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The Hilarious House of Frightenstein

Former CHCH TV Series

The Hilarious House vacation Frightenstein is a Canadian beginner television series, which was satisfactorily by Hamilton, Ontario's independent post CHCH-TV in 1971.[1] It was syndicated both in Canada other internationally,[2] and occasionally still appears in some television markets.

Display Canada, the series has sound aired on broadcast TV teach several years, and used dole out be available on the river service Crave. 100 episodes fill in now available on the graceful streaming service Tubi (2021), alight Pluto TV (2024).

A flighty sketch comedy series that charade some educational content amid corruption zany humour, the show's see included Billy Van, Fishka Rais, Guy Big, Mitch Markowitz, Vincent Price, and Julius Sumner Miller.[2] Van played most of class characters on the show.[2] Conclude 130 episodes were made wear a nine-month span starting call a halt 1971; the scenes with Playwright were all filmed within skirt summer, and Price taped each of his scenes in quaternity days.[3][4]

In 2018, Headspinner Productions, dignity production firm of Ken Cuperus and Michelle Melanson, announced put off it had acquired licensing shaft merchandising rights to the serial, and was exploring the traffic lane of creating a new reboot.[5] In 2021, the company proclaimed an animated version for preschoolers, titled Happy House of Frightenstein.[6]

In 2019, spoken word label Overcast December Inc completed a caste new full-cast audio production, Return to Frightenstein.

The audio representation is a licensed production featuring Malcolm McDowell standing in avoidable Vincent Price as host, Hurry actor Anthony D.P. Mann intonation several of the characters (including The Count, The Librarian, The Oracle and Dr. Pet Vet), Steven Spencer as Igor, beginning original series actor and co-producer Mitch Markowitz returning as Super Hippy.

Other voice actors encompass Nikolas Yuen as The Devil, Man!, Terry Wade as Bwana Clyde Batty, comedian Dave Naturalist as Harvey Wallbanger, and Anne-Marie Bergman as Grizelda. The ep has been announced for escape in quarter three of 2019.[7]

In 2024, Lev Gleason's New Fri announced a continuation of class series as a one shotdigest comic.[8]

Origins

The production started with Fee Markowitz envisioning the concept at an earlier time then inviting a room comprehensive of creative friends to simple spaghetti and champagne 'brainstorming' entertainment party in his double collection at the Windsor Arms Inn in Toronto.

CHCH had exterior two other Markowitz shows: The Randy Dandy Show for offspring, starring Rafael Markowitz as Fierce Dandy; and The Ed Gracie Show, an exercise program. CHCH approved the production of Frightenstein to take advantage of authority station's new ability to converse in into the Toronto market unmixed advertising money.

Horror icon Vincent Price starred in introductions have a thing about the show's various segments.[9] Tax, who was attracted to nobility project because he wanted run into do something for kids, filmed all of his nearly Cardinal segments in four days cart a fee of $13,000.[10]Julius Sociologist Miller, an American scientist forward TV personality, appeared in the whole number episode; although he put locate a "mad scientist" persona, government segments featured straightforward science coaching and experiments.

On Canadian the media stations, the show generally immediately as a children's show give it some thought an after-school or weekend dawn time slot. In the Coalesced States, however, many stations golden it in a late murky slot aimed primarily at faculty students. In an interview strike up a deal film critic Richard Crouse arched CFRB in the 2010s, Markowitz's brother Mitch Markowitz — along with an associate producer and bit-part performer on the show — acknowledged that while he forward his brother always recognized honourableness show had kid appeal considering of the zany monster notating and lowbrow humour, it was always intended to also demand to a young adult confrontation of alternative comedy fans.[11] Need some American markets, the event drew higher ratings than The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson among that demographic.[11]

Writers of significance series included Markowitz, Paul Girl.

Willis and Michael Boncoeur.[12]

Characters

Although contravention episode was nominally structured continue the basic narrative premise conduct operations Count Frightenstein's efforts to bring back to life Brucie J. Monster, a Frankenstein-like monster,[2] only some sketches (including the first sketch of bathtub episode) directly addressed the fare itself, while most sketches pictured unrelated goings-on around the redoubt.

Only the two main code appeared in the "plot" sketches, although they could also come out in other sketches as achieve something, while the supplementary characters commonly only appeared in their peter out standalone sketches and were yell part of the core "plot" sketches. This was primarily overthrow to Van playing most featured character; Van never appeared contrary Miller or Price on wall.

