. . . .AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT: “THRILLER” (NBC: 1960 – 1962)

Hosted by the famous fright meister Boris Karloff (nine years before his death), Thriller was a weekly anthology series that premiered on NBC September 13, 1960. Last year marked the 50TH Anniversary of the debut of Thriller.

Featuring a mix of horror, suspenseful thrillers, and the macabre, Thriller was a fantastic show with episodes of chilling tales of dark and sinister secrets, horrible tragedies, paranormal activity, and grisly homicides. Created by Hubbell Robinson for Revue Studios (which was later purchased by Universal Studios), with series producers William Frye, Fletcher Markle, and Maxwell Shane, Thriller featured a wonderful cast and enthralling stories. Among the many writers for the series was Robert Bloch, who would adapt some of his own stories for some episodes: The Cheaters, Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper, The Grim Reaper, The Hungry Glass,  The Devil’s Ticket, and The Weird Tailor, in particular. In all, Bloch wrote ten episodes for Thriller. Bloch was most famous for having his novel, Psycho, made into a movie by Universal Studios, which starred Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh.

Called an “hourlong bloodmobile” and “unpromising”  by a Time Magazine reporter, Thriller went on to garner lifelong fans.

The late 1950s to early 1960s was a great time for the anthology series, with Twilight Zone the most well-known, as well as The Outer Limits, Playhouse 90, Alfred Hitchcock Presents (and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour).

But, of them all, Thriller holds a special place in my heart. Each episode would start off with a snippet of what was to come, and then appearing from stage left, Boris would step into view and give the lowdown on that night’s episode. He would not give away too much, but he made sure to whet your appetite for what was to transpire, and as always he ended his introduction with his famous quote:

The episodes were an hour in length and featured many stars who would become  prominent in other television series as well as in film:  William Shatner, Harry Townes, Elizabeth Montgomery, Natalie Schaeffer,  Henry Daniel., Rip Torn, Cloris Leachman, Marlo Thomas, John Ireland, Jester Hairston, and Mary Tyler Moore.

Here is the TV promo for Thriller:

The music, by Jerry Goldsmith and Morton Stevens, was top-notch. To this day, the eerie high-pitched violin opening intro by Pete Ruggolo still has the effect of fingernails scratched across a blackboard.

Ruggolo would also provide music for the end credits, music which could have a jazzy sound to it–not anything that would be expected for a horror anthology.

For years, Thriller  languished in non-release from Universal Studios, until a press notice revealed that it was finally arriving to home video. On August 31, 2010, Thriller made its debut on video to the joy of many happy and devoted fans. Released through Image Entertainment, the 14-disc set contains all 67 episodes, remastered and uncut, with over 50 hours worth of extra features.

Thriller eventually created a problem when it veered from what the studio wanted in this new weekly series.  The first season started out with crime dramas. NBC expected horror stories. Since Karloff was the host of the show, they expected to see tales of horror: Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Wolf Man. This also presented a problem for viewers. One week there would be a horror theme episode, the next a crime drama episode. This began to become off-putting to some viewers as one never knew what they would see when they tuned in  for that night’s episode. Ratings were low as well, viewers were not tuning in enough, and critics of the show were savaging it.  Eventually a new team of writers, producers and directors (Markle was out, and Frye was in) were hired and by the mid first season and during the second season, Thriller became the horror show it would become famous for.

The first horror-theme episode premiered right before Halloween, October, 1960. It was entitled The Purple Room, staring Rip Torn and Richard Anderson (of “The Bionic Man” fame).

Following after, but in heavy competition with Alfred Hitchcock’s Alfred Hitchcock Presents, (a half hour anthology also presented by NBC) its days were numbered. When Hitch expanded his Hitchcock Presents into The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, an expanded one hour version of his Presents series, it was not long before the axe came down on Thriller. The last Thriller episode would air on April 30, 1962. Thriller ran for a season and a half.

Thriller may not have lasted in primetime as long Twilight Zone or Alfred Hitchcock Presents, but it is still fondly remembered for the impact it made on nighttime television viewing.

I present some of my favourite episodes that I found online. Much thanks to Peekknocker2 of Classic Horror Film Board for posting links for these episodes.

Enjoy!

“A Wig for Miss Devore”:

A tale of a wig that wreaks horrific consequences on all who wear it. Starring Patricia Barry, John Fiedler, and Linda Watkins;

“The Cheaters“:

A tale of yellow-tinted glasses inscribed with the word “Veritas” which reveal frightening truths to all those who wear them. Starring Harry Townes, Joan Tompkins, and Jack Weston;

“The Hungry Glass“:

A story of a haunted house built on a cliff overlooking the sea, the house’s former occupant having died and left behind a roomful of mirrors that hungered for the souls of all who looked into the mirrors. Starring Donna Douglas (of the  Beverly Hillbillies ), Russell Johnson  ( Gilligan’s Island); and William Shatner (Star Trek );

“Parasite Mansion”:

A lonely stretch of road. A dark and stormy night. A driver is lost and has crashed her car. Two people, a man and an elderly woman, come to her rescue and take her to their gothic mansion. They tend to her wounds, but, as she soon learns, they intend to keep her there for they fear she will expose their dark and terrible secret. Starring Pippa Scott, James Griffith, Jeanette Nolan, Tommy Nolan and Beverly Washburn. (Actress Ida Lupino directed this episode).

“The Grim Reaper “:

The story of a painting of the Grim Reaper. William Shatner once again stars, this time as a spendthrift nephew of Natalie Schaeffer (of Gilligan’s Island). She has bought the painting of the Reaper and it is said that all who possess the painting will meet with a  horrible end–death. Shatner fears for her life if she keeps the painting. Is it out of concern that he wants his aunt to get rid of the painting, or it some other ulterior reason?

“The Devil’s Ticket”:

This tale of an artist who sells his soul to Lucifer for fame and riches carries with it a heavy price. The artist bargains with Lucifer to pawn his soul to become a great artist, for riches that hinge on redeeming a pawn ticket in ninety days.  But in the end the artist pays the full price in more ways than one. Starring Macdonald Carey, Patricia Medina, and John Emery.

“The Prisoner in the Mirror”:

Another tale of mirrors, only this time it is a mirror that has kept two people prisoners for more than half a century. An unwitting antique collector releases the prisoner and with devastating consequences. Starring Lloyd Bochner, Henry Daniel, and Marion Ross (of Happy Days fame).

My other favourite episodes are , Pigeons From Hell (written by “Conan, the Barbarian” author Robert E. Howard), The Incredible Doktor Markesan (one of seven episodes that Karloff starred in), The Well of Doom, The Weird Tailor, Mr. George, La Strega, Papa Benjamin, The Poisoner, The Purple Room ( filmed on location at the Psycho house), The Prediction, and Dark Legacy.

For a list of complete episodes, click  here, here, and here.

RELATED LINKS:

The following is a nice article written by Ms. Beverly Washburn, who played Lolly in the episode Parasite Mansion:

“Oooh, Scary – Television’s “Thriller” with Boris Karloff 1960s TV Series”, by Beverly Washburn

The following website gives an in-depth review of all 67 episodes of Thriller. The site’s reviewers, Peter Enfantino and John Scoleri rate each episode on acting, script, music, and direction:

A Thriller a Day: Your Quick Reference Guide to a Thriller a Day