Kolchak the Nightstalker

When I was a kid, I didn't even know there was a follow up to 1972's The Night Stalker...I watched the Kolchak TV show in my youth but, did not know about this movie. Imagine my surprise when I discovered 1973's The Night Strangler...The Night Strangler, TV Movie, January 16, 1973. A reporter hunts down a 144-year old alchemist who is killing women for their blood. Director Dan Curtis Writers Richard Matheson, Jeffrey Grant Rice Stars Darren McGavin, Jo Ann Pflug, Simon Oakland After newspaper reporter Carl Kolchak and his managing editor Tony Vincenzo parted company on less than good terms in Las Vegas due to Kolchak's incredulous and thus unpublishable story of a vampire killer, they are reunited in their independently chosen new home base of Seattle, Vincenzo, somewhat against his better judgment, offering Kolchak a job on his paper, the Daily Chronicle, in knowing that Kolchak is dogged at getting the story and that the vampire story was probably true. The first story Vincenzo assigns Kolchak is the murder of belly dancer Ethel Parker in the Pioneer Square neighborhood. Her murder is the first in what ends up being a series of murders in the same neighborhood, all of young women. In discovering some similarities between the murders and some historical information seemingly tying them back to murders over the past century, Kolchak believes that the perpetrator is a living corpse who requires the blood of young women to stay alive. While this story again raises the ire in Vincenzo who is at least used to it with Kolchak, it also raises the ire with Vincenzo's boss, publisher Llewellyn Crossbinder, and Police Chief Roscoe Schubert who is leading the investigation into the murders. Needing to get irrefutable evidence as to his belief, Kolchak enlists the help of college student Louise Harper, one of Parker's belly dancing colleagues, they putting her in potential harm's way as a decoy i.e. the killer's next victim.—Huggo

In 1974 I was 10 years old and lucky enough to catch the original broadcast of Kolchak the Night Stalker. Here is one of my favorite episodes: S01E02 ZOMBIE Original airdate: September 20, 1974 An old Haitian woman uses voodoo to resurrect her dead grandson to kill the mobsters who murdered him, as well as those like Kolchak who would interfere with her revenge. Director: Alexander Grasshoff Writers: Jeffrey Grant Rice, Zekial Marko, David Chase Stars: Darren McGavin, Simon Oakland, Charles Aidman

In 1974, I was 10 years old and one of my favorite TV shows was Kolchak, the Night Stalker starring Darrn McGavin as Carl Kolchak. This episode aired January 31, 1975. Episode 15: CHOPPER. Kolchak narrowly escapes death when a motorcycle driven by a headless rider attempts to run him down on the streets of Chicago. Land development disturbs the final resting place of a headless, sword-wielding cyclist who hunts down and beheads the rival gang bikers who killed him. Director: Bruce Kessler Writers: Jeffrey Grant Rice, Steve Fisher, David Chase, Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale: story; Dirk Wayne Summers: writer (uncredited) Simon Oakland as Tony Vincenzo Larry Linville as Captain Jones Jim Backus as Herb Bresson Art Metrano as Henry 'Studs' Spake (as Arthur Metrano)

In 1974 I was 10 years old and remember watching Kolchak, the Night Stalker on it's original broadcast. I also remember as I got older, it aired on late night TV in re-runs...Here is season 1, episode 3 They Have Been, They Are, They Will Be.. Episode aired Sep 27, 1974 Darren McGavin in Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974) Kolchak connects a string of bizarre thefts committed by a powerful invisible entity that targets metal deposits to a string of suspicious animal and human deaths connected by the fact that the victims' bone marrow is missing. Kolchak suspects extraterrestrial involvement when a series of electronic-equipment thefts is linked to several bizarre murders. Director: Allen Baron Writers: Jeffrey Grant Rice, Rudolph Borchert, Dennis Lynton Clark Stars: Darren McGavin, Simon Oakland, James Gregory

In 1975, I was 11 years old and one of my favorite TV shows was Kolchak the Night Stalker starring Darren McGavin as Paranormal Investigator, Carl Kolchak. As I got older, I was also able to catch the show in syndication on late night CBS TV re-runs...Tonight's Episode is Episode 18 The Knightly Murders which originally aired on March 7, 1975. Plans to turn a failing medieval museum into a party center animates the bewitched black armor of an infamously misanthropic knight. Director: Vincent McEveety Stars: Darren McGavin, Simon Oakland, John Dehner

In 1974, I was 10 years old and one of my favorite TV shows was Kolchak the Night Stalker. What a great time to be a monster kid. Here, for your viewing pleasure, I try to recreate that feeling of 1974 with commercials from that time...and of course, here is Kolchak starring Darren McGavin... Original Airdate: December 20, 1974 Horror in the Heights: Residents of the Roosevelt Heights neighborhood are being caught off guard, and killed, by a demon with the ability to appear as a person they know and trust. Director: Michael Caffey Writers: Jeffrey Grant Rice, Jimmy Sangster Stars: Darren McGavin, Simon Oakland, Phil Silvers

In 1974, I was 10 years old and one of the most incredible TV shows I had ever seen was Kolchak the Night Stalker. If fed the needs of my Monster Kid upbringing. Here, for your viewing pleasure is a recreation of the episode The Werewolf: Original Airdate: Fri, Nov 1, 1974 Kolchak's assigned to interview singles aboard a cruise ship, but finds there's some kind of wolf creature killing passengers during the full moon.

In 1974, I was 10 years old and one of the most amazing TV shows I had ever seen was Kolchak: The Night Stalker starring Darren McGavin. It was a big influence on my Monster Kid Memories...Here is a VAMPIRE episode. Carl Kolchak is a reporter for a Chicago newspaper. Through more accident than design he ends up investigating homicides, many of which involve supernatural forces. Ultimately, rather than reporting on the crimes, he solves them. Creator: Jeffrey Grant Rice Stars: Darren McGavin, Simon Oakland, Jack Grinnage S01E04 Original Airdate: October 14, 1974 Sent to L.A. to interview a controversial guru, Kolchak's more interested in tracking down and stopping an extremely vicious female vampire. A victim of the Las Vegas Vampire Janos Skorzeny. Director: Don Weis Writers: Jeffrey Grant Rice, David Chase, Bill Stratton Stars: Darren McGavin, Simon Oakland, William Daniels

Kolchak, The NIght Stalker VHS, DVD, Books, Comic Books

When I was a kid, I loved the 1972 movie, The Night Stalker; In 1973, they came out with The Night Strangler...and in 1974, when I was 10 years old, one of my favorite TV Shows was "Kolchack: The Night Stalker." So many great episodes, great monsters, and great characters....Loved the Spanish Moss monster, the Headless Motorcycle Rider, the female vampire, the Knightly Murders, the Giant Lizard Sentry, the Horror in the Heights