13 Demon Street
Encyclopedia
13 Demon Street is a Swedish
horror
television series that aired between 1959 and 1960 in American syndication. Thirteen 25-minute episodes were produced.
Lon Chaney Jr. was the host, introducing each episode from his 'home' at 13 Demon Street. Condemned for some shockingly atrocious crime, Chaney's purpose in relating the series' stories was to convince viewers that the crimes presented in them were worse than his, thus freeing him from his purgatory. This was hard for audiences to judge, however, because Chaney's original crime was never specified.
The series was originated by Curt Siodmak
, who also wrote some of the scripts and directed several episodes. He had previously written Chaney's 1941 film The Wolf Man
.
Three instalments of the series were edited together to make a theatrical feature called The Devil's Messenger
, in which Chaney's character was reconfigured as Satan himself. Chaney filmed new wraparound segments to link the chosen episodes, which were 'The Photograph', 'The Girl in the Glacier' and 'Condemned in Crystal'.
Several of the show's stories were derivative in nature. 'The Black Hand', for example, was modelled on The Hands of Orlac
, while 'The Photograph' is an updated version of the M R James story The Mezzotint.
home video. In addition, two episodes - 'The Vine of Death' and 'The Black Hand' - were included as bonus features on the Image DVD release of the Boris Karloff series The Veil
. Odeon's UK release of the same series featured four - the Image episodes plus 'The Photograph' and 'Fever'.
Although numerous dealers offer the series on DVD or VHS, every existing set is missing most of the Lon Chaney footage, removed by some unknown individual for reasons unknown. Episodes were intended to open and close in Lon Chaney's character's dilapidated home, where he would act as host and comment on each individual story. However, most episodes have obvious jump cuts, almost completely eliminating Lon Chaney's presence.
band D.S.-13 is a play on that of the series.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
television series that aired between 1959 and 1960 in American syndication. Thirteen 25-minute episodes were produced.
Lon Chaney Jr. was the host, introducing each episode from his 'home' at 13 Demon Street. Condemned for some shockingly atrocious crime, Chaney's purpose in relating the series' stories was to convince viewers that the crimes presented in them were worse than his, thus freeing him from his purgatory. This was hard for audiences to judge, however, because Chaney's original crime was never specified.
The series was originated by Curt Siodmak
Curt Siodmak
Curt Siodmak was a novelist and screenwriter. He made a name for himself in Hollywood with horror and science fiction films, most notably The Wolf Man and Donovan's Brain...
, who also wrote some of the scripts and directed several episodes. He had previously written Chaney's 1941 film The Wolf Man
The Wolf Man
The Wolf Man is a 1941 American Werewolf Horror film written by Curt Siodmak and produced and directed by George Waggner. The film stars Lon Chaney, Jr. as The Wolf Man, featuring Claude Rains, Evelyn Ankers, Ralph Bellamy, Patric Knowles, Béla Lugosi, and Maria Ouspenskaya...
.
Three instalments of the series were edited together to make a theatrical feature called The Devil's Messenger
The Devil's Messenger
The Devil's Messenger is a 1961 anthology horror film starring Lon Chaney Jr.In this feature version of the 1959 Swedish TV series 13 Demon Street, a 50,000-year-old woman is found frozen in an ice field, and a man's death is foretold in dreams....
, in which Chaney's character was reconfigured as Satan himself. Chaney filmed new wraparound segments to link the chosen episodes, which were 'The Photograph', 'The Girl in the Glacier' and 'Condemned in Crystal'.
Several of the show's stories were derivative in nature. 'The Black Hand', for example, was modelled on The Hands of Orlac
The Hands of Orlac
Orlacs Hände is an Austrian silent film of 1924. This late Expressionist work, produced by Robert Wiene, has been remade twice.- Plot :...
, while 'The Photograph' is an updated version of the M R James story The Mezzotint.
Availability on Home Video
The series is available on grey marketGrey market
A grey market or gray market also known as parallel market is the trade of a commodity through distribution channels which, while legal, are unofficial, unauthorized, or unintended by the original manufacturer...
home video. In addition, two episodes - 'The Vine of Death' and 'The Black Hand' - were included as bonus features on the Image DVD release of the Boris Karloff series The Veil
The Veil
The Veil is the title of an American horror/suspense anthology television series produced in 1958 by Hal Roach Studios.The series was hosted by Boris Karloff, who also acted in every episode but one, and was allegedly based upon real-life reports of supernatural happenings and the unexplained...
. Odeon's UK release of the same series featured four - the Image episodes plus 'The Photograph' and 'Fever'.
Although numerous dealers offer the series on DVD or VHS, every existing set is missing most of the Lon Chaney footage, removed by some unknown individual for reasons unknown. Episodes were intended to open and close in Lon Chaney's character's dilapidated home, where he would act as host and comment on each individual story. However, most episodes have obvious jump cuts, almost completely eliminating Lon Chaney's presence.
Cast
- Alan Blair (3 episodes)
- Hilda Bruce-Potter (3 episodes)
- Sydney Coulson (3 episodes)
- Jason Lindsay (3 episodes)
- Charles NolteCharles NolteCharles Nolte was an American actor and educator.-Career:Nolte was born in Duluth, Minnesota and moved to Wayzata, Minnesota with his family in the early 1930s. He graduated from Wayzata High School in 1941 and performed in an acting company that later became Old Log Theater...
(3 episodes) - Lori Scott (3 episodes)
- Ben BennettBen BennettBen Bennett is an American football coach most recently the head coach of the af2's Austin Wranglers. He has been involved in professional football as a player and coach since 1984...
(2 episodes) - Ralph BrownRalph BrownRalph William John Brown is an English actor and writer, known for playing Danny the drug dealer in Withnail and I, the security guard Aaron in Alien 3, DJ Bob Silver in The Boat That Rocked, and the pilot Ric Olié in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace...
(2 episodes) - Pat Clavin (2 episodes)
- John CrawfordJohn CrawfordJohn Crawford may refer to:* John Crawford , Australian economist* John Crawford , American actor* John Crawford , Canadian hockey player...
(2 episodes) - Doreen Denning (2 episodes)
- Jill Donohue (2 episodes)
- Lauritz FalkLauritz FalkLauritz Falk was a Swedish actor, film director, singer and painter. He appeared in about 60 roles in films and TV between 1923 and 1989...
(2 episodes) - Michael Hinn ... Fay (2 episodes)
- Robert Kanter (2 episodes)
- Robert St. Clair ... Man (2 episodes)
- Tor Steen (2 episodes)
- Vernon Young (2 episodes)
List of episodes
- The Black Hand
- Fever
- Condemned in Crystal
- Green are the Leaves
- The Girl in the Glacier
- The Book of Ghouls
- The Photograph
- The Vine of Death
- A Gift of Murder
- The Secret of the Telescope
- Never Steal a Warlock's Wife
- Murder in the Mirror
- Black Nemesis
Cultural references
The name of the Swedish hardcore punkHardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band D.S.-13 is a play on that of the series.