Welcome, Fright Night fans...
This tribute to WDRB-TV 41's late, great Fearmonger is (obviously) under construction.
Dedicated to the memory of
Charles Kissinger
1925 - 1991
And the lost era of
local TV Horror Hosts!
Original Fright Night theme music-- Spell of the Unknown--courtesy of Thomas J. Valentino Inc.
All rights reserved.
 |
A Fright Night TVGuide ad circa 1972. |
Fright Night?
Fright Night was the "Shock Theater" movie program that ran from 1971 to 1975 on WDRB TV-41 in Louisville, Kentucky. When the independent channel 41 went on the air in February of ’71, it ushered in a new-- to my generation-- era of locally-produced television programming in a time when network television had come to dominate the other stations in the region. For a brief but wonderful time, local kids were treated once again to afternoon children’s shows like Funsville, hosted by the lovable Presto the Magic Clown, and we got our first personal exposure to Abbott & Costello, the Three Stooges, Ultraman, the Tarzan movies of Johnny Weissmuller and so many other cultural icons through WDRB’s inventive, movie-based weekend programs. It was a great time to be a kid, and when Fright Night first aired on March 6, 1971, it got even better...
 |
A Fright Night TVGuide ad circa 1974. |
Saturdays at 7?
Like countless other "monster kids" of my generation, I grew up reading about the classics of the horror and sci-fi genres in a little magazine called Famous Monsters of Filmland. Editor Forrest J. Ackerman and his ackolytes had turned us all on to films produced 30 and sometimes 40 years before we were born, and names like Chaney, Karloff, Lugosi (and yes, even Rondo Hatton) were being spoken in hushed reverence in study halls and playgrounds across America. It was a time before cable TV, before Blockbuster and the instant accessibility of the VCR, and if you wanted to see a classic like Bride of Frankenstein, it meant poring over television listings for months--or years-- hoping...
And then came Fright Night.
What set it apart from other "Shock Theater" shows was its choice of movies and (most important to us 8-year-olds) its airtime. WDRB’s decision to run a double-feature horror movie bill from 7 to 10 PM on a Saturday night in prime time was almost unheard of! This was the early 70’s, the era of CBS’ killer sitcom lineup of All in the Family, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and others, and it seemed like a suicide move. What it was was an alternative-- and a surprise hit. And the movies, classics (and not-so’s) from the vaults of Universal, Columbia, MGM and the like, were not to be found on the other, late-night Creature Features show running on the ABC affiliate WLKY. Our prayers had been answered-- and a new local folk hero--The Fearmonger-- was born...
 |
The only existing photograph of The Fearmonger! |
The Fearmonger?
There’s no doubt about it, Channel 41 was a low-budget operation. Broadcasting from a converted garage on East Main Street, they had very little in the way of funds or set space that wasn’t already being used to support the afternoon kid’s shows and the news desk where Wilson Hatcher, the station announcer, gave the occasional update. Their solution to the problem of providing a host and his environs for Fright Night was unique--there would be no set. Instead, a dimly uplit, slightly solarized face would slowly materialize out of the darkness to introduce the movies (and crack a few well-worn howlers from the Barnabas Collins in a Funny Vein joke book) and then fade mysteriously away again into the night. And the man to personify the newly-christened Fearmonger would be local actor and long-time TV and radio commercial performer Charles Kissinger...
 |
Charles Kissinger in normal guise. |
Good evening, Fright Night fans...
By the time his stint as The Fearmonger rolled around, Charlie Kissinger had already become something of an institution in local theatre, performing in several productions of Shakespeare in Central Park and at Louisville’s prestigious Actors Theatre. He was a prolific writer and performer of tv and radio commercial spots and a talented voice man as well-- in fact, his voice can still be heard occasionally on radio spots for some of his long-time clients! Although he spent a brief time on the west coast in the late 60’s, his film career didn’t really take off until he returned home to Louisville and met up with another local legend of sorts, exploitation director William Girdler.
