The Complete FRIGHT NIGHT

by Jim Arena

Finally, Championship Wrestling was wrapping up at just before 1 a.m. on New York’s WOR-TV, Channel 9. As the credits rolled and the overweight wrestlers continued pummeling each other, a Channel 9 off-screen announcer would say “Now stay tuned for Fright Night, next on Channel 9.” I manned my cassette tape recorder (this was long before VCRs) and got ready to get at least an audio recording of my favorite show on earth! Then it began–a crash of thunder and a series of classic monster images faded in and out on the TV screen. Lugosi’s Dracula, Elsa Lanchester as the Bride Of Frankenstein, Chaney, Jr. as The Wolfman and a bunch more. The last image was the face of the Frankenstein Monster which dissolved into a skull from whose empty eye socket flowed wispy dry ice mist. Then, the music reaching its crescendo, the most important two words of my week appeared in the eye socket…FRIGHT NIGHT.

From there the screen would give way to an incredible array of weekly horror films unlike those offered on any other station of the time. This is not to say that the Channel 5’s CREATURE FEATURES or Channel 11’s CHILLER weren’t pulling their weight. But Channel 9’s FRIGHT NIGHT, rarely mentioned or remembered in genre publications or in online discussion groups, was probably responsible for putting the widest range of horror films ever seen on the NY airwaves during its long run from 1973 to 1987. The show ran at various times throughout its history, ranging from midnight to 1 and 1:30 a.m., making it accessible to only diehard enthusiasts or insomniacs. But if you caught it, it was well worth the wait and effort. 

Though it offered no host (although an occasional off screen announcer like Ray Marlin, Jesse Elin Brown or Barbara Corsen might get in the spirit of things by saying, for example, “Now stay tuned for ‘The House That Screamed’ in a playfully chilling tone) FRIGHT NIGHT’s short intro was an instant mood setter. On especially low budget nights, sometimes a film was shown with no intro or just the FRIGHT NIGHT logo and perhaps some scary organ music accompanying it. But it didn’t matter–you were assured of seeing something not often seen during regular broadcast hours.

Much of the credit for Channel 9’s FRIGHT NIGHT and more than abundant horror film programming during the 70s and 80s goes to Lawrence Casey, programming manager. I spoke with Mr. Casey a few years ago while preparing an article on FRIGHT NIGHT for Scary Monsters magazine. He remembered preparing the intro for FRIGHT NIGHT by obtaining stills, mostly Universal monsters, from a local NYC photo house. He also remembered my many letters to the station praising FRIGHT NIGHT, going so far as to say his wife at the time feared for my mental health watching so many horror films–just like worried parents protesting Famous Monsters magazine in its day! (Hey–I turned out alright–sort of!). Fortunately, no such worries stopped Casey from programming countless horror films on Channel 9, some of the strangest slotted on FRIGHT NIGHT.

FRIGHT NIGHT had its premiere on Saturday night, October 6th, 1973 at midnight. Channel 9 had shown other Saturday late night horror film shows prior to this, notably a program called “Tales Of Terror,” but none were as consistent and long-lasting as FRIGHT NIGHT would be. The first film shown was one of Hemisphere Pictures’ licensed-for-television flicks called DECOY FOR TERROR (aka PLAYGIRL KILLER). While CHILLER would show THE HORRIBLE DR. HITCHCOCK repeatedly and CREATURE FEATURES would run INVISIBLE INVADERS and FIEND WITHOUT A FACE all too frequently, FRIGHT NIGHT secured a vast range of movies, from classics to forgotten oldies to flicks fresh from drive-in runs.

In its early days, FRIGHT NIGHT was a haven for the Universal classics like DRACULA and FRANKENSTEIN. In fact, THE INVISIBLE MAN became something of a Yuletide tradition, enjoying a FRIGHT NIGHT telecast whenever the Saturday night program fell on a Christmas weekend. While that might seem kind of like a nice cozy kind of film to show on a holiday winter night, FRIGHT NIGHT also later made a tradition of showing the violent Christmas chiller SILENT NIGHT BLOODY NIGHT when the Universal movies had fallen a bit out of vogue. SILENT NIGHT BLOODY NIGHT starring Patrick O’Neal actually racked up so many telecasts on FRIGHT NIGHT, it ranks as the most often seen film on the program. 

If the Universal classics were the “A” titles, you could also count on FRIGHT NIGHT to show the B, C and D titles as well! In abundance! And it was usually the D titles I enjoyed the most. Wretched obscurities like CURSE OF THE STONE HAND, THE NYLON NOOSE, ATTACK OF THE MAYAN MUMMY and IN THE YEAR 2889 were shown, giving me in some cases the only opportunity I would ever get to see these bad but wonderful films.

Still not proof enough of FRIGHT Night’s amazing diversity? How about when FRIGHT NIGHT took a dip south of the border? The show picked up a bundle of Mexican monster movies like THE LIVING COFFIN, THE BRAINIAC, and WORLD OF THE VAMPIRES. I never forgot these bizarre films and became a big fan of Mexican horror cinema as a result of these rare showings. 

