“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“).

“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast of “How to make a Monster” (1958, directed by Herbert L. Strock), this Sat. on Me-TV

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

“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast of “How to Make a Monster” (1958)

Original 1958 American-International Pictures teaser advertising trailer for Herbert L. Strock’s classic mammoth monster-fantasy masterpiece production of “How to Make a Monster.”

“It will scare the living ‘yell’ out of you!” Original 1958 American-International theatrical poster art for “How to Make a Monster.”

The legendary and iconic Berwyn/Chicago-based classic mammoth monster/creature/fantasy feature film masterpiece host will present his big broadcast of “How to Make a Monster” (1958), this Sat.; Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

The classic mammoth 1958 American-International Pictures masterpiece production of “How to Make a Monster” was directed by veteran editor/producer/director Herbert L. Strock.  Alongside his classic mammoth 1958 creature/monster/fantasy masterpiece production of “How to Make a Monster” for American-International Pictures, several of Strock’s best-known feature film productions include his classic mammoth United Artists 3-D sci-fi masterpiece production of “Gog” (1954) with Constance Dowling,  William Schallert, Philip Van Zandt and Richard Egan.  Alongside the production of  “How to Make A Monster” (1958), Strock also directed numerous classic mammoth horror/monster masterpiece productions for release through American-International Pictures, including “I Was a Teenage Frankenstein” (1957) with Whit Bissell, Phyllis Coates,  George Lynn and “Blood of Dracula” (1957) with Sandra Harrison, Gail Ganley, Louise Lewis and Jerry Blaine.

Strock also directed the cult classic horror masterpiece, “The Crawling Hand” (1963) with Allison Hayes of 1958’s “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman” fame a pre-“Gilligan’s Island” Alan Hale Jr., Arline Judge, Richard Arlen, Kent Taylor and Peter Breck.  Strock’s 1963 production was later famously riffed on “Mystery Science Theater 3000” in 1989 in ep. #106, which aired in 1989.   “Strock later co-directed scenes for Richard Shorr’s horror-comedy feature production of “Witches’ Brew” (1980) with Teri Garr, Lana Turner and Richard Benjamin.

Veteran producer Herman Cohen worked on Strock’s production of “How to Make a Monster” (1958) for American-International Pictures.  In addition to the 1958 classic mammoth Strock/American-International monster/creature/fantasy masterpiece.  Cohen also produced Arthur Crabtree’s classic mammoth British “Hypnovista” horror-mystery masterpiece with young Michael Gough, “Horrors of the Black Museum” (1959), which was released theatrically in Great Britain by veteran producers-exhibitors Nat Cohen and Stuart Levy and was released theatrically in the United States by American-International Pictures.

Cohen also co-produced John Lemont‘s classic mammoth American-International sci-fi creature  masterpiece production of “Konga” (1961) with Paul Stockman, Michael Gough, Claire Gordon, Jess Conrad, Austin Trevor, Jack Watson, George Pastell, Vanda Godsell , Leonard Sachs, Stanley Morgan, Grace Arnold, John Welsh, Nicholas Bennett, Kim Tracy, Waveney Lee and Rupert Osborne.

Some of Cohen’s latter production involvements throughout his film career include the production Jim O’Connolly’s classic mammoth Columbia Pictures horror-thriller-mystery masterpiece with Joan Crawford, Ty Hardin, Diana Dors, Judy Geeson and Michael Gough, “Berserk!” (1967) and Freddie Francis’ cult classic mammoth Warner Bros. creature-horror-thriller masterpiece production of “Trog” (1970) with Joan Crawford, Michael Gough, Kim Braden, Bernard Kay and a pre-“Keeping Up Appearances” David Griffin; the Cohen-Francis-Warners production of “Trog” marked one of the final feature film roles/final feature film appearances for Joan Crawford in her screen career.  Later in Cohen’s producing career, he set up his own distribution firm that distributed his own backlog of independently-financed cult classic feature films and other independently financed productions, Cobra Media; according to Dennis Mclellan’s 2002 Los Angeles Times remembrance article on the life and legacy of Cohen.

