Chicago TV Horror Movie Shows: From Shock Theatre to Svengoolie

by Ted Okuda, Mark Yurkiw

Overview

Although the motion picture industry initially disparaged and feared television, by the late 1950s, studios saw the medium as a convenient dumping ground for thousands of films that had long been gathering dust in their vaults. As these films found their way to local TV stations, enterprising distributors grouped the titles by genre so programmers could showcase them accordingly. It was in this spirit that Chicago’s tradition of TV horror movie shows was born. Chicago TV Horror Movie Shows is the first comprehensive look at Chicago’s horror movie programs, from their inception in 1957 to the present.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780809335381
Publisher:	Southern Illinois University Press
Publication date:	02/09/2016
Edition description:	1st Edition
Pages:	270
Sales rank:	402,466
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Ted Okuda is a Chicago-based film historian whose previous books include The Columbia Comedy Shorts and The Jerry Lewis Films (as coauthor). His articles and interviews have appeared in a variety of media-themed publications.
 
Mark Yurkiw is a journalist for the Riverside-Brookfield Landmark newspaper; his articles have also appeared in Suburban Life, Wednesday Journal, and Forest Park Review.
 

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi

Introductions 1

A Word About Researching TV Listings 4

1 Old Merchandise in New Wrappers: Repackaging Old Horror Movies 7

2 Shock Theatre: Mad Marvin's Monster Movie Mania 13

3 Thrillerama: Saturday Night Chillers 33

4 The Big Show: Monster Movie Mondays 41

5 The Early Show: Science Fiction Wednesdays 49

6 Occasional Shockers: The Toy That Grew Up and Prize Movie With Ione 55

7 Creature Features: Gruesome Ghouls and Grisly Ghosts 67

8 The Science Fiction Theater/Science Fiction Cinema: Potpourri of Pinch-Penny Pictures 77

9 Monster Rally: Really Cheap Thrills 83

10 Screaming Yellow Theater: The Birth of Svengoolie, or I Was a Hippie Horror Host 87

11 The Ghoul: It Came from Cleveland 101

12 Svengoolie: Humor That's Rich 111

Appendix A 100 Monster Movies: A Fright Film Guide 135

Appendix B Collector's Corner: The Good Old Days of 8mm Monster Movies 177

Appendix C The "Shock!" Library: The Start of the TV Horror-Movie Show Tradition 195

Appendix D Monster Movie Contacts: Sources for Fans 213

Bibliography 223

Index 229

About the Authors 255

Editorial Reviews

"A lovingly chronicled history of spine-chilling local programming."—Chicago Tribune

"A fun read . . . answers a lot of the 'frequently asked questions' viewers usually ask of me!"—Rich Koz, Svengoolie

"The writing is warm, lively, and energetic—not to mention, often, very funny. . . . This book is an absolute delight."—Mark Clark, author, Smirk, Sneer and Scream: Great Acting in Horror Cinema

"For true Chicago television fans, there's no better gift than a splendid new book about a programming craze that combined screams with laughter. . . . Lavishly illustrated with rare photographs and ads, the book also features several helpful guides, including detailed listings of monster movies and contacts for obtaining them on DVD." —Robert Feder, Chicago Sun-Times

"An unexpected surprise . . . I was taken in by the book's buoyancy and verve, not to mention the great firsthand insights. This is a unique report that shouldn't be missed."—Classic Images

"All the childhood memories of TV in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s come crashing back. . . . Authors Ted Okuda and Mark Yurkiw have hit the nerve that electrifies an era of our pop culture. This book takes you back with fun writing from people who are passionate, wonderful TV listing ads, rare photographs, the theatre promotions, and insight into Chicago's versions of it all. A true monster treat for The Monster Boomer Generation!"—Ron Adams, director, International Monster Bash Classic Movie Conference and editor, Monster Bash

"Ted Okuda and Mark Yurkiw explore the ways a generation's collective memory was formed by these shows. . . . will appeal to horror fans who didn't grow up in the greater Chicago area."—Kevin Maher, Monster Fest, AMCTV.com

"Two scholars reanimate the gory days of Chicago television's monster hits . . . rich with lively anecdotes . . . sure to amuse even the casual fan."—Time Out Chicago

From the Publisher