The Paul Lynde Halloween Special (1976) (TV)

Director:

Sidney Smith

Writers:

Howard Albrecht (written by)
Billy Barnes (special material by)

Release Date:

29 October 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Various comical Halloween skits featuring the cast members. Margaret Hamilton briefly reprises her role as the wicked witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz. There are several musical performances by KISS, including the song "Beth". |

Plot Keywords:

Housekeeper | Musical Performance | Witch | Halloween | TV Special

Cast

Paul Lynde	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Billy Barty	...	Himself / The Butler
Tim Conway	...	Himself / Truck Driver
Peter Criss	...	Himself (as Kiss)
Ace Frehley	...	Himself (as Kiss)
Margaret Hamilton	...	Housekeeper / The Wicked Witch of the West
Billie Hayes	...	Witchiepoo
Florence Henderson	...	Herself
Roz Kelly	...	Truck-Stop Waitress / Pinkie Tuscadero
Donny Osmond	...	Himself
Marie Osmond	...	Herself
Gene Simmons	...	Himself (as Kiss)
Paul Stanley	...	Himself (as Kiss)
Betty White	...	Herself

Runtime:

USA:60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Trivia:

This TV special marked the network television debut of the band KISS.

Quotes:

Housekeeper: I'll give you a hint. It's full of witches and spooks and strange creatures of the night.
Paul Lynde: Oh, sounds like Hollywood Squares.

Must be seen, cannot be believed

The planets align, the time capsule opens, and out pops Paul Lynde's 1976 Halloween special for ABC, finally released on DVD. Lay off the mind-altering substances if you watch this. This relic is enough of a mind-blower.

Avant-garde in its stupidity, the special features Paul in a variety of skits with a Halloween theme. See Paul trapped in a castle run by witches, played by Margaret Hamilton and Billie Hayes. See Paul as the Rhinestone Trucker, competing with Tim Conway for the affections of Roz Kelly (Pinkie Tuscadero from "Happy Days.") See Paul as the Chic Sheikh, wooing Florence Henderson. See Florence lip-sync her way through "That Old Black Magic," and see Paul bump and grind with Roz Kelly as she warbles "Disco Lady." Also lending a hand — as if that weren't enough — are Donny and Marie, Betty White and Billy Barty.

Of course, this special is best known as KISS' network debut, and they do "Detroit, Rock City," "Beth" and "King of the Nighttime World" on a bizarre stage with orange neon bats and dancers with fluorescent wigs. Of course, it would only be a matter of time before the band made "KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park," another surrealistically stupid masterpiece.

The bonus features on the S'More DVD are disappointing, with some unremarkable quotes from Paul's interviews, a collection of archive photos (with barely readable captions), and a "Name that Quip" trivia challenge. An audio interview with "Hollywood Squares" host Peter Marshall, however, is remarkably candid.

I can't guarantee you'll laugh, but you're certain to be astonished. For better or worse, they don't make 'em like this anymore!