Alongside producing Strock’s production of “How to Make A Monster” (1958), Cohen also co-wrote the screenplay and original story treatment idea with veteran screenwriter Aben Kandel for Strock’s 1958 classic mammoth American-International horror-monster feature masterpiece production.  Kandel received screen credit under the pseudonym of Kenneth Langtry for his work on “How To Make a Monster” (1958).  Kandel/Langtry also wrote the screenplays for the productions of for “I Was a Teenage Werewolf” (1957, Kandel/Langtry was credited under the pseudonym of Ralph Thornton), “I Was a Teenage Frankenstein” (1957, under the pseudonym of Langtry), “Horrors of the Black Museum” (1958), “Blood of Dracula” (1958, under the pseudonym of Thornton), “Berserk!” (1967) and “Trog” (1970).  Cohen and Kandel’s screenplay for “How to Make a Monster” was partially inspired by the real-life downfall of veteran Universal Studios make-up artist Jack Pierce, according to veteran feature film and television monster/creature make-up artist Rick Baker’s findings for the “Trailers From Hell” retrospective on Herbert L. Strock’s production of “How to Make a Monster” (1958).

James H. Nicholson and Samuel Z. Arkoff.

The 1958 Strock-Cohen production of “How To Make A Monster” was released theatrically through American-International Pictures (AIP); 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.   AIP was acquired by Filmways in 1979, which was later acquired by Orion Pictures in 1982.  Orion, along with the majority of the AIP/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 current incarnation of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) owns the American-International Pictures, Filmways and Orion trademarks since the studio’s acquisition of Orion Pictures in 1997.  The American-International Pictures release of “How to Make a Monster” (1958) was produced under the moniker of “Sunset Productions,” according to the American Film Institute.

Gary Conway (as Tony Mantell/the teenage Frankenstein) in Herbert L. Strock’s production of “How to Make a Monster,” featured in Iron Maiden’s 1982 music video for their recording of “The Number of the Beast.”

Elements from Herbert L. Strock’s classic mammoth monster/creature/fantasy masterpiece production were later featured in the music video for legendary mammoth British heavy metal rock band Iron Maiden’s classic mammoth 1982 EMI/Harvest (distributed via EMI/Harvest/Capitol Records in the United States at the time) masterpiece recording of “The Number of the Beast.” The aforementioned 1982 Iron Maiden song of “The Number of the Beast” also marked the title song for the legendary heavy metal rock group’s 1982 EMI/Harvest album of the same name.

Samuel Z. Arkoff and son Lou Arkoff later re-made Herbert L. Strock’s 1958 production with veteran producer Colleen Camp, “How to Make a Monster” (2001). Directed by George Huang;  the 2001 Arkoff family remake of Strock’s 1958 production featured Clea DuVall, Steven Culp, Tyler Mane, Karim Prince, Julie Strain and Jason Marsden.  As part of a series of re-makes of early American-International Pictures mammoth sci-fi and monster/creature feature film masterpiece productions that were co-produced by Samuel Z. Arkoff, veteran special effects/make-up effects artist Stan Winston worked with the Arkoff family on the re-makes, including the 2001 edition of “How to Make a Monster.”  The Arkoff family re-makes were known as “Creature Features” and aired on HBO’s secondary premium cable channel service, Cinemax from 2001-02.  The Arkoff re-makes were also released on DVD through Sony’s Columbia Tri-Star Home Entertainment (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment); according to Felix Vasquez Jr.’s Nov. 2020 Bloody Disgusting horror entertainment article on the latter Arkoff family “Creature Features” re-makes, Ironically, the forerunner of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video handled the VHS rights by arrangement with Samuel Z. Arkoff/Selma Enterprises to the Arkoff-owned early classic mammoth American-International feature film masterpieces, including the original classic mammoth Herbert L. Strock-Herman Cohen/American-International masterpiece production of “How to Make A Monster” (1958), under the “Drive-In Classics” moniker- the RCA/Columbia VHS edition of the 1958 American-International feature was released in 1991 (two years after Sony’s 1989 acquisition of Columbia Pictures– the home entertainment unit was renamed Columbia Tristar Home Video after Sony acquired RCA/General Electric’s stake in the home entertainment venture in Late 1991). -C.H.

This will mark Sven’s fourth big broadcast of “How To Make a Monster’ (1958) on Me-TV.  He previously showcased the classic mammoth 1958 American-International monster-fantasy masterpiece production of “How to Make a Monster” as a coast-to-coast big broadcast premiere back in June 2021 and as a regular Me-TV big broadcasts back in Dec. 2021 and June 2022.

In Svengoolie/Rich Koz’s home area of Berwyn/Chicago, Illinois; the legendary Berwyn/Chicago-based horror/monster film host previously showcased Herbert L. Strock’s classic mammoth American-International Pictures monster/creature/fantasy masterpiece production of “How to Make a Monster” (1958) as a big Berwyn/Chicago broadcast premiere during his days as the “Son of Svengoolie” on WFLD/32 back in Aug. 1980; according to a snippet from Berwyn/Chicago television archivist Rick Klein’s official YouTube channel for “FuzzyMemoriesTV: The Museum of Classic Chicago Television.”.

Who was in “How to Make a Monster” (1958)?

The players who appeared in the Herbert L. Strock/Herman Cohen/American-International classic mammoth monster masterpiece production of “How to Make a Monster” (1958) were Gary Clarke (as Larry Drake/the “Teenage Werewolf”), Gary Conway (as Tony Mantell/the “Teenage Frankenstein”), Robert H. Harris (as Pete Dumond), Paul Brinegar (as Rivero), Morris Ankrum (as Police Capt. Hancock), Heather Ames (as Arlene Dow), Malcolm Atterbury (as Richards), Dennis Cross (as Monahan),  Paul Maxwell (as Jeff Clayton), Walter Reed (as Det. Thompson),  Eddie Marr (as John Nixon),  Robert Shayne (as Gary Droz), Rodd Dana (as a lab technician, Dana received screen credit under the name of “Rod Dana” for his appearance in “How to Make a Monster”), Jaclyn Hellman (as Jane, Hellman received screen credit in “How to Make a Monster” under the name of Jacqueline Ebeier), Paulene Myers (as Millie), Joan Chandler (as Marilyn), Thomas Browne Henry (as Martin Brace), John Phillips** (as Det. Jones), John Ashley (as himself) and a cameo appearance by producer Herman Cohen (in an uncredited role as a director in the studio projection room).

Safe/Healthy and Happy New Year’s/2024 from the writer/author of “Silver Screen Reflections!”

Safe, Peaceful, Healthy & Happy New Year’s/Happy 2024 to all my fellow wonderful Super Svengoolie & Sventoonie SvenPals/Super “Toon In With Me” Tooners/Super “Mystery Science Theater 3000” MSTies/Super classic film & TV masterpiece aficionados/Super readers of “Silver Screen Reflections” from the writer/author of “Silver Screen Reflections!“

I am thankful for my parents, my relatives/ all my fellow wonderful friends/Super SvenPals/Super Tooners/Super MSTies/Super classic film & TV masterpiece aficionados/Super “Silver Screen Reflections” readers across the universe!  Again, I’m very glad you all enjoy my weekly classic Sven feature film masterpiece blog/”Silver Screen Reflections” blog posts, along with my weekly “#ChrisHambyPhotoGallery” masterpiece series!

I’m looking forward to many more Sven, “Toon In” & classic mammoth film masterpiece adventures throughout the New Year of 2024 and beyond with all my fellow wonderful Super SvenPals/Super Tooners from coast-to-coast, along with my weekly “Chris Hamby Photo Gallery” series of uplifting nature photos from around home! 

There’s some aspects of 2024 that I’m deeply concerned about.  But I’m hoping that the New Year of 2024 will be peaceful healthy and safe for all of us.

I’ve had some obligations and setbacks recently- not too serious, but I’m being very cautious/careful.  I mentioned earlier that I would create a secondary blog site in connection to my weekly Photo Gallery series- which will actually begin later in 2024.   And there’s a lot I would like to accomplish/achieve in the New Year as well.   

And again- as I’ve mentioned before- and forgive me for sounding like a “broken record” and/or “audiotape loop,” I’m hoping one of these days in the future to see all of my fellow wonderful friends/Super SvenPals/Super Tooners for a future Sven event and/or Berwyn/Chicago visit in the future.  

And we all know that that corrupt/controversial wackadoodle billionaire schnook known as “Baron Von Muskrat” and his minions have wrecked the Twitter airlanes. 