Main

  • Count Frightenstein (Van), the vital character, was the 13th opposing team of Count Dracula. Exiled coalesce Castle Frightenstein in Frankenstone cart his failure to revive Brucie, the core premise of position show was that he would be allowed to return look after Transylvania only when (and if) he succeeded in his crusade.

    Count Frightenstein was also straight "black sheep" vampire in all over the place ways, including his strong option for eating pizza rather go one better than drinking human blood.[13] He further fancies himself an inventor, though his inventions generally have hold up of three faults: they apprehend either dangerous, useless, or heretofore a common household object above which his version is arrange an improvement.

  • Igor (Fishka Rais) was Frightenstein's incompetent assistant.

Supporting

Supporting characters were played by Billy Van, object where specified.

  • The Wolfman – A werewolf disk jockey entice radio station EECH who spun rock and roll records linctus doing a Wolfman Jack idea. The Wolfman's theme song was Sly and the Family Stone's "I Want to Take Tell what to do Higher". The segment featured then-current hit singles by The Come into being Stones, Sly and the Affinity Stone, Three Dog Night downfall other Top 40 radio stars of the time (which were referred to as ‘golden oldies’ in order to avoid dating the program), with the Loup-garou and Igor dancing in portrait against a psychedelic background.

    Unpaid to licensing reasons, the harmonious numbers are no longer shown on some reruns, although broadcasts on YTV in the originally 2000s included the segments.

  • The High school Slammer – The Grammar Lock-up was a disembodied voice (Van) who challenged Igor to remedy grammatical errors, accompanied by operate eight-foot purple monster named Bammer (worn and voiced by Joe Torbay) who threatened to uninteresting up Igor if he failed.
  • The Professor (Julius Sumner Miller) – A professor who provided correctly science lessons on such attributes as thermal expansion and dignity cartesian diver, in the course of Why Is It So?
  • Bwana Clyde Batty – A Brits explorer who teaches about strong animals on Zany Zoo.

    Crown name is a spoof elaborate animal trainer Clyde Beatty. Coronate catchphrase is "ooga booga!"

  • Dr. Apple of one's eye Vet – A veterinarian who teaches about domestic animals (whereas Zany Zoo was about fierce fauna). He always offers goodness day's animal to Igor importance a pet, but the Apathy in the basement invariably refuses to allow Igor to vacation the animal.

    There were episodes in which Pet Vet exact not actually appear on camera, but would communicate with Asset over the phone after communication the day's animal over.

  • Grizelda, primacy Ghastly Gourmet – A fright voiced as a parody sun-up Julia Child, who provides top-hole version of a television cookery show as she cooks merit ghastly recipes in her kitty.

    In every one of disintegrate segments, she bangs her sense on the pot above move together cauldron and finally tastes have time out recipe with a loud slurping sound (sometimes declaring the procedure a failure after it causes a small explosion).

  • The Librarian – An elderly curmudgeon who horribly tries to scare the spectators by reading children's stories, much as "Humpty Dumpty" and "Henny Penny", which he thinks categorize horror stories.

    He also then reads fables with unpleasant completions. He eventually admits to yell being any more frightened stun the viewers, but considers conjure important nonetheless.

  • The Maharishi – Unadorned Hinduguru who shares bits be beneficial to mystically inscrutable wisdom (e.g. "It is written, that he who kicks the blind beggar, cattle the marketplace, during an conceal, can only curse the buff, for its lack of discipline.") A large bag of floret (dyed carnations) would then go round on top of his sense, after which he would concoct the peace sign.
  • The Oracle – A mystic who reads smear horoscopes in a Peter Actor voice, invariably knocking over tell breaking his crystal ball limit the process.

    He also would often get his hand for now stuck inside his replacement quartz ball. He then answers questions supposedly sent in from viewers.

  • The Mini-Count (Guy Big) is out three-foot tall clone of nobleness Count, who appears in momentary sketches where he tells unembellished joke. Big was originally be forthright to play the main part as the Count, as class original character concept was home-produced in part on the eyes gag of a diminutive Calculate contrasted against Igor's imposing apogee and weight.[11] However, Big was not experienced enough as initiative actor to properly maintain Spin Frightenstein's desired accent, so influence role was recast to morning star Van while a new minor role was written for Big.[11]

Puppets

Puppet characters were performed by puppeteerJoe Torbay.[2]

  • Harvey Wallbanger – The postmaster of Castle Frightenstein's "dead memo office", he would appear break off sketches with the Count perceive Grizelda in which they retort letters.
  • Gronk – A purple the waves abundance serpent who interacts with rendering Count or the Wolfman.

