Here I will look at every single episode and if you have not yet seen this remarkable show, I suggest you do so very soon. Darren McGavin played reporter Carl Kolchak who every week faced a different demon, monster or alien and his editor Tony Vincenzo was played by wonderful character actor Simon Oakland. These two has a rare chemistry that carried over from the two movies, The Night Stalker and Night Strangler, to the TV show as well.
This will be my longest entry ever for this blog, but it is well worth it.
Episode 1 (9-13-74)
The Ripper
A mysterious killer who continues to elude the police may be the actual Jack The Ripper.
Beatrice Colen stars along with Ken Lynch as police Capt. Warren and the always sexy Roberta Collins has a small role as a police woman named Cortazzo.
The Ripper character is very well done and possess superhuman strength and the fight scenes are very well done. Look for Ruth McDevitt, who would soon be playing Miss Emily in a small role as a nosy neighbor.
This episode debuted on Friday, Sept. 13th and it got the show off to a hell of a good start.
Episode 2: (9-20-1974)
The Zombie
A voodoo priestess brings her dead son back to seek revenge for his murder by the mob.
This is one of the most star studded casts to appear in any episode. Scatman Crothers is a store owner, J. Pat O' Malley is a cematary care taker, Carol Ann Susi is the hilarious Monique Marmelstein, Antonio Fargas is "Sweetstick" Weldon, John Fielder as Gordy Spangler which would be a recurring character in several episodes, Val Bisoglio and Joseph Sirola are both gangsters and Charles Aidman is a crooked police captain named Leo Winwood.
The zombie is frightening and the way it must be killed is nerve racking as Kolchak gives it a try. TV could never be like this today, but back in 74 it was scary as hell. One of the best.
Episode 3: (9-27-74)
They Have Been, They Are, They Will Be....
Kolchak finds himself up againt aliens who have landed on earth and have a hankering for bone marrow. This is a very moody and well made episode as the aliens are invisible to the human eye and so no threat is actually shown. Mary Wicks and Dick Van Patten star along with James Gregory. An all round excellent episode.
Episode 4 (10-4-74)
The Vampire
This episode carries over from the movie as a vampire who wasn't found comes back to life and heads to Loa Angeles for more victims. Suzanne Charny is a damn sexy but vicious vampire who will stop at nothing to gain blood until Kolchak attempts to stop her.
William Daniels is the police detective involved who hates Kolchak and Jan Murry runs the catering service that unknowingly has a vampire working for them. Again, a very well made show.
Episode 5 (11-1-74)
The Werewolf
Kolchak is assigned to cover the final cruise of an ocean liner only to find one of the passengers is a dangerous werewolf. The werewolf make-up isn't that great but the episode is a winner with a great blend of outright horror and comedy.
Dick Gautier, Jackie Russell and Nita Talbot are passengers on the boat of swingers and the wonderful Eric Braeden is Bernhardt Stieglitz a man cursed by a werewolf bite. Henry Jones is the ships captain and Bob Hastings is a crew member.
Episode 6 (11-8-74)
Firefall
A murdered gangsters spirit is trying to take over the body of a symphony conductor and in the meantime is incinerating people as he pleases. This is an excellent episode that was never included in the syndication package, but is finally seen here again as it should have been.
Fred Beir is Ryder Bond the conductor, Philip Carey is a baffled police detective, Madlyn Rhue is a gypsyand David Doyle is a consumer represen tative. Well made and haunting.
Episode 7 (11-15-74)
The Devil's Platform
Tom Skerritt stars as a young politician who has sold his soul to the devil for power and riches and now Kolchak is on the trail. This is another fine episode with a tight story and plenty of suspense. The banter between Vincenzo and Kolchak is priceless as always.
The rest of the cast includes Jack Grinnage as Ron Updyke, Ruth McDevitt as Edith Cowles, and William Mims.
Episode 8 (11-29-74)
Bad Medicine
The upper crust rich of Chicago are being stalked and killed by an 8 foot indian that Kolchak discovers is stealing their diamonds and who is actually a diablero, who must steal riches for all eternity. Richard Keil stars as the Indian.
Alice Ghostly, Marvin Kaplan, Victor Jory and Ramon Bieri round out the cast. Bieri makes the first of his two appearances in Night Stalker episodes as a police captain. This episode works on all levels of horror, suspense and comedy.
Episode 9 (12-6-74)
Spanish Moss Murders
One of my five favorite episodes ever!! Kolchak is investigating several murders and finds what ties them together is a sleep experiment and a legendary swamp monster called a "Paramafait". The monster in this is downright scary and when I first saw it I never forgot it. Richard Keil is again playing the huge monster.
Keenan Wynn is an angry police captain called Joe "Mad Dog" Siska, Severn Darden is the doctor in charge of the experiment, Elisabeth Brooks is his assistant and Virginia Gregg is Dr. Hollenbeck and her part is a hoot.
If you want to get hooked on this show, just watch this late at night.
