THE BASEMENT’S TIMELESS TELEVISION: Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974-1975)
Kolchak: The Night Stalker is an American television series that aired on ABC during the 1974–1975 season. The series followed wire service reporter Carl Kolchak (Darren McGavin) who investigates mysterious crimes with unlikely causes, particularly those involving the supernatural or science fiction, including fantastic creatures. The series was preceded by the two television movies, THE NIGHT STALKER (1972) and THE NIGHT STRANGLER (1973). Although the series lasted only a single season, it rapidly achieved cult status and has remained very popular in syndication.
Chris Carter cited Kolchak as a “tremendous influence” in creating his franchise The X-Files. In 2005, inspired by that success, The X-Files producer Frank Spotnitz resurrected the series as Night Stalker, with a new cast and characters, as well as subsequent novels and comic books. The new series was a ratings bomb, however, and was quietly cancelled after only six of the ten episodes which had been produced were aired.
In late 1973, Matheson and William F. Nolan completed the script for an intended third television movie, to be titled The Night Killers, a story about android replicas. ABC decided that it wanted a weekly series instead. After some negotiation, McGavin agreed to return as Kolchak and also served as the series’ executive producer, though he was not credited as such. However, neither ABC nor Universal had obtained Jeff Rice’s permission and he sued the studio. The suit was resolved shortly before the series aired in the fall 1974 season, replacing Toma on the network’s Friday night schedule. Rice received an on-screen credit as series creator. The first four episodes aired under the title of The Night Stalker. After a month-long hiatus, the series was renamed and returned as Kolchak: The Night Stalker.
The later home video releases of the television series also used that title. The series theme had originally been part of the music score that Gil Mellé had composed for The Questor Tapes. While the show was set in Chicago and some generic location/background filming was done there in summer and early fall, the show was filmed primarily in Los Angeles and at Universal Studios.
The show featured a wide range of guest stars and many Hollywood veterans, including: Ken Lynch, Charles Aidman, Randy Boone, Scatman Crothers, Dick Van Patten, Jan Murray, Larry Storch, Jeanne Cooper, Alice Ghostley, Victor Jory, Murray Matheson, Julie Adams, John Dehner, Phil Silvers, Bernie Kopell, Marvin Miller, Carol Ann Susi, Jesse White, James Gregory, Hans Conried, Mary Wickes, Henry Jones, Carolyn Jones, Jackie Mason, Stella Stevens, Abraham Sofaer, David Doyle, Jim Backus, Kathleen Freeman, John Hoyt, Dwayne Hickman, Eric Braeden, Tom Skerritt, Erik Estrada, William Daniels, Jamie Farr, Lara Parker, Pat Harrington Jr., Larry Linville and Richard Kiel. Jimmy Hawkins appeared on the series as a Catholic priest on November 1, 1974, in what proved to be his last acting appearance. McGavin’s wife and assistant, Kathie Browne, appeared in the final episode as Lt. Irene Lamont.
In addition, the series provided the first professional writing credit for Robert Zemeckis and his writing partner Bob Gale, who wrote the script for the episode “Chopper”. David Chase, creator of The Sopranos, also worked on the series as a story editor, his first regular crew position in Hollywood. Though Chase is credited on eight episodes as story editor, he also helped rewrite the remaining 12. McGavin and others attribute much of the show’s quirky humor to his creative input.
The show’s ratings were mediocre and McGavin was growing dissatisfied, resulting in its cancellation after one year. The series aired on Friday nights at 10 p.m., a virtual graveyard for most TV series, particularly one aimed at a younger audience. In January 1975, the show was moved to Friday nights at 8 p.m., where it remained until June 1975. In August 1975, ABC moved Kolchak to Saturday nights at 8 p.m for four final weeks of reruns. McGavin found himself rewriting scripts and doing much of the work of a producer, but without getting either the full credit or the full compensation of one. McGavin had been unhappy with what he felt was the show’s “monster of the week” direction, and an exhausting filming schedule. He asked to be released from his contract with two episodes remaining to be filmed, which the network granted in light of the show’s dwindling ratings.
The series managed in its short run to tackle most of the major monster myths, including classics such as vampires, werewolves, mummies and zombies. It also included stories about a doppelgänger, witches, a succubus and a pact with Satan. Four episodes focused on monsters and spirits based in native folklore, with two involving Native American legends, one Hindu and one Creole. It also dealt with creatures from science fiction, including a killer android, an invisible extraterrestrial, a prehistoric ape-man spawned from thawed cell samples, and a lizard-creature protecting its eggs.
The series also featured some more esoteric antagonists, including a headless motorcycle rider that hinted at the Headless Horseman myth and an animated knight’s suit of armor possessed by a spirit. A story about Jack the Ripper was one of the few based on an actual historical figure, though the series provided a supernatural explanation. An episode about Helen of Troy (Cathy Lee Crosby appeared in the role) dealt with immortality and aging.
In October of 2021, KL Studio Classics released the entire series on much anticipated Blu-ray.
Special Features:
-Brand New 2K Masters for All 20 Episodes
-NEW Interview with David Chase, the Creator of The Sopranos and Co-Writer of Eight Kolchak: The Night Stalker Episodes
-NEW Interview with Dana Gould, the Creator of Stan Against Evil
-NEW Booklet Essay by Mark Dawidziak, the Author of The Night Stalker Companion and Kolchak Novel, Grave Secrets
-21 NEW Audio Commentaries for All 20 Episodes by Mark Dawidziak, Author/Historian David J. Schow, Novelist/Critic Kim Newman, Writer/Journalist Barry Forshaw, Film Historian Tim Lucas, Filmmaker/Film Historian Constantine Nasr, Screenwriter/Producer Rodney Barnes, Film Historian/Screenwriter Gary Gerani, Film Historian/Screenwriter Steve Haberman, Film Historian/Author Amanda Reyes, Filmmaker/Historian Steve Mitchell, Screenwriter/Producer Cyrus Voris, Filmmaker/Historian Michael Schlesinger, and Mike White and Chris Stachiw of The Kolchak Tapes Podcast
-14 Original TV Spots (Newly Remastered in 2K)
-Newly Commissioned Art by Mark Maddox
-Optional English Subtitles
In October 2018, KL Studio Classics released the first move, THE NIGHT STALKER on Blu-ray.
Special Features:
-Brand New 4K Restoration
-NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Tim Lucas
-NEW Interview with Director John Llewellyn Moxey
-NEW Interview with Composer Bob Cobert
-“The Night Stalker: Dan Curtis Interview” featurette
-Newly Commissioned Art by Sean Phillips
Also in October of 2018, THE NIGHT STRANGLER was released by KL Studio Classics.
Special Features:
-Brand New 4K Restoration
-NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Tim Lucas
-NEW Interview with Composer Bob Cobert
-“Directing ‘The Night Strangler'” Featurette
-Newly Commissioned Art by Sean Phillips
To order any of these Blu-rays for your collection, just click on the pictures of the Blu-ray covers. Make sure to read other entries in my BASEMENT’S TIMELESS TELEVISION series.
~David Albaugh