I won’t say FRIGHT NIGHT didn’t miss the mark sometimes. There were Saturday nights that I needed toothpicks to keep my eyelids open during the crap FRIGHT NIGHT was showing. MERMAIDS OF TIBURON comes to mind as well as the positively painful ISLAND MON STER with Boris Karloff with its totally misleading title. God–I thought that film would never end!

But even with the occasional bomb, FRIGHT NIGHT was a remarkable experience, a late night education in the world of horror cinema that gave me the visual experiences I craved then–and long for the return of now. Year after year it was showing me a fearful array of monster movies and I always tried to encourage every kid I knew to stay up and watch it. 

In January of 1979, FRIGHT NIGHT policy-makers switched from older films to what were, at the time, chillers from the “new school.” I had discovered a new school of my own in college, disco and nightlife and was branching out in other directions, but I still recall making it home some Saturday nights in time for FRIGHT NIGHT or opting not to go out at all so I could watch it. I also didn’t mind seeing more up-to-date pictures. I suspect the station felt that more recent, color films would attract a bigger audience. It soon became a rare thing to see a movie made before the mid-sixties and it was a bit sad and startling to see the oldies disappear, once a staple of Channel 9’s film library. With the exception of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1943), THE TOWER OF LONDON, and THE STRANGE DOOR, a Universal horror film would never again be seen on FRIGHT NIGHT. Instead FRIGHT NIGHT became something of a drive-in theater without leaving your home!

R-ratings had made it impossible for me to see many drive-in horror flicks in my earlier years, but now they were showing up right and left on FRIGHT NIGHT, often with minimal or no cuts at all. At last I got my chance to see DON’T LOOK IN THE BASEMENT, BEYOND THE DOOR, THE NIGHT EVELYN CAME OUT OF THE GRAVE, DEEP RED, OCTAMAN, COUNT YORGA VAMPIRE, and GRIZZLY among many many more. Around this time the show updated its intro as well as its movie lineup. Now instead of a monster parade a computer graphics generated theater marquee was shown while thunder and lightening rumbled in the background and spooky music set the tone. The letters FRIGHT NIGHT appeared on the marquee and the movie began. Also around this time I had gotten my first VCR and was able to tape some of the shows, thankfully retaining them to this day.

FRIGHT NIGHT took a rest of sorts from time to time, going off the air for a few weeks to show a run of other types of programming. I was furious when a show called “Steve Allen’s Laughback” took its spot and wrote every week until FRIGHT NIGHT finally came back on. I was less upset for a few weeks run of a show they called “Mr. Moto’s Casebook” which featured the old mystery movies of Peter Lorre. At least that was reasonable. But these breaks were few and far between and FRIGHT NIGHT was something that was always there, long after other horror movie programs on other stations had begun to disappear. That is, until September 12, 1987 which, as best I can tell, looks to have been the date of the last installment of FRIGHT NIGHT.

The last film shown may have been PHANTOM OF THE RUE MORGUE, but if FRIGHT NIGHT ended the week after that, the last film was the Lon Chaney Sr. bio film MAN OF A THOUSAND FACES. I almost prefer to believe that this moving Cagney movie was the last film shown as it kind of pays tribute to the thousands of great faces of horror that FRIGHT NIGHT gave me the opportunity to see. It also came from the Universal stable which somehow seems fitting. 

No other program influenced me more than FRIGHT NIGHT and I will treasure those late night hours spent glued in front of our family room TV watching Channel 9 and shall revere my parents who let me stay up to watch them. We may never see programming like that again and I feel privileged to have experienced it first hand. Saturday night was indeed a night for frightening!

FRIGHT NIGHT Filmography

1973
10-06 DECOY FOR TERROR (Fright Night debuts at 12 midnight)
10-13 -telethon-
10-20 ISLAND OF LIVING HORROR (aka BRIDES OF BLOOD)
10-27 PSYCHO
11-03 – not shown-
11-10 TOMB OF THE LIVING DEAD (aka MAD DOCTOR OF BLOOD ISLAND)
11-17 TORTURE CHAMBER OF DR. SADISM
11-24 OCTAMAN
12-01 BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN
12-08 PHANTOM OF THE RUE MORGUE
12-15 VAMPIRE PEOPLE (aka THE BLOOD DRINKERS) (scheduled, pre-empted by soccer game)
12-22 OPERATION FEAR
12-29 THE DIABOLICAL DR. Z

