Any Fans Of "Kolckak:The Nightstalker" Here??

[Scatter]

Another Universal product that impacted me greatly as a boy in the '70s. McGavin never got his due as a first rate actor, though now that he's gone (as is usually the case) he's receiving some well deserved accolades. His versatility is highlighted by his renown as a '70s horror icon as well as a Christmas icon for his portrayal of Ralphie's dad in the classic "A Christmas Story".

I visited his grave at the Hollywood Forever Memorial Park (which shares a common wall with Paramount Studios, appropriately enough) the last time I was in LA, but he hadn't had a marker placed there as yet.

Sadly, Universal has apparently opted to follow its customary cheap, slipshod, slapdash handling of its horror iconography in its release of the Night Stalker series. I haven't purchased it yet precisely because I'm so upset that they spent exactly ZERO time or money cleaning up the sound/images, or providing a thorough backstory/documentary to accompany this excellent series. The utter incompetence and carelessness with which Universal treats ALL its horror catalog is simply criminal.

I know I'm going to have to shell out for the set because I simply have to have it, but if anyone here would rather supply me I'd much prefer to give my money to YOU, thereby enabling me to protest Universal's negligence while feeding my need for some first rate cheesy terror. My son Jordan (just turned has never seen the series, and I've GOT to indoctrinate him ASAP.

Anyone else really impacted by this series?? Anyone seen the original TV movies upon which it was based (I've never seen these, but need to rectify that as well ASAP)?? What are your memories of watching this show??

BTW, here is the theme........simply LOVE it!!

http://www.kfcplainfield.com/sound/nightstalker.wav

[Creature Features]

Oh, yeah man.  I watched the original pilot as a kid, and completely freaked out. If im not mistaken, that was one of the first "modern" takes on  the vampire mythos coming off all the old time movies...

And the series? Pffft! Every Friday night  my buddy would sleep over and you better believe we were glued to that tv!

I guess my favorite episode  (who's title  escapes me at the moment), was the one with the demon that disguises itself as the person you trust the most...pure gold.

[CreepysFan]

 Kolchak fan right here, both of the TV series and the movies.  My introduction to reporter Kolchak was in South Carolina when they first aired The Night Stalker movie, a year later (`73) watching the Night Strangler movie.  By the time they started showing Kolchak in the TV series, I was already hooked on the character.  You really should get the series, If for no other reason than for Jordan's sake.  No one should be deprived of this classic.  I'd offer up my copies of series and movies, but I'd rather have a stake driven in the `ol heart than ever part.  My favorite episode was always "The Zombie", but Jordan will probally get more into "The Werewolf".

[JMichaelRoddy]

Hey Gang,
I absolutely adore the NIGHT STALKER, and anything really by Dan Curtis. There was a quality to seventies horror television that has stuck with me. Many say that it was the age that I was in those early years, but I say that I still get a melancholy chill whenever I hear that whistling. If you have never seen the movies, both are top-notch. Darren McGavin was a perfect choice, and the eerie quality of these gothic and supernatural horrors happening right in the heart of the city.

I would have loved to see a documentary on the DVDs. The movies actually have a short conversation interview. There is also a fantastic book on the series that you can still find.

[Cinemacabre]

I loved it! DM was amazing in the part. He acted through every frame of those movies and the series. Even when he's in the corner of the shot or in the background, look at him... he is Carl Kolchak!

[avenger]

I love this series as well.I think Darren McGavin was great!! I watched him years ago when I was
just a little kid in a series called Riverboat .Anybody recall that ? And ,of course he was great in the mini series The Martian Chronicles ,not to mention A Christmas Story.

[Unknown Primate]

Yep, me too.  Every episode just flows with nostalgia.  The Night Strangler and The Night Stalker are together on a very cool dvd, also.   I don't own the series or the movies yet, either, but I do have the book, The Night Stalker Companion.  A very good read.  And that theme... so cool.  I always thought if they were going to redo the series, it would have been neat to have someone like Seth Green as Kolchak's son or grandson, discovering some supernatural artifacts that Carl had tucked away, along with some of his writings/notes.  He, of course, would follow in his footsteps, and even dress like Kolchak.  The series they DID do, just didn't capture that ol' Night Stalker feel.  I imagine the only way to get that "feel" is to invest in the dvds.  Long Live Carl Kolchak!

And, no, Scatter...  the book is not in one of my 'tubs".  It's in a box.

[Unknown Primate]

BTW, wasn't " The Norliss Tapes " a Dan Curtis project, also?  I always thought that was a cool made-for-tv movie, too.  Hey, how about a 12" Kolchak figure?!  That would be a groovy thing!

[Creature Features]

BTW, wasn't " The Norliss Tapes " a Dan Curtis project, also?  I always thought that was a cool made-for-tv movie, too.  Hey, how about a 12" Kolchak figure?!  That would be a groovy thing!

I'd like to see McFarlane do that! A 12 inch or "action figure" 6 inch....

[monsterphile]

BTW, wasn't " The Norliss Tapes " a Dan Curtis project, also?  I always thought that was a cool made-for-tv movie, too.  Hey, how about a 12" Kolchak figure?!  That would be a groovy thing!

The Norliss Tapes was done by Dan Curtis.  As for a figure, I've seen customs usually using a figure from A CHRISTMAS STORY.  I would love an authentic one though, complete with hat and camera.  I can dream, can't I?  Oh...and a box for the mdel that might have been:

http://www.monstersinmotion.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/4_123/products_id/8756

Rob

BTW: This post actually should have followed the one below.