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m hoping that we can all continue to Live-Tweet Svengoolie, “Toon In With Me” big broadcasts, classic film, music, broadcasting, animation, etc.- along with sharing fun facts about classic film, TV, cartoons, etc. and/or anything unique in connection to Sven/”Toon In.”

And again- as I’ve stated before, I’m NOT paying for a social media site/social media platform. 

For those who do not know- though I haven’t used the “Threads” platform frequently, I have a backup account on the “Threads” social media platform.  

To all my fellow wonderful Super Svengoolie SvenPals/Super “Toon In With Me” Tooners/Super readers/subscribers of “Silver Screen Reflections” everywhere:  Seriously, Please, please be good, kind, courteous, safe and respectful to each other.   Let’s all look to uplifting/positive enlightenment, encouragement and wisdom from Svengoolie, all fellow wonderful Super Svengoolie SvenPals/Super “Toon In With Me”/”Saturday Morning Cartoons” Tooners/Super Mystery Science Theater 3000/MST3K MSTies/Super classic film/television aficionados/Super readers of “Silver Screen Reflections” everywhere.  Again, to all fellow wonderful Super Svengoolie SvenPals/Super “Toon In With Me”/”Saturday Morning Cartoons” Tooners/Super MST3K MSTies/Super classic film & TV aficionados/Super “Silver ScreenReflections” readers everywhere- To those who have not made a plan to get their vaccines yet, be sure to schedule your vaccines, booster vaccines against the newest COVID-19 variant & your flu shot by contacting your doctor/physician/healthcare professional soon, follow all precautions safely and seriously, wear a protective face mask/appropriate protective face covering, wash your hands for approximately 20 sec., avoid touching your face, practice proper social distancing/physical distancing protocols, use a tissue/sleeve when coughing/sneezing, 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 everywhere highly recommend watching Kerwyn’s informative coronavirus/COVID-19 prevention safety public service announcement!   Escape from anxiety, chaos and stress by relaxing and having fun with Sven and his Sat. evening big broadcasts of classic mammoth creature/sci-fi/monster/horror/fantasy feature film masterpieces on Me-TV’s big broadcast airlanes! Be sure to join in on the fun with all fellow wonderful Super SvenPals/Super Tooners everywhere by live-tweeting on the airlanes during Sven’s Sat. evening big broadcasts and/or Toony & Bill’s “Toon In With Me!”  Again, be good, safety first, keep healthy and stay well; Three Cheers & Two Thumbs Up to Sven/Rich Koz, the entire Sven/Sventoonie/”Toon In”/Me-TV production team & the entire crowd of fellow wonderful Super SvenPals/Super Tooners/Super MSTies/Super classic film/TV masterpiece aficionados/Super “Silver Screen Reflections” readers everywhere!   To quote Svengoolie’s executive producer, Jim Roche: “#KeepCalmAndWatchSven!”  –C.H.

“Svengoolie” to present his big broadcast of “The Car” (1977), this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie SvenPals everywhere will be dancing & jumping for joy for his upcoming big broadcast of classic mammoth Universal Studios action-thriller masterpiece.

“Svengoolie” to present his big broadcast of “The Car” (1977)

“Is It a Phantom, a Demon or the Devil himself?” Original 1977 Universal Studios theatrical poster art for “The Car.”

The legendary and iconic Berwyn/Chicago-based classic mammoth thriller feature film masterpiece host will present his big broadcast of “The Car” (1977), this Sat.; July 1 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

“The Car” (1977) was directed and co-produced by veteran feature film and television director Elliot Silverstein.  Alongside his classic mammoth Universal action-adventure-thriller masterpiece production of “The Car” (1977), some of Silverstein’s best-known productions that he worked on in his feature film and television directorial career include Rod Serling‘s classic mammoth CBS television supernatural/sci-fi masterpiece series, “The Twilight Zone” (Silverstein directed four episodes from 1961-64), Herbert B. Leonard‘s classic mammoth Columbia Pictures-Screen Gems/ABC television drama masterpiece series with Martin Milner and George Maharis, “Route 66” (Silverstein directed five episodes from 1960-61), the classic mammoth Columbia Pictures comedy-western feature film masterpiece production of “Cat Ballou” (1965) with Jane Fonda, Lee Marvin, Michael Callan, Dwayne Hickman and musical moments featuring legendary crooner Nat “King” Cole and Stubby Kaye and the classic mammoth western masterpiece “A Man Called Horse” (1970) with Richard Harris, Iron Eyes Cody and Judith Anderson; the aforementioned 1970 production was co-produced by CBS’ theatrical films subsidiary, Cinema Center Films- productions that were produced under CBS’ Cinema Center Films later had television feature film premieres on the CBS television network. The CBS/Cinema Center Films holdings today are still under CBS ownership via Paramount Pictures/Paramount Global (successor to ViacomCBS, under the CBS Studios moniker). -C.H.

