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Private Notes
Penny Dreadful delves into the macabre history of New England's Horror Hosts in this original documentary by the Shilling Shockers Team. This Special includes rare footage, photos and interviews. Relive the horrors of Simon's Sanctorum, Feep's Fantasmic Features, Creature Double Feature and lots more. Features interviews with Ernie Boch Jr., Dr. Dreck, Jay Berkson, LL Soares, and the cast & crew of Dr. Mongo's Midnight Movie.
Featuring 'Little Shop of Horrors'
"The Dreadful HallowGreen Special" is a half-hour Horror Host crossover, wherein renowned Nashville horror host, Dr. Gangrene, and New England's Penny Dreadful must join forces to save Halloween. Science and sorcery combine in this All Hallows Eve spooky special.
On Halloween Night, Penny hosts "The Last Man on Earth" starring Vincent Price.
Featuring 'M' (1931, b&w) Penny, Garou and Manfred are startled when they hear strange whistling in the shadows as they host the film 'M.' The source of the mysterious whistle is soon revealed, much to everyone's horror and chagrin.
Featuring 'Horror Hotel' (1960, b&w) Penny, Garou and Manfred visit Salem, Massachusetts and are startled to find that things aren't what they used to be. Or are they? Penny quickly gets into trouble with the locals, and is put on trial… but the trial is presided over by a tribunal of strange people claiming to be witches! Oh, the irony!
Featuring 'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street' (1936, b&w) Garou is in his shedding season and he's getting fur everywhere! Penny takes the werewolf to see her grandfather, a barber, for a trim. Manfred notes that Penny's grandfather bears a striking resemblance to Peter Cushing.
Featuring 'The Werewolf Vs Vampire Woman' (1971, color) Garou keeps ruining neighbor Walter Crabtop's prize daisies. Craptop rants and raves until Manfred employs the gypsy Madame Madruvna to solve Garou's tragic problem.
Featuring 'The Terror' (1963, color) Penny, Garou & Manfred go visit Penny's relatives up at Crawlingwood (the Carey Mansion seen in TVs 'Dark Shadows'). The gang is thrown out of the house after they anger Penny's vampire cousin Barny. The trio wind up at a local tavern and get potted while ranting about their respective relatives.
Featuring 'The Ape Man' (1943, b&w) During a showing of the 'Ape Man,' Penny becomes indignant when the camera operator can't keep the camera on her face. Despite her insistence that she doesn't do "low-brow humor" because "that's another hostess' bit," Penny soon begins to "bust" out with some rather dubious gags of her own.
Featuring 'Count Dracula and His Vampire Brides' aka 'The Satanic Rites of Dracula' (1974, color) Manfred is called to an emergency meeting of the monster hunter group known as S.T.A.K.E.S. (Society To Annihilate & Kill Evil Supernaturals). He is kicked out of the group for suspected treason due to his penchant for keeping company with a witch and a werewolf. Manfred soon discovers the terrifying truth behind the traitor in S.T.A.K.E.S.
Featuring 'The Brain That Wouldn't Die' (1962, b&w) Penny introduces lonelyhearts Jack the Ripper and Lizzie Borden to one another. A light romance begins. Von Bulow and Garou hold down the fort while screening The Brain That Wouldn’t Die. This episode features a visit to the actual Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, Massachusetts.
Featuring 'The Beast of Yucca Flats' (1961, b&w) After a viewer sends Penny a cheeky letter questioning her taste in films, the witch summons him to her cathedral attic and forces the rude letter writer to watch The Beast of Yucca Flats.
Featuring The Werewolf of Pawtucket (2003), The Black Balloon (2005), The Hapless Antiquarian (2001), & H.P. Lovecraft’s The Hound (1997) Guests Anthony Penta and Stephanie Obodda discuss their film work and share four spooky, original movies directed by Anthony. Includes an episode of the classic paranormal anthology show ‘One Step Beyond.’
Featuring 'Dementia 13' (1963, b&w) Technical difficulties run rampant. Von Bulow’s complaints, and the film Dementia 13, prompt Penny to stop by the legendary Danvers State Insane Asylum and release her old school friend and tech expert, the madwoman Luna 13. Also featured in this episode: an interview with film-maker Bryan Papciak and a showing of his short film ‘Met State.’ (Note - due to copyright issues, we are unable to include 'Met State' on the DVD in our box set available for sale on this site.)