Episode 10 (12-13-74)
The Energy Eater
Kolchak learns that a new hospital has been built on the ground where an ancient Indian god lives, one that is pure energy. I love this episode. It is one that wasn't in the syndication package but can at last be seen for what it is. William Smith is Jim Elkhorn, an Indian whose high steel workers stopped working on the hospital because of the demon, Elain Giftos is a young nurse who fears for her life, and Tom Drake, Robert Yuro, Robert Cornthwaite and Joyce Jillson round out a stellar cast.
Episode 11 (12-20-74)
Horror In The Heights
Considered by many to be the single best episode of the series, this one deals with a Rakshasa, a flesh eating monster that can assume the form of a person the potential victim trusts. Phil Silvers is Harry Starman and the rest of the cast is Murray Matheson, Abraham Sofaer, and Eric Server. This episode not only features a cool monster but has a social commentary on growing old in America, which was ahead of it's time before our population got to where it is today. I was a few days away from turning 12 when I first saw this, and now i can relate to what it is like to get older in this country. A perfect episode in every way, and we actually find out the one person Kolchak actually trusts... Emily Cowels.
Episode 12 (1-10-75)
Mr. R.I.N.G.
A scientific experiment produces a robot who has very human qualities and uses deadly force against anyone who is trying to stop it. Kolchak and the US Government are in search of it.
This is another very good episode which has a strong commentary on the cold heartedness of the human race.
The top notch cast includes Julie Adams, Corinne Comacho, Bert Freed, Don Berry and Robert Easton.
Episode 13 (1-17-75)
Primal Scream
An arctic oil drilling unearths cells which proceed to grow into a murderous ape man from millions of years ago. The monster goes on a rampage thru Chicago and Kolchak is determined to uncover the truth.
This is one of my favorite episodes and it has a lot of great dialogue and humor.
Pat Harrington as a PR man for the oil company is perfect casting as well as John Marley as a police detective on the case. The monster is actually proven to exist again, much like in the episode Energy Eater.
The cast also includes Katherine Woodville, Jamie Farr, Byron Morrow, the very sexy Jeannie Bell and gorgeous Barbara Rhodes.
Episode 14 (1-24-75)
Trevi Collection
Interesting tale about a fashion designer using witchcraft to destroy her opposition. This is a great story with a top notch cast including Nina Foch and the very sexy Lara Parker as a witch.
The angle of witchcraft is played very well and the story in somewhat eerie with the living fashion dummies and other bizarre thing. One of the best.
Episode 15 (1-31-75)
Chopper
A headless motorcyclist is killing members of a 50's gang after some coffins are moved in a cemetary. The monster in this show looks very odd but it is compelling to watch a sword weilding killer without a head. It's a well done story and one most of us viewers will never forget.
Episode 16 2-7-75
Demon In Lace
Kolchak investigates the deaths of several young men on a college campus and discovers a succubus is responsible. This has always been one of my personal favorites. The story is funny and scary and you have Keenan Wynn back again as Joe Siska, plus you have the great Andrew Prine as a scientist who is translating the stone tablet that is connected to the deaths.
Episode 17 2-14-75
Legacy Of Terror
A strange cult of Aztecs are cutting out people's hearts and Kolchak is on the case. This episode does have some humerous scenes to it and if one is a very loyale fan of the show, one will notice how thigsa had chaned. It seemed that all involved knew the end was near and really weren't trying very hard.
This is still a good episode and it also stars Erik Estrada, Sorrell Brooke and Ramone Bieri who plays a different police captain than in Spanish Moss Murders. This is another of the episodes that wasn't included in the original syndication package.
Episode 18 (3-7-75)
The Knightly Murders
A ghostly knight kills anyone associated with the building of a nightclub on his ancient burial ground and Kolchak must investigate the case. The Knight is very cool and the weapons used include a medieval arrow, ax and mase. This is a very good episode with a great cast including John Dehner as Capt. Vernon Rausch, Hans Conreid, Robert Emhardt, Shug Fisher and Gregg Palmer.
Episode 19 (3-14-75)
Youth Killer
Young people in Chicago are dying of old age and Kolchak uncovers the fact that the original "Helen Of Troy" is staying eternally young by appeasing her Greek gods. This has been called the worst episode of the show, but I disagree..then again I don't think any of them are bad, but to each his own.
Gorgeous Cathy Lee Crosby is Helen and Dwayne Hickman is Sergent Orkin of the Chicago PD and then we have George Savalas as a cab driver who is also an expert on Greek mythology.
The effects aren't too good and the fact that Kolchak gives the entire ending monologue while looking directly at the camera makes this entirely different than the previous episodes. The serise was taking on a "monster of the week" approach by this time, but I still love it.
Episode 20 (3-21-75)
The Sentry
A huge lizard monster wrecks havoc in an underground complex that stores government records. Lovely Kathie Brown (McGavin's real life wife) is police Lt. Irene Lamont who has a great on screen chemistry with Kolchak. John Hoyt is a doctor and Tom Bosley is the man who is second in command at the underground complex.
The monster costume is ok and does manage to look menacing in low light scenes. A great way to end the season one run, and it would sadly be the very last episode produced.
Well, there you have it..all 20 wonderfule episodes of a show that is, in my opinion, one of the greatest ever. The Twilight Zone and Outer Llimits are close, but this one is tops.
If you get a chance I Highly Recommend you watch these. you simply can't go wrong.
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