Silverstein also directed four episodes of the classic mammoth HBO premium cable television horror masterpiece adaptation of EC Comics’ “Tales from the Crypt” (Silverstein directed episodes from 1991-94, the aforementioned HBO series was later syndicated to local TV stations from coast-to-coast via the original incarnation of Genesis Entertainment/New World Entertainment).

Veteran producer Marvin Birdt co-produced the classic mammoth 1977 Universal action-adventure-thriller masterpiece with Silverstein.  According to IMDB, “The Car” was the only feature film production that Birdt worked on with Silverstein.

The original story and screenplay treatment for “The Car” was written by veteran screenwriters Michael Butler and Dennis Shyrack.  Butler previously wrote several episodes of the classic mammoth Universal Studios/NBC TV detective masterpiece series production of “Ironside” with Raymond Burr (of TV’s “Perry Mason” fame), Don Mitchell, Barbara Andersen and Don Galloway (Butler wrote five episodes of the series from 1972-74). To paraphrase Sven, “Michael Butler wrote for another series that featured TV’s.. Raymond ‘Perry Mason’ Burr!” -C.H.   Butler also co-created with veteran producer Jay Bernstein the short-lived Columbia Pictures/CBS television crime drama series with Michael Paré and Michael Beck; “Houston Knights” (1987-88).

The screenplay adaptation of “The Car” (1977) was also co-written by veteran screenwriter/producer Lane Slate.  Slate wrote the screenplay for Lou Antonio‘s classic mammoth Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)/NBC TV made-for-TV mystery masterpiece production of “The Girl in the Empty Grave” (1977) with Andy Griffith (of TV’s “The Andy Griffith Show” and “Matlock” fame), Jonathan Banks, James Cromwell, Mitzi Hoag, Eddie Foy Jr. and George Gaynes, which was one in a series of classic mammoth MGM/NBC made-for-TV mystery movie masterpieces featuring Griffith in the character of Abel Marsh.

Butler and Shyrack’s screenplay was originally under the title of “Wheels” and was changed to “The Car” after Universal executives bought the screen rights to Butler and Shyrack’s treatment since rival United Artists had the feature film rights to Arthur Hailey’s novel of “Wheels,”  according to the American Film Institute.

According to the American Film Institute’s database article on “The Car,” First Artists Productions originally wanted to adapt Butler and Shyrack’s screenplay into a feature film production until Universal Studios bought the screenplay rights.  First Artists was a production company that was founded in 1969 by Barbra Streisand, Sidney Poitier, Steve McQueen and Paul Newman; Dustin Hoffman would later join the venture in 1972. Streisand, Poitier, McQueen, Hoffman and Newman’s First Artists released the majority of their productions through movie theater/cineplex firm National General and after National General’s exit from film distribution; Warner Bros.; according to New York Magazine and a 1979 New York Times article.

This will mark Sven’s fifth big broadcast of “The Car” (1977) on the airlanes of Me-TV.  He had previously showcased Silverstein’s classic mammoth Universal action-thriller masterpiece production as a big Me-TV broadcast premiere back in Dec. 2011* and as regular Me-TV big broadcasts back in April 2016, July 2017 and June 2019.

Who was in Elliot Silverstein’s 1977 Universal action thriller?

The players who appeared in “The Car” (1977) were James Brolin (as Wade Parent), Kathleen Lloyd (as Lauren), Kim Richards (as Lynn Marie), John Marley (as Everett), R.G. Armstrong (as Amos), Eddie Little Sky (as Denson), Elizabeth Thompson (as Margie), Ronny Cox (as Luke), Kyle Richards (as Debbie), Doris Dowling (as Bertha), Robert Phillips (as Metcalf), Kate Murtagh (as Ms. MacDonald), Henry O’Brien (as Chas), John Rubenstein (as John Morris), Lee McLaughlin (as Marvin Fats) and Roy Jenson (as Ray Mott), Read Morgan (as Mac Gruder), Geraldine Keams (as Donna), Melody Thomas Scott (as Suzie Pullbrook) and Steve Gravers (as Mr. Mackey).