Charles appeared in several of Girdler’s movies, starring in the legendary Three on a Meathook and Asylum of Satan and appearing in supporting roles in just about everything else Girdler ever produced including Pam Grier’s Sheba Baby, the notorious blaxploitation Exorcist knock-off Abby, Grizzly, The Zebra Killer and The Manitou! Just as Girdler’s budgets and quality of production were beginning to rise, he was killed in a helicopter crash while scouting locations in 1978.
Charlie continued working steadily in theater and advertising throughout the 80’s, but declining health put him in the hospital, and he died of a heart attack at St. Anthony’s Medical Center on January 21, 1991 at the age of 66. He is buried in St. Louis Cemetery. He was a veteran of the United States Army during WW II, and a member of the Screen Actors Guild, Actors Equity, and the American Federation of Television and Radio Actors. While he had a diverse career in many media, his portrayal of The Fearmonger is what locals remember him most--and fondly--for...
Fright Night Features
Credits and Links
A couple of very special thank-you’s are in order. Ray Foushee, the Promotions Director at WDRB, is a long-time television historian who made the discovery of the year by unearthing the long-lost photo of Charlie as The Fearmonger from the station files. I’m in his debt for providing the picture for new negatives and scans. For the first time in nearly 25 years, the face of The Fearmonger graces the cathode ray tube...
Bob Burns is a legend in his own time and a true nice-guy. This premiere historian and archivist of fantastic cinema and television has been a source of inspiration for many folks in the entertainment industry and a regular guest at Louisville’s own Wonderfest for many, many years. It was through his efforts that my 20+ year search for the elusive Fright Night music came to fruition and I thank him, and the folks at Valentino Production Music, for bringing that eerie, evocative theme back into my life...
Most links to points of interest have been buried in the text at appropriate points. The only problems I’ve encountered have been attempts to link to Charles Kissinger’s and William Girdler’s credits at the Internet Movie Database. For some reason, Mel Gibson keeps popping up, and while I’m sure Charlie and Bill would be amused, it’s not quite what I had in mind...
Finally, I’d like to thank you all for checking out my page and I welcome any and all comments and contributions. If you’ve got any Fright Night material or recollections, I’d love to see, hear or read them! Contact me at primamater@aol.com or write to the following address:
Dave Conover
1971
3/06/71 Castle of Evil / Invasion of the Body Snatchers(First Show!)
3/13/71 Them! / Flight to Mars
3/20/71 Valley of the Zombies / Unknown Island
3/27/71 Bride of the Monster / Cape Canaveral Monsters
4/03/71 Two Lost Worlds / Chamber of Horrors
4/10/71 The Undying Monster / The Mask of Diijon plus:Zombies of the
Stratosphere (episodes of Zombies of the Stratosphere would, on occasion, be shown as filler between shows)
4/17/71 The Lady and the Monster / The Unearthly
4/24/71 The Man Who Wouldn’t Die / The Human Monster
5/01/71 The Black Room / Phantom of the Rue Morgue
5/08/71 The Tingler / The 27th Day
5/15/71 The Unknown Terror / The Maze
5/22/71 13 Ghosts / Curse of the Demon
5/29/71 The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms / Fire Maidens From Outer Space
6/05/71 The Man They Could Not Hang / Night of Terror
6/12/71 The Devil Commands / Island of Doomed Men
6/19/71 The Man Who Lived Twice / The Boogie Man Will Get You
