Giant Robo (a.k.a. Toshiyuki Tsuchiyama)

He flew; he delivered mega-punches; sported a flame-thrower inside his mouth; and had an array of destructive arsenal at his disposal... including shooting missiles from his metallic fingertips. He was GIANT ROBO! and he was built to resemble the great pharaohs of ancient Egypt. This super-bot aided young Daisaku Kusama (Johnny Sokko in the U.S. version) in battling giant monsters unleashed by an organization of alien invaders called Big Fire (or the Gargoyle Gang in the U.S.) in every episode of the Japanese TV series Jaianto Robo (1967-1968). Giant Robo made his debut in a popular comic strip before he got his own TV show. By 1970, several episodes were compiled into a feature length film called Voyage Into Space, which in turn, motivated the U.S. to re-release the original TV series in syndication. The show was now called Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot and several editing changes were made for the American audience who warmly embraced this fantastic creation. Today, Giant Robo has become a cult-favorite franchise, with toys, comic books, and animated cartoons in high demand from long adoring fans. The origin and background stories of Giant Robo continue to evolve, but his unique appearance remains unmistakable. Toshiyuki Tsuchiyama had the honors of playing Giant Robo in the TV series. He immediately went on to appear in several action films until the mid-1970s. Here, Sicko-Psychotic has listed his and Giant Robo's credits, including comic book appearances. I welcome and encourage GR fans to help add onto this list, either now or in the following years.

Weekly Shonen Sunday: "Giant Robo" (1967) -- magazine featured comic strip by Mitsuteru Yokoyama
Jaianto Robo (1967-1968; a.k.a. Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot) -- TV series, featuring Toshiyuki Tsuchiyama as Giant Robo
Shôwa Zankyô-den: Karajishi Jingi (1969; a.k.a. Chivalrous Tales of the Shôwa Era: The Duty of a Lion; Brutal Tales of Chivalry) -- featuring Toshiyuki Tsuchiyama
Shôwa Zankyô-den: Shinde Moraimasu (1970; a.k.a. Chivalrous Tales of the Shôwa Era: Hell Is Man's Destiny) -- featuring Toshiyuki Tsuchiyama
Yakuza Deka (1970; a.k.a. Gangster Cop) -- featuring Toshiyuki Tsuchiyama
Voyage Into Space (1970) -- movie made from compilation of JAIANTO ROBO TV series episodes
Joshuu Sasori: Kemono-beya (1973; a.k.a. Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable) -- featuring Toshiyuki Tsuchiyama
Onna Hissatsu Ken (1974; a.k.a. Sister Street Fighter; Female Fighting Fist in Danger) -- featuring Toshiyuki Tsuchiyama
Onna Hissatsu Ken: Kiki Ippatsu (1974; a.k.a. Sister Street Fighter: Hanging by a Thread) -- featuring Toshiyuki Tsuchiyama
Shinkansen Daibakuha (1975; a.k.a. Super-Express 109; Bullet Train) -- featuring Toshiyuki Tsuchiyama
Shôrinji Kenpô (1976; a.k.a. The Killing Machine) -- featuring Toshiyuki Tsuchiyama
Jaianto Robo: Animeshon (1992-1998; a.k.a. Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Stood Still) -- video series featuring Giant Robo
Giant Robo: Chikyuu no Moetsukiru Hi (1992-1993) -- comic book series by Yasuhiro Imagawa
Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Stood Still (1993) -- novelization by Hiroshi Yamaguchi
Screwed (2000) -- features scenes from VOYAGE INTO SPACE
Jaianto Robo - Tanjō-hen (2002 ; a.k.a. Giant Robo: The Beginning) -- 3-issue comic book series
Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Burned (2006) -- manga comic book series
GR: Giant Robo (2007; a.k.a. Giant Robo 40th Anniversary) -- animated TV series featuring Giant Robo

  

Terror! Theatre (1957)

TERROR! THEATRE

KCOP-TV, 1957

Cast: Dan Riss (Dr. Diablo)

Terror! Theatre was a television program that featured old horror-thrillers hosted by a 3000-year-old, dark and sinister-looking character named Dr. Diablo. The show aired every Tuesday night at 8:30 pm from September 3 - December 3 of 1957 on L.A.'s local television station KCOP (Channel 13).

The grim Dr. Diablo was played by hard-working actor Dan Riss (Two Lost Worlds; Ma Barker's Killer Brood), sporting a dark cloak, long mustache and goatee that complimented the diabolical persona. Dr. Diablo's favorite pastime involved poisons and he had a vulture for a pet. Unfortunately, very little else is known about the mysterious host and the obscure show itself since it ran live on the air and only lasted a mere three months.

At the time when Terror! Theatre made its debut, horror movie hosting was a new concept for television, having only been attempted previously on Chicago's localy popular Murder Before Midnight at WBKB (1950-1953) and with the highly successful Lady of Horrors (a.k.a. The Vampira Show) on KABC (1954-1955) and Vampira on KHJ (1956). Additionally, many of the films -- like Revenge of the Zombies, The Vampire Bat, The Face of Marble, etc. -- that were shown on Terror! had previously been hosted by the mystical Swami at WBKB and aired as part of the glamour ghoul's own line-up over at KABC and KHJ.

There are many possibilities that could have contributed to the abrupt cancellation of Terror! Theatre and why it quickly ended up as a forgotten piece of television history. For one, the show's date and air time would have best been effective during the weekend and/or at a later time when there would have been little competition from other popular programs. Instead, Terror! was forced to compete with The Big Story, Broken Arrow, City Detective, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Meet McGraw, and The Red Skelton Show. Perhaps the biggest hindrance to Terror! Theatre occurred on October 1, when a competing station, KTLA (Channel 5), debuted its own horror movie program Nightmare! (1957-1958) The rival show's host was a demented but delightful old woman, played by Ottola Nesmith (Invisible Ghost; The Wolf Man) and showed a much more popular array of horror pictures like Frankenstein (1931), Dracula (1931), The Invisible Man (1933), and Werewolf of London (1935). Nightmare! also had the advantage of airing an hour later after Terror! Theatre's timeslot. At 9:30 pm, Nightmare! had less competition to worry about and fated Terror! and Dr. Diablo to a hasty demise. Other contributing factors that resulted in Terror! Theatre's cancellation can also be attributed to a poor budget and very little advertising or promoting.

1. King of the Zombies (1941). Dr. Diablo makes his debut with this chilling zombie favorite. "New to (13) is Dr. Diablo, a mystery character who'll introduce horror films of olden days." 9/3/1957

 

2. The Ape (1940). Story of a country doctor (Boris Karloff) who tries to cure a paralyzed girl (Maris Wrixon) by killing people and tapping their spinal cords. 9/10/1957

 

3. The Face of Marble (1946). A mad scientist (John Carradine) and his assistant (Robert Shayne) invent electric machine to bring back the dead. 9/17/1957

4. Revenge of the Zombies (1943). Scott Warrington (Mauritz Hugo) and a hired detective (Robert Lowery) investigate the mysterious death of Scott's sister Lila (Veda Ann Borg) and discover that she and many others have been turned into zombies by a mad scientist (John Carradine) working for the Third Reich. The zombies, however, seek revenge against their creator. 9/24/1957

 

5. Doomed to Die (1940). When shipping magnate Cyrus B. Wentworth (Melvin Lang) is shot dead, the prime suspect turns out to be his daughter's fiance. But famous detective James Lee Wong (Boris Karloff) and meddling reporter Roberta Logan (Marjorie Reynolds) have their doubts as Mr. Wentworth had a lot of enemies. 10/1/1957

6. The Strange Mr. Gregory (1946). Master illusionist, Mr. Gregory (Edmund Lowe), falls for another magician's wife (Jean Rogers). Mr. Gregory fakes his own death, has the young man framed for his murder and places the married woman under his spell. 10/8/1957

 

7. The Mad Monster (1942). A mad scientist (George Zucco) is discharged from a university when he is caught transferring the blood of wolves into the veins of men. The grotesque creature which results from the experiment roams the countryside killing and bringing terror to all. With Anne Nagel and Glenn Strange. 10/15/1957

8. The Living Ghost (1942). Investigator Nick Trayne (James Dunn), hired to find a lost millionaire (Gus Glassmire), runs into hair-raising adventures on his job. 10/22/1957

 

9. The Panther's Claw (1942). Police Commissioner Thatcher Colt (Sidney Blackmer) tries to solve a weird blackmail case. With Rick Vallin and Lynn Starr. 10/29/1957

10. The Devil Bat (1940). In the village of Klineschloss, people begin to die from what appear to be vampire attacks. Police Inspector Karl Brettschneider (Melvyn Douglas) investigates and seeks the truth behind these mysterious deaths. Bela Lugosi stars. 11/5/1957

 

11. Voodoo Man (1944). A mad doctor (Bela Lugosi) kidnaps young women and reduces them to a zombie state. With John Carradine and George Zucco. 11/12/1957

12. The Black Doll (1938). A quivering tale deals with the practice of ancient voodoo rites. Donald Woods, Nan Grey, and Doris Lloyd star. 11/19/1957

 

13. The Vampire Bat (1933). Horror tale centering around a series of strange deaths in a German village where the victims were found with tiny puncture marks in their jugular veins. Starring Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray, and Dwight Frye. 11/26/1957

14. The Phantom Fiend (1932). An account of murders committed by an escaped lunatic (Ivor Novello) whose victims are all women. With Elizabeth Allan and Barbara Everest. 12/3/1957

Killer Plants: Film & TV List

As evident in the numerous films and television programs that they have appeared in, homicidal and carnivorous vegetation has always been a strange fascination for many fantasy, horror, and sci-fi fans. Interest in these wondrous and deadly creatures continues to stay strong and blogs dedicated to them are sprouting like weeds all over the Internet. As part of SP's cryptozoological film & TV listing series, yours gruelly has not only included giant carnivorous plants, but also killer fruits, dangerous fungi, and humanoid plant creatures, which should satisfy the web-exploring masses looking for a good SPew... or simply, unique ideas for backyard landscaping? So, without further adieu, grab your popcorn and green candy vines and check out these botanical nightmares.... 

