The Hilarious House of Frightenstein

Oh my! What a treat it is to see this show again now airing seven days per week on the Drive-In Classics channel! For a 30+ year old show, the video and audio quality are simply superb and now to see it in colour and on a big screen. I am one happy viewer! I have vague memories of seeing this show in its first run along with the supernatural cult classic series Strange Paradise, which is also shown on the same channel and airs back to back with HHOF during the week days. I had no idea that Billy Van played so many characters. And I really thought Grizelda was played by a woman back then!

Too bad the Gemini Awards only started in 1987. Billy Van should have received some acknowledgement for his numerous roles on this show. Very pleased to see a fan made production titled "Return to Transylvania". Extensive interview segments with Billy Van and puppeteer Joe Torbay are all we will ever see as extra behind-the-scenes trivia.

Somebody (from Los Angeles) mentioned hearing a laugh-track (of kids) when they saw this show but there most certainly was none added during production or broadcast both back in 1971 and in reruns in 2007 here in Canada (where the show was made).

So either he's mistaken, or the Americans actually added a laugh-track for that market. This might make sense, since so many American shows do have a fake laugh-track (thankfully, their version of The Office does not).

The only laughing that makes sense in a TV show is when there really is a live audience present, and you hear genuine laughter. I saw a live taping of Kids In The Hall around 1991 and the laugher heard during broadcast really is the genuine laughter of the real audience.

The Hilarious House of Frightenstein doesn't have a lot of stuff that would incite robust laughter anyway. It's more weird than funny. A lot of it is obviously ad-lib, and in modern times many of the scenes would require a "take 2" (or 3 or 4 or 5) to perfect it. But on this show, part of the charm is the inclusion of semi-flubbed stuff.

I remember once where a guy who looks like a stage-hand kind of peaks around the corner while Igor is doing a scene and he looks like he knows he screwed up. It was kept in for final broadcast and the result is this micro-surreal moment.

Julius Sumner Miller (The Professor) is shown actually forgetting where he put a prop for an experiment he is about to show, and he ad-libs something and moves on to another topic.

At one point The Oracle has is hand stuck in the crystal ball, and the "POP" sound effect happens way before he pulls his hand out and there's an ad-lib "well, you can't win 'em all" and it's almost like Billy Van steps out of character for a moment.

In another universe or era, this would have lots more editing or retakes. And it would be very boring. I wonder how much my 9-year old brain in 1971 loved this show in part because of all the screw-ups.

How to best describe this unique Canadian children's show... hmmm....

Well, it's kind of a children's educational haunted house, horror movie satire show chock full 'o great adult gags. It's all about bein' "groovy", hangin' with the "Pet Vet" and learning about animals, dancing to the Wolfman's groovy wax, laughing at Paul the gorilla's slapstick humor, reciting poems with Vincent, and all that year-'round Hallowe'enie goodness! I imagine mostly Canadians will remember this Saturday morning classic, whether when it originally aired in the 70's or in its ongoing reruns.

This was one of my fave staple Saturday morning shows in the early 70's that I watched right after the really bad animated "Spiderman" cartoon that came on at 9:30 AM! I loved the many characters that the incredibly (and unfortunately largely unrecognized) talented Billy Van created. It was off-beat, bizarre as all heck, and a great parody of horror films.

Well, I hadn't thought of this groovy lil' show in ages, so when I did (near Hallowe'en, naturally) I ventured into a google search, and I found a tribute site dedicated to the show! The site has images, wav files with all the characters being kooky, video and more! This weird and wacky show always began with Vincent Price's on screen intro monologue with the castle in the background and super-low-tech lightning superimposed over the image, then jumped into the castle with the Count, Igor, Paul the Gorilla, the Wolfman (a DJ), Super Hippie, the Oracle, the Librarian (one of my faves!, the Wolfman Jack inspired DJ the Wolfman who played psychedelic music as Igor & the Grammar Slammer dancer before a swirling psychotropic backdrop, and more freaky characters.

Most of the characters were played by Canadian actor Billy Van (also seen on "The Sonny and Cher Show", "The Bobby Vinton Show", "Bizarre" , "The Party Game", "The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show" and more!). The show was shot in Hamilton, Ontario at CHCH TV back in 1971. It has since gained cult status as it's been translated into many languages and re-broadcast in different parts of the world.

I truly hope that the series comes to DVD, as I'll be first in line for the release! ~ T.Paul

Honestly this was one of the best shows from when I was a kid. I remember watching it in the early morning before school. I really wish I could find it on DVD or video, because it was awesome! My daughter saw Vincent Price on "Edward Scissorhands" and I started to tell her about this really cool show that I used to watch as a child. She thought it sounded weird but was still interested, so I had my sister do a search but it's hard to find any info on this show. Makes me a little sad because it was so funny. Dr. Pet Vet, Igor, the Mosquito and the Wolfman. Priceless. Hee hee. Bring back the laughs!! And if anyone finds out how to get copies of the show, please post!

What can be said about a great locally produced kids show that was on in mornings? I remember always getting up in the morning to watch "Hilarious House" before going to school. All of us who were kids in the 70's from Southern Ontario watched it all the time. Even when it was on reruns early weekend mornings in the 80's. A show that had all hilarious characters mainly played by Billy Van. The Wolfman was the best with is "Chime Time" and then throwing a golf ball at a clock to tell what time it was. Then watching Igor dance with him with psychedelic visuals behind them to some 60's rock. Or Aaron the ape getting nailed with a golf ball and falling over. Or how about 'it's Zany Zoo Time" "Ooga Booga". Too bad Global didn't snag the rights to the show when they bought CHCH 11 (known also as ONTV). E-mail Global and maybe they will do it for their Prime or Deja View specialty channels. Hilarious House will always be a classic show for us from Southern Ontario. Remember Vincent Price at the end.."The castle lights are growing dim, there's no one left but me and him. When next we meet in Frankenstone, Don't come alone"