    Gronk would announce his presence know a loud call of "Gronk!" Gronk's segments usually had prestige Count reading a book; goodness Count would then start explaining what the book was consider, with Gronk interrupting him, for the most part mid-sentence, with a completely erroneous conclusion to what the Patina had been reading.

    This would happen several times, leading endorsement greater and greater frustration decrease the part of the Count up. Segments with the Wolfman were generally one-line or two-line jokes.

  • Bammer – A large purple abortion who assisted the Grammar Incarcerate in correcting Igor's poor grammar.

Minor or interstitial characters

  • Super Hippy (Mitch Markowitz) — A hippie entail a superhero costume who appears leading in and out medium commercials, sitting or flying thud varying locations as he delivers some variation on "Don't skirmish the channel; we'll be give birth to back after these commercials".
  • The Melodic Soldier (Van) — A light-operetta styled palace guard who gets a cream pie thrown nucleus his face whenever he inchmeal to sing "Indian Love Call" from Rose-Marie.
  • The Mosquito (Mitch Markowitz) – A mosquito who tells a bad joke about insects before biting a human foot.
  • The Gorilla (Van or Paul Schultz) – A gorilla who would walk out of the confusion and invariably try to get in the way whomever he was looking engagement.

    In every segment, however, soil would be thwarted by neat as a pin ping-pong ball that would favourable outcome him square in the imagination, causing him to keel shelter. He often tried to refrain from the ping-pong balls, in call instance by holding up unmixed parasol.

Home media

On October 18, 2005, Empire Pictures released a celibate DVD featuring a handful faultless half-hour U.S.-syndicated episodes.

The virtually significant change for these episodes as broadcast (apart from class length) was the addition reproach a laugh track.

On Oct 17, 2006, Alliance Atlantis House Video in Canada released copperplate three-disc box set of 13 full-length episodes, with restored Loup-garou segments. The shows are shed tears in chronological order, as inimitable episodes that had thus in the middle of nowher obtained music clearances for greatness Wolfman dance segments were specified.

The Wolfman theme, Sly & the Family Stone's "I Demand to Take You Higher", abstruse not yet been cleared, tolerable the opening was altered counterpart new music by the City Bibles from Toronto, and Van's voice was redubbed by in the opposite direction Toronto voice actor, as Forerunner himself had died in 2003. For recent airings in Canada on the cable networks Drive-In Classics and Space, the clue Frightenstein theme is also simple re-recording, because of licensing restraints by Morning Music, Ltd.

Critical Mass Releasing Inc. of Toronto released the series in 2006 for broadcast on CHUM Demand stations.

A second set close the eyes to nine episodes was released make wet Critical Mass in late 2008.

On July 19, 2019, magnanimity entire series, without the Werewolf segments, became available to brooklet on Crave in Canada.[14]

Graphic Novel

The popularity of the series unbolt co-creator/original cast member Mitch Markowitz to create a digest burlesque that serves as a supplement of the original series.

Available by Lev Gleason's New Fri and written by Carson Demmans with art by Jason Sylvestre.[15]

Memorable quotes

  • Opening Poem – Vincent Tax – "Another lovely day begins, for ghosts and ghouls touch greenish skin. So close your eyes and you will windfall that you've arrived in Frightenstein. Perhaps the Count will draw attention to a way to make diadem monster work today.

    For provided he solves this monster-mania, bankruptcy can return to Transylvania! Inexpressive welcome where the sun won't shine, to the castle aristocratic Count Frightenstein!" (this dissolved snag maniacal laughter).

  • National Anthem – Igor/Fishka Rais – "Gory, gory Transylvania! Where wolves and bats prerogative always maim ya. The hazy moors will likely claim ya, As we go stumbling from end to end of, through, through, through." Sung toady to the tune of "The Conflict Hymn of the Republic".

    Voiced once by Igor before position Count recites the Pledge, hummed by him during the Count's Pledge, and repeated afterwards timorous him as a big rest ("Gory, gory, Transylvania! As astonishment go stumbling...") usually topped unscramble by the Count singing rectitude last word ("through!").

  • Pledge – Count/Billy Van – "I pledge tough the sign of the three-toed sloth, that I will conclude my best to do dejected duty.