6/26/71 The Face Behind the Mask / Before I Hang
7/03/71 The Man With Nine Lives / The H-Man
7/10/71 Mothra / The Giant Claw
7/17/71 Zombies of Mora Tau / Battle in Outer Space
7/24/71 The Stranglers of Bombay / Behind the Mask
7/31/71 Horror Hotel / 12 to the Moon
8/07/71 Them! / Bride of the Monster
8/14/71 Cape Canaveral Monsters / Invasion of the Body Snatchers
8/21/71 Castle of Evil / The Human Monster
8/28/71 Chamber of Horrors / Fire Maidens From Outer Space
9/04/71 The Undying Monster / Two Lost Worlds
9/11/71 The Man Who Wouldn’t Die / Valley of the Zombies
9/18/71 Bride of Frankenstein / The Black Cat (41)
9/25/71 The Cat Creeps / Ghost of Frankenstein
10/02/71 The Invisible Woman / The Mad Ghoul
10/09/71 The Mummy (32) / The Man Who Cried Wolf
10/16/71 The Wolf Man / The Man Who Reclaimed His Head
10/23/71 Night Key / The Mystery of Edwin Drood
10/30/71 Black Friday / The Invisible Ray
11/06/71 Frankenstein (31) / The Raven (35)
11/13/71 Dracula (31) / Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man
11/20/71 The Invisible Man / House of Frankenstein
11/27/71 Werewolf of London / The Maze
12/04/71 The Devil Commands / The Man Who Lived Twice
12/1171 The Black Room / Night of Terror
12/18/71 The Camp on Blood Island / Before I Hang
12/25/71 Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein / The Boogie Man Will Get You
1972
1/01/72 Phantom of the Rue Morgue / The Mummy’s Tomb
1/08/72 The Unearthly / The Mummy’s Hand
1/15/72 The Tingler / The Frozen Ghost
1/22/72 The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms / Return of the Fly
2/05/72 Mothra / The Invisible Woman
2/12/72 The Invisible Man Returns / Man-Made Monster
2/19/72 Son of Frankenstein / The Spider Woman Strikes Back
2/26/72 Son of Dracula / House of Horrors
3/04/72 Dracula’s Daughter / The Unknown Terror
3/11/72 Battle in Outer Space / The Giant Claw
3/18/72 The Stranglers of Bombay / 12 to the Moon
3/25/72 Curse of the Demon / The H-Man
4/01/72 Calling Dr. Death / Pillow of Death
4/08/72 Night Monster / Secret of the Chateau
4/15/72 The Crimson Canary / The Crime of Dr. Hallet
4/22/72 Weird Woman / The Strange Case of Dr. Rx
4/29/72 Dead Man’s Eyes / Captive Wild Woman
5/06/72 House of Dracula / The Mummy’s Ghost
5/13/72 She-Wolf of London / The Mad Doctor of Market Street
5/20/72 The Mummy’s Curse / Murders in the Rue Morgue
5/27/72 The Black Cat (34) / The Secret of the Blue Room
6/03/72 Cape Canaveral Monsters / Chamber of Horrors
6/10/72 Bride of the Monster / The Human Monster
6/17/72 The Maze / The Unearthly
6/24/72 Them! / Before I Hang
7/01/72 The Man Who Wouldn’t Die / Mothra
7/08/72 The Giant Claw / The Invisible Man Returns
7/15/72 The Black Room / The Invisible Ray
7/22/72 The Man They Could Not Hang / Ghost of Frankenstein
7/29/72 Bride of Frankenstein / Black Friday
8/05/72 The Man Who Lived Twice / The Tingler
8/12/72 The Man With Nine Lives / Curse of the Demon
8/19/72 The Face Behind the Mask / The Stranglers of Bombay
8/26/72 Battle in Outer Space / Behind the Mask
9/02/72 Phantom From Space / Mark of the Vampire
9/09/72 Donovan’s Brain / Invisible Invaders
9/16/72 Gog / Curse of the Stone Hand
9/23/72 Killers From Space / The Crawling Hand
9/30/72 The Monster / Nightmare (56)
10/07/72 The Monster That Challenged the World / The Slime People
10/14/72 The Man From Planet X / The Beast of Hollow Mountain
10/21/72 The Snow Creature / The Neanderthal Man
10/28/72 The Black Sleep / It! The Terror From Beyond Space
11/04/72 The Creeping Unknown / Sabaka
11/11/72 The Beast With Five Fingers / I Bury the Living