1974
01-05 STRANGER ON THE THIRD FLOOR
01-12 – not shown-
01-19 MONSTER ON THE CAMPUS
01-26 VAMPIRE PEOPLE (aka THE BLOOD DRINKERS)
02-02 -telethon-
02-09 TOWER OF TERROR 
02-16 HYPNOTIC EYE
02-23 BEAST OF THE DEAD (aka BEAST OF BLOOD)
03-02 SOULS FOR SALE (aka CONFESSIONS OF AN OPIUM EATER)
03-09 SPY STRIKES SILENTLY
03-16 INN OF THE FRIGHTENED PEOPLE
03-23 CIRCUS OF FEAR
03-30 CURSE OF THE VAMPIRES
04-06 ACCUSED
04-13 HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN
04-20 NIGHT MONSTER
04-27 CAT PEOPLE
05-04 BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN
05-11 ISLAND OF LIVING HORROR (scheduled, possibly replaced by THE LOST FLIGHT)
05-18 DISCIPLE OF DEATH
05-25 KING KONG
06-01 -telethon-
06-08 ISLAND OF LIVING HORROR (aka BRIDES OF BLOOD)
06-15 OCTAMAN
06-22 DECOY FOR TERROR
06-29 TORTURE CHAMBER OF DR. SADISM
07-06 BEAST OF THE DEAD (aka BEAST OF BLOOD)
07-13 SLIME PEOPLE
07-27 – not shown-
08-03 THE RINGER
08-10 LOVE FROM A STRANGER
08-17 THE WINDOW
08-24 THE WOLFMAN
08-31 INVISIBLE MAN RETURNS
09-07 VAMPIRE PEOPLE (aka THE BLOOD DRINKERS) 
09-17 TOMB OF THE LIVING DEAD (aka MAD DOCTOR OF BLOOD ISLAND)
09-21 CURSE OF THE VAMPIRES
09-28 INN OF THE FRIGHTENED PEOPLE
10-05 HONEYMOON OF HORROR
10-12 EQUINOX
10-19 BLOOD AND LACE
10-26 DEATHMASTER
11-02 CREATURE’S REVENGE (aka BRAIN OF BLOOD)
11-09 – not shown-
11-16 BLOOD ROSE
11-30 PHANTOM OF THE RUE MORGUE
12-07 PHANTOM LADY
12-14 SHOCK CORRIDOR
12-21 HAND OF POWER
12-28 – not shown-

1975
01-04 THE HYPNOTIC EYE
01-11 BARAKA X-77
01-18 COLLEGE GIRL MURDERS
01-25 -telethon-
02-01 MAN MADE MONSTER
02-08 – not shown-
02-15 MAD DOCTOR OF MARKET STREET
02-22 HORROR ISLAND
03-01 THE MUMMY’S TOMB
03-08 CALLING DR. DEATH
03-15 Fright Night retitled to “Mystery Movie” until 04-19 – FROZEN GHOST
03-22 -telethon-
03-29 SHE WOLF OF LONDON
04-05 THE RAVEN (1935)
04-12 CAPTIVE WILD WOMAN
04-19 Mystery Movie replaced by “Best Of Joe Franklin Show” until 6/28
06-28 Fright Night returns – THE THING THAT COULDN’T DIE
07-12 NIGHT MONSTER
07-19 TRACK OF THE VAMPIRE (aka BLOOD BATH)
07-26 SON OF DRACULA
08-02 THE WOLFMAN
08-09 THE MAD GHOUL
08-16 BEAST OF THE DEAD (aka BEAST OF BLOOD) 
08-23 WORLD OF THE VAMPIRES
08-30 CREATURE’S REVENGE (aka BRAIN OF BLOOD)
09-06 UNTAMED WOMEN
09-13 MONOLITH MONSTERS
09-20 Fright Night replaced by “Best Of Joe Franklin Show” again until 01/03/76

1976
01-03 NIGHT OF THE BLOOD MONSTER
01-10 CREATURE WITH THE BLUE HAND
01-17 IN THE YEAR 2889
01-24 THE LAST MAN ON EARTH (scheduled, replaced by HOUSE OF DRACULA)
01-31 – telethon
02-07 MAN WHO TURNED TO STONE
02-14 MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE
02-21 THE RAVEN (1935)
02-28 WEIRD WOMAN
03-06 FROZEN GHOST
03-13 CAPTIVE WILD WOMAN
03-20 THE MUMMY’S CURSE
03-27 THE MUMMY’S TOMB
04-03 CURSE OF THE VAMPIRES
04-10 I’VE LIVED BEFORE
04-17 THE HYPNOTIC EYE
04-24 THE LIVING COFFIN
05-01 THE BLACK RAVEN (scheduled, replaced by WHITE ZOMBIE)
05-08 UNKNOWN WORLD
05-15 DRACULA’S DAUGHTER
05-22 THE MUMMY’S HAND
05-29 THE MAD GHOUL
06-05 THE BLACK CASTLE
06-12 THE VAMPIRE BAT (scheduled, pre-empted by soccer game)
06-19 FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN
06-26 THE NYLON NOOSE
07-03 EARTH VS. THE FLYING SAUCERS
07-10 THE BRAINIAC
07-17 ATTACK OF THE MAYAN MUMMY
07-31 CREATURE WITH THE ATOM BRAIN
08-07 -not shown-
08-14 I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE
08-28 THE BODY SNATCHER
09-04 DARK EYES OF LONDON
09-11 THE WEREWOLF
09-18 THE BLACK CAT
09-25 MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE
10-02 Fright Night becomes “Mr. Moto’s Casebook” in TV Guide with no intro for movie – DANGER ISLAND
10-09 MR. MOTO TAKES A CHANCE
10-16 MR. MOTO TAKES A VACATION
10-23 THANK YOU MR. MOTO
10-30 MR. MOTO’S GAMBLE
11-06 MR. MOTO TAKES A CHANCE
11-13 MR. MOTO’S LAST WARNING
11-20 “Mr Moto’s Casebook” replaced by “The Champions” until 12-11
12-11 Fright Night returns – I MARRIED A MONSTER FROM OUTER SPACE
12-18 -not shown, replaced again by “The Champions”
12-25 THE INVISIBLE MAN

