Monster Squad

Did You Know?

• A later, unrelated animated series by Hanna-Barbera called Drak Pack had a similar premise.
• The DC Comics characters the Creature Commandos also had a similar concept, though they fought Nazis rather than super-criminals.
• In the Teen Titans Go! episode 'Monster Squad', the Titans turn into real monsters for trick-or-treating.

Premise

Fred Grandy played Walt, a criminology student who worked nights as a watchman at Fred's Wax Museum. To occupy himself, Walt built a crime-solving computer he hid inside a stone sarcophagus near the monster exhibits. When he turned the machine on, its vibrations brought three wax statues to life: Dracula (Henry Polic II), the Wolfman named Bruce W. Wolf (Buck Kartalian), and the Frankenstein Monster called Frank N. Stein (Michael Lane). Wanting to redeem themselves for their past evils, the trio became superheroes who fought crime with their special talents. Walt usually stayed at the museum to monitor their missions through his computer, since his job required him to be there, but he sometimes joined the final fights to help. The monsters kept the memories and powers of the originals: Frank had incredible strength and could smash walls, Drac could change into a bat, and Bruce could scale buildings like Spider-Man and had a keen sense of smell. They drove a black Monster Van and wore utility belts with communicators, using CB radio codenames: Chamber of Horrors for Walt, Nightflyer for Drac, Green Machine for Frank, and Furball for Bruce. The show resembled the 1960s Batman series, as creator Stanley Ralph Ross had written for that show. Its villains were over-the-top camp characters, often played by well-known guest stars like Alice Ghostley, Marty Allen, Jonathan Harris, Julie Newmar, Avery Schreiber, and Vito Scotti.

Cast

Fred Grandy portrayed Walt. Henry Polic II played Dracula. Buck Kartalian portrayed Bruce W. Wolf. Michael Lane played Frank N. Stein. Edward Andrews portrayed Mayor Goldwyn. Paul Smith and Richard X. Slattery each portrayed Officer McMacMac. Colin Hamilton played the Man on Radio. Stanley Ralph Ross portrayed Jackie Joey. Sid Haig played Chief Running Nose. Caren Kaye portrayed Mimi Falters. Frank Cady played the Farmer. Johnny Brown portrayed Dandy Andy. Nathan Jung played King Fooey. Patrick Campbell portrayed the Store Manager. Mike Lawrence played the Newscaster. John Alvin portrayed Dr. Fishline. Alice Ghostley played Queen Bee, a bee-themed villainess controlling killer bees, with henchmen Spelling Bee (Hamilton Camp) and Bumble Bee (Al Mancini). Barry Dennen portrayed Mr. Mephisto, creator of living dolls, with henchwomen Baby Doll (Cathy Worthington) and Arlene Doll (Mindi Miller). Ivor Francis played the Tickler, a sad-faced clown criminal mastermind, with henchmen Twitter (Al Stellone) and Snicker (Doug Stevenson). Billy Curtis portrayed the Ringmaster, a diminutive circus owner holding children hostage, with henchmen Sam Strongman (H.B. Haggerty) and Bonnie Bon (Simone Griffeth). Marty Allen played Lorenzo Musica, a failed musician robbing a telethon, with henchmen Andante (Tom Sherohman) and Allegro (Michael McManus). Sid Haig and Edward Andrews portrayed No Face, a faceless master of disguise (voice by an uncredited third actor), with henchmen Pillage (Timothy Scott) and Plunder (David Proval). Jonathan Harris played the Astrologer, a TV prognosticator planning an atomic bomb, with henchmen Castor (Sandy McPeak) and Pollux (James Gammon). Julie Newmar portrayed Ultra Witch, a sorceress souring the world's milk, with henchmen Toil (Richard Bakalyan) and Trouble (Joe E. Tata). Arthur Malet played the Wizard, a Merlin-like magician miniaturizing monuments, with henchmen Mumbo (Victor Paul) and Jumbo (Mickey Morton).