“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” 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” to present his big broadcast of “The Raven” (1963) with Vincent Price, this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie Super SvenPals everywhere will be dancing & jumping for joy for his big broadcast of a classic mammoth American-International macabre adaptation masterpiece.

“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast of “The Raven” (1963) with Vincent Price

A snippet from Roger Corman’s classic mammoth American-International macabre thriller-comedy masterpiece adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe‘s “The Raven” (1963) with Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre, Hazel Court and young Jack Nicholson.  From the now-out-of-print Shout! Factory/Scream Factory Vincent Price Blu-Ray compilation set, “The Vincent Price Collection II.”   Kino Lorber’s “KL Studio Classics” imprint currently has the Blu-Ray rights to “The Raven” (1963, by arrangement with the current incarnation of MGM; owners of the American-International/Filmways/Orion holdings).

 

The legendary & iconic Berwyn/Chicago-based classic thriller feature film masterpiece host will present his big broadcast of “The Raven” (1963) this Sat., Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

“The Macabre Masterpiece of Terror!” “Contact your American-International Exchange!” Original 1963 American-International exhibitors’ leaflet for the original theatrical release of “The Raven,” directed by Roger Corman.

The classic mammoth American-International macabre thriller masterpiece production of “The Raven” (1963) was directed by veteran feature film director-producer Roger Corman.   The same year that he worked on his classic mammoth macabre thriller masterpiece adaptation of “The Raven” (1963), Corman also worked on his classic mammoth American-International sci-fi thriller  masterpiece production of  “X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes” (1963) with Ray Milland, Diana Van der Vlis, Don Rickles, Harold J. Stone, John Hoyt, Morris Ankrum, Bert Stevens and Hans Moebus.

Some of Corman’s best-known classic mammoth feature film masterpiece productions that he worked on include “The Fast and the Furious” (1954, with John Ireland and Dorothy Malone; one of the earliest films from Arkoff and Nicholson’s American-International), “It Conquered the World” (1956, with Peter Graves, Beverly Garland and young Lee Van Cleef), “Attack of the Crab Monsters” (1957, with a pre-“Gilligan’s Island” Russell Johnson and Pamela Duncan), “A Bucket of Blood” (1959), the classic mammoth American-International Pictures* masterpiece thriller adaptations of Edgar Allen Poe’s “House of Usher” (1960, with Vincent Price),  tPoe’s “Pit and the Pendulum” (1961, with Vincent Price and Barbara Steele), “Tales of Terror” (the 1962 adaptation of Poe’s short stories with Vincent Price, Maggie Pierce, Peter Lorre and Basil Rathbone), “The Wild Angels” (1966, with Peter Fonda, Nancy Sinatra and Bruce Dern), Corman’s classic mammoth New World masterpiece productions of “Death Race 2000” (1975, with David Carradine,  Simone Griffeth, young Sylvester Stallone and legendary Los Angeles radio disc jockey “The Real” Don Steele), Ron Howard’s “Grand Theft Auto” (1977, with Howard, Nancy Morgan, Marion Ross, Clint Howard and “The Real” Don Steele) and Allan Arkush and Joe Dante’s “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School” (1979, with legendary rock group The Ramones; along with P.J. Soles, Vincent Van Patten and “The Real” Don Steele).  

Corman was motivated to film an adaptation of Poe’s “The Raven” after the instant box-office success of his classic mammoth American-International masterpiece adaptation of Poe’s “Tales of Terror” (1962), according to the American Film Institute’s database entry on the veteran director’s classic mammoth 1963 Poe masterpiece adaptation entry for American-International.  Corman’s classic mammoth American-International feature film masterpiece adaptation of “The Raven” (1963) marked the fifth Edgar Allan Poe-inspired feature film masterpiece adaptation production for  American-International Pictures, according to additional details from Rob Nixon’s Aug. 2012 Turner Classic Movies online article.

Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe‘s 1845 gothic poem of the same name, the screenplay for Corman’s classic mammoth 1963 macabre thriller feature film masterpiece adaptation production was adapted as a screenplay for the veteran director-producer by veteran sci-fi/horror author-screenwriter 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,  Lock Martin of 1951’s “The Day the Earth Stood Still” fame and “Orangey the Cat” of 1951’s “Rhubarb,” 1955’s “This Island Earth” and 1961’s “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” fame.   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 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) 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.  The classic mammoth 1972 ABC “Kolchak” made-for-TV movie masterpiece pilot also served as the inspiration for the classic mammoth ABC “Kolchak” made-for-TV movie pilot sequel masterpiece, “The Night Strangler” (1973) and the brief classic mammoth Universal Studios/ABC TV supernatural masterpiece series, “Kolchak: The Night Stalker” (1974-75, both McGavin and Oakland reprised their roles for the aforementioned 1973 ABC made-for-TV movie sequel and the 1974-75 “Kolchak” series).

Corman’s classic mammoth 1963 macabre masterpiece feature film adaptation production of Poe’s “The Raven” was co-produced and released by Samuel Z. Arkoff and James H. Nicholson’s  production/distribution/releasing firm, 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/Filmways holdings** was then sold to the present incarnation of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in 1997.  Inspired by MGM’s re-introduction of the “Orion Pictures” moniker for feature films and television productions (minus modern TV syndication of feature films, where the American-International/Filmways/Orion holdings are still syndicated under the MGM Television moniker), the modern incarnation of MGM recently revived the “American-International Pictures” (AIP) moniker for certain theatrical releases/feature film productions for theatrical release and premium streaming/video-on-demand service providers.

This will mark Sven’s second coast-to-coast big broadcast of Corman’s classic mammoth 1963 American-International macabre thriller masterpiece adaptation production on the airlanes of Me-TV.  He previously showcased Corman’s classic mammoth American-International masterpiece adaptation production of “The Raven” (1963) as a coast-to-coast big broadcast premiere back in Jan. 2023, which also marked the first expanded big broadcast of Sven’s Saturday evening Me-TV classic mammoth thriller/horror/monster/sci-fi masterpiece feature film showcases.

During Sven/Rich Koz’s days as the “Son of Svengoolie,” he previously showcased Corman’s classic mammoth American-International macabre feature film masterpiece adaptation of Poe’s “The Raven” (1963) on WFLD in Berwyn/Chicago back in March 1981 and in Jan. 1982, according to IMDB.

