2014 Horror Countdown: Dr. Jekll & Mr. Hyde (1913)

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1913) dir. Herbert Brenon, Independent Moving Pictures Co. of America.

The third version of Robert Lewis Stevenson’s classic (and the second oldest surviving), was also the prototype of the Universal Monsters, with the Independent Moving Picture Company opening a second branch in Hollywood not long after the film’s debut. The executive, a young immigrant named Carl Laemmle, quickly changed the company’s name to Universal Pictures. 

Horror Host 2014 Retrospective: Wiliam Shatner

 Real name: William Shatner

Years active: 2002, Sci-Fi

What can one say about William Shatner? Most of his life and career has been chronicled elsewhere, but for 13 weeks the former Enterprise captain was the host and star of Full Moon Fright Night on the Sci-Fi channel. The only difference between this program and other horror hosts was the subject matter. Showcasing only films made by the famous (or infamous) Full Moon studios, Full Moon Fright Night would feature Shatner bringing his own unique thespian ability in presenting Head of the Family, Vampire Journals, and Castle Freak. 

Given that it aired on the Sci-Fi channel it should come to no surprise that it was cancelled quickly. Several episodes have been released on DVD, so one can relieve that brief moment when Shatner joined other shows on the Sci-Fi that were cancelled. They are available for purchase at Full Moon Direct

 

Horror Host 2014 Retrospective: Laraine

Laraine

Real name: Laraine Newman

Years active: 1986, syndicated

As evidenced here and there, the 1980’s was both the beginning and the ending of the traditional horror host. With the advent of VCR (or Betamax if you prefer) technology, it was now possible to record programs rather than to having to watch them live. With the changing of corporate landscape, however, more and more hosts were being pushed off the air in favor of other types of programing.

The syndication market had a few hosts of its own, although the main issue was when the shows aired. The Canned Film Festival (sponsored by Dr. Pepper!) aired for a single summer in 1986. From few people who recall the show, it aired anywhere from directly across Saturday Night Live to midnight at the station’s whim. 

Cast of Canned Film Festival, (L to R): Jack (F. Richards Ford), Doris (Kathryn Rossetter), Chan (Philip Nee), Laraine (Laraine Newman), Becky (Laura Galusha), and Fitzy (Patrick Garner)

Horror Host 2014 Retrospective: Commander USA

Commander USA

Real name: Jim Hendricks

Years active: 1985-1989, USA Network

Now here is someone that was rather close to my heart. Commander USA, host of Commander USA’s Groovie Movies, ran on the USA Network from 1985 to 1989. The twin hit of lacking cable and not being allowed to watch the kind of movies that typically aired on the show (when visiting relatives who had cable) meant I was tantalized by this strange red, white, and blue guy in a mask who oversaw monster and kung-fu movies.

Horror Host 2014 Retrospective: Grandpa

Horror host 2014: Grandpa

Real name: Al Lewis

Years active: 1987-1989, TBS

Continuing with our looking at the hosts of cable and syndication, we have none other Grandpa himself, Al Lewis. Hosting Super Scary Saturday on the Turner Broadcast System from 1987 to 1989, Lewis slipped into his old Munsters costume one more time and hammed it while overseeing films that Ted Turner owned. 

Unlike many other hosts, who had to make due with either public domain or whatever selection the station library had, Grandpa hosted classic horror films and even the Godzilla series. I never watched much of the show, as my family came a little late to the cable thing, but a best of DVD was recently released and can be found for fairly cheap.

 

Al Lewis passed away in 2003. 

Horror Host 2014 Retrospective: Joe Bob Briggs

Horror Host 2014: Joe Bob Briggs

Joe Bob Briggs

Real name: John Bloom

Years active: 1990-2000, The Movie Channel, TNT

This time out we take a look at the hosts who haunted the hallways of basic cable and syndication. The first one we look at Joe Bob Briggs, who went from the Movie Channel to TNT and dominated the field of horror through the 1990’s. 

Beware the Batman: Safe

“Safe”. Beware the Batman. Cartoon Network 3 August 2013.

Back again and live blogging a taped show.

-We open with Bruce Wayne talking about something called an ‘ion cortex’. It was invented by Dr. Jason Burr (more on him later)

-The press conference is attacked by ninjas. Wayne gets inside his car and Tatsu is ordered to take care of Burr. She actually does a pretty good job of fighting them, although Batman shows up to make sure she doesn’t kill any of them.

-He also lectures her that there is always a choice. “You can save lives or you can take them”. Because wounding doesn’t exist?

-Burr is a bit of a hugger.

-Silver Monkey (had to look him up) is now contracted to take care of Burr.

-For some reason, Wayne Manor now has a security team. I’m sure this will never come up again.

-Burr is playing with toys and hitting on Tatsu. She is making it pretty clear she wants none of that, although Burr just keeps on talking.

-Batman at Burr’s lab when ninjas attack.

-Tatsu: “If I told you about my past I would have to kill you.”

-Pretty decent chase scene, but I just find it odd how empty Gotham is

-It turns out the security team leader Reese is the Silver Monkey. Huge surprise, but now Burr is kidnapped.

-Or so we think, as it turns out the kidnapper is actually Tatsu

-Batman is still being cashed by ninjas. Wayne Manor is apparently 100 miles from Burr’s lab. And one of the ninjas is named Wilhelm.

-Silver Monkey and Tatsu know each other somehow and I’m betting this is going to be the overall plot arch of the show.

-“The ones that can dodge bullets are always a bother” Alfred with a shotgun should have been a bigger meme

-Tatsu is finally called Katana and it seems that green sword is called the Soul Taker. That can’t be good

-Silver Monkey escapes (pretty clever use of an explosive) and reports to Lady Shiva, who seems to run the League of Assassins.  

-Burr is…somewhat annoying and frankly his love-struck mooning over Tatsu is already growing old.

-a note on our two new characters: Jason Burr was the twin brother of the terrorist cult leader Kobra who felt a psychic connection to him. He’s been dead a few times. Silver Monkey was a Chuck Dixon marital artist from 1995 who got blown up in War Games.

-next time we see the debut of Humpty Dumpty