Boys and Ghouls

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.

Cats in horror is the topic of this long awaited episode of “Boys and Ghouls”.  Give it a listen, right meow, and curl up to Kat and Marshall’s discussion of the most memorable times a cat has brought its spooky energy to the screen.     This exchange of facts about felines on film is delivered in nine categories.  These include; black cats, our favorite real-life cat, the best animated cat, our preferred TV cats, cats out for revenge, cats in anthology horror, and more.   Along the way, we discuss both Edgar Allan Poe with his writing of “The Black Cat” and Stephen King for his writing of several notable spooky cats.  Plus, you might learn a little something when Kat Presents, “Katherine’s Cat Fact Corner”.  You may never look at cats the same again!   So, check it out.  This episode (our 90th) is more fun than a piece of dangling string.  It’s more amusing than getting into an empty cardboard box.  It’s more informative than seeing well in low light.  And it’s scarier than getting your fur wet!  

The business of Halloween is booming so Kat and Marshall are taking a look at the billion dollar holiday at the end of October.   Listen in, as we discuss the fact, figures, and frights that keep this season in the black… while dripping red!  We celebrate the store displays, the soda stacks, the Spirit Halloween Store and its recent movie.  Kat shares the first Halloween in The White House and tells about her own experiences of having a birthday so close to Halloween.   Then, pump up the volume as we recall the ultimate impulse purchase, the spooky sounds albums.  Turn any front porch or garage into a haunted house with these creepy cassettes!   Plus, we look at the haunting history of the Morris Costume Company.  Started by the original Dr. Evil of the spook show circuit, this family business levitated to the top of their field by doing what they loved, providing frights and fantasy to generations of customers.

The documentary “American Movie” (1999) chronicles the struggles of a Wisconsin film maker to complete his black and white horror short-film, “Coven”.  For this episode of “Boys and Ghouls”, Kat and Marshall will look at both movies and bring you the story of Mark Borchardt; the midwestern man, doggedly determined to see his vision through to completion.   Through “American Movie” and “Coven” we get to know the other characters in Mark’s orbit; the grumpy, reluctant producer Uncle Bill and Mark’s woolly, steadfast friend, Mike Schank.  Together, with local talent and family members, they find a way to bring “Coven” to the big screen.   So, join us as we look at this often-funny and always inspiring story along with the un-compromised horror movie that resulted from it.

TV show Halloween episodes are the topic of this tuned-in episode of Boys and Ghouls.   Listen in, as Kat and Marshall visit a few fun reruns from the days of black and white classic television.  Then, we look at some more modern programs from the days when a network knew how to package and promote a whole October night with Halloween-themed episodes of their prime-time lineup.   Then, we switch over to the topic of horror icons as guest stars for a show’s Halloween episode.  We take a special look at the many tv show cameos of the ghoul of your dreams, Elvira.   Also, Marshall shares his experiences as a zombie-for-a-day, and Kat shares some Halloween treats from the local drug store.   It’s an episode you’d hate to miss!

The giants of British horror, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, are the subject of the eighty-sixth episode of “Boys and Ghouls”.  Starting with “The Curse of Frankenstein”, they were the cornerstone of Hammer horror.  Together and separately, they’ve given the horror genre decades of frightening films.   From among their many collaborations, we have selected four movies to focus on.  “The Curse of Frankenstein” (1957), “The Hound of the Baskervilles” (1959), “Horror Express” (1972), and their final film together, “House of the Long Shadows” (1983).   Along the way, we also explore the long friendship of Cushing and Lee; from their implausible showbiz-anecdote first meeting, to their well-documented last.   So, give a listen to this tribute to these titians of terror, Peter Wilton Cushing and Christopher Frank Carandini Lee.

Stephen King’s tale of a small town with a big werewolf problem is the topic of this episode of “Boys and Ghouls”.  First conceived as a calendar, it grew into a sparse novel titled, “Cycle of the Werewolf”.  This grew and transformed into the 1985 feature film, “Silver Bullet”.   Listen in as Kat and Marshall detail the origin of this video store favorite, from its early collaborators to its role in establishing North Carolina as a long-time center of film and television production.  Join us as we reflect on how much Gary Busey brought to the screen as the sometimes-responsible Uncle Red.  And remember the shining light that was young Cory Haim, as the wheelchair-bound boy who survives a werewolf attack then has to get some serious help before the next full moon.   Also, Kat proves that no detail is too small as she examines a summertime Maine tradition, briefly mentioned in the book.  And Marshall shares the tale of his own encounter with the larger-than-life Gary Busey.

