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Zacherley, Svengoolie, Vampira, Sir Cecil Creepe

Take a trip back to a time when late night creature features were all the rage, and the personalities that presented them were nearly as popular as the movies, in this documentary about the uniquely A... read more read more...merican phenomenon of television horror hosting. Beginning in the 1950s, the horror host was a staple of regional television. From ghouls to vampires, to werewolves and crypt keepers, every host had a persona to suit their unique personalities. But their days were numbered, because as the local television business model began to shift thanks to production demands and the availability of cheaper syndicated material, Zacherley, Vampira, Ghoulardi, and the rest of these fiends began steadily disappearing from the small screen. Interviews with the hosts themselves, and the fans that elevated them to superstar status offer a chance to reflect on a bygone era of television that now appears poised for a comeback thanks to the internet and cable access. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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49% liked it

450 ratings

Unrated, 1 hr. 32 min.

Directed by: John E. Hudgens

Release Date: January 1, 2006

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DVD Release Date: February 17, 2009

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Flixster Reviews (41)

  • flixsterman
    March 2, 2012
    flixsterman
    A compilation of interviews and insight into the nostalgic world of late night horror hosts from small TV stations across America. Vampira, Elvira, Svengoolie but, sadly, no Mazeppa Pompazoidi.
  • kenscheck
    January 18, 2012
    kenscheck
    This documentary about late night movie horror hosts that grew out of the Shock Theater film package sent to local TV stations in the early to mid 60s. Having grown up on Big Chuck and Lil John and the Ghoul it was wonderful to see what so many others across the country grew up ... read moreon, from Vampira, Zacherly, and Ghoulardi to Svengoolie and Son of Ghoul. I found it informative and entertaining on a subject matter I am really interested in. I really miss the local flavor TV used to have.
  • theSwitchbladeSister
    February 27, 2010
    theSwitchbladeSister
    Absolutely phenomenal. A comprehensive look of the famous and not-so-famous horror hosts through the years. As an Ohio-born ("You can't swing a dead cat around without hitting a horror host in Ohio.") horror fanatic, I was heavily influenced by the tradition of horror hosts on te... read morelevision. Seeing some of my favorites (Dr. Creep lives!) as well as some that I was familiar with, hearing their stories, and getting glimpses of vintage footage from some of the horror hosts of yesteryear was a real treat. I'm so glad this doc exists, I'm just pissed I didn't get to make it first.
  • pacardullo
    March 23, 2009
    pacardullo
    Fun little documentary about TV Horror Hosts. Especially fun if you have fond memories of your local horror host (or if you are lucky enough to still have one). They manage to include and interview LOTS of local horror hosts in this one. Fun nostalgia piece. Keep in mind, thi... read mores is about the hosts and not the movies that they hosted. One small quibble (but not really), it would have been fun if they had mentioned Joe Flaherty's "Count Floyd" character from SCTV.

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Critic Reviews

Philip Martin
February 6, 2009
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

... a lot of what is in the film is fascinating and more valuable than mere nostalgia. It tells us another kind of truth - about an America that's no less real or vital for its obscurity. Full Review

M.E. Russell
July 6, 2007
M.E. Russell, Oregonian

...as an ADD overview of a deliriously trashy TV subgenre, this is a great start. Full Review

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