Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953), dir. Charles Lamont, Universal-International
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The 50s wouldn't be very kind to the Universal Monsters. We've seen Abbott and Costello meeting the rest of the Universal monsters, but 1948 was a while ago. After teaming them up with a few more characters, the boys went into outright science fiction.
Real name: ???
Years active: 1969ish
Count Von Thirstenburg, man. For a man of which little is known yet his impact may be one of the biggest of any host's career.
First, we go back to the early days at 1969 at WPGH Channel 53 in Pittsburgh. Coagulus was a snarky vampire who got fired. The show, now dubbed Scream-In, needed a host.
Thus they bring in Count Von Thirstenburg! Another vampire!
Of course, like many hosts he also had another gig. Hosting Open House; in which people see pictures of homes. Not real estate listings or historical homes, nope. Just endless shots of houses. Brilliant, insane, or inane? You make the call.
He hosted the show for a bit before finally getting replaced, but that host shall be a feature later.
So, what was his impact?
How about Count Floyd?
Maybe. Joe Flaherty was born and raised in Pittsburgh, so he could have watched the show. Maybe, possibly; of course, it has been suggested Count Floyd was inspired by other Pittsburgh hosts, so that is equally possible, but the few reviews I've seen of the Count suggested that Floyd might be a straight homage with him complaining about his job throughout the movies.
The Cat Creeps (1946), dir. Erle C. Kento, Universal Pictures Company
Now we have the film that shared a bill with She-Wolf of London and the last official horror film of the 1940's.
Real name: ???
Years active: At least until 1969
Coagulus, cool name but that's about all I can find. He hosted the Supernatural Movie on WPGH-TV Channel 53 out of Pittsburgh.
From what I was able to cobble together, he was a vampire who often cracked jokes about the films. He lasted a while, at least until he one day asked for a pay raise. He was replaced but get to that tale of woe tomorrow.
She-Wolf of London (1946), dir. Jean Yarbrough, Universal Pictures, Inc.
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Chilly Billy
Real name: Bill Cardille
Years active: 1963 to 1991, with a onetime special in 1998.
Kicking things off this year with the hosts of Pennsylvania. Hosting Chiller Theater on WIIC-TV Channel 11, Chilly Billy might be best known to those outside the Keystone State as the news anchor in Night of the Living Dead.
Unlike many other hosts, despite the name there was no character. He wasn't a vampire or a ghoul. Nope, just a smart-alec hanging out with an assortment of oddballs.
He passed away in 2016.
The Doctor's Horrible Experiment (1959), dir. Jean Renior, R.T.F./S.O.F.I.R.A.D.
In Paris, Joly (Teddy Billis) is having some trouble. He's a lawyer, and his client/best friend Dr. Cordelier (Jean-Louis Opale) has written his will. The issue is that the doctor, who nearly everyone in France agrees is a wonderful man overflowing with the milk of human kindness, has left all his money and estate to man named Opale (Opale again), who is a foul pervert and utter sadist. Dr. Cordelier's notes paint Opale as a former patient. If so, the doctor must have not had much luck.
Joly is sure there is more to it than that, but can he handle the shocking truth?
Good film. Odd they thought changing the names would disguise the story, but the actors do a wonderful job all the same.