[monsterphile]

Am I a fan of Kolchak?  Wow!  Where to start?  The episode mentioned here is "Horror in the Heights" and the creature mentioned is the Rakshasa, a Hindu flesh-eating, shape-shifting demon.  It also featured TV legend Phil Silvers as a guest star.  This episode has long been a fan favorite.  Here's the IMDB link for the episode:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0621537/

I guess my favorite episode  (who's title  escapes me at the moment), was the one with the demon that disguises itself as the person you trust the most...pure gold.

As for Kolchak and me, it also started with the original 2 TV movies.  I also recommend getting that double movie DVD along with the series set.  Yes, they are disappoiningly devoid of bonus material with the exception of the aforementioned interview.  Still, you MUST have them.  I think that you should be able to find the movie set for a decent price online.  When you combine the talents of Richard Matheson and Dan Curtis, you're gonna get some great 1970's horror.  Add in a great cast, and we're in horror heaven.  I also think that the 1970's was a great decade for TV horror.

I watched every episode as a boy and remember watching it when it was later in reruns (I believe on Friday nights around 11:30 or midnight).  I would be the only one up late in the house and would sit alone in the dark just delighting in the chills.  Sure, there were episodes that were not up to expectations, but they were still fun because there was Kolchak and Vincenzo (Simon Oakland) bickering like an old married couple, or Kolchak and Ron "Uptight" Updyke (Jack Grinnage) verbally sparring.  Someone mentioned "The Zombie" as a good episode and I would rate it as one of the most suspenseful.  Other favorite episodes are :Horror in the Heights (See above), The Trevi Collection, The Ripper, and The Vampire.  One that I hadn't seen in years until the DVD set came out was Firefall featuring a doppelganger.  I couldn't remember much about the episode, but there were camera shots which scared the crap out of me.  Watch it and I have no doubt you'll know which ones. 

Another great thing about the movies and the series was the number of TV and film icons that pop up in guest roles like wicked witch Margaret Hamilton, horror icon John Carridine, Addams Family's Carolyn Jones, Munsters' Grandpa Al Lewis, voice of Piglet-John Fiedler, Scatman Crothers, Mary Wickes, Dick Van Patten, William Daniels (St. Elsewhere), Larry Storch (F-Troop), Dick Gautier, David Doyle (Bosley from Charlie's Angels), Tom Skeritt (ALIEN), Richard Kiel (2 episodes), Keenan Wynn, Gillman's sweetheart Julie Adams, Larry Linville & Jamie Farr (MASH), Bernie Kopell (Love Boat), Lara Parker (Dark Shadows), Jim Backus (Gilligan's Island & Mr. Magoo), Erik Estrada (CHiPS), Wally Cox, and Richard Anderson (Oscar Goldman from $6 Million Man).  Is everyone sold yet?  lol

Just talking about it all has got me hungering to watch some this weekend,.    I suggest all of you do too. 

Rob

[Unknown Primate]

Man, that box is cool!

[tv horror]

And that is the reason I'm called TV horror!! I love Kolchak even to the point of making my own 12" figure with camera, tape machine and loose tie. I used the Christmas story figure head and a Dragon figure body, as soon as I can I'll post a photo. With living in the U.K we did not see the series until about 15 years after it was made and there were a number of great episodes shown, the Spanish moss being one and Horror in the heights. I can recommend it highly as great entertainment, now where is Gordy the ghoul?

[Scatter]

Yup, I figured there would be some fellow Stalkerazzi out there!! It simply IRKS me no end how dismissive Universal is with these gems. I wasn't aware the movies were out together on DVD......gotta love Amazon. So,they're winging their way to me.

What a catch 22. How do you hold Universal to an appropriate standard of quality?? Buy from them when the product is substandard, and you encourage more of the same ("See, the fools buy it anyway"). Refuse to buy, and they may well stop releases completely because of lousy sales ("See, no use putting any actual work into these things because the market is too small.").

Too bad we can't simply rely on Universal to do what's RIGHT.  I held off buying the classic films until the Legacy Editions came out for exactly that reason. I stuck with VHS copies until they got their heads out of their posteriors, but don't have that option here. Besides, nothing like a DVD even if the quality isn't up to snuff. Even with the stinking DOUBLE SIDED ones they issue. What's a disk bought at the kind of bulk they use cost anyway?? Fifteen cents MAYBE?? But no, they have to double side them. 

Well, naturally, I'm buying them. But I'm also writing a useless letter telling them exactly what I think of their policies.Morons.

The new series, outside of the few nods to the McGavin classic (battered hat on the rack), was absolute dreck. Those who have read some of the backstory on the movies/series know the turmoil and clashes McGavin had with the producers and studio. Would have made a fascinating documentary to accompany the set, especially since those involved won't be with us much longer, and they already waited too long to get McGavin on record.

I can hear my dad's constant refrain whenever I think about this stuff, "Do it right, or don't do it at all. Everything you create says something to the world about YOU."

Too bad my dad didn't work for Universal.

[Scatter]

And that is the reason I'm called TV horror!! I love Kolchak even to the point of making my own 12" figure with camera, tape machine and loose tie. I used the Christmas story figure head and a Dragon figure body, as soon as I can I'll post a photo. With living in the U.K we did not see the series until about 15 years after it was made and there were a number of great episodes shown, the Spanish moss being one and Horror in the heights. I can recommend it highly as great entertainment, now where is Gordy the ghoul?

PLEASE post your pics!! I can't wait to see it!!