The Magical Main Event Pits Karloff Against Price- with Black Magic and a Black Bird- "The Raven" Tonight!

Posted on December 9, 2023

Tonight on MeTV- it’s certainly no partridge in a pear tree-but a pair of masters of magic will be facing off in a deadly duel-in a Roger Corman feature headlined by Vincent Price and Boris Karloff-plus, Peter Lorre, Hazel Court, and even Jack Nicholson! It’s a combination of Gothic fright and fun, very loosely inspired by the poem by Edgar Allan Poe- it’s the 1963 film titled “The Raven”!

The story opens in the mid-1500s, to the abode of master sorcerer Dr. Craven (played by Price) who broods endlessly over the loss of his wife Lenore. His tragic remembrances are interrupted by the arrival of -a raven!? Well, actually, it’s much or than a basic black bird- it is actually fellow wizard Dr. Bedlo ( Lorre), who has been transformed into this feathery state by the powerful magician Dr. Scarabus (Karloff). Bedlo begs Craven for help, and , with a lot of preparation, he mixes up a potion to restore Bedlo to human form. However, he is surprised when Bedlo insists that he actually saw Craven’s supposedly dead wife Lenore in Scarabus’ castle! They prepare to head to the castle, joined by Craven’s young daughter ( Olive Sturgiss) and Bedlo’s goofy son (Nicholson)- but Sacrabus must have a premonition of what is to come- and he remotely controls Craven’s coachman in an attack on his master!

The group luckily survives this fiendish assault and arrives at the castle-where they are greeted by Scarabus, who is acting uncharacteristically congenial. Bedlo makes an attempt at getting revenge on Scarabus, but it does not go well- and we learn that Craven’s beautiful wife Lenore ( Hazel Court) IS in the castle, but has sided with Scarabus! Scarabus drops his pretense of friendship and works to imprison and defeat the visitors- leading to a final mystical confrontation between the two powerful magicians that neither might survive!

This is truly entertaining film, mixing the scary with the silly and featuring some fun special effects -with Vincent Price, being the master of mixing horror with comedy paired with the irascible character of Peter Lorre, whose ad-libbing- in real life- tended to irritate the old school pro Karloff! We’ll talk about that and more, and present a variety of new and old Sven bits, plus a song- and bring back an interview with our amazing friend Rob Paulsen, the great voice actor from “Pinky and the Brain”, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and so much more!

“The Raven” flutters onto your TV screen tonight on MeTV at 8 pm eastern/pacific, 7 central time. We know many viewers will be live-Tweeting during the show -please feel free to join in, using the hashtag #svengoolie on all your Tweets. This morning on the local Chicago channel CW 26, viewers get an encore of “Mystery of the Wax Museum” at 11 am.

Let me remind you again that it’s a good time to order Sven merchandise from the MeTV Mall- with holiday themed items, and other new inventory perfect to be gifts for your favorite Sven fans. Order now to make sure you will get things in time to play Sventa Claus yourself!

Tonight, you won’t find reindeer flying on MeTV- but one funny feathered fiend- bringing on the mayhem of murderous magic! Don’t miss it!

