Vegas Vampire
Encyclopedia
The Vegas Vampire was a fictional character
invented and portrayed by entertainer Jim Parker as the horror host
of late night Shock Theater and Vegas Vampire shows at KHBV/KVVU, Channel 5, in Henderson
, Nevada
, and broadcast to the greater Las Vegas
, Nevada
area from the late 1960s through the 1970s.
The Vegas Vampire's show featured grade-“B”
horror film
s, monster films, and science fiction film
s. The show was aired on Friday nights at 11 p.m. PST
.
The show ran on and off for nine years. Parker even claims one cancellation was due to his ending up on President Richard Nixon's enemies list after the Vampire did a routine with a Nixon voodoo doll, stuck pins in it and put the doll in a guillotine in a comparison to Marie Antoinette.
The Vampire would also read viewer letters on air, then burn them.
Early on the Vampire segments were performed live, but later it was a taped program, allowing it to be played multiple times during the weekend.
The host's then wife, Paula (P.J.) Parker (now P.J. Housman), played the part of "Satana" on the show in its later years.
In 1977, Variety and syndicated columnist Forrest Duke reported plans to do a road show version.
, and participated in local shows and charity events like the St. Jude's "Nite of Stars" show, and the Clark County Talent Guild's "Stars of Tomorrow" show. So popular was the character that at one point Parker was appointed director of publicity and public relations for TV-5. One Halloween in the 1990s the Vegas Vampire was invited to return to Vegas' Circus Circus
to turn the Grand Slam Canyon (later Adventuredome
) ride complex into the Dome of Doom.
about the character. Written and produced by Parker and Bruce Popka, the recording has been played on the Dr. Demento
radio program's 1984 Halloween Show and appeared on the album Elvira: Vinyl Macabre Oldies (But Ghoulies) (Vol. 1)
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
invented and portrayed by entertainer Jim Parker as the horror host
Horror host
Horror hosts are a particular type of television presenter, often tasked with presenting low-grade films to television audiences. This tradition is primarily American, though there have been a few international hosts over the years.-Film Packages:...
of late night Shock Theater and Vegas Vampire shows at KHBV/KVVU, Channel 5, in Henderson
Henderson, Nevada
-Demographics:According to the 2000 census, there were 175,381 people, 66,331 households, and 47,095 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,200.8 people per square mile . There were 71,149 housing units at an average density of 892.8 per square mile...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, and broadcast to the greater Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
area from the late 1960s through the 1970s.
The Vegas Vampire's show featured grade-“B”
B-movie
A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture that is not definitively an arthouse or pornographic film. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified a film intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature....
horror film
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
s, monster films, and science fiction film
Science fiction film
Science fiction film is a film genre that uses science fiction: speculative, science-based depictions of phenomena that are not necessarily accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial life forms, alien worlds, extrasensory perception, and time travel, often along with futuristic...
s. The show was aired on Friday nights at 11 p.m. PST
PST
-Time zones:* Pacific Standard Time, UTC−8:00* Pakistan Standard Time, UTC+5:00* Philippine Standard Time, UTC+8:00-Science and technology:* Lead scandium tantalate, a ceramic material* Post-stall technology, aircraft control system-Places:...
.
History
Parker, a Wisconsin-native, worked in as a disc jockey and stock car racing promoter, and as a news reporter. During a stint as as a reporter for an NBC affiliate in Las Vegas he decided he wanted to do a comedy show, but the station was not interested, nor were the other network affiliate stations. Finally, he sold the show to the local Channel 5 station (KHBV/KVVU). He picked the name "Vegas Vampire" because he liked the alliteration.The show ran on and off for nine years. Parker even claims one cancellation was due to his ending up on President Richard Nixon's enemies list after the Vampire did a routine with a Nixon voodoo doll, stuck pins in it and put the doll in a guillotine in a comparison to Marie Antoinette.
Show format
The character of the Vampire appeared at the start of each show and at commercial break interruptions. Like other horror hosts, he would critique and ridicule the film being aired. One of his early trademark routines was to stick pins in voodoo dolls of politicians, civic leaders, and celebrities while needling them verbally. The character became popular enough that nationally known celebrities would sometimes appear on the show while performing in Vegas, including Red Buttons and Frank Sinatra, Jr.Frank Sinatra, Jr.
Franklin Wayne Sinatra , professionally known as Frank Sinatra, Jr., is an American singer, songwriter and conductor....
The Vampire would also read viewer letters on air, then burn them.
Early on the Vampire segments were performed live, but later it was a taped program, allowing it to be played multiple times during the weekend.
The host's then wife, Paula (P.J.) Parker (now P.J. Housman), played the part of "Satana" on the show in its later years.
In 1977, Variety and syndicated columnist Forrest Duke reported plans to do a road show version.
Other appearances
Parker's Vegas Vampire was a popular local celebrity. He traveled the streets of Las Vegas and Henderson in a trademark Hearse, and appeared at many local businesss openings. For many years he hosted the local segments of the Jerry Lewis MDA TelethonJerry Lewis MDA Telethon
The MDA Labor Day Telethon is an annual telethon in the United States to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association . The first MDA telethon was during the Thanksgiving Day weekend of 1952 and titled Party for MDA. It has been held annually since 1966...
, and participated in local shows and charity events like the St. Jude's "Nite of Stars" show, and the Clark County Talent Guild's "Stars of Tomorrow" show. So popular was the character that at one point Parker was appointed director of publicity and public relations for TV-5. One Halloween in the 1990s the Vegas Vampire was invited to return to Vegas' Circus Circus
Circus Circus Las Vegas
Circus Circus Las Vegas is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by MGM Resorts International. Circus Circus features circus acts and carnival type games daily on the Midway...
to turn the Grand Slam Canyon (later Adventuredome
Adventuredome
Adventuredome is a indoor amusement park located at Circus Circus in Las Vegas, Nevada on the Las Vegas Strip. The park offers 25 rides and attractions and is connected to the hotel via The Promenade...
) ride complex into the Dome of Doom.
Novelty song
"The Vegas Vampire" is also the title of a novelty songNovelty song
A novelty song is a comical or nonsensical song, performed principally for its comical effect. Humorous songs, or those containing humorous elements, are not necessarily novelty songs. The term arose in Tin Pan Alley to describe one of the major divisions of popular music. The other two divisions...
about the character. Written and produced by Parker and Bruce Popka, the recording has been played on the Dr. Demento
Dr. Demento
Barret Eugene Hansen , better known as Dr. Demento, is a radio broadcaster and record collector specializing in novelty songs, comedy, and strange or unusual recordings dating from the early days of phonograph records to the present....
radio program's 1984 Halloween Show and appeared on the album Elvira: Vinyl Macabre Oldies (But Ghoulies) (Vol. 1)