Horror Double Bills


The BBC2 Horror Double Bills were seasons of classic horror movies broadcast annually in the UK on BBC2 television between 1975 and 1983, with a revival in 1993. They provided rare opportunities to see some of these films.

Format and content

Each week during the summer two horror, science-fiction or fantasy movies would be shown, the majority of which were from Universal and Hammer studios, though other less familiar movies were also featured. The first season was broadcast in 1975 under the title "Midnight Movie Fantastic," though the season title would vary throughout the years. The third season in 1977 featured the most famous Universal monster titles whilst the final original season in 1981 consisted of the Val Lewton RKO horrors paired with more obscure modern titles.
After seven years and remarkably few repeated screenings, there was no season in 1982. A final series of Double Bills was broadcast during the summer of 1983, although this season was entirely made up of the classic Universal horrors from the 1930s and 1940s, all of which had been shown before, predominantly in the 1977 season "Dracula, Frankenstein & Friends."

The 1990s

After 1983, the BBC decided to rest the format. However the Double Bills returned in 1993 following the success of an all-night Halloween horror marathon on BBC2 a year earlier. The marathon was introduced and linked by Dr. Walpurgis, played by Guy Henry and created by Kim Newman. The other memorable event of that evening was the broadcast of the infamous Ghostwatch on BBC1 starring Michael Parkinson, Mike Smith & Sarah Greene. During this evening it was intended that the Doctor would have the privilege of introducing for the first time on British TV the uncut version of Curse of the Werewolf, which the doctor described as having “extra stalk and slash scenes.” However, problems led to the showing of the usual cut version of the film. The uncut version aired a few months later.
Dr. Terror's Vault of Horror was broadcast on Fridays on BBC1 between September and December 1993 and featured Guy Henry's character, though he was renamed Dr. Terror. The Double Bills only ran one year, although Dr. Terror would return to introduce individual horrors in 1994 and 1996.

The Classic Horror Campaign

The Classic Horror Campaign was established by the late Richard Gladman to persuade the BBC to bring back the iconic Saturday night classic horror double bills. Gladman published and edited his own horror magazine Space Monsters. The campaign hosts its own classic horror double bill screenings in the UK and organized the hugely successful Frighten Brighton Classic Horror Film Festival in the south coast city of Brighton in 2012. Actress Emily Booth is among the campaign's supporters.

List of films broadcast in the Double Bill

1975 Midnight Movie Fantastic

DateTimeTitleDetail
Saturday, 2 August 197522.55 - 00.05The Cabinet of Dr. CaligariDecla Productions
00.05 - 01.20Quatermass 2Hammer
Saturday, 9 August 197522.45 - 00.00The Tell Tale HeartDanziger
00.00 - 01.20The Premature BurialAIP
Saturday, 16 August 197523.15 – 00.20Noah's Ark
00.20 – 01.20Man & His Mate
Saturday, 23 August 197522.40 - 00.05This Island EarthUniversal
00.05 - 01.25BarbarellaDino de Laurentis/Marianne Productions
Saturday, 30 August 197522.55 - 00.05The Cat and The CanaryParamount
00.05 - 01.25The Comedy of TerrorsAlP
Saturday, 6 September 197522.35 - 00.00The Beast With Five FingersWarner Brothers
00.00 - 01.20The MazeAllied Artists

1976 Masters of Terror

1977 Dracula, Frankenstein and Friends

This season is probably the most remembered and treasured by fans as it contained the Universal classics chronologically.
DateTimeTitleDetail
Saturday, 2 July 197723.05 - 00.25DraculaUniversal 1931
00.25 - 01.35FrankensteinUniversal 1931
Saturday, 9 July 197722.50 - 00.00Bride of FrankensteinUniversal 1935
00.00 - 01.25Brides of DraculaHammer 1960
Saturday, 16 July 197722.45 - 00.15 The MummyUniversal 1932
00.15 - 01.05The Wolf ManUniversal 1940
Saturday, 23 July 197722.10 - 23.45Son of FrankensteinUniversal 1938
23.45 - 01.10Kiss of the VampireHammer 1964
Saturday, 30 July 197722.35 - 00.05Dracula's DaughterUniversal 1936
00.05 - 01.30Plague of the ZombiesHammer 1966
Saturday, 6 August 197722.50 - 23.55The Ghost of FrankensteinUniversal 1942
22.55 - 01.10The Premature BurialAlP 1961
Saturday, 13 August 197723.05 - 00.05The RavenUniversal 1935
00.05 - 01.10The Black CatUniversal 1933
Saturday, 20 August 197722.00 - 23.15Frankenstein Meets The WolfmanUniversal 1943
00.05 - 01.35The RavenAlP 1963
Saturday, 27 August 197722.20 - 23.10House of FrankensteinUniversal 1944
00.05 - 01.35The ReptileHammer 1966
Saturday, 3 September 197721.55 - 23-10Son of DraculaUniversal 1943
23.45 - 01.10 Evil of FrankensteinHammer 1964
Saturday, 10 September 197722.05 - 23.15House of DraculaUniversal 1945
23.20 - 00.35 Fall of the House of UsherAlP 1960

