Now broadcasting on WSIU, “Midnite Mausoleum” is a nostalgia-inducing production for those who watched other movie-riffing shows like Elvira’s “Movie Macabre” and “Svengoolie.”
Debuting on MySpace in 2009, “Midnite Mausoleum” began as a small passion project based around the concepts of other shows: Creature Features, Commander USA and Zombo. Creators Blake Powell and Marlena Midnite had gone on a hike and discussed some of their favorite shows growing up, which lead to the pitch of starting “Midnite Mausoleum.”
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They brainstormed names for the show and began with the idea of “Midnite Hour,” but after developing the backstory for the host, Marlena Midnite, and that she lives atop the hill, in a mausoleum, of an old movie dumping ground, they came up with the name “Midnite Mausoleum.” Within three to nine months of launching on MySpace, the show had attracted 5,000 followers, signaling an early fanbase and growing buzz online.
The first 12 episodes of the show were shot in Midnite’s basement before being invited to broadcast on public access television at WQAD, a local news station based out of Moline, Illinois. The show was being streamed on 12 channels by the end of 2009, and increased to 60 channels by 2010. They now broadcast across eastern Iowa and western and southern Illinois.
Their first broadcast in southern Illinois was on Oct. 2, when they streamed “Horror Express,” a 1972 sci-fi/horror movie about a prehistoric creature that causes chaos among a train as it is being transported on to Europe.
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The concept of “Midnite Mausoleum” is to host movies while not commenting over the dialogue, but in between clips, providing fun banter between the host and supporting cast, trivia about the movie and skits to humor the audience.
“We haven’t done a retake for the last 8 years,” Powell said.
They want it to feel like the viewers are watching the movie with the cast, and retaking the shots would feel scripted, the host and director said. It gives a live, on-air effect to the show. The show feels completely unscripted, even Marlena Midnite’s interaction with Woolfred, a foil character that was introduced to drop the process of scripting dialogue.
The hosts pick the movies they show at random. The only thing the movie must follow to make the cut is to be one of sci-fi, horror or film noir.
“There is always one good shot in every movie,” Powell said. “It doesn’t have to be good, it just has to be funny.”
Their next screening is on Oct. 11 on WSIU, with “The Brain That Wouldn’t Die” from 1962. The rest of October is scheduled to be: “Grave of the Vampire” from 1972 on Oct. 18, “Nightmare Castle” from 1965 on Oct. 25, and “Fangs of the Living Dead” from 1969 on Nov. 1.
“Midnite Mausoleum” airs on WSIU through PBS.org, the free PBS app, or the WSIU+ 8 app Saturday nights at 10 p.m.
Staff reporter Carmen J. Tapley can be reached at [email protected].
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