Horror Host 2017 Retrospective: Dr. Death

Real name: Ted Knight
Years active: Late 1950's


Now here is an interesting example. Most hosts stay hosts, or a channel might hire an actor (see William Shatner), but it rare for the host to move onto other things. Ted Knight, who you might remember as Ted Baxter from the Mary Tyler Moore Show or the announcer of the Superfriends, was the only horror host from Rhode Island, and as near as I can tell was the very first.

Dr. Death, from what few accounts I could find, seemed to be mostly a mummy with a pinch of Dr. Phibes thrown in.


I can't seem to find anything on the show's name, but Knight was employed by WJAR-TV Channel 10 in Providence for most of the late 1950's until he moved onto bigger things, mostly fame on various televisions shows of the 1970's.

He passed away in 1986.

Horror Countdown 2017: Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989)

Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989) dir. Dominique Othenin-Giard, Magnum Pictures/Klasky Csupo/Trancas

If you recall the end of part 4, Michael Myers (Don Shanks) was filled full of lead and dumped down a mine shaft and dynamited for good measure. Little Jamie (Danielle Harris) seemed wiling to take up the family business though, as she stabbed her adaptive mother while Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasence) screamed in horror.

Horror Host 2017 Retrospective: Dr. Mongo

Real name: Unknown
Years active: 1991 to 1993


As we continue our look into the hosts of New England, we move into the Ocean State of Rhode Island. The smallest state in the union managed to produce two hosts, of which Dr. Mongo is one.


Like a few previous hosts, Dr. Mongo was given a backstory. Formerly Dr. Montague B. Gourley, the host with the most came into possession of Marcucci Manor; which was quickly renamed into Mongo Manor, upon the passing of his film obsessed grandfather. Mongo swore to show only the finest movies from the massive vaults under the manor, but first he had to show all the crap that was blocking the door. Thus, Dr. Mongo's Midnight Movie was born. Later, the show was moved to Saturday afternoon and renamed Dr. Mongo's Sci-Fi Cinema on Providence's WNAC Fox Chanel 64.

There seemed to be fairly decent sized cast, with Dr. Mongo playing most of the manor's guests and Larry Lechan playing the bucked tooth hunchback assistant Qusio.

Horror Countdown 2017: A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989)

A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989) dir. Stephan Hopkins, Heron Communications/Smart Egg Pictures

When we last left our heroes, Alice (Lisa Wilcox) and her boyfriend Dan (Danny Hassel) were the only survivors of Freddy Kruger (Robert Englund)'s last rampage. Surely everything would be fine by now, right?

Horror Host 2017 Retrospective: Misstress Raven

Real name: Unknown
Years active: 2006 to unknown


And this one almost totally slipped under my radar. Honestly, I wouldn't even have heard of her if I hadn't been looking through the internet one day.

The whole affair seems to be either a student production or maybe a school channel. After Dark with Raven (three episodes as near as I can tell) focused on public domain flicks like White Zombie. Decent acting and the focus was more on the movies.

I'm putting them with the Massachusetts hosts as the production company, Mad Z Productions, seems to be based out of Easthampton.

Mad Z Productions

Horror Countdown 2017: The Nanny (1965)

The Nanny (1965) dir. Seth Holt, Associated British Picture Corporation/Hammer Film Productions-Seven Arts

Here we have another prime example of the psycho-biddy genre. Bette Davis, no longer shackled to Joan Crawford, is given a whole film to chew.

Horror Host 2017 Retrospective: Uncle Death

Real name: ?
Years active: 2011-present

We have a current host, or do we? Uncle Death seems to be the host of the Uncle Death Show, which seems to be aired only on the Fright Channel, which seems to still be in business, although aside from references on Twitter I can't seem to find a listing for the show, although it seems the network seems to have undergone a makeover and now seems to be more internet based than regular television. I did find a listing for the show back on a few years ago, saying it aired in Melrose and Somerville.


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