Horror Host 2026 Retrospective: Dr. Mazeppa Pompazoidi

 Dr. Mazeppa Pompazoidi

Real name: Gailard Sartain

Years active: 1970 to 1973

A sad note that quite a few horror hosts never really escape the character or rise above local TV star. Which is perfectly fine but for the few who do go beyond local TV? Legends

The Uncanny Film Festival and Camp Meeting started out on KOTV-Channel 6 out of Tulsa before finishing it's run on KTUL-TV Channel 8 in 1973. Sartain had started out as a station cameraman before going for the late night movie host. Instead of just gadding about in a cape and a few puns, the wizard Dr. Maxeppa Pompazoidi (along with a shockingly young Gary Busey) had skits and focused more on overall humor. 

From there Sartain's star rose, first joining Hee-Haw then moving into motion pictures. If you've seen the Earnest films, you might recall him. 

Sartain passed away in 2025. 

Horror 2026 Countdown: The Birds (1963)

 The Birds (1963), dir. Alfred Hitchcock, Alfred J, Productions/Universal Pictures 

Moving into the 1960's, the days of the Universal Monsters were offically over but that doesn't mean they were finished with horror. 

Horror Host 2026 Retrospective: Dr. Fear

 Dr. Fear

Real name: Brian Young

Years active: 2003-2013

Here we have one of the newer hosts from Oklahoma. The Mysterious Lab of Dr. Fear aired on Pegasys Community Television Channel 11 out of Enid. 

Dr. Ignatious Faust Fear II is your typical mad scientist who oversees a slew of wacky characters and hosting various movies. 

Sadly I can't seem to find too much about the show, but it last 100 episodes and they hosted the return of Count Gregore, so that has to count for something. 

Horror 2026 Countdown: Karutha Rathrikal (1967)

Karutha Rathrikal (1967), dir. P. Subramaniam, Neela Productions 

A different take to be sure, but 1967 saw the release of the Indian take on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. 

Horror Host 2026 Retrospective: Count Gregore

 Count Gregore

Real name: John Ferguson 

Years active: 1958-2005

Welcoming back all you fright fans and this year we're taking a look back at the hosts of Oklahoma and Wisconsin. 

This time out we look at Count Gregore. The gentleman had quite the tenure. From 1958 to 1960 he hosted the local Shock Theater on WKY-TV Channel 4 out of Oklahoma City. In 1962, the show became Thriller Theater. In 1966 he switched over to KOCO-TV Channel 5 to host Nightmare. I also saw a listing for Sleepwalker's Matinee although the exact dates are unknown to me at the time. In the 1970s he moved yet again to KOKH-TV Channel 25 for Count Gregore Presents. 

He hosted quite a few shows even if I can't find any exact dates. He did have a brief return in 2005 when he made his debut on the Mysterious Lab of Dr. Fear, where it was revealed that he's the uncle of character Trinka. 

He's made the claim that's the longest running horror host in the world and I find myself agreeing with that statement. He's a dapper vamp and just plays it straight. I can respect that certainly. The only issue and this pops up with far too many hosts, is that the vast majority of his work is lost due it being shot live. 

Bring on the Bad Guys: Joe Perry and Super-Duper

Real name: Joe Perry, inapplicable 

First appearance: Justice League of America I#31 (Nov. 1964)

Abilities: Lucky with machines, combined powers of Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, and Hawkman 

Worst act: Kidnapping, attempted murder 

Quote: "If I was smart, I'd be able to figure out this thing! Maybe I ought to hock it!"

Created by: Gardner F. Fox (script), Mike Sekowsky (pencils), Bernard Sachs (inks) 

I'll skip the obvious Aerosmith jokes.

League roster: Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, and Hawkman (who just joined this issue)

The team is baffled by random crooks using time hoops to commit robberies. Hoops that knock things and people into the far future. The heads back to their HQ to try and figure this out, but they soon find the entire things flung into outer space!

Seems the mastermind is Joe Perry! Who? Exactly!

Yeah, seems Joe was just one of your average goon, bumming around on a beach. One day he stumbled across an alien machine that let him toss things through time. Naturally he opts to try and attack the League directly. 

Oh, and he also unleashes SUPER DUPER! With the Legs of the Flash, arms of Green Lantern, torso of Batman, head of Wonder Woman (and lasso too) and the wings of Hawkman, the Super Duper is unstoppable!

Except for the weakness to yellow, plus while the legs are super fast nothing else is and while Batman's torso is no doubt peak in torso having abilities the center mass is a bit lacking in terms of powers. Also, since the machine makes copies but yellow, well, you can see the weakness coming up pretty fast. 

Hawkman manages to weaken the creature and have its power drained to nothing.

Not awful but Super Duper is a bit too similar to Amazo but freakier looking. 

Bring on the Bad Guys: Headmaster Mind

 Real name: Unrevealed

First appearance: Justice League of America I#28 (June 1964)

Abilities: Mechanical genius 

Worst act: Disbanding the Justice League

Quote: "You criminals are always being caught by one or more of the Justice League members. Your only hope for success is to be in a position where those super-heroes cannot stop you! And I have done just that!"

Created by: Gardner F. Fox (script), Mike Sekowsky (pencils), Bernard Sachs (inks) 

Similar to last issue, here we have a guy who manages to get the team to disband. Headmaster Mind creates a machine that causes disasters across the planet. How? The Justice League! Yeah, somehow the machine is powered by the 'heart action' of particular individuals. 

Basically anytime the JLA members use their powers this somehow powers the machine. The UN gets wind of this and orders the team to stand down.

This leaves only Batman and Green Arrow as the only heroes who can work. Headmaster Mind sends his best students to wreck havoc.

Matter Master (Hawkman), Tattooed Man (Green Lantern), and the Top (the Flash) easily handle the non powered heroes, but after a pep talk the other heroes team up and take down the students. While the rest of the JLA tackles the students, Batman and Green Arrow track down the headmaster and destroy his machine. 

Mind would pop up again in Teen Titans#19 but that's about it.