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Saturday nights in northern Michigan used to belong to a vampire who hosted horror movies, kept a terrier in a tiny cape as his sidekick, and propped a skull named Chauncy on the set for company. His name was Count Zappula, and for nearly twenty years he was one of the most beloved fixtures of local television that nobody outside a few counties ever knew existed.
This episode is one person's firsthand account of growing up in that audience and what it means to go looking for someone who shaped your childhood before the last traces of him disappear entirely.
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SONGS IN THIS EPISODE:
• Green Lung – Lady Lucifer / Free the Witch (EP)
• Deep Purple – Hush / When We Rock, We Rock and When We Roll, We Roll
• Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs – Ground Speed / Foggy Mountain Banjo
• David Bowie – Fame / Young Americans
• Jay Livingston and Ray Evans – Bonanza
• Earle Hagen – Mayberry R.F.D. Theme
• Leonard Rosenman – Marcus Welby, M.D. Theme
• Marius Constant – The Twilight Zone Theme
• John Barry – Somewhere in Time
• Spirit – I Got a Line On You / The Family That Plays Together
• Siouxsie & The Banshees – Night Shift / Ju Ju
• MF DOOM – Coffin Nails / Metal Fingers Presents: Special Herbs Vol. 5 & 6
• Taylor Swift – Lover / Lover
• Sweet – The Ballroom Blitz / Desolation Boulevard
• The Edgar Winter Group – Frankenstein / They Only Come Out at Night
• Mystery Science Theater 3000 – Godzilla Genealogy Bop / Clowns In the Sky I & II
• Rockwell – Somebody’s Watching Me / Somebody’s Watching Me
• Ramones – Pet Cemetary / Brain Drain
The opening theme song, “Corona” was written and performed by Chuck Borowicz.
SOURCES CONSULTED:
Online Databases & Reference
- IMDb — Count Zappula's Horror House (both station runs, 1976-1980 and 1981-1992), Don Melvoin credits, cast and trivia pages
Horror Host Archives
- E-gor's Chamber of TV Horror Hosts — primary source for the police officer anecdote, Igor/Lover details, and production background via director Eric Pearson
- The Professor's Horror Host Tome — catalog entry for the show
- Horror Host Graveyard — overview entry including the Chauncy skull companion detail
- Captain Flashback (efanzines.com) — detailed profile including Dr. Maniac appearances and production notes
Fan & Regional Sources
- Clea's Cave blog and comment thread — fan memories including the fan letter story, Sunday afternoon movie show detail, and family tributes
- Vintage Detroit TV & Movie Board — viewer memories and discussion
- 99 WFMK "Michigan Horror Show Hosts" feature — biographical overview
Hall of Fame
- Official Horror Host Hall of Fame — 2022 nomination listing
Firsthand
- My own memories: Deputy Don park broadcast, Count Zappula viewing, Frank Bonner recognition, the coffin blooper on Life's Most Embarrassing Moments with Steve Allen and Elvira, Chauncy the skull.
