Update: Keel, Kolchak, and Garuda
Posted by: Loren Coleman on November 15th, 2006
Here is a little more news to add to what I said earlier about Keel’s health. Keel’s fictional alter-ego Kolchak makes an appearance (interesting timing that), Skinner pops in on Keel, and a winged spirit coincidentally turns up. Beware of the ides of Mothman, November 15, 2006, forty years back to the future.
John A. Keel during the 1970s, in the midst of writing about Mothman.
Darren McGavin in the 1970s as "Carl Kolchak". Is he searching the skies for a winged weirdie?
As I mentioned when Darren McGavin died at the age of 83 on February 25, 2006, it is a little known fact that the Night Stalker stories were based on the work of Keel of The Mothman Prophecies fame.
On November 16, 2006, the Sci Fi Channel has an all-day marathon of the 1974-1975 series, “The Night Stalker,” starring McGavin, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Eastern. The episode from 11:00 am to noon, entitled "The Werewolf," may be the most cryptozoological, but others reflect Keel’s general history of newspaper reporting on the strange and unknown.
Darren McGavin pictured in 2003, greeting fans.
John A. Keel, in 2002
Correspondent and Fortean author Doug Skinner sends along this Keel-on-the-40th-anniversary-of-Mothman status report:
I had lunch with Keel today, before he stopped in for a check-up from his regular doctor. The hospital lost his dentures, so his menu choices are limited, but his appetite is coming back. He’s catching up on his sleep a lot these days; apparently the nursing home gave him insomnia. And he’s taking it easy: his friends are checking in to make sure he has food in the house and is getting around okay. He’s in good spirits, though, and is looking forward to the new James Bond movie.
And here’s a Garuda postcard I found in my neighborhood junk shop on the way back from lunch; as you recall, John’s original title for The Mothman Prophecies was The Year of the Garuda . Cheers! Doug Skinner.
Thanks to Doug, and get well soon John! - Loren
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Glad to hear the good news on John Keel.
My wife bought me the whole Night Stalker series on VHS several years ago. It was great because they would come in the mail in the order that they appeared on TV. I loved Mcgavin in that role. The problem with TV today is that all the stars and the main characters have to be Barbie and Ken types. Back in the day, shows like the Nightstalker were chock full of Character actors that were tons of fun and they didn’t have to look perfect so you liked them better right off the bat. The new Nightstalker bombed. Think about it?
I always loved Kolchak but I don’t see how it was based on Keel’s work. When did keel say Mothman was a Hungarian vampire?