ABC Weekend Specials: "The Bunjee Venture" (1984) -- animated TV episode
The Addams Family (1964-1966) -- TV series, Motricia's carnivorous pet Cleopatra
The Addams Family (1973-1975) -- animated TV series
The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2002-2006) -- animated TV series
Aladdin: "Garden of Evil" (1994) -- animated TV episode
At the Earth's Core (1976)
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! (1978)
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes (1990-1992) -- animated TV series
Attack of the Mushroom People (1963; a.k.a. Matango)
The Avengers: "Man-Eater of Surrey Green" (1965) -- TV episode
Batman & Robin (1997)
Batman: The Animated Series: "Pretty Poison" (1992) -- animated TV episode
Batman: The Brave and the Bold: "Sidekicks Assemble!" (2010) -- animated TV episode
Batman: The Brave and the Bold: "The Mask of Matches Malone!" (2010) -- animated TV episode
Blood (1974) -- starring Hope Stansbury
Body of the Prey (1970; a.k.a. Venus Flytrap)
Body Snatchers (1993)
Creepshow (1982)
Creepshow 2 (1987)
Darkwing Duck (1991) -- animated TV series, recurring villain Bushroot
The Day of the Triffids (1962)
The Day of the Triffids (1981)
The Day of the Triffids (2009)
Die, Monster, Die! (1965)
Dinner for Adela (1978; a.k.a. Adéla Jeste Nevecerela)
Doctor Who: "The Seeds of Doom, Parts 1-6" (1976) -- TV episodes
Doctor Who: "The Trial of a Time Lord, Part 9" (1986; a.k.a. "Terror of the Vervoids") -- TV episode
The Double Garden (1970; a.k.a. The Venus Flytrap)
Dr. Terror's House of Horrors (1965)
Emperor's New Grove (2000)
Flash Gordon (1979-1982) -- animated TV series
Friday the 13th the Series: "A Cup of Time" (1987) -- TV episode
Garfield and Friends: "One Good Fern Deserves Another" (1989) -- animated TV episode
Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989)
George of the Jungle (1967-1970) -- animated TV series, closing credits
The Green Slime (1968)
Hank Danger and the Space Mummy's Tomb! (2009) -- animation
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
The Headless Terror (1967; a.k.a. Penanggalan)
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: "title unknown" (2002-2004) -- animated TV episode
The Hilarious House of Frightenstein (1971) -- TV series
Holocausto Porno (1981) -- porno
H.R. Pufnstuf (1969-1970) -- TV series with poison mushrooms that turn any living creature they touch into fungus
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
It Conquered the World (1956)
Jimmy Two-Shoes (2009-) -- animated TV series
Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)
Jumanji (1995)
Kaiba: "title unknown" (2008) -- animated TV episode
Killer Tomatoes Eat France (1991)
Killer Tomatoes Strike Back (1990)
Kim Possible: "title unknown" (2002-2007) -- animated TV episode
Konga (1961)
The Land Unknown (1957)
Lexx (1997-2002) -- TV series
Little Shop of Horrors (1960)
Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
Loonatics Unleashed: "Apocalypso" (2007) -- animated TV episode
The Lost Continent (1968)
Lost Girl: "(Dis)Members Only" (2010) -- TV episode
Lost in Space: "Attack of the Monster Plants" (1965) -- TV episode
The Lost World (1960)
The Lost World: "The Guardians" (2001) -- TV episode
Luana (1968)
Man Eater of Hydra (1967; a.k.a. Island of the Doomed/La Isla de la Muerte) -- also features a bloodsucking tree!
Milton the Monster: "The Goofy Doctor Goo Fee/From Riches to Rags/The Pot Thickens" (1965) -- animated TV episode
Milton the Monster: "Throne for a Loss/Missin' Masters/Monster Mutiny" (1965) -- animated TV episode
Milton the Monster: "Boo to You/Under Waterloo/Kid Stuff" (1965-1967) -- animated TV series episode
Minority Report (2000)
Mortuary (2005)
Mothra (1961)
The Mutations (1973; a.k.a. The Freakmaker)
Mutiny in Outer Space (1965)
Naruto (2002-2007) -- animated TV series
Naruto: Shippûden (2007-) -- animated TV series
The New Addams Family (1998-1999) -- TV series
The New Scooby-Doo Movies: "Wednesday Is Missing" (1972) -- animated TV episode
Ninja Nonsense: "title unknown" (2004; a.k.a. Ninin ga shinobuden) -- animated TV episode
The Outer Limits: "Flower Child" (2001) -- TV episode
Please Don't Eat My Mother! (1973)
Poltergeist Report: Yuu Yuu Hakusho (1992-1995) -- animated TV series
The Quartermass Xperiment (1955; a.k.a. The Creeping Unknown)
The Red Skelton Show "Episode #20.7" (1970) -- TV episode
Return of the Killer Tomatoes! (1988)
The Revenge of Doctor X (1970)
Rocky and His Friends: "The Pottsylvania Permanent or I've Grown Accustomed to the Place" (1960) -- TV episode
Rosario to Vampire (2008-2009) -- animated TV series
Rosario to Vampire Capu2 (2008) -- animated TV series
The Ruins (2008)
Sabrina and the Groovie Goolies (1970-1971; a.k.a. The Groovie Goolies and Friends) -- animated TV series
Scary Movie 2 (2001)
Seedpeople (1992)
Seeds of Evil (1974)
The Seven Vampires (1987; a.k.a. As Sete Vampiras)
The Simpsons: "Simpson Safari" (2001) -- animated TV episode
The Simpsons: "Moe Baby Blues" (2003) -- animated TV episode
Star Trek - Voyager "Bliss" (1999) -- TV episode
Swamp Devil (2008)
Tarzan's Desert Mystery (1943)
The Tender Trap (1974) -- documentary about carnivorous plants; with Vincent Price
The Thing from Another World (1951)
Toyota ECHO commercial (20??) --- might have premiered in 2003, a woman feeds a grocery boy to a giant Venus flytrap in the back of her vehicle
Transformers: Cybertron (2005) -- animated TV series
Transformers: The Headmasters: "title unknown" (1987-1988) -- animated TV episode
Tremors: "Flora or Fauna?" (2003) -- TV episode
Ultraman: "Miroganda no Himitsu" (1966) -- TV episode
The Unknown Terror (1957)
Untamed Women (1952)
Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light (1987) -- animated TV series
Voodoo Island (1957)
Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet (1965)
Werewolf of London (1935)
When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth (1970)
The Woman Eater (1958)
The X-Files: "El Mundo Gira" (1997) -- TV episode
Yog, Monster from Space (1971)
Yû yû Hakusho (1993-2006) -- animated TV series

see also film & TV lists of... EVIL TREES!



