Penny Dreadful XIII
Encyclopedia
Penny Dreadful XIII is a television horror host
based in New England
. She is portrayed by actress, writer and comedienne Danielle Gelehrter.
cable TV in Providence, Rhode Island
, Boston, Massachusetts, New Bedford, Massachusetts
and Salem, Massachusetts
. It eventually spread to over 150 cities and towns throughout the six New England states.
The names “Penny Dreadful
” and “Shilling Shockers” are both derived from 19th-century serialized tales of terror, crime and the supernatural. The Penny Dreadful witch persona is described on the program’s website as “an intermingling of light and dark elements. She can be very silly and sinister by turns, with a withering wit and a dramatic gaze." Penny is fond of using the exclamation, "hex-cellent!" and refers to her viewers as her "Dreary Ones."
The Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards
presented Penny Dreadful with the award for “Favorite Horror Host” of 2007. She was the first horror host
to receive the award in this category. Penny also won the 2010 Rondo Award for "Favorite Horror Host," becoming the first host to win the award twice in this category.
Penny Dreadful XIII is a regular guest at conventions such as HorrorHound in Indianapolis, Indiana
, Monster Bash in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
and Rock & Shock in Worcester, Massachusetts
. Penny has hosted several live fundraising events for children’s organizations such as The Make-A-Wish Foundation
and the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
. She continues to host Shilling Shockers and has appeared in a number of horror-themed publications, as well as in films such as Atomic Brain Invasion and The Dungeon of Dr. Dreck.
henchman and husband of Penny Dreadful. He communicates only through guttural growls and funny facial expressions. Garou is portrayed by Magoo Gelehrter.
Dr. Manfred Von Bulow is a semi-retired vampire hunter
with a thick German accent. He is Penny Dreadful’s foil. He is portrayed by Ivan Bernier.
Luna is a madwoman, released from the abandoned Danvers State Hospital
. She is insane but highly intelligent. Luna is portrayed by the series' television director
Rebecca Paiva.
Horror host
Horror hosts are a particular type of television presenter, often tasked with presenting low-grade films to television audiences. This tradition is primarily American, though there have been a few international hosts over the years.-Film Packages:...
based in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. She is portrayed by actress, writer and comedienne Danielle Gelehrter.
History
Gelehrter created the persona of Penny Dreadful the witch in an effort to revive the concept of a horror movie host on Boston-area television. The show, Penny Dreadful’s Shilling Shockers, premiered on local cable in January 2006. Shilling Shockers first aired on Public-access televisionPublic-access television
Public-access television is a form of non-commercial mass media where ordinary people can create content television programming which is cablecast through cable TV specialty channels...
cable TV in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, Boston, Massachusetts, New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts...
and Salem, Massachusetts
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
. It eventually spread to over 150 cities and towns throughout the six New England states.
The names “Penny Dreadful
Penny Dreadful
A penny dreadful was a type of British fiction publication in the 19th century that usually featured lurid serial stories appearing in parts over a number of weeks, each part costing an penny...
” and “Shilling Shockers” are both derived from 19th-century serialized tales of terror, crime and the supernatural. The Penny Dreadful witch persona is described on the program’s website as “an intermingling of light and dark elements. She can be very silly and sinister by turns, with a withering wit and a dramatic gaze." Penny is fond of using the exclamation, "hex-cellent!" and refers to her viewers as her "Dreary Ones."
The Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards
Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards
The Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award is an award presented annually by the Classic Horror Film Board to honor the top works in horror in film, television, home video, and publishing.-The award:...
presented Penny Dreadful with the award for “Favorite Horror Host” of 2007. She was the first horror host
Horror host
Horror hosts are a particular type of television presenter, often tasked with presenting low-grade films to television audiences. This tradition is primarily American, though there have been a few international hosts over the years.-Film Packages:...
to receive the award in this category. Penny also won the 2010 Rondo Award for "Favorite Horror Host," becoming the first host to win the award twice in this category.
Penny Dreadful XIII is a regular guest at conventions such as HorrorHound in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Monster Bash in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
and Rock & Shock in Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
. Penny has hosted several live fundraising events for children’s organizations such as The Make-A-Wish Foundation
Make-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a 501 non-profit organization founded in the United States that grants wishes to children who have life-threatening medical conditions. The charity now operates in forty-seven countries around the world through thirty-six affiliate offices.The president & CEO of this...
and the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, founded in 1962, is a leading pediatric treatment and research facility focused on children's catastrophic diseases. It is located in Memphis, Tennessee. It is a nonprofit medical corporation chartered as a 501 tax-exempt organization under IRS regulations.In...
. She continues to host Shilling Shockers and has appeared in a number of horror-themed publications, as well as in films such as Atomic Brain Invasion and The Dungeon of Dr. Dreck.
Penny's Sidekicks
Garou is the werewolfWerewolf
A werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope , is a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or an anthropomorphic wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse...
henchman and husband of Penny Dreadful. He communicates only through guttural growls and funny facial expressions. Garou is portrayed by Magoo Gelehrter.
Dr. Manfred Von Bulow is a semi-retired vampire hunter
Vampire hunter
A vampire hunter or vampire slayer is a character in folklore and fiction who specializes in finding and destroying vampires, and sometimes other supernatural creatures....
with a thick German accent. He is Penny Dreadful’s foil. He is portrayed by Ivan Bernier.
Luna is a madwoman, released from the abandoned Danvers State Hospital
Danvers State Hospital
Danvers State Hospital, also known as the State Lunatic Hospital at Danvers, The Danvers Lunatic Asylum, and The Danvers State Insane Asylum, was a psychiatric hospital located in Danvers, Massachusetts....
. She is insane but highly intelligent. Luna is portrayed by the series' television director
Television director
A television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
Rebecca Paiva.