Tales From The Crypt...

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Tales from the Crypt is a horror anthology American TV series that ran from 1989 to 1996 on the premium cable channel HBO. The title was based on the 1950s EC Comics series of the same name and most of the content originated in that comic or the four other EC Comics of the time (Haunt of Fear, Vault of Horror, Crime SuspenStories and Shock SuspenStories). The show was produced by HBO with uncredited association by The Geffen Film Company and Warner Bros. Television (all part of a production consortium officially called Tales From The Crypt Holdings). The series is not to be confused with the 1972 film by the same name or Tales from the Darkside, another similarly themed horror anthology series.

It was one of the few anthology series to be allowed to have full freedom from censorship by the FCC, because it was on HBO, a premium cable television station. The station allowed the series to contain graphic violence as well as other content that had not appeared in most television series up to that time, such as profanity, gore, nudity, and sexual situations.

John Kassir... the voice of the Crypt Keeper!

Sometimes it's an enjoyable walk down memory lane. In 1989, one of my favorite shows came on TV. The fact that it was on HBO made it all the better. As stated above, HBO gave this show the freedom to be as graphic in violence, gore, and horror as going to the theater or renting an "R" rated DVD... video tape back then! I watched this all the time and enjoyed most of the episodes very much. The video clip below is of the episode with Ed Begley, Jr. and Tim Curry. Begley plays a tombstone salesman who sells bogus tombstones to people and then kills them. Tim curry plays multiple roles in this show as a family who hates salesmen. It's a great episode and one of my favorites. The other clip at the end of this post is the introduction to the show. There were many big time stars who went on this show... Brad Pitt, Demi Moore, Beau Bridges, Whoopi Goldberg, Kirk Douglas, Treat Williams, Tom Hanks, Joe Pesci, Bill Paxton, Lou Diamond Phillips, John Stamos, and Michael Ironsides... just to name a few. All 7 seasons are available on DVD and I would highly recommend taking the time to watch a few of these to get your horror fix. Check out both videos and enjoy!

Death of Some Salesmen (Episode Clip)Ed Begley Jr. stars as a door-to-door salesman who has come to the wrong house; Tim Curry plays multiple parts as the oddly eager family looking to buy what he has to sell.


Intro to the show...

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