View source for Kolchak: The Night Stalker


{{More citations needed|date=September 2022}}

{{Infobox television
| image                =
| caption              = 
| runtime              = 50–51 minutes
| creator              = Jeff Rice
| genre                = {{Plainlist|
* [[Occult detective fiction]]
}}
| starring             = {{Plainlist|
* [[Darren McGavin]]
* [[Simon Oakland]]
* [[Jack Grinnage]]
* [[Ruth McDevitt]]
}}
| theme_music_composer = [[Gil Mellé]]
| composer             = {{Plainlist|
* [[Bob Cobert]] <small>(TV movies)</small>
* [[Gil Mellé]]
* [[Jerry Fielding]]
* Greig McRitchie <small>(one episode)</small>
* Luchi De Jesus <small>(one episode)</small>
}}
| country              = United States
| company              = {{Plainlist|
* Francy Productions Inc.
* [[Universal Television]]
}}
| network              = [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1974|9|13}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|1975|3|28}}
| num_episodes         = 20
| list_episodes        = 
| related              = {{Plainlist|
* ''[[The Night Strangler (film)|The Night Strangler]]''
* ''[[Night Stalker (TV series)|Night Stalker]]'' 
}} 
}}

'''''Kolchak: The Night Stalker''''' is an American television series that aired on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] during the 1974–1975 season. The series followed [[News agency|wire service]] reporter Carl Kolchak ([[Darren McGavin]]) who investigates mysterious crimes with unlikely causes, particularly those involving the [[supernatural]] or [[science fiction]], including fantastic creatures. The series was preceded by the two [[Television film|television movies]], ''[[The Night Stalker (1972 film)|The Night Stalker]]'' (1972) and ''[[The Night Strangler (film)|The Night Strangler]]'' (1973). Although the series lasted only a single season, it developed [[Cult following|cult status]] in syndication.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Petty |first=Michael John |date=February 11, 2023 |title=How 'Kolchak: The Night-Stalker' Inspired Shows Like 'The X-Files' and 'Supernatural' |url=https://collider.com/kolchak-the-night-stalker-x-files-supernatural/ |access-date=May 21, 2024 |website=Collider |language=en}}</ref>

[[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Chris Carter]] cited Kolchak as a "tremendous influence" in creating his franchise ''[[The X-Files]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/10/23/17989508/x-files-25th-anniversary-monsters-of-the-week-excerpt-todd-vanderwerff |title=How The X-Files invented modern television |first=Emily |last=VanDerWerff |date=October 23, 2018 |website=Vox |access-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-date=January 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106162637/https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/10/23/17989508/x-files-25th-anniversary-monsters-of-the-week-excerpt-todd-vanderwerff |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=F>{{cite web|work=[[Forbes]]|date=February 23, 2012 |title=Johnny Depp's 'Kolchak, the Night Stalker' Will Be Made by...Disney?|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolpinchefsky/2012/02/23/johnny-depps-kolchak-the-night-stalker-will-be-made-by-disney/|access-date=September 2, 2017 |archive-date=January 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170115205940/http://www.forbes.com/sites/carolpinchefsky/2012/02/23/johnny-depps-kolchak-the-night-stalker-will-be-made-by-disney/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2005, inspired by that success, ''The X-Files'' producer [[Frank Spotnitz]] resurrected the series as ''[[Night Stalker (TV series)|Night Stalker]],'' but the new series was unable to compete with [[CBS]]' ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation|C.S.I.]]''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jane |first=Ian |date=26 May 2006 |title=Night Stalker - The Complete Series |url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/21881/night-stalker-the-complete-series/ |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=www.dvdtalk.com}}</ref> and was cancelled after only six of the ten episodes that had been produced were aired on ABC.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hansen |first=John |date=2011-02-01 |title='Night Stalker' (2005) brings Kolchak into 21st century |url=https://reviewsfrommycouch.com/2011/02/television/one-season-wonders-night-stalker/ |access-date=2024-05-21 |language=en-US}}</ref> The full ten-episode series was eventually aired on the [[Syfy|Sci-Fi Channel]] in the summer of 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Night Stalker, The (television) |url=https://d23.com/a-to-z/night-stalker-the-television/ |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=D23 |language=en-US}}</ref> Several comics and novels<ref>{{Cite web |last=ThriftBooks |title=Kolchak: The Night Stalker Book Series |url=https://www.thriftbooks.com/series/kolchak-the-night-stalker/125139/ |access-date=2024-05-21 |publisher=ThriftBooks |language=en}}</ref> based upon the original series have been published.

==Origins==
===''The Night Stalker''===
{{Main|The Night Stalker (1972 film)}}

The character originated in ''The Kolchak Papers'', a novel written by Jeff Rice.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Kolchak Papers - The Ohio Digital Library - OverDrive |url=https://ohdbks.overdrive.com/media/2941590 |access-date=September 22, 2023 |website=The Ohio Digital Library |language=en |archive-date=October 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022000153/https://ohdbks.overdrive.com/media/2941590 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the novel and film, a [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]] newspaper reporter named Carl Kolchak ([[Darren McGavin]]) tracks down and defeats a [[serial killer]] who turns out to be the [[vampire]] Janos Skorzeny ([[Barry Atwater]]).<ref>{{Cite web |date=n.d. |title=The Kolchak Papers: The Original Novels by Jeff Rice |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781933076294 |access-date=September 22, 2023 |website=Publishers Weekly |archive-date=December 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226031827/https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781933076294 |url-status=live }}</ref> The novel gives Kolchak's birth name as "Karel", although he uses the anglicized version "Carl". [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] approached Rice with an offer to [[option (films)|option]] ''The Kolchak Papers'', which was adapted by [[Richard Matheson]] into a television movie. At the time it was optioned for the screen, the novel was unpublished.<ref name=RetFan11>{{cite magazine |last=Spangler |first=Bill |date=November 2020 |url=https://retrofan.org/ |title=Creatures & Conspiracies: The Truth-Seeking Hero of Kolchak: The Night Stalker |magazine=RetroFan |issue=11 |pages=21–26}}</ref> ''The Night Stalker'' first aired January 11, 1972, and garnered the highest ratings of any television movie at that time (33.2 rating—54 share).<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Alltime Top 20 Movies on TV|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=December 13, 1972|page=26|url=https://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-12-13_269_5/page/26/mode/1up|access-date=December 10, 2023|via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> Matheson received a 1973 [[Edgar Awards|Edgar Award]] from the [[Mystery Writers of America]] for Best TV Feature or Miniseries Teleplay.