Sven also previously showcased the classic mammoth Roger Corman/American-International masterpiece production of “The Raven” (1963) as a Berwyn/Chicago big broadcast on his hometown TV station in Berwyn/Chicago, WCIU-TV 26 back in Dec. 2006; according to IMDB and fellow wonderful Super SvenPal/Super Tooner Dave Fuentes of “Terror From Beyond the Dave” fame & his recording of maestro Sven & maestro Doug Graves’ classic WCIU Berwyn/Chicago Sven parody song for Corman’s American-International adaptation of Poe’s “The Raven” (1963) via Dave’s official YouTube channel.

Who was in Roger Corman’s classic mammoth American-International macabre-thriller masterpiece adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” (1963)?

The players who appeared in Roger Corman’s classic mammoth feature film masterpiece adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” (1963) for Samuel Z. Arkoff and James H. Nicholson’s American-International Pictures were Vincent Price (as Dr. Erasmus Craven), Peter Lorre (as Dr. Adolphus Bedlo), Boris Karloff (as Dr. Scarabus), Hazel Court (as Lenore Craven), Olive Sturgess (as Estelle Craven), young Jack Nicholson as Rexford Bedlo, Connie Wallace (as a Maid), William Baskin (as Grimes), Aaron Saxon (as Gort), Leo Gordon (in an uncredited role as the voice of Grimes) and Dick Johnstone (in an uncredited role as Roderick Craven).

“Svengoolie” presents his big Me-TV premiere of “Empire of the Ants” (1977) w/Joan Collins, this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie Super SvenPals everywhere will be dancing & jumping for joy for his upcoming big coast-to-coast premiere of a cult classic mammoth American-International sci-fi thriller masterpiece.

“Svengoolie” presents his big coast-to-coast premiere of “Empire of the Ants” (1977) with Joan Collins

Original 1977 American-International Pictures theatrical release trailer for Bert I. Gordon‘s classic mammoth sci-fi thriller masterpiece production of “Empire of the Ants” with Joan Collins.

“For they shall inherit the earth.. sooner than you think!” Original 1977 American-International Pictures theatrical poster art for Bert I. Gordon’s “Empire of the Ants” featuring Joan Collins.

The legendary and iconic Berwyn/Chicago-based classic mammoth sci-fi thriller masterpiece host will present his big coast-to-coast broadcast premiere of “Empire of the Ants” (1977), this Sat.; Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

The classic mammoth 1977 American-International sci-fi thriller masterpiece production of “Empire of the Ants” was directed by veteran feature film director  Bert I. Gordon.  Some of Gordon’s best-known cult classic sci-fi/visual effects feature film masterpiece productions include  “The Cyclops” (1957) for Allied Artists with Lon Chaney Jr., “Beginning of the End” (1957)* with Peter Graves, Peggie Castle and Morris Ankrum; “Earth vs. the Spider” (1958, a.k.a. “The Spider”)* with Ed Kemmer, June Kenney and Hank Patterson; “Tormented” (1960) for Allied Artists with Richard Carlson, Susan Gordon, Lugene Sanders and the vocal stylings of Paul Frees; “Village of the Giants” (1965) for Joseph E. Levine’s Embassy Pictures with Ron “Ronny” Howard, legendary singer Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon (who wrote/performed the mammoth 2016 Sven song masterpiece with Sven, “the Svengoolie Stomp”), Joy Harmon, Beau Bridges, Tisha Sterling, Johnny Crawford, The Beau Brummels, Tommy Kirk, Toni Basil, Rance Howard, Tim Rooney  and Orangey the Cat.

The 1977 Bert I. Gordon/American-International feature production of “Empire of the Ants” was loosely inspired by a short story written by veteran science fiction author and novelist H.G. Wells.  The screenplay adaptation of Wells’ short story that inspired the production of “Empire of the Ants” was co-written by Gordon and veteran TV/feature film screenwriter Jack Turley.   Alongside his numerous TV and feature film screenwriting credits, Turley previously wrote the teleplay for two episodes of the brief classic mammoth Leslie Stevens–Warner Bros./NBC masterpiece adventure series “Search” (inspired by Stevens and Russ Mayberry‘s earlier classic mammoth 1972 Warner Bros./NBC made-for-TV movie masterpiece, “Probe“) that had an alternating lead for each episode of the week (Hugh O’Brian, Anthony Franciosa and Doug McClure) along with Burgess Meredith (Turley wrote the teleplay for 1972’s “The Andonis File” with O’Brian in the lead and 1973’s “The 24 Carat Hit” with Franciosa in the lead).

*For the majority of his motion picture directorial career, Gordon released his classic mammoth “giant” sci-fi/creature masterpiece productions, including “Empire of the Ants” (1977) through Samuel Z. Arkoff‘s American-International Pictures . Arkoff and James H. Nicholson established American-International Pictures in 1954, according to the Samuel Z. Arkoff papers collection housed at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. During Nicholson’s final years at AIP, he often had personal and professional disagreements with co-founder Samuel Z. Arkoff, according to Eamon Harrington and John Watkin’s retrospective documentary on American-International Pictures titled;  “It Conquered Hollywood! The Story of American International Pictures” (2001).  Nicholson then worked for a brief while for rival studio Twentieth Century Fox (Twentieth Century Studios), but was short-lived, as Nicholson’s health declined due to a brain tumor.  Arkoff mentioned that in Nicholson’s last days that he was the only person outside of Nicholson’s family that kept in touch with him.  Nicholson died on Dec. 10, 1972; according to IMDB.

After Arkoff managed the company by himself, he sold American-International to Filmways in 1979, which was later acquired by Orion Pictures in 1982.  Orion (along with the majority of the American-International/Filmways holdings)** was then sold to the present incarnation of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in 1997.  Following MGM’s recent revival of the “Orion Pictures” moniker, the studio recently revived the “American-International Pictures” moniker. The classic mammoth 1977 sci-fi thriller masterpiece production of “Empire of the Ants” was co-produced between Arkoff’s American-International Pictures and Gordon’s “Cinema 77 Productions” moniker.

Who was in Bert I. Gordon’s American-International production of “Empire of the Ants” (1977)?

The players who appeared in Gordon’s classic mammoth American-International sci-fi/insect thriller masterpiece production of “Empire of the Ants” (1977) were Joan Collins (as Marilyn Fryser), Robert Lansing (as Dan Stokely), Robert Pine (as Larry Graham), John David Carson (as Joe Morrison), Albert Salmi (as Sheriff Art Kincade), Jacqueline Scott (as Margaret Ellis), Pamela Susan Shoop (as Coreen Bradford), Edward Power (as Charlie Pearson), Brooke Palance (as Christine Graham), Tom Fadden (as Sam Russell), Irene Tedrow (as Velma Thompson), Harry Holcombe (as Harry Thompson), Jack Kosslyn (as Thomas Lawson), Ilse Earl (as Mary Lawson), Janie Gavin (as Ginny), Norman Franklin (as Anson Parker), Florance McGee (as Phoebe Russell), Jim Wheelus (as a crewman), Mike Armstrong (as Jim), Tom Ford (as Pete), Charles Redd (as a taxi driver) and the vocal stylings of Marvin Miller (as the opening narrator).