The Addams Family (1964-1966)

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! (1978)

The Day of the Triffids (1962)

H.R. Pufnstuf (1969-1070)

Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

Batman: The Animated Series: "Pretty Poison" (1992)

Evil Trees: Film & TV List

Bloodoak, Ya-te-veo, and the man-eating Madagascar tree -- these and other malicious trees have haunted us throughout the ages in folklore and in the pages of literature. Tales and images of evil trees are especially effective in disturbing the imagination and terrifying many... especially at campfires and on Halloween night. Despite popular interest in them, it is odd that very few films and television programs have placed these nightmare-inducing monsters in the spotlight where they deserve to be. Most often, cinematic evil trees have been displayed as secondary antagonists or reduced to simply being minions of other villains. However, whenever the sentient creatures DO appear, they make quite an impact on audiences. Only a handful of films have dared to make these characters the stars of the horror picture, but SP feels there ought to be more and, therefore, dedicates this post to our tree fiends who continue to fascinate and frighten us shitless!!!!

The Adventures of Sinbad: "title unknown" (1996-1998) -- TV series episode
Angkerbatu (2007)
Babes in Toyland (1961)
Ben 10: Alien Force: "title unknown" (2008-2010) -- animated TV series
Ben 10: Ultimate Alien: "title unknown" (2010-) -- animated TV series episode
The Big O: "title unknown" (1999-2003) -- animated TV series episode
Brides of Blood (1968; a.k.a. Brides of the Beast/The Island of Living Horror)
Ching nu yu Hun (1960; a.k.a. The Enchanting Shadow)
Cthulhu (2007)
Doctor Who: "The Keys of Marinus" (1964) -- TV series episode
DuckTales: "Much Ado About Scrooge" (1987) -- animated TV series
Eden Log (2007)
The Evil Dead (1981)
Evil Dead II (1987)
Family Guy: "Petergeist" (2006) -- animated TV series episode
Felix in Fairyland (1923)
Friday the 13th - The Series: "Doorway to Hell" (1988) -- TV series episode featuring attacking tree vines.
Friday the 13th the Series: "The Tree of Life" (1990) -- TV series episode
From Hell It Came (1957)
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy: "The Taking Tree" (2005) -- animated TV series episode
The Guardian (1990)
The Happening (2008)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) -- the vicious Whomping Willow first appears in this film
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
H.R. Pufnstuf (1969-1970) -- TV series featuring Evil Trees in haunted forest alongside Poison Mushrooms!
InuYasha: "title unknown" (2000-2005) -- animated TV series episode
Jack Frost (1965; a.k.a. Morozko)
Jimmy Two-Shoes: "title unknown" (2009-) -- animated TV series episode
Kuntilanak (2006)
The Last Unicorn (1982) -- animation
Lidsville: "Show Me the Way to Go Home" (1971) -- TV series episode
The Little Prince (1974) -- opera featuring evil Baobab Trees
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) -- not evil, but impressive
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) -- more heroic trees, but creepy-looking
Lost Girl: "(Dis)Members Only" (2010) -- TV series episode
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha: "title unknown" (2004) -- animated TV series episode
The Mighty Boosh: "Fountain of Youth" (2005) -- TV series episode
My Little Pony: The Movie (1986) -- animation
The Navy vs. the Night Monsters (1966)
Negima!: "title unknown" (????) -- animated TV series episode
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) -- animation
Origin: Spirits of the Past (2006; a.k.a. Gin-iro no Kami no Agito) -- animation
Poltergeist (1982)
Pufnstuf (1970) -- film based on live animation TV series
Robot Chicken: "title unknown" (2005-) -- animated TV series episode
Sailor Moon: "title unknown" (????) -- animated TV series episode
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (1970) -- animation
Saturday Night Live: "The Killer Christmas Tree" (1975) -- TV series episode
Sealab 2021: "Isla de las Chupacabras" (2004) -- animated TV series episode
Shrek 2 (2004)
Shrek the Third (2007)
Sien nui Yau Wan (1987; a.k.a. A Chinese Ghost Story)
Sien lui Yau Wan III: Do Do Do (1991; a.k.a. A Chinese Ghost Story III)
The Simpsons Movie (2007) -- animation
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
The Thief of Bagdad (1924) -- although not evil, it features a creepy living tree that walks
Trees (2000)
The Root of All Evil (2004)
Treevenge (2008) -- short film, evil Christmas trees
Trollz (2005-2006) -- animated TV series
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Womaneater (1958)
The X-Files: "title unknown" (1993-2002) -- TV series episode
Yû yû Hakusho: "title unknown" (????) -- animated TV series episode

Treevenge (2008)

Family Guy

From Hell It Came (1957)

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1949)

The Evil Dead (1981)

H.R. Pufnstuf 

The Guardian (1990)

The Whomping Willow

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Poltergeist (1982)



SEE ALSO... Killer Plants!