===''The Night Strangler''===
{{Main|The Night Strangler (film)}}
Impressed by the success of the first television movie, ABC commissioned Richard Matheson to write a second movie, ''The Night Strangler'' (1973). A fictional version of [[Seattle Underground]] was used as a setting for much of the movie's action. [[Richard Anderson]] played the titular villain Dr. Richard Malcolm,<ref name=RetFan11/> and Darren McGavin and [[Simon Oakland]] reprised their roles as Carl Kolchak and Kolchak's editor, Tony Vincenzo, respectively.

===Novel tie-ins===
Following the success of the TV movie, the novel was published in 1973 by [[Pocket Books]] as a mass-market paperback original, titled ''The Night Stalker'', with a photo of Darren McGavin on the cover in order to tie it to the film.<ref name=RetFan11/> Rice authored a [[novelization]] of ''The Night Strangler'' based on Matheson's screenplay. The novel was published in 1974 by Pocket Books as a mass-market paperback original. The books were republished in 2007 by [[Moonstone Books|Moonstone]] in an omnibus edition entitled ''The Kolchak Papers''. Moonstone Books had been producing and publishing ''Kolchak'' comic books since 2002.<ref name=RetFan11/>

== Production ==
{{More citations needed section|date=August 2020}}
In late 1973, Matheson and [[William F. Nolan]] completed the script for an intended third television movie, to be titled ''The Night Killers'',<ref>{{cite book |title=Richard Matheson's Kolchak Scripts |last=Matheson |first=Richard |year=2003 |publisher=Gauntlet Press |isbn=1-887368-64-7 |ref=Matheson}}</ref> a story about [[Android (robot)|android]] replicas. ABC decided that it wanted a weekly series instead.<ref name="Martin">[[Robert "Bob" Martin|Martin, Bob]] and David Hirsch, "'Kolchak: The Night Stalker'", ''Starlog Photo Guidebook: TV Episode Guides'', Vol. 2, [[Starlog|Starlog Press, Inc.]], January 1982, p. 84.</ref>

After some negotiation, McGavin agreed to return as Kolchak and also served as the series' [[executive producer]], though he was not credited as such.<ref name="Martin" /> However, neither ABC nor [[Universal Television|Universal]] had obtained Jeff Rice's permission and he sued the studio.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weeklyuniverse.com/2003/kolchak.htm |title=Return of Carl Kolchak: Night Stalker & Paranormal Investigator |author=Vanessa Cortez |date=September 12, 2003 |publisher=Weekly Universe |access-date=June 28, 2010 |archive-date=November 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130034710/http://weeklyuniverse.com/2003/kolchak.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The suit was resolved shortly before the series aired in the fall 1974 season, replacing ''[[Toma (TV series)|Toma]]'' on the network's Friday night schedule. Rice received an on-screen credit as series creator. The first four episodes aired under the title of ''The Night Stalker''. After a month-long hiatus, the series was renamed and returned as ''Kolchak: The Night Stalker''.<ref name="Companion">"The Night Stalker Companion: A 25th Anniversary Tribute", by Mark Dawidziak.</ref> The later home video releases of the television series also used that title.

The series theme had originally been part of the music score that [[Gil Mellé]] had composed for ''The Questor Tapes'', which was also produced by [[MCA Inc.|MCA]]/Universal Television.<ref>Schow, David commentary track for ''Kolchak: The Night Stalker'' Blu-ray</ref> While the show was set in [[Chicago]] and some generic location/background filming was done there in summer and early fall, the show was filmed primarily in [[Los Angeles]] and at [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]].

[[Jimmy Sangster]], known for having written some of the [[Hammer Horror]] films, wrote the episode "Horror in the Heights".<ref name=RetFan11/> The series provided the first professional writing credit for [[Robert Zemeckis]] and his writing partner [[Bob Gale]], who wrote the script for the episode "Chopper". [[David Chase]] also worked on the series as a story editor, his first regular staff position in [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]]. Though Chase is credited on eight episodes as story editor, he also helped rewrite the remaining 12. McGavin and others attribute much of the show's quirky humor to his creative input.

''Kolchak: The Night Stalker'' was plagued with problems from the start, including budgetary issues and McGavin constantly struggling with the series's producer [[Cy Chermak]] over the direction.<ref name=RetFan11/> The show's ratings were mediocre and McGavin was growing dissatisfied, resulting in its cancellation after one year. The series aired on Friday nights at 10 p.m., a virtual graveyard for most TV series, particularly one aimed at a younger audience. In January 1975, the show was moved to Friday nights at 8 p.m., where it remained until June 1975. In August 1975, ABC moved ''Kolchak'' to Saturday nights at 8 p.m for four final weeks of reruns. McGavin found himself rewriting scripts and doing much of the work of a producer, but without getting either the full credit or the full compensation of one. McGavin had been unhappy with what he felt was the show's "[[Villain of the week|monster of the week]]" direction, and an exhausting filming schedule. He asked to be released from his contract with two episodes remaining to be filmed, which the network granted in light of the show's dwindling ratings.

Two television movies, ''The Demon and the Mummy'' and ''[[Crackle of Death]]'', were cobbled together in 1976. Each contains new footage as well as previously screened episodes from the series. McGavin provided a voice-over for both, which allowed the narrative to maintain some continuity.

The ''Kolchak'' series completely vanished after ABC's final repeat, which was the premiere episode "The Ripper", broadcast early September 1975. On May 25, 1979, ''[[The CBS Late Movie]]'' resurrected ''Kolchak'' with the fourth installment "The Vampire". The return of ''Kolchak'' proved a smash success. [[CBS]] pulled the series during midsummer and saved it for the fall premiere where it was expected to bring in more viewers. Universal held back four episodes to make two television movies. So successful was ''Kolchak'' on CBS late night, it was brought back two more times in 1981 and 1987-1988. After 1990, Universal pulled the two episodic "TV movies" and finally released the missing four episodes that CBS was not allowed to air. All 20 episodes of ''Kolchak'' were seen for the first time since 1975 in their original format on the [[Syfy|Sci-Fi Channel]] in the early 1990s. They were released by [[Columbia House]] on home video and DVD in 2005.

==Plot==
Carl Kolchak is an investigative reporter for the Chicago branch of the Independent News Service (INS), a small news agency. He often investigates bizarre or supernatural activities. Each episode is book-ended by Kolchak speaking into his portable cassette recorder or writing about what has transpired as his narration is heard during the episode.

