Kolchak: The Night Stalker: The Complete Series (1974-1975) from Kino

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Bolty

This may be a silly question but how many of the episodes are actually scary? Or would have been back in 1974. I've seen the entire series but not for 15 years and I just kind of have forgotten whether they're actually creepy and scary.
I'm going to buy the set if it's not too expensive in any case because I'm very fond of vintage genre TV, but I just can't remember if more silly than it is scary.

It's not at all scary. It's kind of like Columbo. You're either on board with the schtick and the characters or you're wondering what the hell people see in it.

[The Batman Professor]

Originally Posted by HonestJohn

I'm going to have to try and recreate that lineup after I get my hands on The Night Stalker Series from Kino. I'm also going to move Lindsay Wagner into the 11PM time slot. I had a Bionic sized crush on that Woman back in the day....

That sounds like four hours well spent!

KOLCHAK is my favorite TV series of them all (eclipsing BATMAN '66 and BTAS)

Since the dawn of home video the whole series has always been in my collection. The height of my mania was purchasing the Japanese laserdisc set for $900 back in the 90's. I'll never throw that set out.

[Bobbyjoe766]

Originally Posted by Bolty

This may be a silly question but how many of the episodes are actually scary? Or would have been back in 1974. I've seen the entire series but not for 15 years and I just kind of have forgotten whether they're actually creepy and scary.
I'm going to buy the set if it's not too expensive in any case because I'm very fond of vintage genre TV, but I just can't remember if more silly than it is scary.

I discovered the show in the early 1980’s. I remember the episodes as being both creepy and scary. I clearly remember two episodes in particular - two moments that I’ve never forgotten:

[Show spoiler]The showdown with the zombie, Francois Edmonds, in the junkyard and the MERRYMOUNT ARCHIVES security team taking on - and losing - a fight with the vengeful mother dinosaur lizard.

Probably my favourite show, along with THE X-FILES and the original STAR TREK.

Can’t wait until October, the old DVD set is very rough to look at, compared to the first two films now on Blu-ray.

[CharlesForbin]

Originally Posted by The Spectre

I could never figure out why CBS reran the show as only "The Night Stalker" in the opening credits instead of "Kolchak: The Night Stalker".

The original title was The Night Stalker. It was renamed after a few episodes probably to add some context to attract viewers.

Originally Posted by Bolty

Too bad we have to wait for October.

I hope it's early October. My yearly ritual is to watch an episode every weeknight in October in the run-up to Halloween.

[sancho]

They showed "The Werewolf" episode on MeTV this past weekend. Great episode.

[Dragon78]

I have always loved the Rakshasa episode.

[The Spectre]

Originally Posted by HonestJohn

I'm going to have to try and recreate that lineup after I get my hands on The Night Stalker Series from Kino. I'm also going to move Lindsay Wagner into the 11PM time slot. I had a Bionic sized crush on that Woman back in the day....

We pretty much have that lineup already.
Kolchak: The Night Stalker at midnight on Me TV and then the second hour of The Six Million Dollar Man at 1am on COZI TV, followed at 2am by two hours of The Bionic Woman on COZI TV.
Planet Of The Apes was replaced on Me TV by The Invaders at 5am and The Powers Of Matthew Star at 6am.

[The Spectre]

After Kolchak went off the air in 1975, CBS had a similar show for kids - The original Ghost Busters with Forrest Tucker (Who kind of looked like Kolchak) and Larry Storch.
Vincenzo went on to argue with David Cassidy - Man Under Cover in 1978.

[hanshotfirst1138]

The fact that this is not streaming anywhere-least of all Peacock-is an immeasurable crime.

[Dave Mack]

It has some very tense and scary “moments”. Like when Karl has to climb into the station wagon to put the salt in the zombies mouth, virtually on top of him and it’s eyes open. (At least that’s how I remember the scene, been decades since I’ve seen it). And apparently the werewolf episode gave me a pretty loud nightmare that I wound up screaming in, much to the chagrin of my parents.

[TominMN]

Originally Posted by Dave Mack

It has some very tense and scary “moments”. Like when Karl has to climb into the station wagon to put the salt in the zombies mouth, virtually on top of him and it’s eyes open. (At least that’s how I remember the scene, been decades since I’ve seen it). And apparently the werewolf episode gave me a pretty loud nightmare that I wound up screaming in, much to the chagrin of my parents.