1978 Monster Double Bill

1979 Masters of Terror

1980 Horror Double Bill

DateTimeTitleDetail
Saturday, 28 June 198022.30.00.00 Night of the DemonSabre 1957
00.02-01.35 The GhoulTyburn 1975
Saturday, 5 July 198010.10-11.35 The Beast With Five FingersWarner 1947
23.50-01.30 Chamber of HorrorsWarner 1966
Saturday, 12 July 198022.40-23.45 The Mad GhoulUniversal 1943
23.50-01.30 Dr. Terror's House of HorrorsAmicus 1964
Saturday, 19 July 198022.35-23.50 The Devil DollMGM 1936
23.55-01.25 Daughters of SatanUA 1972
Saturday, 26 July 198022.10-23.40 Curse of the WerewolfHammer 1960
23.55-01.35 From Beyond The GraveAmicus 1974
Saturday, 2 August 198022.35-23.50 ParanoiacHammer 1963
12.00-01.35 Captain Kronos - Vampire HunterHammer 1973
Saturday, 9 August 198022.35-23.55 The Beast From 20,000 FathomsWarner 1953
00.00-01.20 Night of the LepusMGM/A.C. Lyles 1972
Saturday, 16 August 198022.20-23.40 The BatUA 1959
23.45-01.20 Legend of the WerewolfTyburn 1974
Saturday, 23 August 198022.40.00.00 Tower of LondonUniversal 1939
00.00-01.20 The SkullAmicus 1965
Saturday, 30 August 198000.00-01.35 The Beast Must DieAmicus 1974

1981 Horror Double Bill

DateTimeTitleDetail
Saturday, 4 July 198122.35-23.10 I Walked with a ZombieRKO 1943
00.10.01.10 Zoltan, Hound of DraculaCrown International 1978
Saturday, 11 July 198123.05-00.15 Cat PeopleRKO 1945
00.15-01.35 Mystery of the Wax MuseumWarner 1933
Saturday, 18 July 198122.55-00.05 The Seventh VictimRKO 1943
00.05-01.35 Race With The DevilSaber 1970
Saturday, 25 July 198121.20-22.30 Isle of the DeadRKO 1940
23.40-01.25 The CraziesCambist 1973
Saturday, 1 August 198122.30-23.45 BedlamRKO 1946
23.45-01.30 BugParamount 1975
Saturday, 8 August 198122.50-23.55 The Leopard ManRKO 1943
23.55-01.35 The Shuttered RoomWarner 1966
Saturday, 15 August 198122.35-23.40 The Curse of the Cat PeopleRKO 1943
23.40-01.10 Eye of the CatUniversal 1969
Saturday, 22 August 198122.30-23.40 The Body SnatcherRKO 1945
23.40-01.25 Theatre of BloodAlP 1973

1983 Horror Double Bill

DateTimeTitleDetail
Saturday, 9 July 198310.00-11.10 DraculaUniversal 1931
11.15-12.30 FrankensteinUniversal 1931
Saturday, 16 July 198311.45- 01.05 The Bride of FrankensteinUniversal 1935
Saturday, 23 July 198310.05-11.15 Dracula's DaughterUniversal 1936
11.20-01.35 Son Of FrankensteinUniversal 1939
Saturday, 30 July 198310.35-11.45 The MummyUniversal 1932
11.45-01.00 Ghost of FrankensteinUniversal 1942
Saturday, 6 August 198310.40-11.50The WolfmanUniversal 1941
11.55-01.10 Frankenstein Meets the WolfmanUniversal 1943
Saturday, 13 August 198310.15-11.35 Son of DraculaUniversal 1943
11.40-12.55 House of FrankensteinUniversal 1944
Saturday, 20 August 198310.05-11.10 The Mummy's HandUniversal 1940
11.15-12.25 House of DraculaUniversal 1945
Saturday, 3 September 1983 9.45-10.50 The Black CatUniversal 1934
11.30-12.30 Murders In The Rue MorgueUniversal 1932
12.30-01.35 The RavenUniversal 1935