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4203 Comments

 during show

abc123 10 months ago
My Post is ready. Hope I can stay awake (joking - it is only a few minutes past 7 right now...).
Klaatu abc123 10 months ago
I’m not in the blog race, so you are welcome to my spot.
Katink abc123 10 months ago
Trying . To. Stay. AWAKE. . . .
Klaatu 10 months ago
It seems that the Blog is asleep at the wheel🫤
Cartoondave 10 months ago
Quick question regarding Doug Scharf's daughter, when she appears on Svengoolie every so often why doesn't she speak and just wave hello to the viewers I hope someone here would know the answer or maybe our administrator Ms. Anita?
Klaatu Cartoondave 10 months ago
Maybe it’s a Union issue where she’d need to get paid a LOT more for a speaking role🤔?
Carl_N_Brown Cartoondave 10 months ago
Part of Anita X Orcist's mystique.
RobBarnes Cartoondave 10 months ago
IIRC, she a music teacher, not sure what grade(s) level. So inbetween the shades and no talking or singing MAYBE shes keeping a somewhat low profile so her students aren't constantly asking her for Sven's autograph or merch, I just enjoy her playing and those lovely long legs.
Klaatu 10 months ago
I’m watching the Pee Wee Christmas Special. Who remembers Billy Baloney?👍
VanGooliac Klaatu 10 months ago
Looks like a festive Howdy Doody.
PARANORMA Klaatu 10 months ago
Isn't that one of a certain person's latest batch of barrel-scraping lawyers...?
NoPersonalChicks 10 months ago
Here's one for Dave. 67 years ago today Elvis gave his final of 50 performances on the Louisiana Hayride. Tickets: a buck.
RobBarnes NoPersonalChicks 10 months ago
looks like the other guitarist is playing a Gibson Byrdland (a fav of Ted Nugent). Nothing like the Memphis Mafia having your back and making sure you get paid as and when agreed and only certain females are allowed backstage.
Aceman2 10 months ago
Next week I’ll have surgery to try and save my right foot. Many of my health issues are a result of severe Rheumatoid Arthritis.
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Aceman2 10 months ago
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RobBarnes Aceman2 10 months ago
Damn Ace, sorry to hear that. Best of Luck! I guess I shouldn't complain as much about my lower back and right knee arthritis.
PatS Aceman2 10 months ago
Hope it doesn't affect your golf stance. Knowing you (as much as we can "know" anyone here) I bet you'll adjust, however it turns out. Best wishes for good recovery.
Catbat Aceman2 10 months ago
All Good Vibes for you Aceman 🤗❤️
You got this hon
Aceman2 10 months ago
Mrs Aceman turns 29 tomorrow for the 40th time. I took her to Naked Brewing Taproom for lunch and a beer. She enjoyed it. Happy birthday sweetheart!
VanGooliac Aceman2 10 months ago
Happy birthday to Mrs. Aceman.
Turning 29 for the 40th time…was she a Viking?
Mikeyyy Aceman2 10 months ago
Happy birthday Mrs Aceman!!
HoneyBee456 Aceman2 10 months ago
Happy Birthday Mrs Aceman
Katink Aceman2 10 months ago
Happy Birthday to Mrs. Aceman🎂
Lynn Aceman2 10 months ago
Happy Birthday Mrs. Aceman! Enjoy your special day. 🎂🎉🎈
RobBarnes Aceman2 10 months ago
Good Catch you got there Ace!
Catbat Aceman2 10 months ago
Happy Birthday 🎂 Mrs Aceman 🎈
HoneyBee456 10 months ago
James Franciscus is on Wagon Train today
RobBarnes HoneyBee456 10 months ago
I remember him from Beneath the Planet of the Apes. Pretty sure he was cast to basically replace Charlton Heston as the lead based on his looks and physical presence. Its a shame he dies so young.
Klaatu 10 months ago
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HoneyBee456 Klaatu 10 months ago
No one should drive if they’re drunk 🥴
Cartoondave HoneyBee456 10 months ago
Exactly look what happened to my niece April 1st 2022 I'm just glad the guy is in jail w/o bail
HoneyBee456 Cartoondave 10 months ago
That’s so sad and tragic. I’m so sorry. I’m glad he’s in jail too. I hope he’s there for a long time
Cartoondave HoneyBee456 10 months ago
9 and a half to 20 yrs but should've been more
RobBarnes Klaatu 10 months ago
I just keep a 3 beer limit.
Deleted 10 months ago
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HoneyBee456 10 months ago
I think all the red sweaters are sold out
TheKodakKid 10 months ago
So when is Keith going to use the jaws of life to his wallet to get you a snazzy Christmas sweater.
WILLOUGHBY 10 months ago
It's a shame too because the design and quality of this sweater is awesome. Maybe for Christmas 2024, Sven will have re-ordered a second run of these for his Store. He has a store?
WILLOUGHBY 10 months ago
He already splurges on me with kitty litter so that I don't have to go outside in the wintry weather to relieve myself.
daleuhlmann 10 months ago
Happy Svengoolie Saturday Eve, group!