Twelve-year-old me couldn't wait to watch this every Friday evening in '74-75. Most of the episodes scared me at the time and I loved it. The ones I remember scaring me the most are the zombie encounter you describe, and also the showdown with Père Malfait in the sewer (Spanish Moss Murders). The female vampire was freaky too. I wish we had seen more of the Rakshasa's true form in Horror in the Heights, but probably the quick look we get at the end was most effective. Many episodes also did a good job building a creepy atmosphere, and of course Karl Kolchak was just a great character.

[goathunter]

Originally Posted by hanshotfirst1138

The fact that this is not streaming anywhere-least of all Peacock-is an immeasurable crime.

Kolchak is streaming for free on NBC.com. Not sure why it isn't on Peacock.

Kolchak: The Night Stalker on NBC

[hanshotfirst1138]

Originally Posted by goathunter

Kolchak is streaming for free on NBC.com. Not sure why it isn't on Peacock.

Kolchak: The Night Stalker on NBC

That makes no sense whatsoever.

[The Spectre]

Originally Posted by hanshotfirst1138

The fact that this is not streaming anywhere-least of all Peacock-is an immeasurable crime.

Kolchak was originally an ABC show but was produced by Universal Studios so maybe it has to do with NBC / Universal.

[goathunter]

Originally Posted by hanshotfirst1138

That makes no sense whatsoever.

There are a bunch of shows on NBC.com that aren't on Peacock (yet?): The Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman, The Incredible Hulk, Night Gallery, Darkroom.....

[horroru]

Originally Posted by TominMN

Twelve-year-old me couldn't wait to watch this every Friday evening in '74-75. Most of the episodes scared me at the time and I loved it. The ones I remember scaring me the most are the zombie encounter you describe, and also the showdown with Père Malfait in the sewer (Spanish Moss Murders). The female vampire was freaky too. I wish we had seen more of the Rakshasa's true form in Horror in the Heights, but probably the quick look we get at the end was most effective. Many episodes also did a good job building a creepy atmosphere, and of course Karl Kolchak was just a great character.

Same here, I was 9 years old and already a Famous Monsters kid. My friend next door told me about the show and I was hooked right from the opening.
When I was in college, it was still being shown on CBS LATE NIGHT - if my roommates and I got home in time, I'd force them to watch it, and begrudgingly they became fans.

The episodes that freaked me out as a kid have mostly been mentioned (Zombie, Spanish Moss Murders, Horror in the Heights, with the Zombie mouth sewing scene being the scariest). I'd also add The Trevi Collection for the creepy mannequins and

[Show spoiler]the witch dying- pun intended- at the end

.

I was into monsters very early when my grandfather bought me my first comic, Werewolf By Night, at the age of 7. So most of the other episodes I just thought were "wicked cool".

Can't wait for this set, got to look better than the DVDs!

[CharlesForbin]

Originally Posted by Dragon78

I have always loved the Rakshasa episode.

It had its moments, but it also had quite possibly the least scary climax of the entire run. Kolchak is normally scared spitless at that point in every episode, running breathlessly and fumbling with his weapon of the week, but in this one, he just stands there and calmly shoots the monster. It was out of character.

[TominMN]

Originally Posted by CharlesForbin

It had its moments, but it also had quite possibly the least scary climax of the entire run. Kolchak is normally scared spitless at that point in every episode, running breathlessly and fumbling with his weapon of the week, but in this one, he just stands there and calmly shoots the monster. It was out of character.

Not really out of character,

[Show spoiler]as it was not the monster he was actually "seeing." While not as scary, it was a great character moment. He had said earlier in the episode (something along the lines of) there is no way the monster could get him because there is no one he trusts. But it turned out there was, just not quite enough to keep him from pulling the trigger. And the monster reveal, while very quick, I thought was a good one

[CharlesForbin]

He knew who it was. There was no suspense in that climax, no desperation. Would have been better if he had held his fire until it was right on top of him or at least if he was conflicted. He didn't seem to have any real doubts.

[Bobbyjoe766]

Originally Posted by CharlesForbin

It had its moments, but it also had quite possibly the least scary climax of the entire run. Kolchak is normally scared spitless at that point in every episode, running breathlessly and fumbling with his weapon of the week, but in this one, he just stands there and calmly shoots the monster. It was out of character.

Horror in the Heights is a classic, but I prefer The Spanish Moss Murders (another classic) -

[Show spoiler]which does have a more satisfying showdown in the sewers with the cajun “boogeyman”.