“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast premiere of “Destroy All Monsters” (1968), this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie SvenPals everywhere will be dancing & jumping for joy for his big broadcast premiere of a classic mammoth kaiju monster battle masterpiece from Japan’s Toho Studios.

“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast premiere of “Destroy All Monsters” (1968)

Original 1968 Toho Studios trailer for the original theatrical release of Ishirô Honda‘s “Destroy All Monsters” in Japan.

Original 1968 Toho Studios Japanese-language theatrical release poster for :Destroy All Monsters” in Japan.

The legendary and iconic Berwyn/Chicago-based classic mammoth monster/creature film host will present his big broadcast premiere of “Destroy All Monsters” (1968), this Sat., April 29 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

The classic mammoth 1968 Toho Studios kaiju creature battle masterpiece production of “Destroy All Monsters” was co-directed by  veteran Toho Studios feature film director and the father of kaiju creature cinema, Ishirô Honda and veteran Toho Studios feature film drector Jun Fukuda.

Honda’s best-known productions throughout his feature film directorial career include his classic mammoth Toho Studios pioneering kaiju creature masterpiece production of “Gojira”/”Godzilla” (1954, released in the United States under the title of “Godzilla, King of the Monsters!” with added scenes directed by Terry O. Morse that featured Raymond Burr of TV’s “Perry Mason” fame), “Rodan“ (1956), “Mothra” (1961, released through Columbia Pictures in the United States), “King Kong vs. Godzilla” (1963, released through Universal Studios in the United States). “Mothra vs. Godzilla” (1964, released theatrically in the United States by Samuel Z. Arkoff and James H. Nicholson’s American-International Pictures under the title of “Godzilla vs. the Thing”), “Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster” (1964), “The War of the Gargantuas” (1966), “All Monsters Attack” (1969, released theatrically in the United States under the title of “Godzilla’s Revenge”) and “Terror of Mechagodzilla” (1975).

Alongside his numerous classic mammoth Toho Studios kaiju creature cinema masterpiece productions throughout the majority of his filmmaking career, Honda also specialized in several classic mammoth sci-fi feature film masterpiece productions for Toho Studios included “The H-Man” (1958) and “Battle in Outer Space” (1959, both of Honda’s Toho productions of “The H-Man and “Battle in Outer Space” were released theatrically in the United States through Columbia Pictures by arrangement with Toho Studios, Sony/Columbia still owns the North American theatrical re-release, television syndication and home entertainment distribution rights to Honda’s classic mammoth Toho Studios masterpiece productions of “The H-Man,” “Battle in Outer Space” and “Mothra”).

Jun Fukuda previously directed the classic mammoth Toho Studios action-adventure spy comedy masterpiece production of “Ironfinger” (1965) with Akira Takarada, Mie Hama and Ichirô Arishima; which was Toho Studios’ answer to the classic mammoth Guy Hamilton-Eon Productions-United Artists “James Bond”/”007” action-adventure spy masterpiece production of “Goldfinger” (1964) with Sean Connery.  Fukuda’s first kaiju creature production was his classic mammoth Toho Studios kaiju creature battle masterpiece production of “Ebirah, Horror of the Deep” (1966).  His other classic mammoth Toho Studios kaiju creature masterpiece productions include “Son of Godzilla” (1967), “Godzilla vs. Gigan” (1972), “Godzilla vs. Megalon” (1973), “Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla” (1974) and “Terror of Mechagodzilla” (1975).

The original screenplay for the classic mammoth Honda-Fukuda production of “Destroy All Monsters” (1968) for Toho Studios was co-written by Honda, along with veteran screenwriter Takeshi Kimura;  who received screen credit under the pseudonym of Kaoru Mabuchi.