Featuring 'Teenagers from Outer Space' (1959, b&w) Penny cooks up a batch of gargon bisque for Garou while hosting ‘Teenagers From Outer Space.’ The episode ends with a screening of Dr. Moreau’s macabre “home movies.”
Featuring ‘The Indestructible Man' (1956, b&w) Left by himself, Garou hosts ‘Shilling Shockers’ and gets into trouble. Meanwhile, Penny interviews Ric Rebello, the director of the Rhode Island International Horror Film Festival, and standup comedienne Mimi Gonzalez.
Featuring 'White Zombie' (1932, b&w) The classic film ‘White Zombie’ gives Penny a strange idea. Von Bulow is horrified by Penny’s plan.
Featuring 'Black Sunday' (1960, b&w) During a showing of the film Black Sunday, Penny Dreadful breaks out in horrible facial boils. When Manfred Von Bulow offers to get rid of the boils, he “accidentally” triggers Penny’s transformation into her friendly polar opposite – the obnoxiously sweet Penny Cheerful! Penny Cheerful tries to interrupt Black Sunday in order to play her favorite movie instead - the musical Paint Your Wagon. Manfred and Garou scramble to stop Penny Cheerful from ruining the entire show. And will they ever succeed in changing her back into Penny Dreadful?
Featuring 'At Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul' (1964, b&w) Penny hosts this entire episode in Portuguese (with subtitles) as she presents the Brazilian horror film At Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul. During the movie, Penny’s Portuguese relatives complain that she doesn’t feed Garou enough. Penny brings Garou to her aunt’s house where the voracious werewolf is stuffed with Portuguese food.
Featuring 'House On Haunted Hill' (1959, b&w) In honor of hosting the film House on Haunted Hill, Penny and Garou travel to three actual haunted houses in New England. This episode also includes an interview with Tim Weisberg, Matt Costa and Matt Moniz of the Spooky Southcoast paranormal radio talk show.
Featuring 'Carry on Screaming' (1966, color) As the horror comedy Carry On Screaming is presented, Manfred introduces a super tacky laugh track to the show. Penny, disgusted, uses magic to change it into a scream track instead.
Featuring 'Moon of the Wolf' (1972, color) A visit to the grave of the reputed Werewolf Priest of Middletown, RI during the showing of Moon of the Wolf soon degenerates into “Taco Night” with the members of Manfred’s monster hunting group S.T.A.K.E.S. Amazingly, Penny & Garou bond with the antagonistic monster hunters over their favorite werewolf movies.
Featuring ‘Dracula, Prisoner of Frankenstein’ (1972, color) While hosting Dracula, Prisoner of Frankenstein, Penny Dreadful decides to look for a spell to help free Dracula from Dr. Frankenstein’s clutches. However, Penny soon becomes Dr. Frankenstein’s prisoner as well.
Featuring ‘The Golem’ (1920, b&w, silent) While screening the classic film The Golem, Penny is working on a very powerful love potion for her friend Grover the Golem, who yearns to feel love. Unfortunately, Manfred accidentally drinks the potion and falls madly in love with Penny! The witch scrambles to get Manfred to drink the antidote before the ever-jealous Garou finds out!
Featuring ‘Horror Rises From the Tomb’ (1973, color) Penny Dreadful, Garou and Dr. Von Bulow set out in search of Penny’s long-lost warlock brother Nicholas Dreadful, who was decapitated long ago “for crimes against humanity and for his outdated fashion sense.” After trekking deep into the dark forest they find Nicholas’ living head and manage to magically re-attach it to his body. This leads to a pun-filled supernatural reunion between Penny and her devilishly charming sibling.
Featuring ‘Attack of the Monsters’ aka ‘Gamera vs. Guiron’ (1969, color) Penny and Garou visit the Monster Bash classic monster convention and talk to all manner of fiendish special guests including Elvira, Basil Gogos, Jonathan Haze, Conrad Brooks, Chilly Billy, Vlad from ‘Ghoul a Go-Go’ and many more hexciting creatures!