As we prepare to leave the 14th-century era of THE RAVEN and time warp into the twentieth century for THE NIGHT WALKER, let us acknowledge the contributions of two behind-the-scenes talents whose names were included in the credits of last Saturday's movie: cinematographer Floyd Crosby and art director Daniel Haller.

Crosby was the father of musicians David and Ethan Crosby. The elder Crosby worked on many notable films, including TABU: A STORY OF THE SOUTH SEAS, for which he had won an Oscar, and HIGH NOON, for which he had won a Golden Globe. By the 1950s, and for basically for the remainder of his career, he began working almost exclusively on low-budget films, primarily for AIP and Allied Artists, with many for Roger Corman. He passed on in 1985.

Haller, who is still with us, also worked frequently for Coman and AIP, most notably on the Poe films. His abilities as an art director made the Poe movies look more lavish than they actually were. He was also a producer and director, having helmed, among other projects, AIP's Lovecraft adaptations DIE, MONSTER, DIE and THE DUNWICH HORROR. According to Wikipedia, he later also produced and directed episides of quite a few popular TV series, such as NIGHT GALLERY, KOJAK, BATTLESTAR GALLACTICA, BUCK ROGERS IN THE 25TH CENTURY, and KNIGHT RIDER.
MrsG daleuhlmann 10 months ago
Who knew ? ! Thanks Dale ~ especially interesting to me re: Mr. Crosby *_*
VanGooliac daleuhlmann 10 months ago
DIE, MONSTER, DIE and THE DUNWICH HORROR look very Sven-worthy.
daleuhlmann MrsG 10 months ago
You're welome, Mrs. G!
daleuhlmann VanGooliac 10 months ago
Very much so, Van Gooliac! The first one stars Boris Karlof and Nick Adams, and the second, Dean Stockwell and Sandra Dee ("Look at me, I'm Sandra Dee!"🎵🎶).
daleuhlmann MrsG 10 months ago
I must that I hadn't known earlier that Floyd Crosby was the father of David and Ethan Crosby (🎵🎶).
Jack daleuhlmann 10 months ago
Crosby, Crosby, Crosby, and no Young...Hey, Dave, you’re s’posed to blow into the recorder, not draw and hold your breath!
DrFish28136 10 months ago
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Mikeyyy DrFish28136 10 months ago
YESSS! I still get up early but soon as toons are over I get back under the covers!
Drang DrFish28136 10 months ago
Someday...
Cartoondave DrFish28136 10 months ago
I'll be needing that next year as I plan my retirement
Jack 10 months ago
Saw this in a parking lot the other day. Had the VW dealer had one of these, we might not have gotten the Prius!
Jack 10 months ago
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Mikeyyy Jack 10 months ago
Oh myyyy
Jack daDoctah 10 months ago
Boxermotor?
Jack daDoctah 10 months ago
Sparsystem?
Jack daDoctah 10 months ago
Lebensraum?
daleuhlmann 10 months ago
"Holiday for Shoestrings"--classic W B cartoon wuth shoe-making elves!
Klaatu daleuhlmann 10 months ago
One of my early introductions to classical music🎶👍
Klaatu 10 months ago
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Klaatu 10 months ago
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daleuhlmann Klaatu 10 months ago
Yes, there is!
RobBarnes Klaatu 10 months ago
Assuming that only adults will be imbibing the punch, I think adding a bottle of maybe 180 proof White Lightening, just for giggles and kicks, might be amusing.
daleuhlmann 10 months ago
Granny is hauling off both that big bulldog and Sylvester by their scruffs. She must be one strong woman!
Klaatu 10 months ago
My so sent this pic of Angels Landing in Zion. He and his girlfriend made the hike to the top. My wife and I did the same about 10 years ago. Exhilarating!!
daleuhlmann Klaatu 10 months ago
I'm sure it is!
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