MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD CLASSIC REPOST NO. 4

This Cool Ghoul article recounts the early day of monster mania soon after the SHOCK! TV package was unleashed on the world.

"How often can you dissect a brain?"

-Zacherley

This article from the May 1959 issue of TV RADIO MIRROR begins with relating the recent success of the SHOCK THEATER horror films that had just begun the previous year to be shown to TV audiences across America. After that, it veers into social commentary and asks if there is too much violence on TV (ever hear of that one?). After author Charlotte Barclay gets that off her chest, she returns to reporting how monster movies are all the rage. The self-professed "Dick Clark of Transylvania", Zacherley, is interviewed and he offers some personal views, including his playing of "The Cool Ghoul" a result of him being "too weak-willed to go look for work." He was also worried early on with being able to come up with enough intermission shtick to last. Well, we know how that ended up!

Ending the piece is a discussion of TV networks that were ready to deluge audiences with "action" shows, which contained a healthy (or unhealthy, if you proffer) dose of violence. Barclay also speaks of the more "subtle" types of thrillers, such as ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS, where she offers up one of Hitch's well-known intros: "I'd like you all to join us for another half-hour of group therapy. I understand there is nothing like a nice juicy murder to help you work off your aggressions."

Read on, for a good example of the "You Are There" experience, during the dawn of the Monster Mania explosion!

THE 1950'S TV HORROR "KICK"

"How often can you dissect a brain?" -Zacherley

This article from the May 1959 issue of TV RADIO MIRROR begins with relating the recent success of the SHOCK THEATER horror films that had just begun the previous year to be shown to TV audiences across America. After that, it veers into social commentary and asks if there is too much violence on TV (ever hear of that one?). After author Charlotte Barclay gets that off her chest, she returns to reporting how monster movies are all the rage. The self-professed "Dick Clark of Transylvania", Zacherley, is interviewed and he offers some personal views, including his playing of "The Cool Ghoul" a result of him being "too weak-willed to go look for work." He was also worried early on with being able to come up with enough intermission shtick to last. Well, we know how that ended up!

Ending the piece is a discussion of TV networks that were ready to deluge audiences with "action" shows, which contained a healthy (or unhealthy, if you proffer) dose of violence. Barclay also speaks of the more "subtle" types of thrillers, such as ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS, where she offers up one of Hitch's well-known intros: "I'd like you all to join us for another half-hour of group therapy. I understand there is nothing like a nice juicy murder to help you work off your aggressions."

Read on, for a good example of the "You Are There" experience, during the dawn of the Monster Mania explosion!

GOODNIGHT, ZACHERLEY -- WHATEVER YOU ARE!

 

I never had the pleasure of watching a live SHOCK THEATER program hosted by the "Cool Ghoul", Roland/Zacherley. I was on the west coast, so I had horror hosts like Dr. Diablo and The Old Woman during the same period.

Roland/Zacherle/Zacherley is perhaps, outside of the voluptuously-commercialized Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, the best known of the horror hosts. It is said that his friend, Dick Clark, gave him the nickname, "The Cool Ghoul", and it stuck.

John Zacherley passed away last week. He was 98 years old. Assuredly, he had a full life in the entertainment industry, and when he was done with that, he remained very active in the convention circuit. He was well known for his friendly demeanor and of course, his sense of humor.

When Universal's SHOCK! horror film package was leased by Screen Gems, it was Zacherley who was the first to host the TV show, SHOCK THEATER. Others followed, but Zach was the first, and most say, the best (Vampira/Maila Nurmi was the first TV horror host, but this was before the SHOCK! package was released).

Not long after the success of SHOCK THEATER, publisher James Warren and editor/agent Forrest J Ackerman teamed up to create the first, regularly published monster magazine, FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND. SHOCK! was covered in the very first issue, and issue #2 covered, among other horror hosts, Zacherley. In issue #4 Zach was featured in his very own article. As a result, FM contributed to the obsession that became known as "Monster Mania" in the 1960s.



FAMOUS MONSTERS #4 cover art by Albert Nuetzell.



FAMOUS MONSTERS #7 cover art by Albert Nuetzell.



FAMOUS MONSTERS #7 was the first issue to sell the 6' Zach poster.



FAMOUS MONSTERS #15 cover art by Basil Gogos.

ZACH'S TOPSTONE MASK

Any Monster Kid worth his wolfs bane knows that Zacherley was the coolest ghoul on television back in the days of SHOCK THEATER. His studio sets were always crowded with the creepiest stuff imaginable.

Zach also knew what kind of masks to have on hand, too. For instance, the mask in the lower left shown in the photo below looks suspiciously like a Topstone witch mask. You can almost hear Zach saying: "What's that doing here? We don't wear masks on this show!"

BONUS: Here's the first ad for Zacherley's own mask for sale in issue #8 of FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND (it's the one on the left, wiseguy). It was sold through "General Promotions Co." which would soon become the famous Captain Company mail order department that we all know took up about a third of each magazine that Warren published.

HAPPY 95th BIRTHDAY, ZACHERLEY!

ZACH, YOU ARE STILL ONE COOL GHOUL!!!

A COOL, 12-INCH GHOUL

Good noose, Zach fans! At long last, from Amok Time, a Zacherley action figure will be available. Here's the details:

Horror movie icon Zacherley the Cool Ghoul is now in 1:6 scale size. The man who became the best, funniest, and most well-known and beloved TV horror host of all time can now be yours in outstanding detail as a fully articulated action figure standing a whopping 12-inches tall! The Zacherley the Cool Ghoul 12-inch Action Figure is a limited edition of 500 pieces.

Figure comes with interchangeable heads, candle, and is packed in a coffin shaped box.

Due for release on August 31, the suggested retail price is $69.95.

MONSTER MUSIC MONDAY

Click to play!

HAPPY (BELATED) BIRTHDAY, JOHN ZACHERLEY!

Photo from Zacherley.com

A comment from Dr. Theda has reminded MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD of a very auspicious occasion. According to the ZACHERLEY website, horror host extraordinaire John Zacherley celebrated his 93rd Birthday on September 27.

Happy Birthday to a real Cool Ghoul!

HAPPY 92ND BIRTHDAY ZACHERLEY!

We interupt MONSTER MAGAZINE WORLD'S weekly MONSTER CARD MONDAY posts for the following special announcement:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHN "ROLAND" ZACHERLEY!

You're still one cool ghoul!!

Zacherley by Basil Gogos - FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND #15