2026 Horror Host Retrospective: Ned the Dead

Ned the Dead

Real name: Steve Brenzel

Years active: 1984-2010

This is the last one for the year, so let's make it count. Ned the Dead, that skull faced fellow, burst into the scene as the host of Chiller Theater on WLUX-TV Channel 11 out of Green Bay, which ran until 1999. That fall he moved over to WACY Channel 32 and hosting Ned the Dead's Demented Drive-In until 2001.

2002 saw him move again over to Northeast Wisconsin TV and the return of Chiller Theater but 2005 saw him return back to WACY. 2009 saw him in his final form, the Ned the Dead Show.

A classic host with a wacky group of sidekicks. Honestly just an old fashioned host and that's ok. He sticks with you. 

 

Horror 2026 Countdown: And Then There Were None (1945)

And Then There Were None (1945) dir. Rene Clair, Rene Clair Productions 

Agatha Christie has been venerated by quite a few people, and I fear this will be a continuation. She knew how to spin a good mystery yarn. So good that people have been dipping from this well for decades and will likely to continue. 

Horror Host 2026 Retrospective: Toulouse Noneck

 Toulouse Noneck

Real name: Rick Felski

Years active: 1980 to 1990

Nearing the end and we have another unique host. Toulouse Noneck, or Tooulouse depending on who you talk to, was the host of Shock Theater on WISN-TV Channel 12 out of Milwaukee.  He hosted that and sometime a double feature until 1985 when he became the host of Shock Rock, a dance party show with the emphasis on music videos. 

He also had a Halloween special and near the end he had the syndicated TooLoose & Company. 

Horror 2026 Countdown: The Scarlet Claw (1944)

 The Scarlet Claw (1944) dir. Roy William Neill, Universal Pictures 

The Universal Sherlock Holmes series is generally seen as more mystery than horror, but as we move into the historical slasher section, we do have an unusual entry.

Horror Host 2026 Retrospective: Ferdy II

 Ferdy II

Real name: Carl Ames

Years active: 1967-1968

Yes, Ferdy somehow had a legacy. If you want to get technical, this particular host had no name, but he was still hosting Ferdie's Inferno, so the old name stuck. Sadly there only seems to be a few photos left of this host but no footage. 

Horror 2026 Countdown: Silent Night, Deadly Night (2025)

Silent Night, Deadly Night (2025), dir. Mike P. Nelson, Wonderwheel Entertainment 

Huh. Not sure we needed another one, but why not at this point?

Horror Host 2026 Retrospective: Ferdy

 Ferdy

Real name: Jack Crowley

Years active: 1964 to 1967

We've had mad scientists, vampires, ghouls, and general weirdos, but appliance salesmen?

Ferdie's Inferno ran on WMTV-TV Channel 15 out of Madison, although the show started out as the unhosted Nightshade & Old Lace Theatre. 

The new title came from the station's sponsor, Ferd Mattoli. Crowley was the white faced host until Mattoli opted to leave Wisconsin for health reasons, but there was another...