Biography
John Zacherle ( ZAK-ər-lee; sometimes credited as John Zacherley; September 26, 1918 – October 27, 2016) was an American television host, radio personality, singer, and voice actor. He was best known for his long career as a television horror host, often broadcasting horror films in Philadelphia and New York City in the 1950s and 1960s. Best known for his character of "Roland/Zacherley", he also did voice work for films, and recorded the top ten novelty rock and roll song "Dinner With Drac" in 1958. He also edited two collections of horror stories, Zacherley's Vulture Stew and Zacherley's Midnight Snacks. Zacherle was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.In 1954, he gained his first television role at WCAU-TV in Philadelphia, where he was hired as an actor playing several roles (one was an undertaker) in Action in the Afternoon, a Western produced by the station and aired in the New York City market. Three years later, he was hired as the host of WCAU's Shock Theater, which debuted on October 7, 1957. it was so popular that when Zacherle asked for three human hairs to make a pillow, he received 23,000 replies.He was a close colleague of Philadelphia broadcaster Dick Clark, and sometimes filled in for Clark on road touring shows of Clark's American Bandstand in the 1960s. Clark reportedly gave Zacherle his nickname of "The Cool Ghoul". In 1958, partly with the assistance and backing of Clark, Zacherle cut "Dinner with Drac" for Cameo Records, backed by Dave Appell. At first, Clark thought the recording – in which Zacherle recites humorously grisly limericks to rock and roll accompaniment – was too gory to play on Bandstand, and made Zacherle return to the studio to cut a second tamer version. Eventually both versions were released simultaneously as backsides on the same 45, and the record broke the top ten nationally. Zacherle later released several LPs mixing horror sound effects with novelty songs.
Filmography
all 21
Movies 17
self 11
TV Shows 4
Voice 1
Celluloid Bloodbath (2012)
The Aurora Monsters: The Model Craze That Gripped the World (2010)
Bygone Behemoth (2010)
Vampira: The Movie (2006)
American Scary (2006)
Witch's Dungeon: 40 Years of Chills (2006)
UnConventional (2004)
The Perfect Woman (2004)
Monsterama: A Tribute to Horror Hosts (2004)
Dr. Horror's Erotic House of Idiots (2004)
That's Independent! (2004)
Hooray for Horrorwood (1991)
Frankenhooker (1990)
Brain Damage (1988)
Horrible Horror (1986)
Geek Maggot Bingo or The Freak from Suckweasel Mountain (1983)
Saturday Night Live (1975)
1, 2, 3 Go (1961)
The Dick Clark Show (1958)
Action in the Afternoon (1953)
The Drunken Dead Guy
Ratings
Information
Known ForActing
GenderMale
Birthday1918-09-26
Deathday2016-10-27 (98 years old)
Birth PlaceGermantown, United States of America
CitizenshipsUnited States of America
ResidencesPhiladelphia, United States of America
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