  Have a friend over for a Halloween movie night and make an event out of it.  That’s what the “Boys and Ghouls” hosts did for each other in this October episode.     Listen in as they recount how they tried to provide the other with a memorable, at-home, movie watching experience.  The Halloween decorations were up, snacks had been selected, and the evening’s entertainment had been carefully programed.   Let Kat and Marshall tell you what they’ve discovered about being a good guest as well as host during the spookiest of seasons.  Learn what it’s like to be the only one on the guest list for a post-pandemic social event.  Get to know Kat and Marshall’s different styles when it comes to chilling the drinks and chilling the blood with Halloween themes.     Also, the duo recaps how they spent Halloween 2020 and discuss the state of pop-up Halloween stores. 

The documentary “Horror Noire” has become the touchstone for the Boys and Ghouls podcast’s exploration into the participation of black actors and filmmakers in the last century of scary movies.   Give a listen to our longest episode ever (by ten minutes) as we share what we’ve learned about; the trope of the frightened black side-kick in the horror-comedies of yesteryear, how actor Duane Jones helped “Night of the Living Dead” flip the script on the zombie tradition, how Jones went on to become a sophisticated post-Blacula vampire in “Ganja and Hess”, the influence of “The Exorcist” on the blaxploitation era, all about the original “Candyman” movie, and where things have gone since the success of “Get Out”.   We hope you enjoy it.

Halloween in the age of quarantine is the topic of this grounded episode of “Boys and Ghouls”.       Listen in, as Kat and Marshall discuss tricks to socially-distant treat distribution as well as at-home alternatives to going door to door.  For help, they consult the century-old source to Halloween festivities, The Bogie Book.  Written in the days following the Spanish Flu and the Great War, it’s full of gay decorating ideas and fortune telling games to amuse anyone preoccupied with matrimony.     Learn what the Boys and Ghouls duo does when they want to make their home feel, and smell, like a spooky sanctuary for all of October.  Plus, as the weather turns crisp, they urge you to take a walk where everyone stays six feet away… under ground!  A cemetery trip to visit a local notable in your area is a good substitute for the canceled Octoberfest you won’t be attending.     And, in a month with FIVE Saturday mornings, October 2020 will be an opportune month to enjoy some Saturday morning cartoons.  Tune in, as we suggest some frightening favorites from yesteryear.  Then, we offer free advice on spicing up a Halloween movie night.  From popcorn preparation and presentation, to a look at what streaming gems can liven up a double-feature on Halloween or any of October’s 31 nights.     Stay safe and have a Happy Halloween.

The Exorcist III, Howling III, and A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors are discussed in this episode of “Boys and Ghouls” as three great examples of great part threes in the horror genre.     Often in a franchise, the later installments can lack the quality of its predecessors.  But, a good third effort can spur a franchise forward with ever broader appeal, like Dream Warriors did.  Or, it can stand on its own as a unique twist on the genre, like Howling III: The Marsupials.  Or, like The Exorcist III, it can carry on the tone of terror from the original without getting too broad, too meta or leaning too hard on a need to make everything bigger.   So, listen in, as Kat and Marshall discuss the ups and downs of these three part threes and the movies that led to them.  Also, hear how, when there’s no where to go, they explore the horror history of their own neighborhood as well as a couple of (less-than-spooky) cemeteries.   Please enjoy this heaping triple-helping of horror in what is, so far, the longest “Boys and Ghouls” episode ever.

Little Shop of Horrors, the plant-based horror comedy musical and its path from a Roger Corman quickie to a Broadway hit, is the subject of this episode of Boys and Ghouls.   Listen in as Kat and Marshall take a stroll through the 1960 version, the stage musical that it inspired, and the spectacular 1986 movie musical helmed by director and puppeteer extraordinaire, Frank Oz.   So, if you’d like to hear an entertaining and informative podcast with a running time that’s longer than the original movie (it was only 71 minutes), then look no further!   Also, Marshall discusses what he found in the graveyard.

Snow, that dangerous collection of flakes, is the topic of this chilling episode of “Boys and Ghouls”.   First come flurries of terror as we discuss vampires in snowy Alaska with, “30 Days of Night” (2007).  Then, as the packable stuff falls, we look into the killer mutant snowman flick, “Jack Frost” (1997).  Then, dress warm as we head out in search of the Peter Cushing high altitude classic, “The Abominable Snowman of the Himalayas” (1957).  Finally, finish with the Finnish Christmas horror, “Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale” (2010).   Also, learn exactly what mystery concoction Marshall blended and imbibed on Turkey Day.   So, listen in but be careful, this episode may chill you… to the bone!    ☃️💀☃️

