Tales from the Crypt (1989 — 1996)

Initially titled HBO’s Tales from the Crypt (1989–1996), this American horror anthology television series aired for seven seasons on the premium cable channel from June 10, 1989, to July 19, 1996. Being on HBO, a network with different content standards than most others, allowed Tales from the Crypt to feature explicit elements like violence, profanity, sexual activity, and nudity. Each episode opens with a tracking shot leading to the front door of the decaying mansion belonging to the series’ host, the Cryptkeeper. The camera then moves down from the foyer into the basement while he emerges from his coffin and manically laughs; green slime covering the screen as the main title appears. The Cryptkeeper is portrayed as an animated corpse, in contrast to his living human depiction in the original comics.

Performed by a talented team of puppeteers including Van Snowden, Mike Elizalde, Frank Charles Lutkus, Patty Maloney, David Arthur Nelson, Anton Rupprecht, Shaun Smith, David Stinnent, Mike Trcic, and Brock Winkless, the Cryptkeeper provided plenty of wisecracks throughout each episode. His intentionally stereotyped jokes and puns were a signature part of the show, often greeting viewers with his famous lines: ‘Hello, Boils and Ghouls’ or ‘Hello, Kiddies’. Each self-contained episode was accompanied by an outro sequence featuring the Cryptkeeper. The show also featured comic book cover art created by Mike Vosburg and Shawn McManus.