Kolchak: The Night Stalker

1 9 7 4 – 1 9 7 5 (USA)
2 x 90 minute TV movies
20 x 60 minute episodes

In 20th century America, zombies, vampires and ancient monsters still walk the streets and Carl Kolchak – a newsman who has seen better days – knows it only too well.

Diligent and relentless, he pursues these beasts until they have no place to hide. He finds vampires in Los Angeles, Alchemists in Seattle and Jack the Ripper hanging out in Chicago.

Good old Kolchak was finding demons, zombies, aliens and public servants in 1977 Seattle just as efficiently as Fox Mulder did several years later in the mid-western USA.

But the authorities always want it hushed up and his stressed and ulcer-ridden editor Tony Vincenzo will never print the stories.

Kolchak is invariably left with piles of evidence, dozens of eye-witness reports and absolutely no hope of a front page.

Kolchak began life in a novel by Jeff Rice, The Kolchak Papers.

Darren McGavin starred in the title role in two TV movies, The Night Stalker (1972) and The Night Strangler (1973) and loved the character so much he decided to co-produce this TV series.

The ABC show was filmed in a documentary style and contained some great wisecracks. Unfortunately, the series did not do well and the network was sued by Jeff Rice for creating a series without his permission.

The Night Stalker starred Darren McGavin as Carl Kolchak, Simon Oakland as Tony Vincenzo, Jack Grinnage as Ron Updyke and Ruth McDevitt as Edith Cowles.

The 20 episode series ran from 13 September 1974 to March 1975.

Carl Kolchak
Darren McGavin
Tony Vincenzo
Simon Oakland
Ron Updyke
Jack Grinnage
Emily Cowles
Ruth McDevitt
Gordy Spangler
John Fiedler
Monique Marmelstein
Carol Ann Susi