“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast of “Konga” (1961), this Sat. on Me-TV

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

“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast of “Konga” (1961)

Original British theatrical release trailer for “Konga” (1961) with Paul Stockman and Michael Gough, co-produced and released in the United States through American-International Pictures.

“Not since ‘King Kong’ has the screen exploded with such mighty fury and spectacle!” “In SpectaMation!” Original 1961 American-International theatrical poster art element for “Konga.”

The legendary Berwyn/Chicago-based classic mammoth creature/sci-fi feature film masterpiece host will present his big broadcast premiere of “Konga” (1961), this Sat.; Aug. 19 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

The classic mammoth 1961 sci-fi/creature feature film masterpiece production of “Konga” was directed by veteran producer-director John Lemont.  During his brief directorial career, Lemont previously directed the classic mammoth mystery-crime drama masterpiece production of “The Green Buddha” (1954) for Herbert J. Yates’ Republic Pictures with Wayne Morris, Mary Germaine, Wolf Frees and Mary Merrall.   He directed the classic mammoth British crime drama masterpiece production of “The Shakedown” (1960, released theatrically in the United States through Universal Studios) with Terence Morgan, Hammer Films legend Hazel Court, young Donald Pleasence, Bill Owen (Owen went onto greater fame for his role of Compo Simmonite in BBC‘s long-running classic mammoth British TV comedy masterpiece series, “Last of the Summer Wine” with Peter Sallis; Owen appeared in the series from 1973 until his death in 1999) and Eddie Byrne.

Lemont’s production of “Konga” (1961) was co-produced by veteran producer Herman Cohen and veteran British feature film producers/studio heads Nat Cohen and Stuart Levy.  Sidebar: Both Herman Cohen and Nat Cohen were not related to one another. -C.H.  Herman Cohen previously produced Herbert L. Strock’s classic mammoth American-International monster masterpiece production of “I Was a Teenage Frankenstein” (1957), Gene Fowler Jr.’s classic mammoth American-International monster masterpiece production of “I Was a Teenage Werewolf” (1957, with young Michael Landon, who later went onto greater fame on three NBC television series throughout his career, notably for TV’s “Bonanza,” the NBC adaptation of “Little House on the Prairie” and “Highway to Heaven”) and “How to Make A Monster” (1958).  Some of Herman 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 Herman Cohen.

Nat Cohen and Stuart Levy founded Britain’s Anglo-Amalgated Productions in 1945 and was responsible for the introduction of the long-running classic mammoth British comedy feature film masterpiece series, “Carry On;” beginning with Peter Rogers‘ “Carry On, Sergeant” (1958, with young Bill Owen, a pre-“Doctor Who” William Hartnell and a pre-“Allo, Allo!” Kenneth Connor).  Both Cohen and Levy later sold half of their shares in their production-releasing firm to competing British entertainment firm Associated British Picture Corporation in 1962, according to a 1963 edition of Boxoffice’s “Barometer” supplement and the British Film Institute.  ABPC also handled the British theatrical distribution of Warner Bros.‘ then-current classic mammoth feature film releases and of interest to fellow Super Tooners/Super SvenPals of Toony & Bill’s “Toon In WIth Me,” Warners’ then-current classic mammoth “Looney Tunes” and “Merrie Melodies” theatrical cartoon masterpieces.

Britain’s ABPC was also known for their partial ownership of one of Britain’s major feature film & TV production studio facilities, Elstree Studios.

Associated British/ABPC and its affiliated companies were then later sold to Britain’s major recorded music & electronics firm, EMI in 1969, according to the British Film Institute.  In the United States, EMI was known for its ownership of Capitol Records from 1955 until EMI’s demise in 2012 according to the EMI Archive Trust and The Hollywood Reporter (Capitol Records and select EMI recorded music holdings were sold to competitor Universal Music Group in 2012, operating today under the “Capitol Music Group” unit of Universal Music).

Lemont’s classic mammoth 1961 British sci-fi creature feature film masterpiece production was co-produced and released by Samuel Z. Arkoff and James H. Nicholson’s independent distribution/releasing firm, 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 (minus modern TV syndication of feature films & select American-International/Filmways/Orion TV productions, where the American-International/Filmways/Orion holdings are syndicated under MGM Television), the modern incarnation of MGM revived the “American-International Pictures” (AIP) name in Oct. 2020 for certain theatrical releases/feature film productions.

Herman Cohen previously served as a producer for Arthur Crabtree’s classic mammoth British “Hypnovista” horror-mystery masterpiece production of “Horrors of the Black Museum” (1959) which was handled in Britain by Nat Cohen and Stuart Levy’s Anglo-Amalgamated and was handled in the United States by Samuel Z. Arkoff and James H. Nicholson’s American-International Pictures.

Jan. 1962 congratulatory ad from Nat Cohen and Stuart Levy to Samuel Z. Arkoff and James H. Nicholson on the success of American-International Pictures.

Because of the working relationship between the two companies across the pond during the original theatrical release of “Horrors of the Black Musem,” Nat Cohen and Stuart Levy distributed and released American-International’s output in Britain, while Samuel Z. Arkoff and James H. Nicholson would co-produce/co-finance several British productions for Nat Cohen and Stuart Levy’s Anglo-Amalgamated for release through American-International for the North American theatrical release market; according to a Jan. 1963 Motion Picture exhibitor article.

This will mark Sven’s second big broadcast of the classic mammoth 1961 American-International sci-fi creature masterpiece production on the airlanes of Me-TV. He previously showcased “Konga” (1961) as a big broadcast premiere back in March 2023.

Who was in “Konga” (1961)?

The players who appeared in in John Lemont’s classic mammoth 1961 American-International creature/sci-fi masterpiece feature were Paul Stockman (in an uncredited role as Konga), Michael Gough (as Dr. Charles Decker), Claire Gordon (as Sandra Banks), Jess Conrad (as Bob Kenton), Austin Trevor (as Dean Foster), Jack Watson (as Superintendent Brown), George Pastell (as Prof. Tagore), Vanda Godsell  (as Bob’s Mother), Leonard Sachs (as Bob’s Father), Stanley Morgan (as Inspector Lawson), Grace Arnold (as Miss Barnesdall), John Welsh (as Commissioner Garland), Nicholas Bennett (as Daniel), Kim Tracy (as Mary), Waveney Lee (as Janet) and Rupert Osborne (as Eric).