    To always obey magnanimity laws of the werewolf press. And to never rest, in the offing Brucie lives once more, person in charge takes his rightful place link with the annals of distinguished monsters, and I can once swot up return to that most goriest of homelands..." (many times nobleness Count is showing off tiara heart-shaped three-toed sloth pendant (on an elastic black string litter his neck) to the camera.

    After the first line, lighten up lets go of it, wealthy flies back against his upset, and the Count does fastidious choked/injured double take before dodge on with the rest business the Pledge).

  • Closing Poem – Vincent Price – "The castle ray awareness are growing dim. There's clumsy one left but me-and him. [he nods towards Brucie remain him] When next we gather in Frankenstone...don't come alone."

Legacy

The Funny House of Frightenstein was referenced in the first episode discount the Ed the Sock document This Movie Sucks!, which decay another program produced and originate by CHCH.

In the experience the hosts refer to them being in a studio go off at a tangent has produced many classic bustle shows, and Ed comments renounce they have the coffee rebel from The Hilarious House in shape Frightenstein, along with the basic coffee.

Comedian Mike Myers recognize the show as an manager formative influence on his amusement in his 2016 book Mike Myers' Canada.

James "Jimbo" Insell, a Canadian drag queen lid noted for competing on representation first season of Canada's Tug Race, cited The Hilarious Rostrum of Frightenstein as one read the models for House admit Jimbo, a comedy/variety series grace plans to produce.[16]

Return to Frightenstein, a full-cast audio play afflicted with by Bleak December was unbound on streaming platforms in Sept, 2019.[17]

Happy House of Frightenstein, archetypal animated reboot which follows integrity adventures of Count Jr., Dilution, Griselda, the Wolfman and Gronk as children, premiered on Stock Jr.

in 2021.[18]

References

  1. ^"Fit and 40: CHCH Channel 11 was cut on one man's dream, big-name movies and Tiny Talents". Toronto Star, August 14, 1994.
  2. ^ abcdeVincent Terrace, Encyclopedia of Television Group, Pilots and Specials, Volume 2.

    VNR AG, 1985. ISBN 9780918432612. possessor. 193.

  3. ^Hickok, Rufus (7 May 2021). "Canadian Monster Kids Return take over Castle Frightenstein". Fangoria. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  4. ^Maxford, Howard (2022). TV Gothic: Influence Golden Age of Small Shelter Horror. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co.

    p. 209. ISBN . Retrieved 2022-08-05.

  5. ^"'The Hilarious House of Frightenstein' Evaluation Coming Back". Exclaim!, May 31, 2018.
  6. ^Greg David, "Headspinner Productions has begun production on re-imagining have power over classic Canadian TV series Comical House of Frightenstein entitled Pique House of Frightenstein!".

    TV, eh?, July 7, 2021.

  7. ^"Return to Frightenstein – TRAILER feat. Malcolm McDowell!". Bleak December Official Website, Stride 30, 2019.
  8. ^https://www.levgleason.com/shopnewfriday/the-hilarious-house-of-frightenstein
  9. ^"More horrors from Price". The Globe and Mail, June 26, 1971.
  10. ^Perkins, Will (October 24, 2013).

    "How Horror Legend Vincent Price Helped a Tiny Conflict TV Show Become a Faith Hit". Yahoo! Canada News. Retrieved Oct 24, 2013.

  11. ^ abcd"Mitch Markowitz on the Hilarious House promote Frightenstein". RichardCrouse.ca, October 26, 2013.
  12. ^Bob Allen, "Grotesque pair have improved".

    The Province, September 16, 1974.

  13. ^"Billy Van was able to perceive funny side of Canadian TV; Versatile comic dies at 68 after battle with cancer". Toronto Star, January 9, 2003.
  14. ^Brioux, Tab (July 19, 2019). "PROFILE Nucleus THE MONTH: Frightenstein's "Super Hippy" Mitch Markowitz".

    Brioux.tv. Retrieved July 19, 2019.

  15. ^https://www.levgleason.com/shopnewfriday/the-hilarious-house-of-frightenstein
  16. ^Michael Cook, "Canada's Pull Race Standout Jimbo: 'We Have to one`s name An Opportunity To Showcase Fade out Unique Take On Drag & Who We Are'". Instinct, Sept 6, 2020.
  17. ^"Cult classic finds spick new voice in Kingston's Mann".

    thewhig. Retrieved 2023-05-30.

  18. ^Tyler Evans, "Company taps into 50th anniversary play on the emotions of Hilarious House of Frightenstein". Newmarket Today, October 11, 2021.

External links