A horror host is a person who acts as the host or presenter of a program where

horror film Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit fear or disgust in its audience for entertainment purposes. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements include monsters, apoca ...

s and low-budget

B movies A B movie or B film is a low-budget commercial motion picture. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified films intended for distribution as the less-publicized bottom half of a double feature ...

are shown on television or the Internet. Usually the host assumes a horror-themed persona, often a campy or humorous one. Generally there are breaks in the film where the host comments on various aspects of the movie. Many horror host shows also include skits involving the hosts themselves, sometimes with a sidekick or other supporting characters.

History

Early hosts

The first television horror host is generally accepted to be Vampira. ''

The Vampira Show ''The Vampira Show'' was an American television show that broadcast vintage horror films presented by horror host Vampira. The series aired on the Los Angeles ABC television affiliate KABC-TV from April 30, 1954, through April 2, 1955. The we ...

'' featured mostly low budget suspense films, as few horror films had yet been released for television broadcast. Despite its short 1954-1955 run, ''The Vampira Show'' set the standard format for horror host shows to follow. Hosts were often plucked from the ranks of the studio staff. In the days of live television, it was not uncommon for the weather man or booth announcer to finish a nightly news broadcast and race madly to another part of the soundstage for a quick costume change to present the evening's monster tale. While a few early hosts like

Zacherley John Zacherle ( ; sometimes credited as John Zacherley; September 26, 1918 – October 27, 2016) was an American television host, radio personality, singer, and voice actor. He was best known for his long career as a television horror host, oft ...

and Vampira became the icons of this nationwide movement, most hosts were locals. The impact of these friendly revenants on their young fans cannot be overestimated. The earliest hosts are still remembered with great affection today.

Later hosts

The tradition was continued throughout the 1960s and 1970s and gained national attention in the early 1980s, after the death of L.A.'s Host, Sinister Seymour. Cassandra Peterson auditioned to become a replacement host and won the role. She became Elvira, Mistress of the Dark who is arguably the most widely recognized horror host in history.

Notable hosts

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

References

External links

Horror Host Hall of Fame
The official Hall of Fame for Horror Hosts of all generations.
American Scary
- Documentary: A look at the nation's tradition of horror hosting, from Zacherley to A. Ghastlee Ghoul
Horror Hosts and Creature Features Magazine
A magazine dedicated to Horror Hosts and Movies. {{Horror fiction Horror hosts Horror movie television series 1960s American television series 1970s American television series 1980s American television series Midnight movie television series Franchised television formats