John Zacherle (/?zæk?rli?/ ZAK-?r-lee; sometimes credited as John Zacherley; born September 26, 1918) is an American television host, radio personality and voice actor known for his long career as a television horror host broadcasting horror movies in Philadelphia and New York City in the 1950s and 1960s. Best known for his character "Roland/Zacherley," he also did voice work for movies, and recorded the top ten song 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.
Inducted into the Horror Host Hall of Fame in 2011.
2
He was the first well known host of TV's horror film genre. From 1957-1958 , as " Roland", he hosted "Shock Theater" in his ghoulish makeup and attire on WCAU TV in Philadelphia , Pa. In 1959, he commuted from his home in Phila. Pa., to NYC where he hosted WABC TV's "Zacherle at Large" .
3
He was a heralded DJ on pioneer progressive rock station WNEW FM, NYC in the 1970s.
4
With ghoulish makeup as" Zacherle" hosted several rock concerts in NYC's Central Park in the 1960s and '70s.
5
Had a top ten hit (USA) with the novelty song "Dinner With Drac" in 1958
6
As "The Cool Ghoul", he was the first host/performer of WPIX TV Ch.11 NYC's "Mighty Hercules Cartoon Show", which was seen weekday evenings on WPIX TV Ch.11 in NYC from Monday, September 9, 1963 to Friday, November 15, 1963. He hosted "The Three Stooges Show" weekday evenings on Ch.11 from Monday January 6, 1964 to Friday January 31, 1964.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Bygone Behemoth
2010
Short
Zacherley (as John 'The Cool Ghoul' Zacherley)
Chiller Theatre
2008
TV Movie
Zacherley
The Perfect Woman
2004
Short
Zacherley
Dr. Horror's Erotic House of Idiots
2004
Video
Zacherley
The Zacherley Archives
1998
Video
Zacherley
Niagaravation
1995
Cool Ghost
Frankenhooker
1990
Weatherman
Brain Damage
1988
Aylmer (voice, uncredited)
Horrible Horror
1986
Video
Zacherley
Play of the Week
1960
TV Series
Mr. Jenkins
Key to Murder
1958
Lt. Daley
The Dick Clark Show
1958
TV Series
Zacherley
Action in the Afternoon
1953
TV Series
The Coroner
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Zacherley Archives
1998
Video producer
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
One Hit Wonderland
2012
TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Vampira: The Movie
2006
Video documentary clips provider
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Chiller Theatre
2008
TV Movie special thanks
Hooray for Horrorwood
1991
Video documentary special thanks - as John Zacherley
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
That $#!% Will Rot Your Brain: How the Monster Kids Transformed Popular Culture
2014
Documentary
Himself
Celluloid Bloodbath: More Prevues from Hell
2012
Himself
Octo and Patrushka's Moonlit Cinema
2011
TV Series
Himself
The Aurora Monsters: The Model Craze That Gripped the World
2010
Documentary
Zacherley
Howard Stern on Demand
2007
TV Series
Himself
Vampira: The Movie
2006
Video documentary
Himself
American Scary
2006
Documentary
Himself / 'Zacherley'
The Witch's Dungeon: 40 Years of Chills
2006
Video documentary
Himself
The Drunken Dead Guy
2005
Video
Himself
Monsterama: A Tribute to Horror Hosts
2004
TV Movie
Himself
That's Independent!
2004
Video documentary
Himself
UnConventional
2004
Documentary
Himself
NY TV: By the People Who Made It - Part I & II
1998
TV Movie documentary
Himself
I Am Legend
1994
Video documentary
Himself (as Zacherley)
The Famous Monsters 1993 World Convention Souvenir Video
1993
Video documentary as Zacherley
Hooray for Horrorwood
1991
Video documentary
Himself (as Zacherley)
Geek Maggot Bingo or The Freak from Suckweasel Mountain
1983
Himself (as Zacherle)
Saturday Night Live
1982
TV Series
Himself
What's My Line?
1960
TV Series
Contestant
Known for movies
The Aurora Monsters: The Model Craze That Gripped the World (2010) as Zacherley
$950,000