1977
01-01 THE MAD MAGICIAN
01-08 Fright Night replaced by “Steve Allen’s Laughback” until 03-12
03-12 THE MUMMY’S CURSE
03-19 -telethon-
03-26 HOUSE OF HORRORS
04-02 WHITE ZOMBIE
04-09 HORROR ISLAND
04-16 THE RAVEN (1935)
04-23 CULT OF THE COBRA
04-30 -not shown-
05-07 MONSTER FROM THE OCEAN FLOOR
05-14 MAN BEAST
05-21 BEGINNING OF THE END
05-28 RING OF TERROR
06-04 THE CREATURE WALKS AMONG US
06-11 THE DEADLY MANTIS
06-18 TARANTULA
06-25 THING THAT COULDN’T DIE
07-02 FACE OF FIRE
07-09 CREATURE FROM THE HAUNTED SEA
07-16 CREATURE WITH THE BLUE HAND
07-23 THE DISEMBODIED
07-30 THE WASP WOMAN
08-06 TRACK OF THE VAMPIRE (aka BLOOD BATH)
08-13 THE CAT CREATURE
08-20 CREATURE WITH THE ATOM BRAIN
08-27 THE MAD MAGICIAN
09-03 CURSE OF NOSTRADAMUS
09-11 THE VAMPIRE’S COFFIN
09-18 SWAMP OF THE LOST MONSTERS (listed in a TV guide as “Swamp Of The Lost Souls”)
09-24 WORLD OF THE VAMPIRES
10-01 FRANKENSTEIN
10-08 DRACULA
10-15 THE MUMMY
10-22 THE WOLFMAN
10-29 THE MAN WHO RECLAIMED HIS HEAD
11-05 MERMAIDS OF TIBURON
11-12 BRIDE AND THE BEAST
11-19 EQUINOX
11-26 ASTRO-ZOMBIES
12-03 DUNGEONS OF HARROW
12-10 THE SECRET OF DORIAN GRAY
12-17 GRAVE OF THE VAMPIRE
12-24 THE INVISIBLE MAN
12-31 THE BODY SNATCHER

1978
01-07 HORROR HOTEL
01-14 NIGHT CALLER FROM OUTER SPACE
01-21 BEGINNING OF THE END
01-28 THE UNEARTHLY
02-04 – telethon-
02-11 CURSE OF THE SWAMP CREATURE
02-18 YOG, MONSTER FROM SPACE
02-25 OCTAMAN
03-04 HOUSE OF THE BLACK DEATH
03-11 INVASION OF THE ANIMAL PEOPLE
03-18 CURSE OF THE STONE HAND
03-25 MAN WITH THE SYNTHETIC BRAIN (aka BLOOD OF GHASTLY HORROR)
04-01 THE BLACK CAT
04-08 THE STRANGE DOOR
04-15 BLACK FRIDAY
04-22 WEREWOLF OF LONDON
04-29 THE CAT CREEPS
05-06 – telethon-
05-13 DON’T LOOK IN THE BASEMENT
05-20 ISLAND MONSTER
05-27 TOUCH OF SATAN
06-03 MESA OF LOST WOMEN (scheduled, replaced by RENDEZVOUS AT MIDNIGHT)
06-10 THE VAMPIRE BAT
06-17 CREATURE WITH THE BLUE HAND
06-24 THE NYLON NOOSE
07-01 THE BRIGHTON STRANGLER
07-08 DUNGEONS OF HARROW
07-15 THE LAND UNKNOWN
07-22 MYSTERY OF MARIE ROGET
07-29 CRIME OF DR. HALLET
08-05 DUNGEONS OF HARROW
08-12 DR. JEKYLL AND SISTER HYDE
08-19 THE SORCERERS
08-25 FRIGHT (1971)
09-02 DECOY FOR TERROR
09-16 HOUSE OF THE 7 CORPSES
09-23 TERROR HOUSE
09-30 THE BABY
10-07 MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE
10-14 SHE WOLF OF LONDON
10-21 CAPTIVE WILD WOMAN
10-28 FROZEN GHOST
11-04 -not shown-
11-11 CALLING DR. DEATH
11-18 THE CAT CREEPS
11-25 HOUSE OF HORRORS
12-02 THE BLACK RAVEN
12-09 THE INVISIBLE GHOST
12-16 VOODOO MAN
12-23 HOUSE OF FEAR
12-30 -telethon-

