Parallels to the legend of "Spring Heeled Jack". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring-heeled_Jack https://allthatsinteresting.com/spring-heeled-jack https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/meet-springheeled-jack-the-leaping-devil-that-terrorized-victorian-england

Oh cool, didn’t realize Beatrice Colen was in the first episode - she played Jane Plumm, the lady w/the handgun in her purse. I recognize her from the 1970’s Wonder Woman tv series, where she played Etta Candy in 13 episodes from the show’s 1st season (the season set during World War II)

I cannot remember any eps to recommend. I remember watching it as a teenager, as a second watch because I remember watching the series when I was like 9 when it was on. Yep that is the kind of family I had lol. I do remember liking the earlier eps a lot but not hating any really. I am happy to have a reason to watch this again after probably nearly 40 years.

It's my understanding the show was ordered after the 2nd TV movie. Originally they were going to do a 3rd movie, but ABC wanted a TV show instead. Dan Curtis, producer of The Night Stalker and director of The Night Strangler, was not involved with the series.

I have never seen or heard of this until rewatching the X-Files with TA. Ya this is great love seeing the old analog world of payphones, notepad, and film development. Not at all happy they killed off the best character. Kolchak and plum would've made a great team RIP

The movies were still tv movies they weren’t theatrical, so it was made by a lot of the same people. Google ABC Movie of the Week

David chase created the sopranos he started here and you ll see some of his influences in this soon

Now I'm imagining this type of old lady spying on Josh from across the street, saying to herself in her little old lady voice, "They're watching Star Trek again...."

My favorite episode , although I like them all, is the next one I hope you do it. This series had its issue it ran out of steam at the end but there are some very good episodes and make no mistake this series reached cult status for one reason only Darren Mcgavin. He has such personality, I’ve loved him for years. He did a crap ton of westerns and was always great and of course Christmas Story

I am sure it's horribly dated today, but the most famous TV movie of the entire 1970s is something called "Trilogy Of Terror" from 1975. As fans of horror, you guys would enjoy going on youtube to watch the final segment called "Amelia". I think it is considered a cult classic today and hardcore horror nerds of a certaon age all know who the villain is.

Those remarks about being fat haven't aged well. Geek alert, could this be prequel to Wolf In The Fold?

Thanks for this guys, much appreciated. This show is so enjoyable, glad you'll be watching more episodes. McGavin was so over-worked he asked to be released after the first season. Unlikely the show would have continued anyway due to low ratings. A movie I think you guys would enjoy is "The Norliss Tapes" (1973). From Dan Curtis who did The Night Stalker & The Night Strangler movies. I will add that Curtis planned to do a third Kolchak movie, but McGavin refused to reprise his role, so the movie never happened.

Yay! Loved this show when I was a kid. It loses some of its appeal as an adult, but it’s still fun to watch. The titles tend to be spoilers for the monster of the week. Thanks for doing this!

Oh shit, I love this show

Awesome! I love Kolchak. Basically the series was plagued from the start from budget constraints and McGavin butting heads with the producers as he didnt enjoy the monster of the week format and the schedule was brutal. I like the short story anthologies which basically has Kolchak investigating the Cthulhu Mythos.