“Svengoolie” presents his big coast-to-coast premiere/”Ghoulies” (1984), this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie SvenPals will be dancing & jumping for joy for his upcoming big broadcast premiere of a cult classic mammoth creature/sci-fi farce masterpiece.

“Svengoolie” presents his big coast-to-coast premiere of “Ghoulies” (1984)

Original 1984 Empire Pictures* theatrical trailer for Luca Bercovici‘s “Ghoulies” (1984).

“They’ll Get You in the End!” Original 1984/85 Empire Pictures* theatrical poster art for “Ghoulies.”

The legendary and iconic Berwyn/Chicago-based classic mammoth sci-fi/creature feature film masterpiece host will present his big coast-to-coast broadcast premiere of “Ghoulies” (1984) this Sat., July 8 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

The cult classic mammoth 1984 sci-fi/creature feature film farce masterpiece was directed by actor-turned-director-turned-producer Luca Bercovici.  Bercovici previously appeared in Corey Allen and Quinn Martin‘s classic mammoth QM Productions-Taft/CBS made-for-TV movie detective/crime drama masterpiece continuation of the earlier classic mammoth 1971-76 Quinn Martin/CBS detective-crime drama masterpiece series, “Cannon;” “The Return of Frank Cannon” (1980) with William Conrad reprising his role of Frank Cannon.  One year later, Bercovici appeared in the role of Dukes in Harvey S. Laidman and Jerry London‘s made-for-TV movie pilot episode of the classic mammoth Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)/NBC drama masterpiece series, “Chicago Story” (1981) with young Dennis Franz (later of TV’s “NYPD Blue” fame) and Vincent Baggetta.  Bercovici later appeared in a 1986 episode of Steven Spielberg‘s classic mammoth Amblin/Universal Studios/NBC fantasy anthology masterpiece series, “Amazing Stories” (in the 1986 episode, “No Day at the Beach“).

The production of the cult classic mammoth sci-fi/creature farce masterpiece feature production of “Ghoulies” (1984) marked Bercovici’s feature film directorial debut.  Six years after the production of “Ghoulies,” Luca Bercovici directed the cult classic mammoth rock musical-vampire-comedy farce masterpiece production for Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus‘ Cannon Films/The Cannon Group, “Rockula” (1990) with Dean Cameron, Toni Basil, legendary pioneering rock musician Bo Diddley (who recorded for Chicago’s legendary Chess Records and their “Checker” Records subsidiary in the 1950s), legendary electronic musician Thomas Dolby (of “She Blinded Me With Science” fame) and Tawny Fere’ Ellis.  Bercovici also appeared in his own production of “Rockula.”

Bercovici also co-wrote the screenplay for his own production of “Ghoulies” with veteran screenwriter-turned-producer-turned-director Jefery Levy.  “Ghoulies” also marked the screenwriting debut of Levy after co-writing the original script concept/screenplay with Bercovici.  Levy later directed an episode of the modern classic mammoth Universal Studios/USA Network mystery-detective-comedy masterpiece series with Tony Shalhoub, Traylor Howard, Ted Levine, Jason Gray-Stanford and Stanley Kamel, “Monk” (Levy directed the 2006 episode “Mr. Monk Goes to the Dentist“).   Levy also served as the co-producer of “Ghoulies.”

Bercovici’s production of “Ghoulies” (1984) was co-produced/co-released through Empire Pictures/Empire International*, one of the many startup releasing firms throughout the 1980s that were known for co-producing and releasing feature films with brief theatrical runs that were mostly aimed for the direct-to-video/VHS/Betamax/Laserdisc home entertainment formats at the time, according to IMDB.  Empire Pictures* was established by veteran filmmaker, producer and home entertainment distributor Charles Band in 1983; according to the official website of Charles Band.

Band previously founded Media Home Entertainment (originally founded as Meda Home Entertainment), one of the pioneering home entertainment licensing/distribution companies that released titles on the Betamax and VHS videocassette physical media formats, according to additional details from Band’s website and a 1979 Billboard article on the early rise of Betamax & VHS-based home entertainment formats.

Band’s Media Home Entertainment was primarily known as the company for acquiring the early home entertainment licensing rights to John Carpenter’s classic mammoth Compass International horror-thriller masterpiece production of “Halloween” (1978) with Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence, Nancy Kyes and P.J. Soles; of interest to fellow Super Tooners/Super SvenPals of Toony & Bill’s “Toon In With Me;” the early home entertainment rights to Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson‘s classic mammoth animated TV special masterpieces of Charles Schultz‘s “Peanuts” (under the “Hi-Tops Video” moniker) and early home entertainment rights to select classic mammoth rock concert and/or music video masterpieces via the “Music Media” imprint.

Media also acquired veteran record producer Snuff Garrett‘s “Nostalgia Merchant” imprint, which represented the early home entertainment rights to the classic mammoth feature film masterpiece libraries of RKO Radio Pictures/RKO General-General Tire-GenCorp, National Telefilm Associates/Republic Pictures and the Hal Roach library at the time.  This was before RKO General/RKO Pictures (pre-Turner/pre-Warner Bros.) and NTA/Republic (pre-Spelling/pre-Viacom/Paramount) set up their own home entertainment subsidiaries; the representatives of the Hal Roach library have licensed the rights to the Hal Roach backlog to various home entertainment companies throughout the years. -C.H.

Alongside Jefrey Levy, both Charles Band and Debra Dion served as executive producers of Luca Bercovici’s cult classic mammoth sci-fi/creature farce masterpiece production of “Ghoulies” (1984), according to IMDB.

In Sven/Rich Koz’s home area of Berwyn/Chicago, he previously aired “Ghoulies” (1984) as a Berwyn/Chicago big broadcast premiere on his hometown television station in Berwyn/Chicago, WCIU-TV 26/”The U;” according to additional details from IMDB.

Who was in “Ghoulies” (1984)?

