Boys and Ghouls

Three remakes of classic horror movies, and the classics that inspired them, are explored in this episode of Boys and Ghouls.   Starting with “House in Haunted Hill”, Dark Castle Entertainment revamped its first William Castle movie.  Listen in as Kat and Marshall discuss the original Vincent Price movie with its EMERGO and then the 1999 remake where the haunted house is a haunted insane asylum.  Then, we follow Dark Castle’s next William Castle remake with “Thirteen Ghosts”.  We watched the 1960 version, originally presented with ILLUSION-O, and its 2001 remake, presented with much more gore and nudity.   Lastly, we examine the 1953 Vincent Price 3D film, “House of Wax” and marvel at how the best of the 3D movies was made by a director with only one eye.  Then, we fast forward to Dark Castle’s third remake with 2005’s “House of Wax”.  Presented in traditional 2D, this early-millennium effort included Paris Hilton as well as lots and lots of wax.   So, join us for the journey.  From mid-century ballyhoo gimmicks to the hardcore soundtracks of the Y2K era, from Vincent Price to Geoffrey Rush, from floating skeletons to an MTV tie-in reality series.   Episode Correction:  Paris Hilton was nominated but did not win the MTV Movie Award for Best Frightened Performance.  Though, she did win a Teen Choice Award for “Choice Movie: Scream Scene” at the Gibson Amphitheater.  We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

Halloween music is the topic of this episode of Boys and Ghouls.  There is a lot of Halloween music out there to choose from, so Kat and Marshall are going to look at the important, historical stand-outs of this spooky genre as well as the real toe-tappers that, put together, can make up an excellent Halloween Mix.   Journey through decades of Halloween tracks; from the ghost and skeleton songs of the days of vaudeville, through the novelty songs of the 1950s and 60s, with its graveyard smash, “The Monster Mash”.  Then, tune in as the MTV era produces Halloween songs that are good for the clubs, including the chart-topping song about the terror on the screen, “Thriller”.   Get into the groove, as we select our choice of instrumentals, songs from musicals, and songs from movies to fill out our own Halloween mixes.  So, get a blank CD and burn, burn, burn a mix of songs and sounds to get you in that Halloween mood.  And if you can’t think of enough tracks to fill an eighty minute CD, this episode might give you some hot ideas.

Jekyll and Hyde share the credit in making up one of the most iconic figures of horror.  After consuming a formula, the proper Dr. Jekyll is not the man he used to be.  Instead, the good doctor becomes Hyde, a creature that is free of the restraints and inhibitions of society’s mores.   Join Kat and Marshall as they go all the way back to the 1886 book by Robert Lewis Stevenson.  Thrill, as they discuss its influence on the public perception of Jack the Ripper.  Cower, as they examine Jekyll and Hyde’s entry into silent cinema and several selections since where Dr. J and his alter ego have been brought to the silver screen.   The cornerstone of these efforts is the recently restored 1931 Fredric March version of Jekyll and Hyde.  Then, it’s gender that is altered by his formula in Hammer’s “Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde”.  From 1976, when you’re seeing what ain’t, you’re looking at a haint, with “Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde”.  And, get funny notions from deadly potions with Bud Abbot and Lou Costello when they meet Boris Karloff as the double-threat, Dr. Jekyll.   It’s an episode so nice, you’ll listen to it twice!

Hello, Boys and Ghouls!    Today, we're bringing you the first in a series on the feed that we'll be calling Full Moon Chats. Full Moon Chats are laid-back conversations Kat will be hosting with fellow horror lovers — sometimes Marshall, sometimes new guests — where we talk about what scares us, what thrills us, and what we just can’t stop watching. Tonight, under the Corn Moon, Kat is talking to Actor/Writer/Director and self-proclaimed Full Moon Lover Matthew Scott Montgomery. Matthew Scott is best known to horror fans for his dark original work like the play Dead Boys, the short Don’t Turn Off the Ghost Light, and his upcoming feature Howdy, Neighbor! Listen in as Kat digs into Matthew Scott's horror DNA — unearthing his first frights, favorite Final Girls, scariest films, and the spooky traditions and recommendations that keep his love of horror alive. Beware the Moon! 

The twelve previous Halloween episodes of the Boys and Ghouls podcast is the subject of this retrospective episode of the Boys and Ghouls podcast.   Listen in as Kat and Marshall review and remember their contributions to enriching the Halloween season.  Thrill, as the Boys and Ghouls duo expand a little on a lot of topics, give follow-ups, and recall what it took to get a quality Halloween episode in the can.   Not just remembering the topic of Halloween on old-time-radio, Kat and Marshall take their first look at Orson Wells’s chilling radio adaptation of “Dracula”.  Revisiting Halloween commercials, Kat and Marshall take a fresh look at the use of Dracula in these undead advertisements.  Since they originally covered “Saturday Night Live” Halloween sketches, a hard-to-find 1989 sketch has been unearthed, with James Woods as Dracula.  And, tuning back into the topic of Halloween episodes of prime time television, the Boys and Ghouls duo find a new pair of Halloween episodes to share, though neither feature any Draculas.   Join us on this trip through the twelve Halloweens that span the years that Boys and Ghouls has been out there for your enjoyment.  You don’t need to have listened to our twelve previous Halloween episode to enjoy this one… but it wouldn’t hurt.