==Characters==
===INS characters===
* '''Carl Kolchak''' (portrayed by [[Darren McGavin]]) - Kolchak is a talented but outspoken investigative reporter with an affinity for bizarre and supernatural occurrences, obtaining information driving around Chicago in his yellow [[Ford Mustang]] convertible and snatching exclusives armed with his compact [[Rollei#Rollei subminiature cameras|Rollei 16]] camera and portable cassette recorder. He is perpetually dressed in a blue and white striped seesucker suit. Using only limited information, Kolchak has cracked several cases relying on gut instinct and often prevailing through sheer dumb luck. Often Kolchak's prospects are hampered by law enforcement personnel, other people getting in the way, and the destruction or confiscation of evidence which prove his claims which advance the sheer implausibility of his stories where his peers are concerned and causes his boss Tony Vincenzo to get frustrated. On other occasions, his investigations have led to demotion or relocation of varying authority figures who witnessed what happened, though reasons for these actions are never fully disclosed.
* '''Tony Vincenzo''' (portrayed by [[Simon Oakland]]) — Kolchak's bellicose and frustrated editor-in-chief and one of the only people willing to tolerate Kolchak's antics, despite their frequent arguments. Vincenzo has a grudging respect for Kolchak's reporting skills, but often finds himself caught between Kolchak's zeal and his own management responsibilities. Vincenzo's hot temper often affects his blood pressure and digestion and he sometimes laments that he did not go into his family's Venetian blinds business.
* '''Ron Updyke''' (portrayed by [[Jack Grinnage]]) — A reporter and Kolchak's supercilious rival at INS whom Kolchak repeatedly refers to as "Uptight". A [[San Francisco]] native, Updyke is the opposite of Kolchak, always smartly dressed and hobnobbing with [[Chicago]]'s elite. He appeared in 18 episodes.
* '''Emily Cowles''' (portrayed by [[Ruth McDevitt]]) — An elderly puzzles and advice columnist known as "Miss Emily". Cowles aspires to be a novelist and expresses passion for issues relating to the elderly. She is often sympathetic toward Kolchak and the two share a warm working relationship. She appeared in 12 episodes.
* '''Monique Marmelstein''' (portrayed by [[Carol Ann Susi]]) — A graduate of the [[Columbia School of Journalism]] and an intern whose Uncle Abe is highly placed in INS management. Despite her education and enthusiasm, many of her coworkers believe she got her job due to nepotism, an allegation she denies. She appeared in three episodes.

===Other recurring characters===
* '''Gordon''' "'''Gordy The Ghoul'''" '''Spangler''' (portrayed by [[John Fiedler]]) — A city morgue attendant and sometimes source of information for Kolchak. Gordy runs a lottery pool based on death statistics and other factors. He appears in three episodes.
* '''Captain''' "'''Mad Dog'''" '''Siska''' (portrayed by [[Keenan Wynn]]) — A Chicago [[police captain]] whose efforts to rein in his volatile temper were constantly thwarted by Kolchak's abrasiveness. He appeared in two episodes.

==Music==
[[Robert Cobert]] scored the music for the original television movies. [[Gil Mellé]] wrote the music for the TV series, beginning with the theme that begins with Kolchak whistling in the opening credits. Mellé was offered the assignment with only 20 minutes before the opening credits were to be shot.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mania.com/music-la-melle-part-2_article_43016.html|title=Answerbag.com - Ask Questions, Get Answers, Find Information|work=Answerbag|access-date=March 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306015336/http://www.mania.com/music-la-melle-part-2_article_43016.html|archive-date=March 6, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> With no time to compose a new theme, Mellé remembered a secondary theme that he had previously written for ''[[The Questor Tapes]],'' an unsold pilot. As that had also been produced under Universal Television, the company already had the rights to the work and Mellé quickly adapted it for ''The Night Stalker''.<ref name="Companion" />

Mellé left the series after the fourth episode, saying it was becoming too light-hearted.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/2888/Kolchak+The+Night+Stalker+1974+75+series+|title=Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974-75 series)|work=fulvuedrive-in.com|access-date=March 22, 2008 |archive-date=August 8, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808182628/http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/2888/Kolchak+The+Night+Stalker+1974+75+series+|url-status=live}}</ref> Composer [[Jerry Fielding]] took over scoring music for the remaining series, augmented by one score each from Greig McRitchie (best known for his collaborations with Fielding, and [[James Horner]]), and Luchi De Jesus. [[Music supervisor]] [[Hal Mooney]] reused much of Mellé's score in various later episodes (most notably "The Spanish Moss Murders", which has no credited score composer) along with material from the other composers.

Two soundtrack albums have been produced. One released in 2000 by [[Varèse Sarabande]] features two suites of Cobert's music from the TV movies. The other, a bootleg copy of Melle's private tapes, features his theme and scores written for the first three episodes ("The Ripper", "They Have Been, They Are, They Will Be..." and "The Vampire"), and two cues from the TV movie ''The Questor Tapes''.

The Mellé theme also appears on the [[TVT Records]]' ''[[Television's Greatest Hits]] Volume 5''. However, all licensed soundtrack recordings of the theme use an otherwise rare original recording alternate take of the theme. Initially identifiable by the altered opening whistle, an off-key electronic note is seemingly randomly introduced towards the end, but when synchronized with the picture it corresponds to a specific visual. Mellé was known for his innovative use of electronic orchestration (which was used throughout the series); however, the producers chose not to include this stylistic element in his main title for broadcast, instead opting for a more conventional all-orchestral sound.

== Episodes ==
{{Episode table |background=#AC1D24 |overall=5 |title= |director=25 |writer=25 |airdate=18 |episodes={{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=1
 |Title=The Ripper
 |DirectedBy=[[Allen Baron]]
 |WrittenBy=[[Rudolph Borchert]]
 |OriginalAirDate={{start date|1974|9|13}}
 |ShortSummary=Kolchak argues that a serial killer is actually [[Jack the Ripper]].

Guest stars: [[Beatrice Colen]], [[Ken Lynch]], [[Roberta Collins]], [[Marya Small]]

* '''Note''': Included with "The Vampire" in ''The Night Stalker: Two Tales of Terror'' video compilation.
 |LineColor=AC1D24
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=2
 |Title=The Zombie
 |DirectedBy=[[Alex Grasshoff]]
 |WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay
 | t = [[David Chase]];
 | ex1 = [[Zekial Marko]]
 | tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}
 | ex1label = {{abbr|S/T|Story and teleplay by}}
 }}
 |OriginalAirDate={{start date|1974|9|20}}
 |ShortSummary=Marie Juliette Edmonds, a woman whose grandson François was murdered by mobsters, uses [[Haitian Vodou|voodoo]] to turn him into a [[zombie]] and take revenge.

