Fellow Svengoolie SvenPals everywhere will be jumping for joy for his big broadcast of a classic mammoth Universal Studios arachnid creature masterpiece.
“Svengoolie” to present his big broadcast of “Tarantula” (1955)
A snippet from Jack Arnold‘s classic mammoth Universal Studios sci-fi creature masterpiece production of “Tarantula” (1955).
“Giant Spider Strikes!” “Suitable Only for Adults!” Original 1955 Universal Studios Australian theatrical poster artwork with an Australian cinema warning for “Tarantula.”
The legendary Berwyn/Chicago-based classic creature/sci-fi film host will present his big broadcast of “Tarantula” (1955), this Sat., Jan. 15 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.
The 1955 classic mammoth Universal arachnid sci-fi creature feature film production masterpiece was directed by veteran Universal Studios director Jack Arnold. In addition to his classic mammoth Universal sci-fi creature masterpiece production of “Tarantula” (1955), Arnold’s other classic mammoth Universal monster/creature and sci-fi masterpiece productions include “It Came from Outer Space” (1953, with Richard Carlson, Barbara Rush, a pre-“Gilligan’s Island” Russell Johnson, Charles Drake and Kathleen Hughes), “Creature From the Black Lagoon” (1954, with Ricou Browning, Julie Adams, Ben Chapman, Richard Carlson and Richard Denning), “Revenge of the Creature” (1955, Arnold’s sequel to “Creature From the Black Lagoon;” with Browning, Lori Nelson, Tom Hennesy and John Agar), “The Incredible Shrinking Man” (1957, with Grant Williams, April Kent and Randy Stuart) and “Monster on the Campus” (1958, with Eddie Parker, Joanna Moore, Troy Donahue and Arthur Franz).
“Tarantula” (1955) was produced by veteran Universal producer and Arnold’s feature film co-collaborator William Alland. Before going into the field of producing feature films, Alland was originally an actor. Alland previously appeared in the role of Jerry Thompson in Orson Welles’ critically-acclaimed classic mammoth RKO Radio Pictures-Mercury Players screen drama masterpiece, “Citizen Kane” (1941).
Adapted from an original story idea by Jack Arnold and veteran writer-director-producer Robert M. Fresco, the screenplay for the 1955 Universal sci-fi arachnid creature production was written by Fresco with veteran screenwriter Martin Berkeley.
The Universal production of “Tarantula” (1955) was formatted/filmed for both the widescreen matted 1.85:1 aspect ratio and the “Academy” aspect ratio format of 1.37:1 for the original theatrical release at the insistence of studio executives, to benefit theaters that were capable of projecting widescreen feature film releases could screen “Tarantula” in the matted 1.85:1 aspect ratio and to benefit theaters who were still using the unmatted “Academy” aspect ratio format of 1.37:1, the unmated version was later used for broadcast television syndication and latter home entertainment release editions of Arnold’s 1955 classic mammoth Universal creature production; according to Nathaniel Thompson’s Turner Classic Movies online archived article on Jack Arnold’s production of “Tarantula.”
“Double ‘shock’ show!” “Concessions are piling up record grosses, too!” Original 1955 Universal Studios exhibitors’ twinset leaflet for the double-feature theatrical release of “Tarantula” and “Running Wild.”
According to the Nov. 1955 edition of Motion Picture Herald. Jack Arnold’s classic mammoth Universal creature masterpiece production of “Tarantula” (1955) was released theatrically as a double-feature presentation from coast-to-coast with Abner Biberman’s classic mammoth Universal film noir-drama-crime feature production, “Running Wild” (1955) with Mamie Van Doren, Keenan Wynn, William Campbell, Kathleen Case, Jan Merlin, Walter Coy, Chris Randall and John Saxon.
This will mark Sven’s seventh big broadcast of “Tarantula” (1955) on Me-TV. He previously showcased Arnold’s classic mammoth 1955 Universal sci-fi arachnid creature feature masterpiece back in Aug. 2011 as a big coast-to-coast broadcast premiere*, Dec. 2012*, Feb. 2014, Nov. 2015, Oct. 2017 and Oct. 2020.
In Sven’s home area of Berwyn/Chicago, Illinois during his WFLD-32 Berwyn/Chicago days as the Son of Svengoolie; he previously showcased the classic 1955 Universal-Jack Arnold mammoth arachnid creature masterpiece production as a Berwyn/Chicago “Son of Sven” big broadcast premiere in Jan. 1981; according to IMDB.
Sven in his WFLD Berwyn/Chicago “Son of Sven” days also showcased “Tarantula” (1955) in July 1982; according to Berwyn Chicago television archivist Rick Klein’s FuzzyMemoriesTV: The Museum of Classic Chicago Television and in an unknown airdate during the 1979-86 WFLD years, according to a classic “Son of Sven” opening with Doug Graves, according to Obsolete Video Services.
Who was in Jack Arnold’s classic mammoth Universal arachnid sci-fi creature masterpiece production of “Tarantula” (1955)?
The players who appeared in Jack Arnold’s classic mammoth Universal arachnid sci-fi creature feature masterpiece production “Tarantula” (1955) were John Agar (as Dr. Matt Hastings), Mara Corday (as Stephanie “Steve” Clayton), Leo G. Carroll (as Prof. Gerald Deemer), Nestor Paiva (as Sheriff Jack Andrews), young Clint Eastwood (in an uncredited role as a jet squadron leader), young Bing Russell (in an uncredited role as a deputized townsman), Edwin Rand (as Lt. John Nolan), Steve Darrell (as Andy Anderson), Dee Carroll (in an uncredited role as a telephone operator), Ross Elliott (as Joe Burch), Hank Patterson (as Josh), Bert Holland (as Barney Russell) and Raymond Bailey (as Townsend).
Silver Screen Reflections 