997.  Inspired by MGM’s revival of the “Orion Pictures” moniker for feature film releases in recent years, the current incarnation of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) also revived the “American-International Pictures” moniker.   Alongside Arkoff, Nicholson and Matheson, veteran American-International feature film producer Anthony Carras also co-produced the classic mammoth 1963/64 Tourneur horror-comedy feature film masterpiece production of “The Comedy of Terrors.”

Who was in Jacques Tourneur’s classic mammoth American-International horror/comedy masterpiece production of “The Comedy of Terrors” (1963/64)?

The players who appeared in Tourneur’s classic mammoth American-International horror/comedy masterpiece production of “The Comedy of Terrors” (1963/64) were Vincent Price (as Waldo Trumbull), Joyce Jameson (as Amaryllis Trumbull), Boris Karloff (as Amos Hinchley), Peter Lorre (as Felix Gillie), Basil Rathbone (as Mr. John F. Black), Joe E. Brown (as a cemetery keeper), Beverly Powers (as Mrs. Phipps, Beverly Powers received screen credit under the pseudonym of Beverly Hills), Buddy Mason (as Mr. Phipps), Alan DeWitt (as Riggs), Douglas Williams (as a Doctor), Linda Rogers (as a maid), Luree Holmes (as a butler), Charles Soldani (in an uncredited role as a mourner), Harvey Parry (in an uncredited role as a man who was knocked down on the street), Paul Barselou (in an uncredited role as a stand-in for Riggs) and Orangey the Cat (as Cleopatra, Orangey received screen credit under the name of an earlier feline character that was portrayed by the feline actor, “Rhubarb“).