1979
01-06 DEAD MAN’S EYES
01-13 JUNGLE CAPTIVE
01-20 JUNGLE WOMAN
01-27 MAN WHO CRIED WOLF
02-03 – not shown until 02-24
02-24 INVADERS FROM MARS
03-03 HATCHET FOR A HONEYMOON
03-10 NIGHT OF THE SORCERERS
03-17 DEATH SMILES ON A MURDERER
03-24 MURDER MANSION
03-31 – not shown- 
04-07 WILD WOMEN OF WONGO
04-14 NIGHT CALLER FROM OUTER SPACE
04-21 ROBOT MONSTER
04-28 SLIME PEOPLE
05-05 VAMPIRE MEN OF THE LOST PLANET
05-12 THE HUMAN VAPOR
05-19 EQUINOX
05-26 THE EYE CREATURES
06-02 VAMPIRE BAT
06-09 CREATURE WITH THE BLUE HAND
06-16 INVASION OF THE ANIMAL PEOPLE
06-23 ATTACK OF THE MAYAN MUMMY
06-30 MONSTER FROM THE OCEAN FLOOR
07-07 STEP DOWN TO TERROR
07-14 TOWER OF LONDON
07-21 THE DISEMBODIED
07-28 DIE MONSTER DIE
08-04 DARK EYES OF LONDON
08-11 BLOOD AND BLACK LACE
08-18 FRIGHT (1971)
08-25 THE SORCERERS
09-01 THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD
09-08 CAT PEOPLE
09-15 CURSE OF THE SWAMP CREATURE
09-22 BATTLE OF THE WORLDS
09-29 LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
10-06 BERSERK
10-13 THEATER OF DEATH
10-20 THE 10TH VICTIM
10-27 THE CRIMSON CULT
11-03 THE THING WITH TWO HEADS
11-10 DEATHDREAM
11-17 MAN WITH THE ICY EYES 
11-24 THE STRANGE DOOR
12-08 DEAR DEAD DELILAH
12-15 MIND OF MR. SOAMES
12-22 KISS THE BLOOD OFF MY HANDS
12-29 FURY OF THE WOLFMAN

In 1979 Fright Night was also briefly shown on Sunday nights as well as Saturday nights between 01-07 and 02-25 at midnight:

01-07 GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN
01-14 THE BLACK CAT
01-21 DRACULA’S DAUGHTER
01-28 MAN WHO RECLAIMED HIS HEAD
02-04 BEAST OF THE DEAD (aka BEAST OF BLOOD)
02-11 ISLAND OF LIVING HORROR (aka BRIDES OF BLOOD)
02-18 THE NIGHT EVELYN CAME OUT OF THE GRAVE
02-25 DEATHDREAM

1980
01-05 SILENT NIGHT BLOODY NIGHT
01-12 -telethon-
01-19 THE CRAWLING EYE
01-26 WARLOCK MOON
02-02 THE THIRSTY DEAD
02-09 MIDNIGHT LACE
02-16 -telethon-
02-23 WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH HELEN?
03-01 TOWER OF TERROR
03-08 THE BLACK COBRA
03-15 BLOOD MANIA
03-22 DEADLY STRANGERS
03-29 SO SAD ABOUT GLORIA
04-05 THE STRANGE DOOR
04-12 TRAUMA
04-19 THE UNSUSPECTED
04-26 THE WITCHMAKER
05-03 DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS
05-09 – not shown-
05-16 DOOMWATCH
05-24 WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO KILL A NICE GIRL LIKE YOU? 
05-31 THE NIGHT EVELYN CAME OUT OF THE GRAVE
06-07 DECOY FOR TERROR
06-14 BLOOD AND LACE
06-21 DEATHDREAM
06-28 THE STUDENT CONNECTION
07-05 TOUCH OF SATAN
07-12 THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD
07-19 NIGHTMARE HONEYMOON
07-26 WOMAN IN HIDING
08-02 DR. JEKYLL AND SISTER HYDE
08-09 MAN WHO COULD WORK MIRACLES
08-16 BLOOD AND BLACK LACE
08-23 HORROR HOTEL
08-30 FRIGHT (1971)
09-06 SILENT NIGHT BLOODY NIGHT
09-13 DEAR DEAD DELILAH
09-20 WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH HELEN?
09-27 HOMEBODIES
10-04 THE CRIMSON CULT
10-11 THE THIRSTY DEAD
10-18 SO SAD ABOUT GLORIA
10-25 TORTURE CHAMBER OF DR. SADISM
11-01 BROTHERHOOD OF SATAN
11-08 GRAVE OF THE VAMPIRE
11-15 HOUSE OF THE 7 CORPSES
11-22 SECRET OF DORIAN GRAY
11-29 BEAST OF THE DEAD (aka BEAST OF BLOOD)
12-06 COUNT YORGA, VAMPIRE
12-13 CREATURE’S REVENGE
12-20 BARON BLOOD
12-27 CURSE OF THE VAMPIRES

