SCREAM-IN (June 20th, 1969 to August ?, 1971) – Love-Ins begat Laugh-In which begat Scream-In, a Bad Movie Show that went off the air when the station broadcasting it went bankrupt. Scream-In was previously titled Shock it to Me, a clever combination of the old Shock syndicated horror film package and the Laugh-In catch-phrase “Sock it to me!”
This Movie Host Show aired on Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s WPGH Saturday nights at 7:00pm and sometimes 6:30pm to avoid having to go head-to-head with Pittsburgh’s iconic Movie Host Chilly Billy Cardilly (Bill Cardille) on Chiller Theater. Here are Scream-In‘s three hosts – Coagulus, Count Von Thirstenburg and Tarantula, who had a ghoulish sidekick called Hugo.
COAGULUS – The name of the actor playing this vampire character has not come down to us. Some sources state that Coagulus hosted WPGH’s original version of Scream-In titled just Supernatural Movie beginning in February 1969 – the same month the station started broadcasting.
This figure has been described by those who remember him as very much in the sarcastic style of Ghoulardi (Cleveland) and Sinister Seymour (Los Angeles). Coagulus leaned heavily into the So Bad They’re Good spirit that so many of us love about these old shows.
In late July, 1969 this host was fired, supposedly for wanting a raise. He was immediately replaced by another Movie Host character. See below.
COUNT VON THIRSTENBURG – No pictures survive of this red-haired vampire character who was played by either Mike Dix or Harry (last name unknown). Some people who remember this host claim his schtick was doing intentionally bad jokes and puns sometimes punctuated with drum rim-shots to emphasize the lameness. Others claim his material really was just plain bad. He was gotten rid of very quickly, replaced by the Movie Host most associated with Scream–In.
TARANTULA – Paul Kawecki played this character. Tarantula was not a vampire but was described as an Occult “Swinger” who seemed like he’d be perfect for presiding over funerals for Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr. and other Rat Pack members. A would-be “cool”, cynical figure.
Tarantula’s abused sidekick was Hugo, whom one source states was a grave digger, played by an unknown actor. Tarantula made his debut on Scream-In by killing Count Von Thirstenburg with a stake and taking over the show. (Shades of Movie Host Dr. Paul Bearer on Shock Theatre!)
During Paul Kawecki’s run as host Scream-In started doing Double Features but on an unknown date switched to single features.
With mock seriousness, Occult Scholar Tarantula would often spend his Host Segments trying to obtain some new supernatural relic or tome that had caught his attention. Hugo would assist him in these efforts, which were serialized throughout an entire movie.
Other times Tarantula’s Host Segments would be the usual host bits of business. One of his catchphrases when returning after commercial breaks was “And now for some more of my incantational rites.”
Another sketch involved Tarantula clashing with a wizard who eventually chased him out of the studio. That led to trick shots of the host superimposed running on or near various Pittsburgh landmarks.
In 1971 Tarantula and Hugo made a public appearance in character at a theatrical airing of Night of the Living Dead.
FOR OTHER MOVIE HOST ENTRIES CLICK HERE: https://glitternight.com/category/movie-hosts/
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