Head of the Horror Host

[Toy Ranch]

John Zacherle, the Cool Ghoul, is one of the best known and loved horror hosts.  Today he continues to make personal appearances.  His classic songs have been recorded and re-recorded and enjoyed by several generations of fans.  And I have to say, he's one of the sweetest gents you'd ever have the pleasure to meet.

As a young monster kid, growing up in Texas, we never had a local horror host.  Oh, there was a very good one, but when I was in diapers he switched to becoming a wacky/zany Three Stooges host, and that's what I grew up with...  but in Famous Monsters I read about Zacherle and wished so hard his show would be on in my area.  Sadly it would be 30 years before I would ever actually see a TV show with Zacherle.  In my heart though, he was always my "horror host".

A couple of years ago, I finally met the Cool Ghoul.  He appeared at Monster Bash in Pittsburgh, and I was there set up as a dealer.  I've never been comfortable meeting celebreties at conventions.  I've met many famous people, but always in more natural settings.  I'm not someone who would ever approach someone I admire, but don't know, out in public.  Even though these folks come to conventions specifically to meet fans (and make money selling autographs, etc.) the whole thing is just not my cup of tea.  Many enjoy it, and I have nothing against the whole idea of it, I'm just not into it much...  but I had to meet Zacherle.  I picked a time when there seemed to be a lull in the crowd and went to the room where he was signing.  I walked in and he was talking to someone else, so I perused his table of photos, CD's, and DVD's and selected a photo and a DVD to purchase.  Zach finished up with the other fan and turned to me.  He engaged me in conversation and asked where I was from...  when I told him Dallas, he asked how I'd gotten there, and I told him I drove.  Zach was taken by this, that he had fans in Dallas, where his show has never been televised, and that one would drive all the way to Pittsburgh.  I told him about the Universal Monster Army toy tour and explained that we were fans and collectors who wanted to bring our hobby to other fans and had set up an exhibit at the show.  Zach told me that he was giving me the "Long Distance Traveler Award" and that there would be no charge.  He signed the photo.



and gave it to me.  I thanked him and we chatted a little more.  Someone else walked in and we finished up, and I turned to his assistant to pay for the DVD.  He said "No, he meant anything you want is free"

Wow...  I was just dumbstruck.  I thanked him and took the photo and DVD, after having something of a dream meeting with my childhood hero.  The money wasn't important, but his kindness meant the world. 

(I hope I'm getting this part right...)  Some years ago, Carol Hicks did a Zacherle sculpture and produced a couple of masks.  For whatever reason, it never went into production and as I understand, only 2 were made.  One of them resides on a full figure Zacherle at Doctor Shocker's House of Horrors, and the other has now made it's way to me, via the same Doctor Shocker.  The scuplt is a remarkable likeness of the Cool Ghoul.  Even in profile it looks exactly like Zacherle.  I feel priveliged and honored to own this piece, which will receive an honored place here at the Toy Ranch.

[mike c]

Wow, what a great likeness! Truly a piece held in high honor, I can tell. And what a wonderful story; how perfectly Zacherley to do that for you.
A really heartwarming and cool post, thanks for sharing all that!

Mike C.

[monsterphile]

...and a deserving home it is Bobby  (For all that you've done for the UMA, and more specifically the Toy Tours).  Although not as limited, I have the head of Dr. Shocker on MY desk here in NJ.  Well, more specifically one of these masks

http://tinyurl.com/2jf27a


Also, my daughter called out to me earlier this evening because Dan Roebuck was on the 2000 Disney TV movie QUINTS.

Rob

[ProfGriffin]

Great story, and a great first meeting with the cool ghoul.

My own version of the tale of Zach attack was similiar.  It was at the FM Con in Arlington (1993) that I met Zacherley for the first time.
Unlike some of the other guests, he simply was NOT charging for autographed photos...just signing away.
He roamed the con floor at will, laughing and talking and signing...

I attended his speaking engagement and listened with rapt attention of his tales of become THE Cool Ghoul.
All the way back to Texas (we drove to Arlington-road trip style) we listened to Zach on tape, as he told us all about his 'Dinner with Drac'

It was a Zacherley costume I made for Halloween that year that gave me the bug to become a Horror Host on my own local TV.