Veteran Toho Studios producer Tomoyuki Tanaka produced the original Japanese theatrical release edition of Honda’s classic mammoth 1968 kaiju creature masterpiece production.  Tanaka helped supervise many of the classic mammoth Toho Studios “Gojira”/”Godzilla” kaiju creature feature masterpiece productions for the majority of his career; dating back to Honda’s original classic mammoth 1954 Toho Studios “Gojira”/”Godzilla” kaiju creature masterpiece production and concluding with Tako Okawara‘s modern classic mammoth Toho Studios “Gojira”/”Godzilla” kajiu creature masterpiece production of “Godzilla vs. Destoroyah” (1995, the North American theatrical dub release was later handled through Columbia Pictures/Sony’s TriStar Pictures imprint).  Alongside Honda, it was noted that Tanaka was the other pioneer of Toho Studios’ classic mammoth kaiju creature masterpiece productions, notably for the studio’s classic mammoth “Gojira”/”Godzilla” kaiju feature film masterpiece productions.

“The Monsters are in Revolt!” “The Battle-Cry that could save the World!” Original 1968 American-International theatrical poster art for the theatrical release of Toho Studios’ “Destroy All Monsters.”

The North American dubbed theatrical release edition of Honda’s classic mammoth 1968 Toho Studios kaiju creature battle masterpiece production of “Destroy All Monsters” was handled by  Samuel Z. Arkoff and James H. Nicholson’s American-International Pictures.  Both Arkoff and Nicholson established American-International as the American Releasing Corporation in 1954, according to the Samuel Z. Arkoff papers collection housed at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California.   Arkoff later sold American-International to television and feature film production-syndication company Filmways in 1979, which was later acquired by Orion Pictures in 1982.  Orion, along with the majority of the American-International (AIP)/Filmways holdings were then sold to the present incarnation of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in 1997.  Following MGM’s re-introduction of the “Orion Pictures” name for current feature films and current television productions, the modern incarnation of MGM recently revived the “American-International Pictures” name for select theatrical releases/feature film productions.

Alongside “Destroy All Monsters” (1968), Arkoff and Nicholson’s American-International Pictures also handled the North American theatrical dub releases of the classic mammoth Toho Studios kaiju creature battle masterpiece, “Godzilla vs. Mothra” (1964, released under the title of “Godzilla vs. the ‘Thing'”) and Yoshimitsu Banno’s classic mammoth Toho Studios “Gojira”/”Godzilla” kaiju creature masterpiece installment, “Godzilla vs. Hedorah” (1971, released in 1972 by American-International under the title of “Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster”).

Who was in Ishirō Honda’s classic mammoth Toho Studios kaiju creature battle masterpiece production of “Destroy All Monsters” (1968)?

The players who appeared in Ishirō Honda’s classic mammoth Toho Studios kaiju creature battle masterpiece production of “Destroy All Monsters” (1968) were veteran Toho Studios stunt performer/kaiju creature suit stunt performer Haruo Nakajima (in the dual kaiju creature roles of Gojira/Godzilla and Baragon and in a human role as one of the Military Advisors), veteran stunt performer Teruo Nigaki (as Rodan), veteran stunt performer Yû Sekita (in the dual kaiju creature roles of Anguirus and Gorosaurus and in a human role as one of the medical doctors), veteran stunt performer Masao “Little Man” Machan Fukazawa (as Minya/Manilla), veteran stunt performer Susumu Utsumi (as King Ghidorah), Kenji Sahara (as Commander Nishikawa), Akira Kubo (as SY-3 Capt. Katsuo Yamabe), Jun Tazaki (as Dr. Yoshido), Yukiko Kobayashi (as Kyoko Manabe), Yoshio Tsuchiya (as Dr. Otani), Kyôko Ai (as the Kilaak Queen), Andrew Hughes (as Dr. Stevenson), Chôtarô Tôgin (as Ogata), Yoshifumi Tajima (as a General), Hisaya Itô (as Maj. Tada), Yoshio Katsube (as a young scientist), Heihachirô Ôkawa (as an engineer), Ikio Sawamura (as an old farmer), Saburô Iketani (as a news anchor/presenter), Wataru Ômae (as an SY-3 astronaut), Yutaka Sada (as a police officer), Atsuko Takahashi, Rei Maki, Yoshio Miyata, Ari Sagawa, Kôko Mori, Midori Uchiyama, Wakako Tanabe and Michiko Ishii (as Kilaaks); Kazuo Suzuki, Tôru Ibuki, Susumu Kurobe and Minoru Itô (as Kilaak-controlled officers).