The players who appeared in Luca Bercovici’s cult classic mammoth sci-fi/creature farce masterpiece production of “Ghoulies” (1984) were Peter Liapis (as Jonathan Graves), legendary rock musician Michael Des Barres (as Malcolm Graves), Lisa Pelikan (as Rebecca), Jack Nance (as Wolfgang), young Mariska Hargitay (as Donna), Peter Risch (as Grizzel), Tamara De Treaux (as Greedigut), Scott Thomson (as Mike), Ralph Seymour (as Mark), Keith Joe Dick (as Dick), David Dayan (as Eddie), Victoria Catlin (as Anastasia), Charene Cathleen (as Robin), Bobbie Bresee (as a Temptress), Jamie Bronow (as young Jonathan Graves) and the vocal stylings of Brian Connolly, Annie Stocking and Craig Talmy (for the vocalizations of the “Ghoulie” creatures).

“Svengoolie” presents his big coast-to-coast premiere of “The Thing with Two Heads” (1972), this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie SvenPals everywhere will be dancing & jumping for joy for his big coast-to-coast premiere of a classic mammoth American-International sci-fi masterpiece.

“Svengoolie” presents his big coast-to-coast broadcast premiere of “The Thing with Two Heads” (1972)

Original 1972 American-International theatrical release trailer for Lee Frost‘s “The Thing with Two Heads,” featuring Rosey Grier and Ray Milland.

“They transplanted a white bigot’s head onto a soul brother’s body!” Original 1972 American-International theatrical poster art for “The Thing with Two Heads,” featuring Rosey Grier and Ray Milland.

The legendary and iconic Berwyn/Chicago-based classic sci-fi/fantasy feature film masterpiece host will present his big coast-to-coast broadcast premiere of “The Thing with Two Heads” (1972), this Sat., May 20 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

The classic mammoth 1972 American-International sci-fi/fantasy masterpiece production was directed by feature film director Lee Frost, who usually specialized in productions in the grindhouse and exploitation film genres throughout his brief directorial career.  One year before directing “The Thing with Two Heads” (1972), Frost previously directed his classic mammoth American-International action-drama masterpiece production of “Chrome and Hot Leather” (1971) with legendary singer Marvin Gaye, legendary pioneering cowboy film singer Herb Jeffries, legendary singer Bobby “Boris” Pickett of “The Monster Mash” fame, young Cheryl Ladd, young Erik Estrada (later of TV’s “CHiPS” fame),  William Smith, Tony Young, Peter Brown and Susan Hart, who in real life was married to  James H. Nicholson, the co-founder of American-International Pictures.

The screenplay and story treatment for the classic mammoth American-International sci-fi masterpiece production of “The Thing with Two Heads” (1972) was written by Frost, along with veteran screenwriters Wes Bishop and James Gordon White.  Both Bishop and Frost co-collaborated on the screenplay and original story treatments for Frost’s series of grindhouse-themed film productions.  Three years after “The Thing with Two Heads,” the two wrote the screenplay for Jack Starret’s classic mammoth Twentieth Century Fox (Twentieth Century Studios) action-adventure-horror masterpiece production of “Race with the Devil” (1975) with Peter Fonda, Loretta Swit (of TV’s “M*A*S*H” fame) and Warren Oates. During his brief screenwriting career, White also co-wrote the screenplay for Anthony M. Lanza’s American-International drama production of “The Glory Stompers” (1967) with Dennis Hopper, Jody McCrea (the real-life son of actor Joel McCrea) and young Casey Kasem, the legendary radio disc jockey before he hosted his classic mammoth long-running syndicated weekly top 40 musicradio masterpiece review series, “America’s Top 40” and of interest to fellow Super Tooners/Super SvenPals of Toony & Bill’s “Toon In With Me;” Kasem was the original voice of Norville “Shaggy” Roggers in the classic mammoth 1969-70 Hanna–Barbera animated TV cartoon masterpiece series, “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?” and various Hanna-Barbera “Scooby-Doo” animated follow-up productions.

“The Thing With Two Heads” (1972) was co-produced and released through Samuel Z. Arkoff‘ s American-International Pictures.  Both Arkoff and and James H. 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.  The production of “The Thing with Two Heads” (1972) was co-produced by American-International and Saber Productions, according to IMDB.  Alongside American-International head and co-founder Samuel Z. Arkoff, John Lawrence and screenwriter Wes Bishop also served as co-producers of Frost’s 1972 feature production.

By 1972, Nicholson had left American-International.  The veteran producer/distributor had numerous personal and professional disagreements with co-founder Samuel Z. Arkoff during his final years with the company that he had co-founded, according to Eamon Harrington and John Watkin’s retrospective documentary on American-International Pictures; titled  “It Conquered Hollywood! The Story of American International Pictures” (2001).  Nicholson then worked for a brief while for rival studio Twentieth Century Fox (today’s Twentieth Century Studios), but was short-lived, as Nicholson’s health declined due to a brain tumor.  Aside from their disagreements, Arkoff mentioned that in Nicholson’s last days that he was the only person outside of Nicholson’s family that kept in touch with him.  Nicholson died on Dec. 10, 1972; according to IMDB.

In Sven’s home area of Berwyn/Chicago, he previously showcased Frost’s classic mammoth 1972 American-International sci-fi/fantasy masterpiece production of “The Thing with Two Heads” as a big Berwyn/Chicago broadcast premiere on his hometown TV station in the Berwyn/Chicago area, WCIU-TV 26 back in Oct. 2009; according to IMDB.  The Oct. 2009 Sven/WCIU Berwyn-Chicago big broadcast premiere of “The Thing with Two Heads” was one of many MGM-owned feature films (from MGM’s ownership of the American-International/Filmways/Orion library holdings) that was shown locally on Sven’s Berwyn/Chicago big broadcast showcase at the time, as WCIU & Me-TV’s owner, Weigel Broadcasting Co. had an early coast-to-coast digital subchannel joint venture at the time with MGM that was launched in Oct. 2008, titled “This TV,” which showcased many of the classic mammoth American-International feature film masterpieces; according to Michael Malone’s  Oct. 2008 Broadcasting & Cable article.  Weigel gave up its ownership in This TV in Late 2013 to focus on the coast-to-coast expansion/distribution of Me-TV and sister channel Movies! TV Network, according to Michael Malone’s May 2013 Broadcasting & Cable article.

Who was in Lee Frost’s “The Thing with Two Heads” (1972)?

