Boys and Ghouls

Cats in horror is the topic of this long awaited episode of “Boys and Ghouls”.  Give it a listen, right meow, and curl up to Kat and Marshall’s discussion of the most memorable times a cat has brought its spooky energy to the screen.  

This exchange of facts about felines on film is delivered in nine categories.  These include; black cats, our favorite real-life cat, the best animated cat, our preferred TV cats, cats out for revenge, cats in anthology horror, and more.

Along the way, we discuss both Edgar Allan Poe with his writing of “The Black Cat” and Stephen King for his writing of several notable spooky cats.  Plus, you might learn a little something when Kat Presents, “Katherine’s Cat Fact Corner”.  You may never look at cats the same again!

So, check it out.  This episode (our 90th) is more fun than a piece of dangling string.  It’s more amusing than getting into an empty cardboard box.  It’s more informative than seeing well in low light.  And it’s scarier than getting your fur wet!  

The business of Halloween is booming so Kat and Marshall are taking a look at the billion dollar holiday at the end of October.

Listen in, as we discuss the fact, figures, and frights that keep this season in the black… while dripping red!  We celebrate the store displays, the soda stacks, the Spirit Halloween Store and its recent movie.  Kat shares the first Halloween in The White House and tells about her own experiences of having a birthday so close to Halloween.

Then, pump up the volume as we recall the ultimate impulse purchase, the spooky sounds albums.  Turn any front porch or garage into a haunted house with these creepy cassettes!

Plus, we look at the haunting history of the Morris Costume Company.  Started by the original Dr. Evil of the spook show circuit, this family business levitated to the top of their field by doing what they loved, providing frights and fantasy to generations of customers.

The documentary “American Movie” (1999) chronicles the struggles of a Wisconsin film maker to complete his black and white horror short-film, “Coven”.  For this episode of “Boys and Ghouls”, Kat and Marshall will look at both movies and bring you the story of Mark Borchardt; the midwestern man, doggedly determined to see his vision through to completion.

Through “American Movie” and “Coven” we get to know the other characters in Mark’s orbit; the grumpy, reluctant producer Uncle Bill and Mark’s woolly, steadfast friend, Mike Schank.  Together, with local talent and family members, they find a way to bring “Coven” to the big screen.

So, join us as we look at this often-funny and always inspiring story along with the un-compromised horror movie that resulted from it.

TV show Halloween episodes are the topic of this tuned-in episode of Boys and Ghouls.

Listen in, as Kat and Marshall visit a few fun reruns from the days of black and white classic television.  Then, we look at some more modern programs from the days when a network knew how to package and promote a whole October night with Halloween-themed episodes of their prime-time lineup.

Then, we switch over to the topic of horror icons as guest stars for a show’s Halloween episode.  We take a special look at the many tv show cameos of the ghoul of your dreams, Elvira.

Also, Marshall shares his experiences as a zombie-for-a-day, and Kat shares some Halloween treats from the local drug store.

It’s an episode you’d hate to miss!

The giants of British horror, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, are the subject of the eighty-sixth episode of “Boys and Ghouls”.  Starting with “The Curse of Frankenstein”, they were the cornerstone of Hammer horror.  Together and separately, they’ve given the horror genre decades of frightening films.

From among their many collaborations, we have selected four movies to focus on.  “The Curse of Frankenstein” (1957), “The Hound of the Baskervilles” (1959), “Horror Express” (1972), and their final film together, “House of the Long Shadows” (1983).

Along the way, we also explore the long friendship of Cushing and Lee; from their implausible showbiz-anecdote first meeting, to their well-documented last.

So, give a listen to this tribute to these titians of terror, Peter Wilton Cushing and Christopher Frank Carandini Lee.

Stephen King’s tale of a small town with a big werewolf problem is the topic of this episode of “Boys and Ghouls”.  First conceived as a calendar, it grew into a sparse novel titled, “Cycle of the Werewolf”.  This grew and transformed into the 1985 feature film, “Silver Bullet”.