“Svengoolie” to present his big broadcast of “The Mole People” (1956), this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie SvenPals everywhere will be jumping for joy for his big broadcast of a classic mammoth Universal Studios sci-fi fantasy creature masterpiece.

“Svengoolie” to present his big broadcast of “The Mole People” (1956)

Original 1956 Universal Studios theatrical trailer for “The Mole People.”

With an Australian film classification rating of “R!” Original 1956 Universal Studios Australian theatrical poster art for “The Mole People.”

The legendary and iconic Berwyn/Chicago-based classic mammoth sci-fi/creature feature film masterpiece host will present his big broadcast of “The Mole People” (1956), this Sat.; April 22 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

The classic mammoth Universal sci-fi creature masterpiece production The Mole People” was directed by veteran Universal editor-turned-director Virgil Vogel.  Vogel spent most of his career at Universal, several of classic mammoth Universal Studios masterpiece productions that he edited for theatrical release included  Charles Lamont’s classic mammoth Universal monster-comedy masterpiece,  “Abbott & Costello Meet the Invisible Man” (1951) with Bud Abbott, Lou Costello,  Arthur Franz,  John Daheim, Nancy Guild,  Adele Jergens, Sheldon Leonard and William Frawley of TV’s “I Love Lucy” and the early years of “My Three Sons”/”Binge the Cringe” fame, Joseph Newman’s classic mammoth Universal sci-fi masterpiece production of “This Island Earth” (1955) with Regis Parton, Charlotte Alpert, Jeff Morrow, Faith Domergue, Rex Reason, Russell Johnson of TV’s “Gilligan’s Island” fame, Lance Fuller, Robert Nichols, Richard Deacon of TV’s “Leave It to Beaver” and “The Dick Van Dyke Show” fame and Olan Soule and supervised the editing of Orson Welles’ classic mammoth Universal film noir-drama masterpiece adaptation of Whit Masterson’s “Badge of Evil;” “Touch of Evil” (1958) with Janet Leigh, Welles, Dennis Weaver, Charlton Heston, Joanna Moore and Ray Collins of TV’s “Perry Mason” fame.

“The Mole People” (1956) marked Vogel’s directorial debut at Universal.  Virgil Vogel’s other classic mammoth Universal feature film productions include “The Land Unknown” (1957, with Jock Mahoney, Shawn Smith, William Reynolds, Henry Brandon, Douglas Kennedy and Phil Harvey) and the finale feature in Universal’s “Ma and Pa Kettle” comedy series (sans Percy Kilbride), “The Kettles on Old MacDonald’s Farm” (1957, with Marjorie Main, Parker Fennelly, Gloria Talbott and a young Claude Akins).  The screenplay for Vogel’s 1956 Universal creature production was written by veteran screenwriter László Görög. “The Mole People” was produced by veteran Universal feature film producer William Alland.  One of Vogel’s final productions in his career was also at his home studio of Universal, he directed one episode of the classic mammoth Donald P. Bellisario-Universal-NBC television sci-fi/fantasy/supernatural/time travel masterpiece series with Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell; “Quantum Leap” (1991’s “A Single Drop of Rain- Sept. 7, 1953“).

This will mark Sven’s ninth big broadcast of  Virgil Vogel’s classic mammoth 1956 Universal sci-fi/fantasy/creature masterpiece production of “The Mole People” (1956) on Me-TV.  He previously aired Virgil Vogel’s classic Universal sci-fi creature/fantasy-thriller masterpiece back in Oct. 2011*, March 2012*, Sept. 2012*, April 2013, Jan. 2014, Dec. 2015,  June 2018 and Feb. 2020.

Who was in Virgil Vogel’s Universal creature production of “The Mole People?”

The players who appeared in “The Mole People” were John Agar (as Dr. Roger Bentley), Cynthia Patrick (as Adad/Adel), Hugh Beaumont (as Dr. Jud Bellamin), Alan Napier (as the High Priest Elinu), Nestor Paiva (as Prof. Etienne Lafarge), Rodd Redwing (as Nazar), Robin Hughes (as a first officer), Dr. Frank C. Baxter (as himself), Phil Chambers (as Dr. Paul Stuart), and the “Mole People” creature ensemble of Bob Herron, Bob Hoy, Joe Rubino and Eddie Parker.