11/18/72 Destination Moon / Curse of the Faceless Man
11/25/72 Voodoo Island / The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake
12/02/72 Invasion of the Animal People / Monster From the Ocean Floor
12/09/72 Dr. X / Target Earth
12/16/72 13 Ghosts / The Pharoah’s Curse
12/23/72 The Missing Guest / The Cat Creeps
12/30/72 The 27th Day / Before I Hang
1973
1/06/73 House of the Black Death / Project Moonbase
1/13/73 UFO (56) / Robot Monster
1/20/73 Zombies of Mora Tau / The Black Cat (34)
1/27/73 The Mad Ghoul / Jungle Woman
2/03/73 Pre-empted (no show)
2/10/73 Frankenstein (31) / Dracula (31)
2/17/73 House of Wax / The Raven (63)
2/24/73 Mystery of the Wax Museum / The Vampire Bat
3/03/73 The Invisible Man / The Wolf Man
3/10/73 The Crime of Dr. Hallet / The Black Cat (34)
3/17/73 The Unknown Terror (57) / The Walking Dead
3/24/73 Dead Man’s Eyes / Son of Dracula
3/31/73 Werewolf of London / The Crimson Canary
4/07/73 Valley of the Zombies / Invisible Agent
4/14/73 Horror Hotel / Calling Dr. Death
4/21/73 The Invisible Man’s Revenge / The Undying Monster
4/28/73 Captive Wild Woman / The Unearthly
5/05/73 The Invisible Man Returns / The Flame Barrier
5/12/73 Dracula’s Daughter / House of Horrors
5/19/73 Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man / House of Dracula
5/26/73 House of Frankenstein / 12 to the Moon
6/02/73 The Slime People / The Monster From the Ocean Floor
6/09/73 Killers From Space / The Frozen Ghost
6/16/73 The Mummy’s Curse / Jungle Woman
6/23/73 Horror Island / The Man Who Reclaimed His Head
6/30/73 The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms / The Mummy’s Tomb
7/07/73 Phantom From Space / Invasion of the Animal People
7/14/73 Target Earth / Jungle Captive
7/21/73 The Snow Creature / Project Moonbase
7/28/73 Curse of the Stone Hand / The Mad Doctor of Market Street
8/04/73 The Crawling Hand / Robot Monster
8/11/73 Chamber of Horrors / The Mummy’s Ghost
8/18/73 House of the Black Death / Man-Made Monster
8/25/73 Cape Canaveral Monsters / The Mummy’s Hand
9/01/73 The Manster / The Pharoah’s Curse
9/15/73 The Monster That Challenged the World / The Crosby Case
9/22/73 The Creeping Unknown / The Frozen Ghost
9/29/73 Destination Moon / Mystery of the White Room
10/06/73 The Black Sleep / Murders in the Rue Morgue
10/13/73 The Mysterians / The Spider Woman Strikes Back
10/20/73 The Hound of the Baskervilles (59) / The Mystery of Marie Roget
10/27/73 It Came From Outer Space / The Mummy’s Curse
11/03/73 The Black Castle / She-Wolf of London
11/10/73 Revenge of the Creature / Weird Woman
11/17/73 Creature from the Black Lagoon / Night Key
11/24/73 I Bury the Living / House of Fear (39)
12/01/73 The Tingler / Curse of the Faceless Man
12/08/73 Mothra / Curse of the Demon
12/15/73 The Creature Walks Among Us / The Strange Case of Dr. Rx
12/22/73 The Stranglers of Bombay / Secret of the Blue Room
12/29/73 The Giant Claw / Pillow of Death
1974
1/05/74 Cult of the Cobra / Dead Man’s Eyes
1/12/74 The Man They Could Not Hang / The Leech Woman
1/19/74 The Invisible Ray / The Crimson Canary
1/26/74 Ghost of Frankenstein / The Mummy (32)
2/02/74 Gog / Invisible Invaders
2/09/74 Tarantula / Black Cat (34)
2/16/74 Curucu, Beast of the Amazon / Dracula (31)
2/23/74 Curse of the Undead / Frankenstein (31)
3/02/74 Monster on the Campus / The Invisible Man
3/16/74 Werewolf of London / Voodoo Island
3/23/74 The Wolf Man / Donovan’s Brain
3/30/74 Flight to Mars / Invasion of the Body Snatchers
4/06/74 Castle of Evil / It! The Terror From Beyond Space
4/13/74 Horror Hotel / Dr. X
