Halloween is coming up – so it’s a good idea to revisit Dr. Silkini and his traveling horror show.
The good doctor made an appearance at the Lorain Drive-in back on September 16, 1959. Here’s the ad for Dr. Silkini’s Asylum of Horrors that ran in the Lorain Journal on that day.
Looks like the three-hour show had quite an lineup: the Frankenstein Monster, Garganta the Giant Gorilla, the Mummy and – if horror wasn’t your bag – ‘Beautiful Curvaceous Hollywood Starlets.’ It’s not clear what movies were shown, but according to the ad there were ‘2 SCREAM PICTURES.’
I’ve written about Dr. Silkini (and similar horror roadshows) before, including
this 1957 appearance at the
Palace Theater. Although the show might seem more appropriate in an indoor theater, I’ll bet it was spooky out there on the outskirts of Lorain under the stars back then.
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Judging by newspaper clippings from all over the country, Dr. Silkini’s horror show seemed to make its monstrous mark in the entertainment world by the 1940s.
This article ran in the Jefferson, Indiana Tribune back on February 12, 1943.
The Louisville
Courier-Journal seems unimpressed by Dr. Silkini’s upcoming stage show at the National in this theater column mention that ran on August 12, 1945.
This article from the Evergreen, Alabama
Courant of May 20, 1948 about the upcoming Dr. Silkini show advises bobby-soxers to come with an older escort to the show, rather than a younger boy friend, because “some of the young boys can not stand the chills and faint away.”
The Frankenstein Monster was still the highlight of the show when it appeared in Moline, Illinois according to this article from the Sept. 10, 1949
Dispatch.
Lastly, this photo from the
Chillicothe Gazette of Saturday, November 17, 1962 gives us a glimpse of some of the Hollywood starlets that were promoted in the “Asylum of Horrors” ads. The hairdos (including the one on the disembodied head) make me wonder, though, if the photo dates back to the early days of the show. The caption notes, “This is the same show that has played theaters throughout the world for the last 25 years.”
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For more fiendish fun with Dr. Silkini, visit the “
Travalanche” blog, which features a nice write-up of the Dr. Silkini shows.
I remember attending a "Midnight Scream Show" at the Palace back in 1973, the last ever in Lorain, as far as I know. There were three movies, and between the second and third films, people dressed as Frankenstein and other monsters ran up and down the aisles, while onscreen flashing lightning and a bat were shown.
ReplyDeleteI remember an open coffin in the lobby. One of the films was Karloff's BLACK SABBATH, and MASTER OF HORROR was the closer. I don't recall what showed first.
HI Dan, I remember seeing a couple of the Spook Shows at the Palace theater.Timewise thinking around 1948 to 1950. I was around 10 and went with Mon and Dad.They were great movie customers going nearly every night to a show in Lorain,Elyria and thursdays in downtown Cleveland.Needless to say i was the envy of my school buddies.The show was Dr Silkinis,it started off with the old Frankenstin movie from the 1930s and the stage show began at midnight. I recall he had a group of teenagers on stage from the audience in a routine hypnosis act. I think he told the kids to act it out for effects.The spook part then came on stage with the a mad doctor with a giant Buzzsaw in which he cut off the head of one of the audience. Of which the headless guy came running down the aisle.(Never sit on the end seat at one of these shows lol) Lots of noise, lights, flashing and screams...Then the Monster came on stage (kina rubbery fake head mask ) I put my jacket over my head and hoped i was out of reach from him.I survived. the show ended with more lights flashing ,screams, and the symphonic Danse Macabre. I guess it made a lasting impression on me after all those years.Fun time nice memories.
ReplyDeleteHi Harrison! Thanks for leaving the great, detailed reminisce!
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