Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974–1975)

A newspaper reporter investigates strange supernatural occurrences in Chicago.

Creator:

Jeffrey Grant Rice

Stars:

Darren McGavin, Simon Oakland, Jack Grinnage

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Darren McGavin	...	Carl Kolchak (20 episodes, 1974-1975)
Simon Oakland	...	Tony Vincenzo (20 episodes, 1974-1975)
Jack Grinnage	...	Ron Updyke (18 episodes, 1974-1975)
Ruth McDevitt	...	Emily Cowles (12 episodes, 1974-1975)

Storyline

Carl Kolchak was a reporter for Chicago's Independent News Service, and a trouble magnet for situations involving the supernatural. Kolchak turned his investigative skills to vampires, werewolves, zombies and all manner of legendary creatures, but in the end he always failed to convince his skeptical editor, Tony Vincenzo, that the stories weren't products of Kolchak's own overworked imagination.

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Plot Keywords:

supernatural | reporter | newspaper | police | cult tv | 

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Taglines:

One man's quest to uncover the truth,

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Genres:

Comedy | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Official Sites:

Compete episode guide, photos, QT movies, cast info, and programming listings

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 September 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Night Stalker

Filming Locations:

Colonial Street, Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Francy Productions, Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

51 min 51 min (20 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

4:3

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ruth McDevitt's character is referred to variously throughout the series on-screen by various characters and in the cast lists as Emily Fenwick, Emily Cowels, and Edith Cowels. They eventually settled on the name "Emily Cowles." Her character's occupation also alternates between advice columnist, riddle feature writer, and crossword puzzle editor.

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Goofs

Many of the stories take place in the winter months, but there is never any snow, and even if there was no snow, it is highly unlikely one would be driving a convertible with the top down during the winter months in Chicago.

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Quotes

Tony Vincenzo: You know, I once thought about entering the priesthood-...
Carl Kolchak: Then the Inquisition ended, and all of the fun went out of it for you.

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Connections

Featured in The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys (2002)

User Reviews

New TV series doesn't match the old...

I was just looking over the new series made for ABC TV. Good god. I was just contemplating what a new series would be like, and then I find it...and I guessed right; watered down, fancy boy crud.

The old series of Night Stalker was a zeitgeist, about being a regular guy, trying to find the truth, which was always hidden by authorities. Much like the times, it had a soul that went to the heart of public feelings, while working in the frame genre of horror/suspense. But, instead of writing to connect the public to their inner feelings about society wrapped in entertainment, the new series is about black and white working together, hot and fancy, to find less then archetypal mysteries. Kolchak brought a pulpy sense of reality to light, and portrayed the seedy side of life without being moralistic. It was Columbo of the supernatural. It didn't create fanciful immorality, like the goth culture today, and it didn't put searing political statements all over. It tried to entertain. And it did. Hence the popularity through the years. Anyone, like myself, who saw this in their childhood remembers it today.

The new series is destined to be another watered down bastardization of brilliant TV.