Celebrate Halloween with the Boys and Ghouls duo as they get into three totally terrifying topics.   First is the 1985 made-for-TV movie, “Midnight Hour”.  What it lacks in cohesion, it makes up for with earnest joy for a super spooky Halloween night.   Then, listen in to some classic episodes of Old Time Radio.  From the chills of the Inner Sanctum to the merry pranks of Fibber McGee and Molly, we discover what spooked listeners in the golden age of radio.   Then pour yourself a bowl as we chow down on those spooky cereals; Frankenberry, Boo Berry, and Count Chocula.  We’ll examine the enriched history of the presweetened cereal with with its monstrous mascots.   So, listen in and enjoy this autumnal episode, brought to you by a real pair of HALLOWEENIES. 🎃

Answering listener questions is the focus of this informative episode of “Boys and Ghouls”.  Plus, continuing the topic of communication, we take a look at telephones and their use in horror.  So, listen in as we touch on such phone-heavy films as “976-EVIL”, “Dial M For Murder”, “Murder by Phone” (aka “Bells”) as well as “Sorry, Wrong Number” and the chilling 1940’s radio play that it was based on.   Then, discover what Kat and Marshall have to say when asked a variety of listener-submitted questions from, “If you could spend one day with a horror icon who would you pick to be your best friend for a day?” to “What are your top three favorite original-series Twilight Zone episodes?” to “How did you two meet?”   So, take the phone off the hook and please join us for our longest episode EVER (an unprecedented nearly two hours).

Dracula movies through the years, inspired and encouraged by the original novel and the 1931 movie, is the topic of this long awaited episode of Boys and Ghouls.     Listen in as Kat and Marshall focus in on a few of those Dracula films.  Including; Horror of Dracula (1958) the first of the Hammer Dracula franchise, Dracula (1979) the under appreciated effort with Frank Langella as the Count, Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and Blacula (1971) where Dracula’s curse injects classic horror into the blaxploitation genre.   So, dig this second part of our two-part examination of the classic movie monster... DRACULA.  🧛‍♂️ 

Dracula, from the Bram Stoker novel of 1897 to the 1931 Universal film (and its Spanish counterpart), is the subject of this bloody 75th episode of Boys and Ghouls.     Listen in as Kat and Marshall explore the long road that Dracula took, from an epistolary novel to a hit of the London stage, to an early talkie that proved to depression-era Hollywood that horror was worth investing in.   This will be the first part of a two-part Dracula exploration, going up to when, with Bela Lugosi as the secret ingredient, the icon of Dracula was cemented.  The next episode will be The Legacy of Dracula and take in the many ways Dracula has appeared on screen and all over our culture.   Enjoy!

George Romero and a small group of aspiring filmmakers spent their summer making a horror movie about flesh-eating ghouls and the ordinary people trying to fend them off.  That movie became “Night of the Living Dead” and it created a new kind of horror genre and a new kind of movie monster… THE ZOMBIE.   Listen in as the Boys and Ghouls duo discuss how this landmark movie came to be.  You’ll GASP as we discuss what a low budget movie this was.  You’ll THRILL as we examine the casting of an African American in the lead of a horror movie in racially tumultuous 1967.  And SHUDDER as we let you know just what it was the zombies were really eating.   Enjoy!

Halloween is almost here and Boys and Ghouls’ third “Halloweenies” episode has arrived for your amusement!  Taking on three Halloween topics, the warm and engaging duo explore, “Halloween III: Season of the Witch”, Halloween-time television commercials, and Halloween sketches from “Saturday Night Live”.   So, listen in.  From the catchy tune of “Silver Shamrock” to the haunted castle of Chicken McNuggets, to the Halloween night motivational speaker that lives in a van down by the river, you’ll be sold on this season where the barrier between the world of the living and the land of the dead is at its most insubstantial.   So, enjoy our look at the “Halloween” movie that tries a middle-aged man instead of a teenage girl as its hero.  Take a break with our examination of sometimes-spooky sales pitches.  And party on with sketch comedy that saves the weird stuff for after midnight.   HAPPY HALLOWE’EN!

Recorded in beautiful Burbank, The Boys and Ghouls duo take a long look at 1986’s “Beetlejuice” and try to figure out how this odd, supernatural, visual feast of a macabre comedy ever came together.   Listen in, as we map Tim Burton’s road to directing this improbably iconic film and examine how it all got started… with a dark screenplay by a pair of writing partners who went crazy on the post-Ghostbusters concept of, “What if the ghosts were haunted by humans?”   Add in calypso music, the public’s first real look at the Tim Burton style, improvisational actors, a young Winona Ryder, and stop-motion special effects and the result was a hit with audiences; and such a hit with children that a Beetlejuice cartoon was produced ASAP.   Join us, please, as we unravel the appeal and inspirations that surround this movie where the recently deceased take on the overbearing living with a little help from the ghost with the most, Beetlejuice.