The cast of Shock Theatre features, from left, Dingbat, Dr. Shock and Nurse Goodbody. A new Shock Theatre episode called "Krampus Steals Christmas" will play out during the airing of the 1964 sci-fi film "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" at midnight Saturday.The fourth episode of the New Shock Theatre will air at midnight Saturday, Dec. 21, on WDEF-TV Channel 12.
This haunted world of classic and contemporary horror films is hosted by the neurotic ghoul Dr. Shock and his devilishly lovely sidekick Nurse Goodbody. Joining them are the mischievous prankster puppet Dingbat and a new addition, a puppet master/dream reaper known as The Dirge.
They'll exchange humorous banter and discuss facts drawn from "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians," a 1964 sci-fi film that tells of Martians coming to Earth to kidnap Santa because there is no one on Mars to give their children presents. The film was digitally remastered and re-released in high definition in 2011.
Episode 4's backstory, "Krampus Steals Christmas," is an epic tale about the dark companion of St. Nicholas paying a visit to Shock Theatre. Realizing that Krampus is up to no good, the cast must call in the big man himself, Santa Claus, to face Krampus in the wrestling ring.
"We've created a touching, Christmas-spirited program that will have you on the edge of your couch as you laugh and cry in a single sound," says Jack Gray, who portrays Dr. Shock and is a lead producer for the program along with Johnny Stockman. "It's a full two-hour program with skits, original music, movie facts [and] a toy segment."
This is the fourth installment in an attempt by Gray and the cast and crew of Shock Theatre to have the infamous horror hosting program revamped and aired on a local station.