A dinner was served for threeAt Dracula’s house by the seaThe hors d’oeurves were fineBut I choked on my wineWhen I learned that the main course was me!
The waitress a vampire named PerkinsWas so very fond of small gherkinsWhile she served the tea, she ate 43Which pickled her internal workins!
Three things to know about our annual Buttkickin’ Halloween Songs:
- Our first song of the year is always a rockin’ barnstomer.
- Our final song of the year is always a big epic closer.
- Our second song of the year — like our selection today — is always a novelty number!
Which brings us to Dinner With Drac Pt. 1, a wondrously kitschy 1958 novelty from horror legend John Zacherle / Zacherley / Roland… listen the guy went by many names, and for northeastern types he was worshipped by horror fans and film geeks alike for his late-night syndicated horror movie show Shock Theater.
I was a kid of South Florida of the 70s and 80s, so Shock Theater never registered here. However we got plenty of horror thrills with the like of Creature Features, Chiller Theatre, and especially my beloved Nite Owl Movies with Big Wilson. Lemme tell you, when you’re a lifelong insomniac, staying up to watch movies with Big Wilson was always a joy for this kid.
But I digress. Dinner With Drac Pt. 1 is old-school Halloween horror camp: mono, dated, scratchy, ridiculous, silly, and great fun. Zacherle is in full goofy/creepy effect here: over-the-top and going for the yuks while still bringing some boppin 50s swing. As for subject matter: it’s uh, dinner at Dracula’s house. That’s it. Lots of rhymes and puns and family-friendly fun.
We’re in full Ed Wood territory, and damn isn’t that just what Halloween’s for? Spook and swing, dinner guests! Goodnight whatever you are!
Dracula old friendHow are things in TransylvaniaFor dessert there was batwing confettiAnd the veins of a mummy named BettyI first frowned upon itBut with ketchup on itIt tasted very much like spaghetti!
