Paul at It Came From Hollywood brings you a Shock! memory all monsterkids savor.
“In 2015, I began poring over issues of Broadcasting Magazine. A wonderful database of which is available at worldradiohistory.com. Initially, I was just hunting around for anything related to movie packages for television. I started in the early 1950s, but suddenly decided that I should focus on looking for any ads related to the Screen Gems Shock TV package. Once I found the first ad in 1957, I went headfirst into that rabbit hole and looked over every issue from 1957 to 1959. 156 issues. 100 pages per issue, I now realize I looked at 15,600 pages of this trade magazine just to find a few nuggets. Since this insane research happened a decade ago, I can’t be certain how long it took me, but my wife assures me that it took long enough.
“The result of this bottomless research project was 16 trade ads, all published at the absolute height of Screen Gems Shock package success. Each one is a glimpse into the excitement and astounding draw the package had across the country in every major and minor TV market. It was this specific movie package for television that gave birth to what we know now as the “horror movie host.” But, for adults in 1957, those specifically involved in TV on every level, it was a windfall. It is interesting now to look over these trade ads and realize that this was the birth of movies being sold to TV, something people of my generation (I was born in 1973) simply took for granted because we grew up watching movies on TV before we ever stepped into a theater.
“15 of these ads are Screen Gems SHOCK specific. Including an ad for the follow-up package called Son of Shock. I’ve also included a bonus ad not from Screen Gems, but from A.A.P. for their “Horrors” film package, which was basically 52 films NOT owned by Universal. Interesting to note that A.A.P. was keenly aware that the Screen Gems package was going to draw viewers. The A.A.P. ad appeared on 9-30-1957, one page after Screen Gems’ “Never Before on TV” trade ad. Ahh, the good old days of Television, no good idea ever goes un-stolen!”