1992 BBC2 All-Night Halloween Marathon

The Vault of Horror

A festival of terror, hosted by Dr Walpurgis, for Hallowe'en.
Producers Mark Deitch, Nick Freand Jones
TimeTitleDetail-
11.00 - 11.20 Introduction by Dr. Walpurgis / What's behind the Door, Mummy?
Leading figures in horror discuss what it is that scares people.
11.20 - 11.25 Tales from ECA look at the 1950s horror comic-
11.25 - 01.25 CreepshowLaurel Entertainment 1982-
01.25 - 01.30The Art of IllusionWith special effects and make up artist Tom Savini-
01.30 - 01.40The Unholy TrinityA discussion on horror's leading men – Freddie, Jason & Pinhead-
01.40 - 03.10The Curse of the WerewolfHammer 1961-
03.10 - 03.15 Prime EvilSam Raimi & Bruce Campbell talk about The Evil Dead-
03.15 - 03.20Terror on the PageStephen King and other authors open their books.-
03.20 - 04.30 The Bride of FrankensteinUniversal 1935-
04.30 - 04.35 The Horror of Sex Women's role in horror-
04.35 - 04.45 Dario's FriendsDario Argento at work on his new film Trauma-
04.45 - 06.10 Death LineHarbor Ventures/K-L Productions 1972-
06.10 - 07.25 Abbott and Costello Meet FrankensteinUniversal 1948-
07.25 - 07.30 Close by Dr. Walpurgis-

Dr. Terror Seasons 1993 - 1995

1993 Dr. Terror's Vault of Horror

DateTimeTitleDetail
Friday, 10 September 199311.15-12.50 VampBalcor Film Investors, Planet Productions 1986
12.50-02.20 The Mask of SatanAlta Vista, Galatea Film, Jolly Film 1960
Friday, 17 September 199311.25-12.55 The GuardianUniversal/Nanny Productions 1990
12.55-02.10 From Hell It CameAllied Artists 1957
Friday, 24 September 199311.30-12.55 The Curse of FrankensteinHammer 1956
12.55-02.05 Blood of DraculaAIP/Carmel 1957
Friday, 1 October 199311.05-12.30 Horror ExpressBenmar/Granada 1972
12.30-01.50 The Comedy of TerrorsAIP 1963
Friday, 8 October 199311.00-12.25 Crucible of TerrorGlendale 1971
12.25-02.05 The Beast With Five FingersWarner 1946
Friday, 15 October 199311.15-12.40 Twins of EvilHammer 1971
12.40-01.55 Terror from the Year 5000La Jolla Productions 1958
Friday, 22 October 199311.50-01.20Blood of the VampireArtistes Alliance Ltd 1958
01.20-02.50 I Don't Want to Be BornRank 1975
Friday, 29 October 199311.30-12.45 The GateNew Century Entertainment/Vista/Alliance 1987
12.45-02.00 I Was a Teenage FrankensteinSanta Rosa 1957
Friday, 5 November 199311.10-12.40 The Haunted House of HorrorTigon 1969
12.40-01.55 House on Haunted HillWilliam Castle Productions 1959
Friday, 12 November 199311.15-12.45 The Lost Boys
12.45-02.05 I Was a Teenage Werewolf
Friday, 19 November 199311.40-01.05 April Fool's DayParamount/Hometown Films 1986
01.05-02.35 Cat's EyeDino De Laurentiis/Famous Films 1985
Friday, 3 December 199311.05-12.35Countess DraculaHammer 1971
12.35-01.55Voodoo WomanAIP 1957

Dr. Terror Season 1994

DateTitleDetail
Friday, 9 SeptemberThe FogAVCO Embassy 1980
Friday, 16 SeptemberThe GhoulTyburn 1974
Friday, 23 SeptemberUnnamable Productions/Yankee Classic 1992
Friday, 30 SeptemberTaste the Blood of DraculaHammer 1970
Friday, 7 OctoberA Study in TerrorCompton Films 1965
Friday, 14 OctoberLegend of the WerewolfTyburn 1975
Friday, 28 OctoberBody PartsVista Street Entertainment 1991
Friday, 4 NovemberCurse of the Crimson AltarTigon 1968
Friday, 11 NovemberThe MummyHammer 1959
Friday, 18 NovemberThe LegacyDavid Foster Prods/Pethurst Ltd/Turman-Foster 1978
Friday, 2 DecemberDr Terror's House of HorrorsAmicus 1964
Friday, 9 DecemberAlligatorAlligator Inc 1980
Friday, 16 DecemberThe Serpent and the RainbowUniversal 1988

Dr. Terror Season 1996

DateTitleDetails
Friday, 27 SeptemberThe House of Seven CorpsesTelevision Corporation of America 1974
Friday, 4 OctoberThe AsphyxGlendale 1973
Friday, 11 OctoberDevils of DarknessPlanet 1965
Friday, 18 OctoberThe Beast in the CellarTigon 1968
Friday, 25 OctoberA Child For Satan1991
Friday, 1 NovemberGhost StoryUniversal 1981
Friday, 8 NovemberDr. GigglesDark Horse/ JVC/ Largo 1992
Friday, 15 NovemberPhantasmNew Breed Productions 1978
Friday, 29 NovemberNothing But The NightCharlemagne 1972
Friday, 14 DecemberThe People Under the StairsAlive Films/Universal 1991