The players who appeared in Lee Frost’s classic mammoth American-International sci-fi/fantasy masterpiece production of “The Thing with Two Heads” (1972) were Rosey Grier (as Jack Moss), Ray Milland (as Maxwell Kirshner), legendary singer Jerry Butler (as a Prison Guard), Don Marshall (as Dr. Fred Williams), Roger Perry (as Dr. Philip Desmond), Chelsea Brown (as Lila), Kathrine Baumann (as Patricia), John Dullaghan (as Thomas), John Bliss (as Donald), Bruce Kimball (as a police lieutenant), young Rick Baker (in a Gorilla suit), Dick Whittington (as a TV News Anchor), Joan Prather (in an uncredited role as a Nurse), Tommy Cook (as a priest), William Smith (as a Hysterical Condemned Man), Phil Hoover (as a police officer), Rod Steele (as a medical salesperson), Michael Viner (as a Prison Guard), George E. Carey (as Mitch), Britt Nilsson (as a Nurse), Roger Gentry (as a Police Sergeant), screenwriter Wes Bishop (in a cameo appearance as Dr. Smith), director Lee Frost (in a cameo as Sgt. Hacker), Jane Kellem (as Miss Mullen) and a cameo by veteran producer-director-screenwriter Albert Zugsmith.

“Svengoolie” to present his big coast-to-coast premiere of “Blacula” (1972), this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie SvenPals everywhere will be dancing & jumping for joy for his upcoming big coast-to-coast premiere of a classic mammoth American-International vampire masterpiece.

“Svengoolie” to present his big coast-to-coast premiere of “Blacula” (1972)

Original American-International Pictures theatrical release trailer for William Crain‘s classic mammoth vampire feature film masterpiece production of “Blacula” (1972), featuring William Marshall; narrated by veteran actor Adolph Caesar.

“Bloodsucker!” “His habits.. Unspeakable! His Lusts.. Insatiable! His Fate.. Unbearable!” Original 1972 American-International Pictures theatrical poster art for William Marshall in “Blacula.”

The legendary and iconic Berwyn/Chicago-based classic horror film host will present his big coast-to-coast broadcast premiere of “Blacula” (1972) this Sat., May 6 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

The classic mammoth 1972 American-International vampire/horror masterpiece production of “Blacula” was directed by veteran feature film & TV director William Crain.  Early in his directorial career, Crain directed one episode of the classic mammoth Aaron Spelling-Danny Thomas-ABC TV action drama masterpiece series with Michael Cole, Clarence Williams III, Peggy Lipton and Tige Andrews; “The Mod Squad” (1971’s “The Comeback” with guest appearances by legendary boxers Sugar Ray Robinson and Rocky Graziano and veteran broadcast sports commentator Dick Enberg), two episodes of the classic mammoth Aaron Spelling-Leonard Goldberg-ABC TV action-adventure masterpiece series with David Soul, Paul Michael Glaser, Antonio Fargas and Bernie Hamilton; “Starsky and Hutch” (1975’s “The Fix” with Robert Loggia and “Death Notice” with Roz Kelly, Ivor Francis and Milt Kogan), the classic mammoth Aaron Spelling-Leonard Goldberg-ABC TV action/crime drama masterpiece series, “S.W.A.T.” with Robert Urich, Steve Forrest, Rod Perry,  Mark Shera and James Coleman (1975’s “Murder By Fire”), three episodes of the classic mammoth Aaron Spelling-Leonard Goldberg-ABC TV action drama masterpiece series, “The Rookies” with Georg Stanford Brown, Kate Jackson, Gerald S. O’Loughlin and Sam Melville (1974’s “A Test of Courage” with David Soul, David Canary and David Huddleston, 1975’s “Lamb To the Slaughter” with Tom Atkins, Virginia Kiser and Jeff David and 1975’s “Eye For An Eye” with Robert Lansing, Antony Carbone, Inga Swenson and Barney Phillips) and two episodes of the classic mammoth Lawrence Gordon-Aaron Spelling ABC television action/drama masterpiece series with Lee Horsley, Pamela Hensley and Lincoln Kilpatrick; “Matt Houston” (1984’s “Blood Ties” with Lou Ferrigno of TV’s “The Incredible Hulk” fame, Nita Talbot and David Wayne and 1985’s “Death Watch” with Frank Bonner of TV’s “WKRP In Cincinnati” fame, Barbara Kerwin*, William Kerwin* and Richard Devon).

The classic mammoth American-International vampire masterpiece production of “Blacula” (1972) marked William Crain’s first feature-length film production in his brief directorial career.  Shortly after the production of “Blacula” (1972), Crain directed the cult classic monster-horror spoof production of “Dr. Black and Mr. Hyde” (1976) with Bernie Casey (of 1972’s “Gargoyles,” 1974’s “Boxcar Bertha” and 1984’s “Revenge of the Nerds” fame), Rosalind Cash and Milt Kogan.

The screenplay for William Crain’s classic mammoth 1972 American-International vampire masterpiece production of “Blacula” was written by veteran screenwriters Joan Torres and Raymond Koenig.  “Blacula” (1972) was co-produced and released through 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.

During Nicholson’s finale at American-International, the veteran producer had numerous personal and professional disagreements with co-founder Samuel Z. Arkoff, according to Eamon Harrington and John Watkin’s retrospective documentary on American-International Pictures; titled  “It Conquered Hollywood! The Story of American International Pictures” (2001).  Nicholson then worked for a brief while for rival studio Twentieth Century Fox (today’s Twentieth Century Studios), but was short-lived, as Nicholson’s health declined due to a brain tumor.  Arkoff mentioned that in Nicholson’s last days that he was the only person outside of Nicholson’s family that kept in touch with him.  Nicholson died on Dec. 10, 1972; according to IMDB.    Veteran producers Norman T. Herman, who also worked with Arkoff and Nicholson on the classic mammoth American-International sci-fi/supernatural masterpiece production of “Frogs” (1972); Joseph T. Naar and producer/exhibitor Mark L. Rosen also had a hand in producing Crain’s production of “Blacula” (1972).

In Sven’s home area of Berwyn/Chicago, Illinois; he previously showcased Crain’s classic mammoth American-International vampire masterpiece production of “Blacula” (1972) as a Berwyn/Chicago big broadcast premiere on his hometown television station, WCIU-TV 26; according to IMDB.

Who was in William Crain’s classic mammoth American-International vampire masterpiece production of “Blacula” (1972)?

