Growing up in the 1970s offered a fantastic childhood. It was brimming with cool toys and entertaining Saturday morning cartoons. There was also the weekly thrill of monster movies on “Creature Double Feature.” I was a devoted monster movie enthusiast. On Saturday afternoons, I was glued to the television. I was captivated by films like WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS, RODAN, and all the GAMERA installments. These movies, alongside the classic monster films, we still cherish. For us, “Creature Double Feature” wasn’t hosted in the traditional way. Instead, a menacing voice introduced each week’s cinematic terrors. Then, in the early 1980s, a shift occurred. Suddenly, “CDF” was hosted by someone called the Son of Svengoolie. This sparked my enduring fascination with horror hosts.
Over the years, I’ve encountered numerous horror hosts, ranging from the mediocre to the memorable. However, a select few reside on a higher plane for me, far surpassing mere “good.” Zomboo is undeniably one of these exceptional figures. My introduction to Zomboo and his remarkable cast was entirely serendipitous. I had never heard of him nor encountered any articles about him in genre magazines. One day, while browsing eBay, I stumbled upon a collection of his show’s DVDs and decided to take a chance. Words cannot adequately express my gratitude for that impulsive purchase! It wasn’t long before I was completely hooked, and today, Zomboo stands as one of my all-time favorite horror hosts. The character of Zomboo is a fascinating amalgamation of Lon Chaney’s vampire from the 1927 film LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT. The Zombo character portrayed by Louis Nye on THE MUNSTERS appears in the episode originally broadcast on February 17, 1966. Additionally, Krusty the Clown from THE SIMPSONS is also part of this amalgamation.
My inaugural Zomboo viewing featured the 1963 film DEMENTIA 13. This quirky little horror movie, Francis Ford Coppola’s directorial debut for Roger Corman, was one I’d seen before. Yet, this viewing experience was entirely new. I quickly erupted in laughter at Zomboo and his cohorts. They included Miss Transylvania, Bianca the Rack Girl, and Werewolfie. The jokes were rapid-fire, and some were so outrageous I could hardly believe they made it to air! I was amazed by Zomboo’s seamless integration into the films. His perfectly timed sound effects amplified the enjoyment of each scene. It was refreshing to watch a show with the distinct look of locally produced television. It felt unique in today’s media landscape. Thankfully, the DVD promoted his website, which I promptly visited. Soon after, I found myself acquiring more DVDs – a delightful addiction, to say the least! I also reached out to Zomboo, and he responded quickly, leading to an ongoing correspondence.
Zomboo called me. This was a personal highlight. He called after I penned an article about him and his show for SCARY MONSTERS magazine. He told me it was the best piece he had read about his work, a compliment I deeply cherished. If you reside in the Nevada area, you can catch him on KOLO Channel 8 out of Reno. Zomboo informs me he’s actively working on expanding to other stations. For those outside his broadcast area, I wholeheartedly recommend visiting his website (http://www.zomboo.com) to explore his offerings – you won’t be disappointed!
Make sure to read other entries in my HORROR HOST SPOTLIGHT series.