Guest stars: [[Charles Aidman]], [[Joseph Sirola]], [[Val Bisoglio]], [[J. Pat O'Malley]], [[John Fiedler]], [[Antonio Fargas]], [[Scatman Crothers]], [[Cosmo Sardo]]

* '''Note''': Originally listed in ''[[TV Guide]]'' as the show's debut episode.
 |LineColor=AC1D24
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=3
 |Title=They Have Been, They Are, They Will Be...
 |DirectedBy=[[Allen Baron]]
 |WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay
 | s = Dennis Clark;
 | t = Rudolph Borchert
 | slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}
 | tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}
 }}
 |OriginalAirDate={{start date|1974|9|27}}
 |ShortSummary=Also known as "U.F.O."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/2888/Kolchak+The+Night+Stalker+1974+75+series+|title=Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974-75 series)|website=www.fulvuedrive-in.com|access-date=December 16, 2018 |archive-date=November 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181111230700/http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/2888/Kolchak+The+Night+Stalker+1974+75+series+|url-status=live}}</ref> An invisible [[Extraterrestrial life|alien]] sucks out the bone marrow of its victims while it makes repairs on its spaceship and looks for directions home.

Sportscaster [[Dick Enberg]] can be heard on Kolchak's car radio calling game 1 of a fictional [[World Series]] between the [[Chicago Cubs]] and [[Boston Red Sox]]. 
 |LineColor=AC1D24
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=4
 |Title=The Vampire
 |DirectedBy=[[Don Weis]]
 |WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay
 | s = Bill Stratton;
 | t = David Chase
 | slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}
 | tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}
 }}
 |OriginalAirDate={{start date|1974|10|4}}
 |ShortSummary=In a sequel to the first movie ''[[The Night Stalker (1972 film)|The Night Stalker]]'', an overlooked victim of the [[vampire]] Janos Skorzeny from [[Las Vegas]] named Catherine Rawlins makes her way to [[Los Angeles]] and begins killing anew.

Guest stars: [[William Daniels]], Suzanne Charny, [[John Doucette]], [[Larry Storch]], [[Kathleen Nolan]], [[Jan Murray]]

* '''Note''': Typically shown as the first episode of the 16 originally available for syndication and included with "The Ripper" in ''The Night Stalker: Two Tales of Terror'' video compilation.
 |LineColor=AC1D24
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=5
 |Title=The Werewolf
 |DirectedBy=Allen Baron
 |WrittenBy=David Chase and Paul Playdon
 |OriginalAirDate={{start date|1974|11|1}}
 |ShortSummary= In snowy Chicago, the INS crew hold a send-off for Tony Vincenzo who is heading on a singles cruise, but he gets audited instead. Kolchak wheedles his way into taking his place on the cruise and ends up battling a [[werewolf]] on a killing spree.

Guest stars: [[Eric Braeden]], [[Dick Gautier]], [[Henry Jones (actor)|Henry Jones]], [[Nita Talbot]], [[Bob Hastings]]
 |LineColor=AC1D24
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=6
 |Title=Firefall
 |DirectedBy=Don Weis
 |WrittenBy=[[Bill S. Ballinger]]
 |OriginalAirDate={{start date|1974|11|8}}
 |ShortSummary=The [[ghost]] of arsonist Frankie Markoff tries to take over renowned conductor Ryder Bond's body as his [[doppelgänger]] and kills a number of Bond's associates by [[spontaneous human combustion]].

Guest stars: [[Fred Beir]], [[Philip Carey]], [[Virginia Vincent]], [[Alice Backes]], [[David Doyle (actor)|David Doyle]], [[George Sawaya]]

* '''Note''': This episode was combined with "The Energy Eater" and new narration by Darren McGavin to compose the [[television film]] ''[[Crackle of Death]]'', effectively removing it from the original syndication. One of the locations used, St. Joseph Catholic Church in Los Angeles, burned down in 1983.
 |LineColor=AC1D24
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=7
 |Title=The Devil's Platform
 |DirectedBy=Allen Baron
 |WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay
 | s = Tim Maschler;
 | t = Donn Mullally
 | slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}
 | tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}
 }}
 |OriginalAirDate={{start date|1974|11|15}}
 |ShortSummary=Robert Palmer ([[Tom Skerritt]]), a politician on a meteoric rise, murders his opposition through a pact with [[Satan]] which gives him the ability to turn into an invulnerable dog.

Guest stars: Tom Skerritt, [[Julie Gregg]], [[Ellen Weston]]
 |LineColor=AC1D24
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=8
 |Title=Bad Medicine
 |DirectedBy=Alex Grasshoff
 |WrittenBy=L. Ford Neale & John Huff
 |OriginalAirDate={{start date|1974|11|29}}
 |ShortSummary=The first episode based on an [[Native Americans in the United States|American Native]] legend, a [[shaman]] spirit called the Diablero ([[Richard Kiel]]) murders for jewels to pay back his debt and be released from his Earthly bonds.

Guest stars: Richard Kiel, [[Ramon Bieri]], [[Victor Jory]], [[Alice Ghostley]]
 |LineColor=AC1D24
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=9
 |Title=The Spanish Moss Murders
 |DirectedBy=[[Gordon Hessler]]
 |WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay
 | t = David Chase;
 | ex1 = Al Friedman
 | tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}
 | ex1label = {{abbr|S/T|Story and teleplay by}}
 }}
 |OriginalAirDate={{start date|1974|12|6}}
 |ShortSummary=A dreaming host who is part of a sleep study project conjures up the Louisiana Creole legend of ''Père Malfait'' ({{langx|fr|"father [of] mischief/wrongdoing/sin"}}) <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnrtl.fr/definition/dmf/MALFAIT|title=MALFAIT : Définition de MALFAIT|access-date=November 17, 2019 |archive-date=November 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117003256/https://www.cnrtl.fr/definition/dmf/MALFAIT|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://translate.google.com/?hl=en&tab=wT&authuser=0#view=home&op=translate&sl=fr&tl=en&text=M%C3%A9fait%2C%20mauvaise%20action%2C%20p%C3%A9ch%C3%A9|title=Google Translate|access-date=November 17, 2019 |archive-date=September 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903212949/https://translate.google.com/?hl=en&tab=wT&authuser=0#view=home&op=translate&sl=fr&tl=en&text=M%C3%A9fait%2C%20mauvaise%20action%2C%20p%C3%A9ch%C3%A9|url-status=live}}</ref> (Richard Kiel) willing to kill anyone who threatens its survival.