The players who appeared in William Crain’s classic mammoth American-International vampire masterpiece production of “Blacula” (1972) were William Marshall (as Count Blacula/Prince Mamuwalde), Vonetta McGee (as Tina/Luva), Denise Nicholas (as Michelle), Charles Macaulay (as Count Dracula), the legendary singing trio group The Hues Corporation (Karl Russell, H. Ann Kelley and St. Clair Lee as themselves), Elisha Cook Jr. (as Sam), Thalmus Rasulala (as Dr. Gordon Thomas), Gordon Pinsent (as Lt. Jack Peters), Ji-Tu Cumbuka (as Skillet), Emily Yancy (as Nancy), Ketty Lester (as Juanita Jones), Lance Taylor Sr. (as Swenson), Ted Harris (as Bobby McCoy), Rick Metzler (as Billy Shaffer), Eric Brotherson (as a Real Estate Agent), Leoda Richards (in an uncredited role as a party guest), Miranda Frederick (in an uncredited role as a scared teenager), Leanna Johnson Heath (in an uncredited role as a receptionist), Gene LeBell (in an uncredited role as one of the henchmen of Dracula), Jan Stratton (in an uncredited role as a police officer) and David Westberg (in an uncredited role as a Los Angeles police officer).

“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast premiere of “Konga” (1961), this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie SvenPals everywhere will be dancing and jumping for joy for his upcoming big broadcast premiere of a classic mammoth sci-fi/creature masterpiece production.

“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast premiere of “Konga” (1961)

Original 1961 American-International Pictures theatrical trailer for the U.S. theatrical release of “Konga” (1961) with Paul Stockman and Michael Gough.

“Not since ‘King Kong’ has the screen exploded with such mighty fury & spectacle!” Original 1961 American-International U.S. theatrical poster art for “Konga.”

The legendary Berwyn/Chicago-based classic mammoth creature/sci-fi feature film masterpiece host will present his big broadcast premiere of “Konga” (1961), this Sat.; March 18 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

The classic mammoth 1961 sci-fi/creature feature film masterpiece production of “Konga” was directed by veteran producer-director John Lemont.  During his brief directorial career, Lemont previously directed the classic mammoth Republic Pictures mystery-crime drama masterpiece production of “The Green Buddha” (1954) with Wayne Morris, Mary Germaine, Wolf Frees and Mary Merrall.   He directed the classic mammoth British crime drama masterpiece production of “The Shakedown” (1960, released theatrically in the United States through Universal Studios) with Terence Morgan, Hammer Films legend Hazel Court, young Donald Pleasence, Bill Owen (Owen went onto greater fame for his role of Compo Simmonite in BBC‘s long-running classic mammoth British TV comedy masterpiece series, “Last of the Summer Wine” with Peter Sallis; Owen appeared in the series from 1973 until his death in 1999) and Eddie Byrne.

Lemont’s production of “Konga” (1961) was co-produced by veteran producer Herman Cohen and veteran British feature film producers/studio heads Nat Cohen and Stuart Levy.  Sidebar: Both Herman Cohen and Nat Cohen were not related to one another. -C.H.  Herman Cohen previously produced Herbert L. Strock’s classic mammoth American-International monster masterpiece production of “I Was a Teenage Frankenstein” (1957), Gene Fowler Jr.’s classic mammoth American-International monster masterpiece production of “I Was a Teenage Werewolf” (1957, with young Michael Landon, who later went onto greater fame on three NBC television series throughout his career, notably for TV’s “Bonanza,” the NBC adaptation of “Little House on the Prairie” and “Highway to Heaven”) and “How to Make A Monster” (1958).  Some of Herman 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 Herman Cohen.

Nat Cohen and Stuart Levy founded Britain’s Anglo-Amalgated Productions in 1945 and was responsible for the introduction of the long-running classic mammoth British comedy feature film masterpiece series, “Carry On;” beginning with Peter Rogers‘ “Carry On, Sergeant” (1958, with young Bill Owen, a pre-“Doctor Who” William Hartnell and a pre-“Allo, Allo!” Kenneth Connor).  Both Cohen and Levy later sold half of their shares in their production-releasing firm to competing British entertainment firm Associated British Picture Corporation in 1962, according to a 1963 edition of Boxoffice’s “Barometer” supplement and the British Film Institute.  ABPC also handled the British theatrical distribution of Warner Bros.‘ then-current classic mammoth feature film releases and of interest to fellow Super Tooners/Super SvenPals of Toony & Bill’s “Toon In WIth Me,” Warners’ then-current classic mammoth “Looney Tunes” and “Merrie Melodies” theatrical cartoon masterpieces . Britain’s ABPC was also known for their partial ownership of one of Britain’s major feature film & TV production facilities, Elstree Studios.

Associated British/ABPC and its affiliated companies were then later sold to Britain’s major recorded music & electronics firm, EMI in 1969, according to the British Film Institute.  In the United States, EMI was known for its ownership of Capitol Records from 1955 until EMI’s demise in 2012 according to the EMI Archive Trust and The Hollywood Reporter (Capitol Records and select EMI recorded music holdings were sold to competitor Universal Music Group in 2012, operating today under the “Capitol Music Group” unit of Universal Music).

Lemont’s classic mammoth 1961 British sci-fi creature feature film masterpiece production was co-produced and released by Samuel Z. Arkoff and James H. Nicholson’s independent distribution/releasing firm, 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 (minus modern TV syndication of feature films & select American-International/Filmways/Orion TV productions, where the American-International/Filmways/Orion holdings are syndicated under MGM Television), the modern incarnation of MGM recently revived the “American-International Pictures” (AIP) name for certain theatrical releases/feature film productions.

Herman Cohen previously produced Arthur Crabtree’s classic mammoth British “Hypnovista” horror-mystery masterpiece, “Horrors of the Black Museum” (1959) which was handled in Britain by Anglo-Amalgamated and was handled in the United States by American-International.  Because of the working relationship between the two companies across the pond, Nat Cohen and Stuart Levy distributed and released American-International’s output in Britain, while Samuel Z. Arkoff and James H. Nicholson would co-produce/co-finance several British productions for Nat Cohen and Stuart Levy for release through American-International for the North American theatrical release market; according to a Jan. 1963 Motion Picture exhibitor article.

Who was in “Konga” (1961)?

The players who appeared in the classic mammoth John Lemont/American-International creature/sci-fi masterpiece production of “Konga” (1961) were Paul Stockman (in an uncredited role as Konga), Michael Gough (as Dr. Charles Decker), Claire Gordon (as Sandra Banks), Jess Conrad (as Bob Kenton), Austin Trevor (as Dean Foster), Jack Watson (as Superintendent Brown), George Pastell (as Prof. Tagore), Vanda Godsell  (as Bob’s Mother), Leonard Sachs (as Bob’s Father), Stanley Morgan (as Inspector Lawson), Grace Arnold (as Miss Barnesdall), John Welsh (as Commissioner Garland), Nicholas Bennett (as Daniel), Kim Tracy (as Mary), Waveney Lee (as Janet) and Rupert Osborne (as Eric).