1981
01-03 HORROR EXPRESS
01-10 THE DEVIL’S NIGHTMARE
01-17 -TELETHON-
01-24 THE MOLE PEOPLE
01-31 PSYCHOMANIA (1971)
02-07 DEATHDREAM
02-14 FANGS OF THE LIVING DEAD (aka MALENKA)
02-21 PSYCHO
02-28 THE PSYCHIC KILLER
03-07 -telethon-
03-14 DON’T LOOK IN THE BASEMENT
03-21 CHILDREN SHOULDN’T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS
03-28 CHILDREN OF THE DAMNED
04-04 WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO KILL A NICE GIRL LIKE YOU?
04-11 THE HOUSE THAT SCREAMED
04-18 THE NIGHT EVELYN CAME OUT OF THE GRAVE
04-25 FEAR NO EVIL (1969)
05-02 ASSIGNMENT: TERROR
05-09 GORATH
05-16 THE COMPANION
05-23 DECOY FOR TERROR
05-30 NO SURVIVORS PLEASE
06-05 THE SORCERERS
06-13 INVISIBLE TERROR
06-20 THEY CAME FROM BEYOND SPACE
06-27 THE INCREDIBLE TWO-HEADED TRANSPLANT
07-04 DEATHMASTER
07-11 DEATH SMILES ON A MURDERER
07-18 BLOOD AND LACE
07-25 FURY OF THE WOLFMAN
08-01 THE BABY
08-08 THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD
08-15 IN THE DEVIL’S GARDEN
08-22 SO SAD ABOUT GLORIA
08-29 BARON BLOOD
09-05 NIGHT FIEND
09-12 MR. SARDONICUS
09-19 PIRANHA
09-26 NIGHT OF THE BLOOD MONSTER
10-03 PSYCHOMANIA (1971)
10-10 CRUCIBLE OF TERROR
10-17 THEATRE OF DEATH
10-24 THE WITCHMAKER
10-31 THE THIRSTY DEAD
11-07 INVASION OF THE BEE GIRLS
11-14 WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE
11-21 PSYCHOMANIA (1971)
11-28 TERROR HOUSE
12-05 WARLOCK MOON
12-12 THE WITCH
12-19 PSYCHOMANIA (1971)
12-26 TOMB OF THE LIVING DEAD (aka MAD DOCTOR OF BLOOD ISLAND)

1982
01-01 HOUSE OF DOOM
01-08 SWAMP WATER
01-16 -telethon-
01-23 THE HOUSE THAT SCREAMED
01-30 HORROR EXPRESS
02-06 DESTINATION NIGHTMARE
02-13 WHEN MICHAEL CALLS
02-20 MURDER MANSION
02-27 THE THING WITH TWO HEADS
03-06 DEAR DEAD DELILAH
03-13 IN THE DEVIL’S GARDEN
03-20 CHILDREN SHOULDN’T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS
03-27 DON’T LOOK IN THE BASEMENT
04-03 WITCHES’ MOUNTAIN
04-10 EQUINOX
04-17 HOUSES OF THE 7 CORPSES
04-24 DEMONS OF THE DEAD
05-01 DR. JEKYLL AND SISTER HYDE
05-08 HORROR RISES FROM THE TOMB
05-15 THE NIGHT EVELYN CAME OUT OF THE GRAVE
05-22 PSYCHOMANIA
05-29 INCREDIBLE TWO-HEADED TRANSPLANT
06-05 SUMMERTIME KILLER
06-12 CRUCIBLE OF TERROR
06-19 THE CRAWLING EYE
06-26 BLOOD MANIA
07-03 WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO KILL A NICE GIRL LIKE YOU?
07-10 INN OF THE FRIGHTENED PEOPLE
07-16 B…MUST DIE (?)
07-24 MASSACRE IN THE BLACK FOREST
07-31 CURSED MEDALLION
08-07 A BELL FROM HELL
08-14 DEADLY STRANGERS
08-21 FRIGHT (1971)
08-28 BEAST OF THE DEAD (aka BEAST OF BLOOD)
09-04 BEAST OF MOROCCO
09-11 CRYPT OF HORROR (aka TERROR IN THE CRYPT)
09-18 BROTHERHOOD OF SATAN
09-25 EXORCISM AT MIDNIGHT
10-02 RESURRECTION OF ZACHARY WHEELER
10-09 MAN WHO COULD CHEAT DEATH
10-16 THE OMEGANS
10-23 THE WITCH
10-30 COUNT YORGA, VAMPIRE
11-06 THE THING WITH TWO HEADS
11-13 THE SORCERERS
11-20 PEEPING TOM
11-27 THIRST
12-04 BARON BLOOD
12-11 IN THE DEVIL’S GARDEN
12-18 SILENT NIGHT BLOODY NIGHT
12-25 FOUR CLOWNS (?) Probably not a Fright Night presentation 