Guest stars: Richard Kiel, [[Severn Darden]], [[Keenan Wynn]]
 |LineColor=AC1D24
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=10
 |Title=The Energy Eater
 |DirectedBy=Alex Grasshoff
 |WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay
 | t = Rudolph Bochert;
 | ex1 = [[Arthur Rowe (screenwriter)|Arthur Rowe]]
 | tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}
 | ex1label = {{abbr|S/T|Story and teleplay by}}
 }}
 |OriginalAirDate={{start date|1974|12|13}}
 |ShortSummary=A hospital is built on reclaimed land inhabited by the American Native [[Bear worship|bear god]] Matchemonedo<ref>{{Citation |title=Potawatomit |date=November 5, 2020 |url=https://fi.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Potawatomit&oldid=19295047 |work=Wikipedia |language=fi |access-date=September 6, 2020 |archive-date=October 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022000240/https://fi.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Potawatomit&oldid=19295047 |url-status=live }}</ref> which feeds on all forms of energy.

Guest stars: [[William Smith (actor)|William Smith]], [[Tom Drake]], [[Elaine Giftos]], [[Michael Strong]], [[John Alvin (actor)|John Alvin]], [[Michael Fox (American actor)|Michael Fox]], [[Robert Cornthwaite (actor)|Robert Cornthwaite]]

* '''Note''': This episode was combined with "Firefall" and new narration by Darren McGavin to compose the television film ''Crackle of Death'', effectively removing it from the original syndication.
 |LineColor=AC1D24
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=11
 |Title=Horror in the Heights
 |DirectedBy=[[Michael Caffey|Michael T. Caffey]]
 |WrittenBy=[[Jimmy Sangster]]
 |OriginalAirDate={{start date|1974|12|20}}
 |ShortSummary=A flesh-eating Hindu demon called the [[Rakshasa]], which can assume the form of someone its victim trusts, terrorizes a Jewish neighborhood.

Guest stars: [[Phil Silvers]], [[Murray Matheson]], [[Abraham Sofaer]], [[Benny Rubin]], [[Shelly Novack]], [[Barry Gordon]]
 |LineColor=AC1D24
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=12
 |Title=Mr. R.I.N.G.
 |DirectedBy=[[Gene Levitt]]
 |WrittenBy=L. Ford Neale & John Huff
 |OriginalAirDate={{start date|1975|1|10}}
 |ShortSummary=An escaped [[Android (robot)|android]] named Mr. R.I.N.G. (performed by [[Craig R. Baxley]]) murders anyone that threatens its survival.

Guest stars: [[Julie Adams]], [[Corinne Camacho]], [[Bert Freed]], [[Henry Beckman]], [[Don "Red" Barry]]
 |LineColor=AC1D24
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=13
 |Title=Primal Scream
 |DirectedBy=[[Robert Scheerer]]
 |WrittenBy=[[Bill S. Ballinger]] and David Chase
 |OriginalAirDate={{start date|1975|1|17}}
 |ShortSummary=In light of a freezer malfunction, ancient cell samples discovered in the Arctic end up defrosting and growing into a savage prehistoric [[Hominidae|ape-man]] (performed by Gary Baxley) which goes on a murderous rampage as a police manhunt ensues. One science teacher that Kolchak consults with on the description notes that this ape-man does not resemble any of the ancestral humans.

Guest stars: [[John Marley]], [[Jamie Farr]], [[Katherine Woodville (actress)|Katherine Woodville]], [[Pat Harrington Jr.]], [[Barbara Rhoades]]
 |LineColor=AC1D24
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=14
 |Title=The Trevi Collection
 |DirectedBy=Don Weis
 |WrittenBy=Rudolph Borchert
 |OriginalAirDate={{start date|1975|1|24}}
 |ShortSummary=A witch named Madelaine Perkins ([[Lara Parker]]) desires to control the world of high fashion.

Guest stars: [[Lara Parker]], [[Nina Foch]], [[Marvin Miller (actor)|Marvin Miller]], [[Bernie Kopell]]
 |LineColor=AC1D24
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=15
 |Title=Chopper
 |DirectedBy=[[Bruce Kessler]]
 |WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay
 | s = [[Robert Zemeckis]] & [[Bob Gale]];
 | t = [[Steve Fisher (writer)|Steve Fisher]] and David Chase
 | slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}
 | tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}
 }}
 |OriginalAirDate={{start date|1975|1|31}}
 |ShortSummary=Harold "Swordsman" Baker, a [[Headless Horseman|headless motorcycle rider]], murders those who are responsible for his death.

Guest stars: [[Larry Linville]], [[Art Metrano]], [[Jim Backus]], [[Frank Aletter]], [[Sharon Farrell]], [[Jay Robinson]], [[Steve Franken]]
 |LineColor=AC1D24
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=16
 |Title=Demon in Lace
 |DirectedBy=Don Weis
 |WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay
 | t = [[Michael Kozoll]] and David Chase;
 | ex1 = Stephen Lord <!-- This is not the acrot of the same name, please do not re-link. -->
 | tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}
 | ex1label = {{abbr|S/T|Story and teleplay by}}
 }}
 |OriginalAirDate={{start date|1975|2|7}}
 |ShortSummary=An ancient [[Mesopotamia]]n clay tablet is presided over by a [[succubus]] (a female demon). The succubus possesses the corpses of recently deceased young women to murder young men (by giving them heart attacks) to maintain her immortality.

Guest stars: [[Andrew Prine]], [[Jackie Vernon (comedian)|Jackie Vernon]]

* '''Note''': This episode was combined with "Legacy of Terror" and new narration by Darren McGavin to compose the television film ''The Demon and The Mummy'', effectively removing it from the original syndication.
 |LineColor=AC1D24
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=17
 |Title=Legacy of Terror
 |DirectedBy=[[Don McDougall (director)|Don McDougall]]
 |WrittenBy=[[Arthur Rowe (screenwriter)|Arthur Rowe]]
 |OriginalAirDate={{start date|1975|2|14}}
 |ShortSummary=An ancient [[Aztec]] cult seeks to sustain their [[Mummy (undead)|mummified leader]] by sacrificing five perfect warriors.