Featuring ‘Black Sabbath’ (1963, color) A thunderstorm rattles the Attic of Doom as Penny initiates a melancholy night of necromancy. The witch’s somber murmuring guides you through the nightmare world of Mario Bava’s Black Sabbath. Dare you behold the unmitigated terror awaiting you, Dreary Ones? Dare you?!
Featuring ‘Bride of the Monster’ (1955, b&w) Citing a long-forgotten horror host sidekick law, Garou and Dr. Manfred Von Bulow are allowed to host an episode by themselves for one night. During the course of the episode, all manner of ridiculousness ensues as Manfred implores the audience to understand the plight of horror host sidekicks, and to fight against Horror Host tyranny. This episode features special guest sidekick clips from A. Ghastlee Ghoul and Two Fat Ghouls!
Featuring ‘Carnival of Souls’ (1962, b&w) A creepy pale man follows Penny, Garou and Manfred wherever they go. Is he a stalker or is he just weird? Meanwhile, the terrible trio set out to visit the derelict Rocky Point Amusement Park in Rhode Island and the abandoned Lincoln Park in Massachusetts. Inevitably the creepy man catches up with the witch, the werewolf and the monster hunter. What dark reasons lie behind his obsessive behavior?
Featuring ‘A Bucket of Blood’ (1959, b&w) "A Bucket of Blood" inspires Garou to explore his artistic side.When the werewolf accidentally injures Penny's cat, a beatnik thinks it's hip and inducts Garou into her bohemian lifestyle. This episode also features an interview with Deathbed Bride and includes their short film, "The Devil's Bow".
Featuring ‘The Seventh Seal’ (1957, b&w) While on a picnic at Grisly Moors State Park, the Trio run into Penny's old high school chum - Bjarni the Grim Reaper, who has harbored a secret crush on Penny since their high school days. Bjarni engages Manfred & Garou in various betting games, and wins all of their money. In an effort to win back their losses (and an ABBA t-shirt!), Manfred convinces Garou to bet his wedding ring. When Death wins again, he gains not only the ring, but Penny's hand! Garou must then challenge Death to a game of chess to keep his witchy wife.
Featuring The She-Beast (1966, color) Penny hosts The She-Beast as she works to reverse a strange curse she accidentally placed upon herself many decades ago. Through a series of flashbacks spanning nearly 700 years, Penny Dreadful reveals short glimpses of her mysterious past and leaves the viewers with a special little "treat" (or is that a trick?) of her own.
Featuring Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959, b&w) During a screening of Attack of the Giant Leeches, Penny introduces her animal familiar, Chupee the Chupacabra. Garou tries to warn Penny that the little familiar is not as cute and sweet as he pretends to be. This episode features a visit from entomologist Dr. Michael Patnaude and madwoman Luna 13.
Featuring Chamber of Horrors (1944, b&w) Penny and Garou visit New England's #1 haunted theme attraction, Spooky World! While Penny hosts Chamber of Horrors, be on the lookout for all manner of fun with Spooky World terrors and special guest interviews with folks like RA Mihailoff (Texas Chainsaw Massacre III), Blu the gothic model, and Papa OneL, the Hoodoo Voodoo Daddy.
Featuring The Devil Bat (1940, b&w) While hosting The Devil Bat, Penny Dreadful prepares a special birthday cologne for Garou. But as soon as Garou puts it on, he is assailed by annoying bats. Penny works on an antidote for the cologne as Garou's birthday turns into a batastrophe. This episode features an interview with comic book artist & writer Jason Mayoh (Tales of Rocky Point Park).
Featuring The Magic Sword (1962, color) In honor of the fantasy film The Magic Sword, Penny conjures up a powerful wizard from literature to help her host the movie. Will it be Merlin? Will it be Gandalf? Will it be Prospero? Don't bet on it. Some kid with glasses and a weird scar on his forehead shows up instead. This episode features a musical performance by the band Draco & the Malfoys.
Featuring ‘Warning from Space’ (1956, color) Dr. Manfred Von Bulow is excited about his new short-wave radio ... until he hears some very strange radio broadcasts about an alien invasion. He tries to convince Penny and Garou of the impending danger but they just aren't buying it. Penny hosts Warning From Space while Manfred prepares to battle the extraterrestrial threat.
Featuring Horror Express (1973, color) Garou wants his very own train set, so Penny shrinks down a real train and gives it to her 'snarling darling'. Unfortunately, the train is still filled with passengers who experience some rather frightening attic 'playtime' with the werewolf and the witch.