“Svengoolie” presents his big coast-to-coast expanded premiere of “The Raven” (1963), plus “Sventoonie;” this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie SvenPals everywhere will be dancing & jumping for joy for his first big broadcast of 2023 & big expanded broadcast of a classic mammoth American-International macabre masterpiece adaptation.

“Svengoolie” presents his big coast-to-coast expanded premiere of “The Raven” (1963), plus “Sventoonie”

Original 1963 American-International Pictures theatrical release trailer for Roger Corman’s classic mammoth American-International macabre thriller-comedy masterpiece adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe‘s “The Raven” (1963) with Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre, Hazel Court and young Jack Nicholson.  From the now-out-of-print Shout! Factory/Scream Factory Vincent Price Blu-Ray compilation set, “The Vincent Price Collection II.”   Kino Lorber’s “KL Studio Classics” imprint currently has the Blu-Ray rights to “The Raven” (1963, by arrangement with the current incarnation of MGM; owners of the American-International/Filmways/Orion holdings).

“The Macabre Masterpiece of Terror!” Original 1963 American-International theatrical poster art for “The Raven” (1963), directed by Roger Corman & featuring Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff & young Jack Nicholson.

The legendary & iconic Berwyn/Chicago-based classic thriller feature film masterpiece host will present his big coast-to-coast broadcast premiere of “The Raven” (1963) & debut of his expanded two-and-a-half hour edition of “Svengoolie,” this Sat., Jan. 7 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central; along with Sventoonie’s new Sat. evening timeslot of 10:30 p.m. Eastern/9:30 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

The classic mammoth American-International macabre thriller masterpiece production of “The Raven” (1963) was directed by veteran feature film director-producer Roger Corman.   The same year that he worked on his classic mammoth macabre thriller masterpiece adaptation of “The Raven” (1963), Corman also worked on his classic mammoth American-International sci-fi thriller  masterpiece production of  “X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes” (1963) with Ray Milland, Diana Van der Vlis, Don Rickles, Harold J. Stone, John Hoyt, Morris Ankrum, Bert Stevens and Hans Moebus.

Some of Corman’s best-known classic mammoth feature film masterpiece productions that he worked on include “The Fast and the Furious” (1954, with John Ireland and Dorothy Malone), “It Conquered the World” (1956, with Peter Graves, Beverly Garland and young Lee Van Cleef), “Attack of the Crab Monsters” (1957, with a pre-“Gilligan’s Island” Russell Johnson and Pamela Duncan), “A Bucket of Blood” (1959), the classic mammoth American-International Pictures* masterpiece thriller adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe’s “House of Usher” (1960, with Vincent Price),  the AIP* adaptation of Poe’s “Pit and the Pendulum” (1961, with Vincent Price and Barbara Steele), “Tales of Terror” (1962 AIP* adaptation of Poe’s short stories with Vincent Price, Maggie Pierce, Peter Lorre and Basil Rathbone), the AIP* adaptation of Poe’s “The Raven” (1963, with Vincent Price, ), “The Wild Angels” (1966, with Peter Fonda, Nancy Sinatra and Bruce Dern), “Death Race 2000” (1975, with David Carradine,  Simone Griffeth, young Sylvester Stallone and legendary Los Angeles radio disc jockey “The Real” Don Steele), Ron Howard’s “Grand Theft Auto” (1977, with Howard, Nancy Morgan, Marion Ross, Clint Howard and “The Real” Don Steele) and Allan Arkush and Joe Dante’s “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School” (1979, with legendary rock group The Ramones; along with P.J. Soles, Vincent Van Patten and “The Real” Don Steele).

Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe‘s 1845 gothic poem of the same name, the screenplay for Corman’s classic mammoth 1963 macabre thriller feature film masterpiece adaptation production was adapted as a screenplay for the veteran director-producer by veteran sci-fi/horror author-screenwriter 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,  Lock Martin of 1951’s “The Day the Earth Stood Still” fame and “Orangey the Cat” of 1951’s “Rhubarb,” 1955’s “This Island Earth” and 1961’s “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” fame.   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 made-for-TV movie) with Dennis Weaver ,  Jacqueline Scott, Lucille Benson, Eddie Firestone,  Lou Frizzell, Shirley O’ Hara, Gene Dynarski and Amy Douglass.

James H. Nicholson and Samuel Z. Arkoff, ca. 1962.

Corman’s classic mammoth 1963 macabre masterpiece feature film adaptation production of Poe’s “The Raven” was co-produced and released by Samuel Z. Arkoff and James H. Nicholson’s independent distribution/releasing firm, 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** was then sold to the present incarnation of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in 1997.  Following MGM’s re-introduction of the “Orion Pictures” moniker for feature films and television productions (minus modern TV syndication of feature films, where the American-International/Filmways/Orion holdings are syndicated under MGM Television), the modern incarnation of MGM recently revived the “American-International Pictures” (AIP) moniker for certain theatrical releases/feature film productions.

During Sven’s days as the “Son of Svengoolie,” he previously showcased Corman’s classic mammoth American-International macabre feature film masterpiece adaptation of Poe’s “The Raven” (1963) on WFLD in Berwyn/Chicago back in March 1981 and back in Jan. 1982, according to IMDB.

Sven also previously showcased the classic mammoth Roger Corman/American-International masterpiece production of “The Raven” (1963) as a Berwyn/Chicago big broadcast on his hometown TV station in Berwyn/Chicago, WCIU-TV 26; when “The U” was on WCIU’s primary channel back in Dec. 2006; according to IMDB and fellow Super SvenPal/Super Tooner Dave Fuentes of “Terror From Beyond the Dave” fame & his recording of maestro Sven & maestro Doug Graves’ classic WCIU Berwyn/Chicago Sven parody song for Corman’s adaptation of Poe’s “The Raven” (1963).

Who was in Roger Corman’s classic mammoth American-International macabre-thriller feature film masterpiece adaptation of “The Raven” (1963)?

The players who appeared in Corman’s classic mammoth feature film masterpiece adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” (1963) for Samuel Z. Arkoff and James H. Nicholson’s American-International Pictures were Vincent Price (as Dr. Erasmus Craven), Peter Lorre (as Dr. Adolphus Bedlo), Boris Karloff (as Dr. Scarabus), Hazel Court (as Lenore Craven), Olive Sturgess (as Estelle Craven), young Jack Nicholson as Rexford Bedlo, Connie Wallace (as a Maid), William Baskin (as Grimes), Aaron Saxon (as Gort), Leo Gordon (in an uncredited role as the voice of Grimes) and Dick Johnstone (in an uncredited role as Roderick Craven).