Guest stars: [[Ramon Bieri]], [[Pippa Scott]], [[Victor Campos]], [[Sorrell Booke]], [[Erik Estrada]]

* '''Note''': This episode was combined with "Demon In Lace" and new narration by Darren McGavin to compose the television film ''The Demon and The Mummy'', but it is still in syndication airing on [[MeTV]] in New Jersey.<ref name="MeTV 2017 Schedule">{{cite web |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/metvnetwork/ygO4j-1494272343-MeTV%20Nat%20Sch%202Q17%20Eff%205-29-17%20E-P%20EXTERNAL.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=s3.amazonaws.com |access-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170515122549/https://s3.amazonaws.com/metvnetwork/ygO4j-1494272343-MeTV%20Nat%20Sch%202Q17%20Eff%205-29-17%20E-P%20EXTERNAL.pdf |archive-date=May 15, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
 |LineColor=AC1D24
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=18
 |Title=The Knightly Murders
 |DirectedBy=[[Vincent McEveety]]
 |WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay
 | s = Paul Magistretti;
 | t = Michael Kozoll and David Chase
 | slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}
 | tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}
 }}
 |OriginalAirDate={{start date|1975|3|7}}
 |ShortSummary=To prevent the destruction of its home, the spirit of the [[knight]] Guy de Mettancoeur reanimates his suit of armor to kill those responsible.

Guest stars: [[John Dehner]], [[Hans Conried]], [[Robert Emhardt]], [[Jeff Donnell]], [[Sidney Clute]], [[Shug Fisher]], [[Lieux Dressler]], [[Gregg Palmer]], [[Bryan O'Byrne]]
 |LineColor=AC1D24
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=19
 |Title=The Youth Killer
 |DirectedBy=Don McDougall
 |WrittenBy=Rudolph Borchert
 |OriginalAirDate={{start date|1975|3|14}}
 |ShortSummary=[[Helen of Troy]] ([[Cathy Lee Crosby]]) returns to drain the youth out of unsuspecting perfect victims as part of sacrifices for the goddess [[Hecate]] in her quest for immortality.

Guest stars: [[Cathy Lee Crosby]], [[Dwayne Hickman]], [[John Fiedler]], [[Kathleen Freeman]]
 |LineColor=AC1D24
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=20
 |Title=The Sentry
 |DirectedBy=[[Seymour Robbie]]
 |WrittenBy=L. Ford Neale & John Huff
 |OriginalAirDate={{start date|1975|3|28}}
 |ShortSummary=A [[Reptilian humanoid|humanoid lizard creature]] kills subterranean workers of a company who have stolen her eggs.

Guest stars: [[Kathie Browne]], [[Albert Paulsen]], [[John Hoyt]], [[Frank Marth]]

Special guest star: [[Tom Bosley]]
 |LineColor=AC1D24
}}
}}

===Unproduced scripts===
The series was cancelled with only 20 episodes completed. The initial order of 26 episodes meant there were scripts that were completed but unproduced. Three additional scripts commissioned before the series was cancelled still survive.<ref name="unscripts">{{cite web |url=http://www.darrenmcgavin.net/unproduced_ns_scripts.htm |title=Kolchak: The Night Stalker – The Unproduced Scripts |date=2019 |first1=S. L. |last1=Kotar |first2=J. E. |last2=Gessler |work=darrenmcgavin.net |access-date=October 23, 2013 |archive-date=August 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827162520/http://darrenmcgavin.net/unproduced_ns_scripts.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===="Eve of Terror", by Stephen Lord====
After a researcher is exposed to sonic stimulation in her laboratory, she becomes deranged and gains superhuman strength in a [[Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde|Jekyll and Hyde]]-type story, murdering people who do not conform with her ideas of [[Feminism in the United States|feminism]].<ref name="unscripts" />

===="The Get of Belial" by Donn Mullally====
Kolchak is assigned to cover a miners' strike in the mountains of [[West Virginia]]. He uncovers gruesome murders associated with a backwoods family and Kolchak suspects that they have some sort of inbred monster living with them.<ref name="unscripts" />

===="The Executioners" by Max Hodge====
Kolchak is demoted and is given the choice of writing obituaries or writing articles for the arts section. He chooses the latter and discovers a painting tied into a series of murders that Vincenzo is covering. These murders occur in a sequence of three, in which the first victim is hanged, the second executed with an ax, and the third poisoned. Working with an art expert, Kolchak attempts to unravel who or what is behind these bizarre murders and what they have to do with the painting, all without alerting Vincenzo that he is working on the same story.<ref name="unscripts" />

==Legacy==
Though Kolchak was short-lived as a series, its impact on popular culture has been 
substantial.<ref name=RetFan11/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/3809/Night+Stalker+2005+The+Complete+Series|title=Night Stalker (2005) - The Complete Series |work=fulvuedrive-in.com|access-date=March 27, 2008 |archive-date=August 7, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807010828/http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/3809/Night+Stalker+2005+The+Complete+Series|url-status=live}}</ref> In particular the series has been described as a predecessor to ''[[The X-Files]]'' (1993–2002, 2016, 2018). ''The X-Files''{{'}}s creator, [[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Chris Carter]], has acknowledged that the show had influenced him greatly in his own work. In one interview when told that the majority of the viewing public considered the success of ''The X-Files'' series as being inspired by shows such as ''[[The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)|The Twilight Zone]]'' or ''[[The Outer Limits (1963 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]'', Carter said that while those shows were indeed an influence on ''The X-Files'', it was only about 10 percent, with another 30 percent coming from the ''Kolchak'' series and the rest derived as being based upon original 'pure inspiration'. Carter paid tribute to ''Kolchak'' in a number of ways in the 
show.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Stargate/4991/kolchak/klchk10.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012223844/http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Stargate/4991/kolchak/klchk10.htm|title=X-Files vs. The Night Stalker|archive-date=October 12, 2007|work=geocities.com}}</ref> Several episodes featured a character named for Richard Matheson ([[Raymond J. Barry]]), screenwriter of the two pilot films. Carter wanted McGavin to appear as Kolchak in ''The X-Files'', but McGavin was unwilling to reprise the character for the show. He then pitched the idea of him portraying [[Fox Mulder]] ([[David Duchovny]])'s father Bill which he also turned down. He did eventually appear in several episodes as Arthur Dales, a retired [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent described as the "father of the X-Files". In the third episode of the 2016 [[The X-Files season 10|revival series]], Guy Mann ([[Rhys Darby]]), a character prominently featured in the episode "[[Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster]]" is conspicuously attired in Kolchak's signature [[seersucker]] jacket, black knit tie, and straw hat.