Featuring Lady Frankenstein (1971, color) Penny Dreadful tries to create a girlfriend for the lonely monster hunter, Dr. Manfred Von Bulow. Not being one for science, she solicits help from fellow Massachusetts horror hosts Dr. Dreck and his assistant Moaner (from The Dungeon of Dr. Dreck) in what turns out to be a monstrous crossover episode.
Featuring The Werewolf of Washington (1973, color) Werewolf Garou enthusiastically decides to run for political office while Penny Deadful hosts "The Werewolf of Washington". Unfortunately, Garou doesnt quite grasp the finer points of campaigning so Penny tries to help him out.
Featuring Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things (1972, color) Penny Dreadful visits the unfathomable Mystery Hill (aka America's Stonehenge) in Salem, New Hampshire. While walking amongst the inexplicable structures, she encounters authors David and Scott Goudsward (Shadows Over New England) who unwittingly help the witch uncover an object of great power.
Featuring Alice Sweet Alice (1976, color) A young Brooke Shields appears in this episode's featured film, "Alice Sweet Alice", so Penny decides it would be a great idea to interview her. She sends Garou out in disguise to fetch Ms. Shields for her guest interview. This episode also includes a guest performance from the master mentalist, Rory Raven.
Featuring Craze (1974, color) While Penny Dreadful hosts the motion picture Craze, she takes a trip down nostalgia lane and examines some old curios she has hidden away in a trunk. To her shock and horror, she discovers she possesses an ancient relic of unspeakable evil -- The Kazoo of DOOM!
Featuring Deadtime Stories (1986, color) Garou is scared and can’t sleep, so Penny Dreadful tells him some Deadtime Stories by showing him the 1986 anthology film of the same title. This episode includes a special performance by rock ‘n’ roll band Chris Evil and the Taints.
Featuring Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964, color) Penny Dreadful feels glum during the holiday season, so Garou encourages her to go shopping at some local establishments. While Penny visits Circa vintage wear, New England Comics and Calico clothing, we see that Dr. Manfred Von Bulow, Garou and Luna are also secretly out shopping for Penny. It’s a plethora of commercialism and Ghoultide cheer in this Shilling Shockers GRRRRistmas Special.
Featuring The Ghoul (1933, B/W) After a season of communing with spirits in the dark forests of New England, Penny Dreadful returns to her attic lair. As her hair turns gray and wrinkles form upon her brow, the 700 year-old witch admits that she must drink a dark elixir once per year in order to retain her youth. Unfortunately, Penny discovers that her magic elixir has been stolen, and she must begin a race against time to recreate the concoction. Featuring the public domain film "The Ghoul", starring Boris Karloff.
Featuring Crypt of the Living Dead (1973, Color) Without her Sinister Elixir (see Season 7, Episode 1), Penny Dreadful continues to age towards her true 700 years. Having acquired the eye of a ghoul, Penny is now after the second ingredient to recreate her elixir of youth -- the blood of a vampire. She attempts to revive Rhode Island's famous 19th century vampire, Mercy Brown. Things, of course, go terribly wrong and Penny must enlist the help of vampire hunter Dr. Manfred Von Bulow.
Featuring Mummy and the Curse of the Jackals (1969, Color) Penny Dreadful has transformed into a withered hag, having aged dangerously close to the point of death. With Garou's help, she must now summon a living mummy in order to acquire the final ingredient for her elixir of youth.
Featuring The Bat (1959, B/W) Penny & Garou host the public domain film "The Bat" while attempting to deduce the identity of the thief who stole Penny’s elixir of life. As Penny gets closer to the truth, she realizes that she is dealing with deadly forces. Long-time viewers should keep an eye out for familiar faces from the past.
Featuring The Giant Gila Monster (1959, B/W) Penny, Garou, and Von Bulow play a few rounds of Monster Mini Golf in Seekonk, Massachusetts. Penny and Von Bulow compete with each other for the win, but Garou puts them both to shame.
Featuring Cathy's Curse (1977, Color) A brash businessman asks Penny to create a magical “living doll” for his spoiled daughter. Penny agrees to do so, in exchange for an unspecified favor in the future. This episode features a Shilling Shockers "Hex-clusive" - a 1970's mock-trailer film by Bob Kensinger, entitled "The Dolls", shown with special permission from the filmmaker. The episode also includes an interview with DJ Chris from the “Radio of Horror” show, as well as performances by film director Richard Griffin and artist Jennifer Avery.
