COUNT ZAPPULA'S HORROR HOUSE

DON MELVOIN
- "COUNT ZAPPULA"
- "DOCTOR MANIAC"
LOVER - "IGOR"

"Count Zappula's Horror House" was a hosted horror movie show with Don Melvoin as "Count Zappula" and assisted by Lover as "Igor", the Count's dog presenting movies from 1976 until the early 1990's. From time to time, "Count Zappula" would be replaced by "Doctor Maniac", also played by Don Melvoin. From E-Gor's Chamber of TV Horror Hosts: "Doctor Maniac usually appeared standing behind a "laboratory desk" with colored liquids and dry ice in various breakers and test tubes. He wore a "fright wig" and a green lab coat." The show was seen on WGTU-TV, Channel 29 (Traverse City, Michigan) 1976 - 1980 and WPBN-TV, Channel 7 (Traverse City, Michigan) early 1980's - early 1990's as well as shown on repeater stations - WGTQ-TV Channel 8 (Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan) 1976 - 1980 and K55AW Channel 55 (Alpena, Michigan) mid 1970's. Born on 26 October 1922 and died on 8 April 2002. Born Donald J. Melvoin, he spent most of his life performing, from playing the drums to his big break in television on WPBN as "Deputy Don" in a 1950s kids show in Traverse City, Michigan. He hosted the "Fireman Freddy Show" in Grand Rapids, Michigan as well as the "Don Melovin Show." He resided in Indiana, Las Vegas, and Hollywood where he acted in popular TV show such as "Bonanza" "Mayberry RFD" "Marcus Welby, M.D." "Twilight Zone" and "Night Gallery". Melvoin had a couple bit parts in two movies, "Somewhere in Time," which was filmed on Mackinac Island in 1980 starring Christopher Reeves and Jane Seymour and in another movie starring Ernest Borgnine, "The Treasure of Sawdust Island" in 1999. Portrait of "Count Zappula" by Bradley Beard. "Count Zappula" - biography (taken from his Bradley Beard's Facebook page)" Count Zappula was played by comedian Don Melvoin, and when Melvoin bored of Zappula, he would sometimes become Dr. Maniac. He was accompanied on the show by his terrier, Lover, who appeared on the show as "Igor" and wore a small cape. The show wasn't just low budget, it literally had no budget; the set was a casket in front of a curtain that hid the newsroom behind it. In 1983, I remember watching a TV show called Life's Most Embarrassing Moments which was hosted by Steve Allen. I specifically recall watching this specific episode because Elvira was featured. They introduced a hilarious clip of Count Zappula where he was lying in his casket giving his monologue when suddenly the casket flipped over. I guess no one ever warned him of the hazards of horror hosting. The following clip is of the above incident from "Count Zappula's Horror House", plus another clip: Count Zappula's Horror House hosted by Count Zappula (Youtube) from The Professor on Vimeo. In 2022 & 2023, Don Melvoin - "Count Zappula", was a nominee in the "The Official Horror Host Hall of Fame".

LINKS

Internet Movie Data Base "Count Zappula's Horror House (1976-1980)"	Facebook: Bradley Beard - Horror Host Artist "Count Zappula"	Internet Movie Data Base "Count Zappula's Horror House (1981-1992)"
E-gor's Chamber of TV Horror Hosts "Count Zappula"	99.1 WFMK "Count Zappula"	Classic Horror Film Board "Count Zappula"
Clea's Cave "Count Zappula"	Horror Host Graveyard "Count Zappula"	Unpopped Cinema "Count Zappula"

Back to the USA

Send mail to:
professor@hotkey.net.au  
with questions or comments about this web site.
Page Content Copyright 2016 Paul Gerard Kennedy