Local man inducted in the Horror Host Hall of Fame
Submitted
Harry Metz of Grindstone as his horror show host alter ego Spooky Spectre poses with his certificate of induction into the Horror Host Hall of Fame in Ohio.
Submitted photos
Spooky Spectre (far left), Harry Metz of Grindstone, poses with his fellow horror hosts. He and eight others were recently inducted into the Horror Host Hall of Fame.
Submitted photo
Harry Metz (left) of Grindstone appears dressed as Dracula as does Bill 鈥淐hilly Billy鈥� Cardille (right) during one of his appearances on Cardille鈥檚 鈥淐hiller Theater鈥� in the 1970s. Metz鈥檚 wife, Diane Metz, is pictured between Metz and Cardille.
A 30-year journey of televised spookiness has led a Grindstone man and his alter ego into the Horror Host Hall of Fame.
鈥淚 was surprised because I do this just for fun,鈥� said Harry Metz, the man behind the Spooky Spectre.
Metz鈥檚 Spooky is the host of 鈥淔right Night Theatre,鈥� which completed its 100th show on Fayette County TV last year. In July, the character was nominated for the hall of fame, sponsored by Ripley鈥檚 Believe It or Not museums.
Fans voted Metz, 68, as one of the inductees.
鈥淏asically, I was campaigning,鈥� Metz said. He contacted as many people as he could, and even solicited votes from classmates during his recent high school reunion. 鈥淚鈥檓 not a politician, but I learned how to be one real quick.鈥�
The politicking paid off, and on Aug. 7, he and eight other hosts and shows from across the county were named to the Class of 2022 for the Horror Hosts Hall of Fame.
With that, the Spooky Spectre joined a number of well-known hosts that have been inducted since the hall鈥檚 start in 2010. Among them are Elvira, Joe Bob Briggs, cast members from the show 鈥淢ystery Science Theater 3000,鈥� The Cryptkeeper from 鈥淭ales From the Crypt鈥� and Pittsburgh鈥檚 own Bill 鈥淐hilly Billy鈥� Cardille.
鈥淚 never thought I was in any way shape or form in league with those big dogs,鈥� Metz said. 鈥淪o this was a real honor.鈥�
It was Cardille who got Metz started in horror hosting.
As a youngster, Metz snuck to tune into Cardille鈥檚 鈥淐hiller Theater,鈥� a show his parents forbade him to watch. The two met in the 1970s, and Cardille made Metz an offer that changed his life when he invited him to appear on the show. That led to about a dozen appearances as different characters.
But as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. When 鈥淐hiller Theater鈥� ended in the early 1980s, Metz moved on into the 鈥渞eal鈥� world 鈥� working in the steel mills until they shut down. He went back to college to study business administration at the former California University of Pennsylvania, and got involved with the school鈥檚 station, CUTV.
One Halloween, they wanted to run a horror movie marathon on the station. It needed a host, and so, Spooky was created with Metz as the man behind the mask.
The spectre鈥檚 early days were basic: Metz generically introduced each movie and left it at that. But just like a horror movie villain, Spooky was destined to return and evolve.
In 1995, Metz was approached by folks at CUTV to make a series based off of the movie marathon.
鈥淔right Night Friday,鈥� ran from 1995 to 2000 on the university station. 鈥淔right Night Theatre鈥� followed (and will continue) on Fayette County TV.
Spooky鈥檚 induction took place during the Horror Hound Weekend convention in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Sept. 10.
鈥淚t was a really big venue and everything there was bigger than life,鈥� Metz said, adding that the horror hosts were all dressed in their costumes. Metz followed suit giving his acceptance speech as the Spooky Spectre. 鈥淭hey did a great job with making us feel special.鈥�
In his speech, Metz thanked the fans, shared his love for everyone and what they do, and dedicated all of it to his wife, Diane Metz, who passed away in February from covid.
鈥淓verything was done smoothly and professionally,鈥� Metz said, adding that he was happy to meet a great number of his peers in the horror hosting world. 鈥淓veryone walked away feeling like they did something great.鈥�
Metz鈥檚 guest for the event was an old friend from high school who had never been to a horror convention before.
鈥淪eeing it through her eyes kind of renews your energy to keep doing these things,鈥� Metz said, adding that he鈥檚 planning on filming the new season of 鈥淔right Night Theatre鈥� in October.
Until then, he鈥檚 appreciative of his nomination and induction.
鈥淚 had the most fun weekend I鈥檝e had in a long time,鈥� he said.