Featuring The Screaming Skull (1958, B/W) Penny is suffering from a terrible headache. She grows increasingly irritated at the neighbors' cacophonous block party, and at Garou's interactions with a noisy disappearing/reappearing skull. Luna arrives and helps out, but comes face to face with a shocking memory from her past. This episode features a Shilling Shockers "Hex-clusive" - a new, original stop-motion animation by Martha Grant and Tara Perry entitled "The Sartorialist" (shown with permission of the animators).
Featuring Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1920, B/W) When Luna disappears in a time machine, Penny Dreadful, Garou and Dr. Manfred Von Bulow assume she will become forever lost in time and space. The trio decides to pursue their mad friend across the decades with an ancient occult object called the Chronos Talisman. They follow Luna to 1886 and encounter Dr. Jekyll -- and the unthinkable occurs!
Featuring The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923, B/W) Using the Chronos Talisman, Penny and Garou travel back to the 15th century - to when Luna has been jailed by a notorious witch judge and his hunchbacked assistant. When Penny and Garou attempt to free Luna, they are also captured. However, the repercussions of time travel lead to unexpected surprises for all of them.
Featuring Metropolis (1923, B/W) Penny, Garou and Von Bulow continue their search for Luna, who has traveled far into the future. Garou is revered as a savior in this time period; the locals welcome and pamper him. But the werewolf soon learns that he is expected to save this society from a rampaging mechanical nightmare – The Garobot!
Featuring The Phantom of the Opera (1925, BW) When Penny, Von Bulow and Garou bring the Chronos Talisman into the Retardis, a “time malfunction” catapults them backwards in time and space into...HORROR HIGH SCHOOL! Luna goes missing (again!) and the trio try to find her as they begin regressing back into their high school selves. Being a teenager can be soooo laaaame.
Featuring The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920, B/W) Penny Dreadful's "internal clock" is all out of whack following her wild journey through time. She concocts a sleeping draught to help her get some rest, but accidentally drinks the potion in its concentrated form. She falls into a German Expressionistic dream from which she may never awaken!
Featuring Nosferatu (1922, B/W) Penny, Garou and Von Bulow visit the monsters at "Count Orlok's Nightmare Gallery" in Salem, Massachusetts. This episode features a special interview with James Lurgio, proprietor of the attraction, as well as a jaunt to the Coven Café.
Featuring The Inspector General (1949, Color) Penny Dreadful receives a letter informing her that ‘Shilling Shockers’ has seen better days. This notion is reinforced when Luna accidentally delivers the delightful musical comedy “The Inspector General” instead of the blood-chilling Vincent Price film “The Witchfinder General.” Fearing the worst, Penny desperately tries to keep the show from “jumping the shark.”
Featuring The Devil's Messenger (1961, B/W) The Fallen One has stripped Penny Dreadful of her powers. In order to regain her abilities, she must complete three special tasks. Penny reveals her dark past to the Dreary Ones.
Featuring Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter (1966, Color) Penny begins her second task and enlists the help of her brother. Alabaster Van Sloan and Xerlia Lanchester ponder the future, and Garou is sent on a special errand.
Featuring I Bury The Living (1958, B/W) Penny completes her second task under a lightning storm. Xerlia has shocking news for Alabaster. The Fallen One demands one final, terrible task; Penny has demands of her own.
Featuring The Blancheville Monster (1963, BW) Penny concocts a plan to help Xerlia with her time of the month. The witch races the clock to finish her spell before moonrise.
Featuring Vengeance of the Zombies (1973, Color) Tonight, on "Paranormal Instigators", the Investigatory New England Paranormal Team (INEPT) explores the Bridgewater Triangle, and encounters a witch in the Freetown State Forest.
Featuring Creature From the Haunted Sea (1961, B/W) Penny invites Luna over for Polynesian Drinks and some laughs.
Featuring Monster From a Prehistoric Planet (1967, Color) Garou and Manfred take an enormous ancient egg from Martha's Vineyard back to the attic. It isn't long before wacky hijinks ensue.