1983
01-01 COUNT DRACULA
01-08 DON’T LOOK IN THE BASEMENT
01-15 MURDER CLINIC
01-22 -telethon-
01-29 to 2/12 – not shown
02-12 BLACULA
02-19 STONE COLD DEAD
02-26 MONSTER CLUB
03-05 PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
03-12 SCALPEL
03-19 LEMORA THE LADY DRACULA
03-26 MIND OF MR. SOAMES
04-02 ASSIGNMENT: TERROR
04-09 CHILDREN SHOULDN’T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS
04-16 DON’T LOOK IN THE BASEMENT
04-23 MURDER CLINIC
04-30 ISLAND OF LIVING HORROR (aka BRIDES OF BLOOD)
05-07 BEAST OF MOROCCO
05-14 NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS
05-21 STRANGER IN OUR HOUSE
05-28 – not shown-
06-04 A BELL FROM HELL
06-11 THE LAST MAN ON EARTH
06-18 THE SORCERERS
06-29 BLOOD AND LACE
07-02 DEATHDREAM
07-09 CASTLE OF FU MANCHU
07-16 DR. JEKYLL AND SISTER HYDE
07-23 MURDER MANSION
07-30 CORRUPTION
08-06 HOUSE OF THE 7 CORPSES
08-15 VAMPIRE PEOPLE (aka THE BLOOD DRINKERS)
08-21 DEMONS OF THE DEAD (aka ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK)
08-28 THE WITCHMAKER
09-03 HORROR HOUSE
09-10 THE WICKER MAN
09-17 INCREDIBLE TWO-HEADED TRANSPLANT
09-24 DEAR DEAD DELILAH
10-01 THE DEVIL’S RAIN
10-08 GRAVE OF THE VAMPIRE
10-15 BARON BLOOD
10-22 DEEP RED
10-29 PEEPING TOM
11-05 THE CREMATORS
11-12 – not shown-
11-19 SCREAM OF THE DEMON LOVER
11-26 DEATH MOON
12-03 INVASION OF THE BEE GIRLS
12-10 SEED OF EVIL
12-17 THE VEIL
12-24 A HOLIDAY AFFAIR (?) probably not a Fright Night presentation
12-31 IN THE YEAR 2889

1984
01-07 DEATHMASTER
01-14 -telethon-
01-21 KISS OF THE TARANTULA
01-28 THE NIGHT EVELYN CAME OUT OF THE GRAVE
02-04 TILL DEATH DO US PART
02-11 DEEP RED
02-18 SILENT NIGHT BLOODY NIGHT
02-25 REVENGE OF THE STEPFORD WIVES
03-03 WITCHES’ MOUNTAIN
03-10 ISLAND OF LIVING HORROR (aka BRIDES OF BLOOD)
03-17 CURSE OF BIGFOOT
03-24 BEAST OF THE DEAD (aka BEAST OF BLOOD)
03-31 THEY SAVED HITLER’S BRAIN
04-07 PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
04-14 TERROR HOUSE
04-21 LAST DAYS OF POMPEII (?)
04-28 TOUCH OF SATAN (scheduled, replaced by ZOMBIES ON BROADWAY)
05-05 PIRANHA
05-12 DR. WHO AND THE DALEKS
05-19 NIGHT OF THE COBRA WOMAN
05-26 LADY FRANKENSTEIN
06-02 NIGHT DIGGER
06-09 TOUCH OF SATAN
06-15 CURSE OF BIGFOOT
06-23 NIGHTMARE HONEYMOON
06-30 -telethon-
07-07 DR. JEKYLL AND SISTER HYDE
07-14 THE THING WITH TWO HEADS
07-21 BARON BLOOD
07-28 EYE OF THE DEVIL
08-04 THE NEXT VICTIM
08-11 THE HOUSE THAT SCREAMED
08-18 CORRUPTION
08-25 THE MAD MONSTER
09-01 NIGHT OF THE BLOOD MONSTER
09-08 DEAR DEAD DELILAH
09-15 SHIP OF THE ZOMBIES (aka HORROR OF THE ZOMBIES)
09-22 STONE COLD DEAD
09-29 TOWER OF TERROR
10-06 DR. WHO AND THE DALEKS
10-13 THIRST
10-20 INN OF THE FRIGHTENED PEOPLE
10-27 THE ALIENS ARE COMING
11-03 WEREWOLF OF WASHINGTON
11-10 THE UNCANNY
11-17 THE DARK
11-24 STRANGE VENGEANCE OF ROSALIE
12-01 CURSED MEDALLION
12-08 FEAR NO EVIL
12-15 LASERBLAST
12-22 SILENT NIGHT BLOODY NIGHT
12-29 DEMONS OF THE DEAD (aka ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK)