Listen in as Kat and Marshall detail the origin of this video store favorite, from its early collaborators to its role in establishing North Carolina as a long-time center of film and television production.  Join us as we reflect on how much Gary Busey brought to the screen as the sometimes-responsible Uncle Red.  And remember the shining light that was young Cory Haim, as the wheelchair-bound boy who survives a werewolf attack then has to get some serious help before the next full moon.

Also, Kat proves that no detail is too small as she examines a summertime Maine tradition, briefly mentioned in the book.  And Marshall shares the tale of his own encounter with the larger-than-life Gary Busey.

Have a friend over for a Halloween movie night and make an event out of it.  That’s what the “Boys and Ghouls” hosts did for each other in this October episode.  

Listen in as they recount how they tried to provide the other with a memorable, at-home, movie watching experience.  The Halloween decorations were up, snacks had been selected, and the evening’s entertainment had been carefully programed.

Let Kat and Marshall tell you what they’ve discovered about being a good guest as well as host during the spookiest of seasons.  Learn what it’s like to be the only one on the guest list for a post-pandemic social event.  Get to know Kat and Marshall’s different styles when it comes to chilling the drinks and chilling the blood with Halloween themes.  

Also, the duo recaps how they spent Halloween 2020 and discuss the state of pop-up Halloween stores. 

The documentary “Horror Noire” has become the touchstone for the Boys and Ghouls podcast’s exploration into the participation of black actors and filmmakers in the last century of scary movies.

Give a listen to our longest episode ever (by ten minutes) as we share what we’ve learned about; the trope of the frightened black side-kick in the horror-comedies of yesteryear, how actor Duane Jones helped “Night of the Living Dead” flip the script on the zombie tradition, how Jones went on to become a sophisticated post-Blacula vampire in “Ganja and Hess”, the influence of “The Exorcist” on the blaxploitation era, all about the original “Candyman” movie, and where things have gone since the success of “Get Out”.

We hope you enjoy it.

Halloween in the age of quarantine is the topic of this grounded episode of “Boys and Ghouls”.  

Listen in, as Kat and Marshall discuss tricks to socially-distant treat distribution as well as at-home alternatives to going door to door.  For help, they consult the century-old source to Halloween festivities, The Bogie Book.  Written in the days following the Spanish Flu and the Great War, it’s full of gay decorating ideas and fortune telling games to amuse anyone preoccupied with matrimony.

Learn what the Boys and Ghouls duo does when they want to make their home feel, and smell, like a spooky sanctuary for all of October.  Plus, as the weather turns crisp, they urge you to take a walk where everyone stays six feet away… under ground!  A cemetery trip to visit a local notable in your area is a good substitute for the canceled Octoberfest you won’t be attending.

And, in a month with FIVE Saturday mornings, October 2020 will be an opportune month to enjoy some Saturday morning cartoons.  Tune in, as we suggest some frightening favorites from yesteryear.  Then, we offer free advice on spicing up a Halloween movie night.  From popcorn preparation and presentation, to a look at what streaming gems can liven up a double-feature on Halloween or any of October’s 31 nights.

Stay safe and have a Happy Halloween.

The Exorcist III, Howling III, and A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors are discussed in this episode of “Boys and Ghouls” as three great examples of great part threes in the horror genre.  

Often in a franchise, the later installments can lack the quality of its predecessors.  But, a good third effort can spur a franchise forward with ever broader appeal, like Dream Warriors did.  Or, it can stand on its own as a unique twist on the genre, like Howling III: The Marsupials.  Or, like The Exorcist III, it can carry on the tone of terror from the original without getting too broad, too meta or leaning too hard on a need to make everything bigger.

So, listen in, as Kat and Marshall discuss the ups and downs of these three part threes and the movies that led to them.  Also, hear how, when there’s no where to go, they explore the horror history of their own neighborhood as well as a couple of (less-than-spooky) cemeteries.

Please enjoy this heaping triple-helping of horror in what is, so far, the longest “Boys and Ghouls” episode ever.