The first work to openly be inspired by ''Kolchak: The Night Stalker'' appeared less than a year after its original broadcast. The comic book ''[[The Tomb of Dracula]]'' #43 ([[cover date]]d April 1976) stars a character named Paul Butterworth, an investigative reporter with an obvious resemblance to Kolchak in both appearance and personality. Like Kolchak, he clashes with his editor, Paul Lamenzo, and is ultimately unable to get his story about a supernatural menace published. The inspiration is acknowledged by the story's title, "Paul Butterworth: The Night-Stalker".<ref name=RetFan11/>

Jim Knipfel in "The Omen: The Pedigree of a Horror Classic" on ''[[Den of Geek]]'', noted a number of similarities between the 1976 film franchise ''[[The Omen (franchise)|The Omen]]'' and the ''Kolchak: The Night Stalker'' episode "The Devil's Platform", concluding that, "In a way, watching 'The Devil’s Platform' is a bit like watching all three [[The Omen (franchise)|''Omen'' films]] from an outsider journalist’s perspective, except Kolchak is able to wrap the whole thing up neatly in an hour."<ref>{{cite web |title=The Omen: The Pedigree of a Horror Classic |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-omen-the-pedigree-of-a-horror-classic/ |website=[[Den of Geek]] |access-date=November 29, 2022 |date=June 25, 2019 |archive-date=November 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129132825/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-omen-the-pedigree-of-a-horror-classic/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The 1995 comic book ''[[Primortals]]'' #10 depicts a reporter named Carl calling his boss Vincenzo as he investigates the landing site of an alien spaceship. The issue's writer, Christopher Mills, later went on to write ''Kolchak'' comic books.<ref name=RetFan11/>

[[Gary Gygax]] has cited an episode of the series ("Horror in the Heights") as part of the inspiration behind the Rakshasa in the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' game.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gygax|first=Gary|date=September 22, 2005 |title=Q&A with Gary Gygax - Post 4703|url=https://www.enworld.org/threads/q-a-with-gary-gygax.22566/post-2600401|access-date=April 4, 2021 |work=enworld.org|archive-date=October 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022000158/https://www.enworld.org/threads/q-a-with-gary-gygax.22566/page-236#post-2600401|url-status=live}}</ref>

===2005 television series===
{{Main|Night Stalker (TV series)}}
Although Rice retains the rights to written Kolchak works, and [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]] owns the rights to the TV series, ABC maintained dramatic rights to the character and ownership of the two TV movies. The network began airing a new ''Night Stalker'' series on September 29, 2005, with the character Carl Kolchak portrayed by [[Stuart Townsend]]. On November 14, 2005, ABC and creator [[Frank Spotnitz]] announced that the new series was being cancelled due to low ratings. The complete 2005 series was released on DVD.

In a nod to the original series, the pilot episode has a brief shot of Darren McGavin lifted from the first TV movie, as the new Kolchak is walking through the ''Los Angeles Beacon'' newsroom.<ref name=RetFan11/> In another shot, when fellow reporter Perri Reed ([[Gabrielle Union]]) is searching through Kolchak's room, the hat McGavin wore in the original series is seen hanging on a coat rack.<ref name=RetFan11/> Other character names from the TV movies are referenced in various episodes, and one episode ("Timeless") recycled much of the plot of the TV movie ''The Night Strangler''. In the 1970s, the Kolchak character was often seen in his yellow 1966 [[Ford Mustang]] convertible, while the new series' Kolchak drives an orange Mustang from 2005. The ''Beacon''{{'}}s owner, the Crossbinder Corporation, was named after Llewllyn Crossbinder, the publisher in ''The Night Strangler''.<ref name=RetFan11/>

===Other projects===
In 1991, author [[Mark Dawidziak]] wrote ''Night Stalking: A 20th Anniversary Kolchak Companion'' detailing the production of the movies and TV series, and in the process struck up a friendship with Kolchak's creator Jeff Rice.<ref name=RetFan11/> When a publisher asked Rice to write a third novel in the Kolchak series, Rice said he was not interested, but recommended Dawidziak for the project.<ref name=RetFan11/> Thus, in 1994, Dawidziak produced the first official ''Kolchak'' material since the end of the TV series. The novel, ''Grave Secrets'', moved Kolchak from Chicago to Los Angeles where he obtained a job at the ''Hollywood Dispatch'' newspaper (nicknamed the "Disgrace"). Most of the recurring characters from the TV movies and series also appear. Kolchak investigates a ghost who is killing those responsible for the destruction of the cemetery where its body is buried. An expanded and updated version of Dawidziak's ''Night Stalking'' was published in 1997 by Pomegranate Press as ''The Night Stalker Companion: A 30th Anniversary Tribute''. In 2003, the scripts for ''The Night Stalker'', ''The Night Strangler'' and the unfilmed ''The Night Killers'' were published by Gauntlet Press as ''Richard Matheson's Kolchak Scripts'' (edited with introductions by Dawidziak).

A [[comic book]] adaptation of the first film was published in 2002 by [[Moonstone Books]], with some commercial success.<ref name=RetFan11/> Moonstone continues to publish both a bimonthly serial magazine and a series of prose novels and graphic novels featuring the characters. Moonstone also adapted Rice's original ''The Night Stalker'' script as well as two unfilmed scripts for the TV series: "The Get of Belial" and "Eve of Terror".

In 2006, Moonstone published a short fiction anthology, ''The Night Stalker Chronicles'', with short stories contributed by writers such as [[Peter David]], [[Mike W. Barr]], [[Stuart M. Kaminsky]], [[Richard Dean Starr]], [[C. J. Henderson (writer)|C. J. Henderson]], Dawidziak and [[Max Allan Collins]]. A second volume, ''Kolchak: The Night Stalker Casebook'', was published in January 2007 featuring new short fiction by authors including [[P. N. Elrod]], [[Christopher Golden]], [[Richard Dean Starr]], Dawidziak and [[Elaine Bergstrom]]. Between 2007 and 2012, Moonstone published several ''Night Stalker'' novels and novellas, including ''The Lovecraftian Horror'', ''The Lovecraftian Damnation'', ''The Lovecraftian Gambit'', ''A Black and Evil Truth'' and ''The Lost World'', all by [[C. J. Henderson (writer)|C. J. Henderson]]. ''A Black and Evil Truth'' was later released as an audiobook. In 2017, Moonstone published ''Kolchak: Double Feature: Nightkillers'', which included a prose adaptation of Richard Matheson's unproduced script for the third tv film, now adapted by Chuck Miller for the prose format.