1985
01-05 SO SAD ABOUT GLORIA
01-12 -telethon-
01-13 EXORCISM AT MIDNIGHT
01-26 DEMONS OF THE DEAD (aka ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK)
02-02 LADY FRANKENSTEIN
02-09 THE WICKER MAN
02-16 TOURIST TRAP
02-23 SCREAM OF THE DEMON LOVER
03-02 KISS OF THE TARANTULA
03-09 THE NIGHT EVELYN CAME OUT OF THE GRAVE
03-16 ISLAND OF LIVING HORROR (aka BRIDES OF BLOOD)
03-23 NIGHT OF THE LAUGHING DEAD
03-30 THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS
04-06 MYSTERY OF THE SACRED SHROUD
04-13 SCALPEL
04-20 NEXT VICTIM
04-27 THE CORPSE VANISHES
05-04 THIRST
05-11 RUBY
05-18 PEEPING TOM
05-25 TORTURE CHAMBER OF DR. SADISM
06-01 -telethon-
06-08 TERROR OF FRANKENSTEIN
06-15 MURDER MANSION
06-22 DESTINATION NIGHTMARE
06-28 -telethon-
07-06 A BELL FROM HELL
07-13 BEGINNING OF THE END
07-20 HOMEBODIES
07-27 DON’T LOOK IN THE BASEMENT (scheduled, replaced by NIGHTMARE HOTEL)
08-03 DON’T LOOK IN THE BASEMENT
08-10 ZOMBIE (aka I EAT YOUR SKIN)
08-17 DEEP RED
08-24 WAR OF THE COLOSSAL BEAST
08-31 THE THIRSTY DEAD
09-07 A TASTE OF EVIL
09-14 GRADUATION DAY
09-21 BLOOD BEACH
09-28 THE ATTIC
10-05 SHOCK WAVES
10-12 THE CREMATORS
10-19 CREATURE’S REVENGE (aka BRAIN OF BLOOD)
10-26 THE DARK
11-02 -not shown-
11-09 THE DEVIL’S RAIN
11-16 SOMETHING EVIL
11-30 VARAN THE UNBELIEVABLE
12-07 THE MAN-EATERS ARE LOOSE
12-14 FEAR NO EVIL
12-21 JACK THE RIPPER (‘58 Boris Karloff)
12-28 – not shown-

1986
01-04 THE MUMMY’S REVENGE
01-11 THE MURDER CLINIC
01-18 -telethon-
01-25 FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER (1982)
02-01 HOUSE THAT WOULDN’T DIE
02-08 KISS OF THE TARANTULA
02-15 THE WICKER MAN
02-22 THE COMPANION
03-01 THE GREAT ALLIGATOR
03–08 BEAST OF MOROCCO
03-15 THE NEXT VICTIM
03-22 NIGHT OF THE LAUGHING DEAD
03-29 MYSTERY OF THE SACRED SHROUD
04-05 ZOMBIE (aka I EAT YOUR SKIN)
04-12 PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
04-19 A BELL FROM HELL
04-26 NIGHT OF THE SORCERERS
05-03 WARLOCK MOON
05-10 THE CRAZIES
05-17 SILENT NIGHT BLOODY NIGHT
05-24 CASTLE OF FU MANCHU
05-31 DR. FRANKEN
06-07 ISLAND CLAWS
06-14 THE WOMAN EATER
06-21 THE CHILLING
06-28 THE ALIENS ARE COMING
07-05 INVISIBLE TERROR
07-12 DEVIL DOG – THE HOUND OF HELL
07-19 ALICE SWEET ALICE
07-26 WEREWOLF OF WASHINGTON
08-02 THE VISITOR
08-09 TOURIST TRAP
08-16 BEYOND THE DOOR
08-23 GRIZZLY
08-30 THE GREEN SLIME
09-06 PRISONER OF THE LOST UNIVERSE
09-13 SCREAMERS
09-20 SHE’S DRESSED TO KILL
09-27 SHOCK WAVES
10-04 ALIENS RETURN
10-11 LADY FRANKENSTEIN
10-18 BLOOD MANIA
10-25 NIGHT GALLERY
11-01 NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (Hal Roach Studios’ Colorized Version)
11-08 – not shown-
11-15 SEE NO EVIL
11-22 RITUALS
11-29 -not shown-
12-06 WHEN MICHAEL CALLS
12-13 CURSE OF BIGFOOT
12-20 INVASION EARTH: 2150 A.D. (aka DALEKS’ INVASION EARTH: 2150 A.D.)
12-27 FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER (1982)

1987
01-03 THIRST
01-10 TWO FACES OF DR. JEKYLL
01-17 -telethon-
01-24 TORTURE GARDEN
01-31 THE NIGHT EVELYN CAME OUT OF THE GRAVE
02-07 CURSE OF THE FLY
02-14 BLOOD BEACH
02-21 THE DEVIL’S RAIN
02-28 BROTHERHOOD OF SATAN
03-07 THE DARK
03-14 PIRANHA
03-21 CIRCUS OF HORRORS
03-28 ZOMBIE (aka I EAT YOUR SKIN)
04-04 THE GREAT ALLIGATOR
04-11 CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAKE
04-18 MYSTERY OF THE SACRED SHROUD
04-25 HELL NIGHT
05-02 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME
05-09 WHAT THE PEEPER SAW
05-16 BERSERK
05-22 UP FROM THE DEPTHS
05-30 – not shown-
06-06 THE VISITOR
06-13 YETI
06-27 BEAST OF MOROCCO
07-04 GRIZZLY
07-11 ISLAND CLAWS
07-18 DR. STRANGE
07-25 BLOOD MANIA
08-01 GHOULIES
08-08 A BOY AND HIS DOG
08-12 THE BEES
08-22 DEATHDREAM
09-05 – not shown-
09-12 PHANTOM OF THE RUE MORGUE
09-19 HERE COMES MR. JORDAN (?)
09-26 MAN OF A THOUSAND FACES