The Hilarious House of Frightenstien

The FRIGHTENSTIEN.COM site has 2 complete episodes along with many mp3 clips (see the character pages) of this fabulous kids show.

The Hilarious House of Frightenstein was created in 1971 at the studios of CHCH Channel 11 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. For the next 25 years it aired across Canada and in parts of the United States.

Vincent Price was also a regular. His role was that of comic narrator; from what was presumably supposed to be a balcony of the castle he gave spirited introductions to the sketches of all the featured players (save for the Wolfman) in sometimes amateurish but often clever rhyming verse. Counting the opening and closing sequences of the show, it meant that he usually appeared in each episode 8 times.

I Remember loving the characters in this show most of which were played by Billy Van. The Wolfman, who hosted the music videos was one of my favorites.

While Van beefed up such Yankee Doodle series as The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour and The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show, and starred with Jack Duffy and Dinah Christie on the CHCH series Party Game, he never found the big fame that subsequent Canadian comedians such as John Candy and Dan Aykroyd won.

In part, this was a result of timing. Billy Van’s comedy was ahead of the curve. Nightcap’s satire and spontaneity were precursors to Saturday Night Live. His work on Frightenstein lampooning pop culture (hippies, horror movies and music) foreshadowed the parody that made SCTV a hit. When Mike Myers was inducted into that other Canadian Walk of Fame, he credited Van, among others, for helping shape his comedy.

Sadly, Billy Van Died in 2003. He will be missed.



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