American Scary

AMERICAN SCARY is a look at the nation's tradition of horror hosting, from Zacherley to A. Ghastlee Ghoul. With interviews and footage from major hosts from the 1950s to the present day, such as Zacherley, Vampira, Ghoulardi and others, along with memories from celebrities and fans who were influenced by these hosts, you'll follow this American folk art form from its glamorous beginnings, through repeated waves of popularity in the 1960s and 1970s, to its scrappy resurgence and survival in the current age of cable access and the Internet. American Scary looks to remind people how much fun local TV could be -- and maybe could be again.

• Category

  • Horror

[diemondcutter]

i had fun watchin this_makes me wish I was a kid again_ BRING BACK THE HORROR HOSTS ON TV DAMMIT

[Mick Lethal]

Anyone in The NY area remember "Chiller Theatre" ? No host but the intro was a claymation type hand in a swamp (with six fingers) and it would put the letters for "CHILLER" in the front before taking them away and sliding back into the swamp....... (please someone remember this besides me, my therapist is counting on it)

[Rabbit InRed]

Funny, the first time I saw Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things was also on a local horror-host show in the afternoon back in the '80s. It was daytime but I was alone and it creeped me out anyway. Kids don't know what they missed out on,it's one thing to be able to watch whatever you want online but the movie's lose a lot of personality that way. Saturday morning cartoons and horror hosts have a special place in my heart.

[Sj Block]

I remember from Long Beach, N.Y. Great memories. God bless Zacherle.

[eplurbusfunk]

the 60s shock armstrong the all american goul 1970s &80s and later dr paul bearer tampa bay fl

[dtvidman2005]

Growing up in Oklahoma, I had two horror hosts. Dr. Digby's House of Horror and Count Gregor. Dr. Digby was local, but Count Gregor was out of OKC. Digby did a bunch of terrible movies, but Gregor showed great stuff. I loved them both. I miss them.

[Phillip Miller]

Yep!!!! I was a kid living in Upstate NY ( Corning ) and used to beg my folks to let mt brothers and I stay up on Saturday evenings to watch Chiller Theater..early-to-mid 70's...Loved it and still do !

[Doobie Wa]

Good video, I was fortunate to grow up with Ghoulardi as my Saturday afternoon babysitter.

Which explains a lot of things, he was the King.

But those who came to follow were no slouches, they just had their own style.

[J. Anthony Carter]

I live in Omaha, Nebraska so never got to see these hosts that were mentioned in the documentary. We had our own. Dr. San Guinary. He hosted the Saturday night horror/sci-fi movies for years. His show was called Creature Feature. I remember he did many things for the community too. Hosted and promoted many charity events and drives. He was always active during the Muscular Dystrophy Telethons and Had Jerry Lewis on his show several times! He was quite a celebrity but his show ended mid 80's.

[MrNckissfan]

BTW for the record I too saw 'Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things' for the first time...thank to THE GHOUL. However, I sometimes wonder what that experience would have been like had it aired at night instead of the afternoon. The movie freaked me out as it is...but the whole nighttime experience would have really added to the whole creepy factor. :) Hoolihan & Big Chuck then Big Chuck & Lil' John were also great childhood memories of mine. I really miss the horror hosts genre.

[FilthyLoBo]

I wish I grew up with horror hosts :(

[MrAdiutomo]

:)