In 2022, Moonstone published a graphic novel called ''Kolchak: The Night Stalker - 50th Anniversary,'' which was edited by James Aquilone and won the [[Bram Stoker Award for Best Graphic Novel]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thebramstokerawards.com/uncategorized/winners-nominees/ | title=WINNERS & NOMINEES | access-date=July 12, 2023 | archive-date=June 19, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619223201/https://www.thebramstokerawards.com/uncategorized/winners-nominees/ | url-status=live }}</ref> The book included stories by such writers as [[Rodney Barnes]], [[Kim Newman]], [[Nancy A. Collins]], [[Jonathan Maberry]], [[Steve Niles]], Gabriel Hardman, and [[Peter David]]. Artists included [[J.K. Woodward]], Marco Finnegan, Colton Worley, Paul McCaffrey and Julius Ohta.

===Film adaptation===
In May 2012, [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]] announced a film adaptation was in the works with [[Johnny Depp]] starring and producing with [[Edgar Wright]] directing.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kit|first1=Borys|title=Johnny Depp's 'Night Stalker' Movie Enlists 'High Fidelity' Writer (Exclusive)|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/johnny-depps-night-stalker-movie-dv-devincentis-326709|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 18, 2012 |access-date=May 6, 2017 |archive-date=May 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521083722/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/johnny-depps-night-stalker-movie-dv-devincentis-326709|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Home media===
[[Magnetic Video]] released the first TV movie on VHS, ''The Night Stalker'', and years after the label was taken over by [[20th Century Fox]], it was kept in print as part of its "Selections" series until their licensing deal with ABC expired. [[MGM Home Entertainment|MGM Home Video]] released the two TV movies on DVD on August 24, 2004. [[Universal Pictures Home Entertainment|Universal Studios]] released ''Kolchak: The Night Stalker&nbsp;– The Complete Series'' on DVD a year later. [[Madman Entertainment]] released the complete series on DVD in Australia and New Zealand on July 15, 2009.

Besides [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] carrying the DVD set for sale on its website, [[Netflix]] offered it for rental. During the early 2010s, Netflix had it available to stream for a time, then took it off again.{{cn|date=March 2025}} ''Kolchak: The Night Stalker'' returned in August 2016, just as Universal was about to release it again on DVD.<ref name=Netflix>{{cite web |url=http://www.horrornewsnetwork.net/kolchak-night-stalker-debuts-netflix-coming-dvd-october/#:~:text=Seminal%20horror%20television%20series%20Kolchak,return%20to%20dvd%20this%20October.&text=The%20series%20is%20a%20favorite,over%2012%20years%20on%20dvd |title=Kolchak: The Night Stalker Debuts on Netflix and Coming to DVD Again This October |last=Banks |first=Nick |date=August 12, 2016 |publisher=Horror News Network |access-date=November 18, 2020 |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414143024/http://www.horrornewsnetwork.net/kolchak-night-stalker-debuts-netflix-coming-dvd-october/#:~:text=Seminal%20horror%20television%20series%20Kolchak,return%20to%20dvd%20this%20October.&text=The%20series%20is%20a%20favorite,over%2012%20years%20on%20dvd |url-status=live }}</ref> Although the series was not added as part of [[NBC]]'s new [[Peacock (streaming service)|Peacock]] streaming site in 2020, it was available on the free ad-supported NBC.com. In September, it was added to the [[MeTV]] lineup at 11 p.m. central on Saturdays, along with lots of trivia on its website.<ref name=MeTV>{{cite web |url=https://www.metv.com/stories/you-missed-references-to-the-munsters-and-black-sheep-squadron-in-the-first-episode-of-kolchak |title=You Missed References to The Munsters and Black Sheep Squadron in the First Episode of Kolchak |last=Staff |first=MeTV |date=September 11, 2020 |publisher=MeTV |access-date=November 18, 2020 |archive-date=October 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022000158/https://www.metv.com/stories/you-missed-references-to-the-munsters-and-black-sheep-squadron-in-the-first-episode-of-kolchak |url-status=live }}</ref>

The two TV films, ''The Night Stalker'' and ''The Night Strangler'', were each released on [[Blu-ray]] October 2, 2018, and DVD by [[Kino Lorber]]. ''Kolchak: The Night Stalker'' (1974–75) Complete Series Blu-ray (also by Kino Lorber) was released on October 12, 2021. The Blu-ray features 21 commentary tracks by film/tv historians as well as a new interview with writer David Chase. In addition to recording a commentary for the premiere episode "The Ripper", Mark Dawidziak, author of ''The Night Stalker Companion'' and ''Kolchak'' novel, ''Grave Secrets'', also provided a Booklet Essay.

{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2"|DVD name
! rowspan="2"|Ep #
! colspan="4”|Release dates
|-
! Region 1
! Region 2
! Region 4
! Region A
|-
| ''Kolchak: The Night Stalker&nbsp;– The Complete Series''
| 20
| October 4, 2005
| August 21, 2006
| July 15, 2009
| October 12, 2021 (Blu-ray)
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|1}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|id=0071003|title=Kolchak: The Night Stalker|description=(1974 TV series)}}

{{The Night Stalker (franchise)}}

[[Category:1970s American horror television series]]
[[Category:1970s American science fiction television series]]
[[Category:1974 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:1975 American television series endings]]
[[Category:American Broadcasting Company science fiction dramas]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:American horror fiction television series]]
[[Category:Crime thriller television series]]
[[Category:Edgar Award–winning works]]
[[Category:Fictional paranormal investigators]]
[[Category:Fictional reporters and correspondents]]
[[Category:Occult detective fiction]]
[[Category:Speculative crime and thriller fiction television series]]
[[Category:Television series about journalism]]
[[Category:Television series by Universal Television]]
[[Category:Television shows adapted into comics]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Chicago]]
[[Category:The Night Stalker (franchise)]]
[[Category:Vampires in television]]
[[Category:Urban fantasy television series]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Kolchak: The Night Stalker|access_date=2026-03-04}}