4/20/74 The Human Monster / The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake
4/27/74 Curse of the Demon / Valley of the Zombies
5/04/74 Son of Frankenstein / The Raven (35)
5/11/74 Mystery of the Wax Museum / The Thing That Couldn’t Die
5/18/74 House of Frankenstein / House of Dracula
5/25/74 Dracula’s Daughter / Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man
6/01/74 The Black Cat (34) / The Man Who Cried Wolf
6/08/74 The Crawling Hand / Captive Wild Woman
6/15/74 Invisible Agent / Horror Island
6/22/74 House of Horrors / Mystery of the White Room
6/29/74 Curse of the Stone Hand / Monster From the Ocean Floor
7/06/74 Jungle Captive / The Mummy’s Tomb
7/13/74 Pre-empted (no show)
7/20/74 The Mummy’s Hand / Robot Monster
7/27/74 Project Moonbase / Murder in the Blue Room
8/03/74 The Mad Doctor of Market Street / The Mystery of Marie Roget
8/10/74 The Crosby Case / The Frozen Ghost
8/17/74 Jungle Woman / The Spider Woman Strikes Back
8/24/74 The Mad Ghoul / The Mummy’s Curse
8/31/74 Man-Made Monster / Night of Terror
9/07/74 Pre-empted (no show)
9/14/74 Pillow of Death / The House of Fear
9/21/74 The Invisible Woman / House of Horrors
9/28/74 Black Friday (only one feature)
10/05/74 The Crimson Canary / Rendezvous at Midnight
10/12/74 The Black Cat (34) / Night Key
10/19/74 Dead Man’s Eyes / She-Wolf of London
10/26/74 Bride of Frankenstein / Return of Dr. X
11/02/74 Ghost of Frankenstein / Murders in the Rue Morgue
11/09/74 The Mole People / Invisible Invaders
11/16/74 The Monolith Monsters / The Boogie Man Will Get You
11/23/74 The Face Behind the Mask / The Undying Monster
11/30/74 The Walking Dead / The Missing Guest
12/07/74 12 to the Moon (only one feature)
12/14/74 Secret of the Blue Room / Island of Doomed Men
12/21/74 The Strange Case of Dr. Rx / Curse of the Faceless Man
12/28/74 The Devil Commands / The Pharoah’s Curse
1975
1/04/75 Zombies of Mora Tau / Behind the Mask
1/11/75 The Man From Planet X / Secret of the Chateau
1/18/75 The Man With Nine Lives / The Crime of Dr. Hallet
1/25/753 Curse of the Stone Hand / The Man Who Wouldn’t Die
2/01/75 The Mummy / Weird Woman
2/08/75 Dracula (31) / One Fatal Hour
2/15/75 Frankenstein (31) / Taxi!
2/22/75 The Invisible Man / Before I Hang
3/01/75 The Black Room / Bride of the Monster
3/08/75 The Man Who Lived Twice / Two Lost Worlds
3/15/75 The Cape Canaveral Monsters / The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake
3/22/75 The Wolf Man / It! The Terror From Beyond Space
3/29/75 Werewolf of London / Valley of the Zombies
4/05/75 Fire Maidens From Outer Space / The Cat Creeps
4/12/75 Horror Hotel / The Undying Monster
4/19/75 The Human Monster / Jungle Woman
4/26/75 Flight to Mars / Jungle Captive
5/03/75 A Blueprint for Murder / Man-Made Monster
5/10/75 Dracula’s Daughter / Horror Island
5/17/75 Pre-empted (no show)
5/24/75 House of the Black Death(only one feature)
5/31/75 Target Earth / The Black Cat (34)
6/07/75 The Vampire Bat / Robot Monster
6/14/75 Pre-empted (no show)
6/21/75 House of Horrors (only one feature)
6/28/75 Monster From the Ocean Floor / Project Moonbase
7/05/75 The Black Cat (34) / Calling Dr. Death
7/12/75 House of Dracula / Captive Wild Woman
7/19/75 The Mummy’s Curse / The Crimson Canary
7/26/75 Night Monster (only one feature)
8/02/75 DeadMan’s Eyes / The Crosby Case
8/09/75 The Mad Ghoul / The Frozen Ghost
8/16/75 The Thing That Couldn’t Die (only one feature)
8/23/75 The Mummy’s Ghost / The Man Who Cried Wolf
9/06/75 Monster From the Ocean Floor / Project Moonbase (Last show!)
4554 South Third Street
Louisville, KY 40214
 |
This site owned by Dave Conover