Penny Deadful's
Shilling Shockers

Status:  Currently Hosting
Home Base:  Massachusetts
Website:  www.shillingshockers.com

With a cultured voice and a wicked gleam in her eye, the witch Penny Dreadful XIII is the buxom hostess of Penny Dreadful's Shilling Shockers.  The show airs on local cable television stations in over 100 cities and towns throughout the six New England states.  Shilling Shockers features classic horror and sci-fi movies, humorous skits and on-location visits to places like the Lizzie Borden House, the Danvers Insane Asylum and other mysterious spots.  Penny is joined on the show by her snarling werewolf husband & henchbeast Garou and by their grumpy neighbor, the retired vampire hunter Dr. Manfred Von Bulow.  The program is directed and edited by Rebecca Paiva. 

Penny and her cohorts frequently find themselves in strange situations -  backfired spells, powerful love potions, and visits from Penny's old monster pals are par for the course on Shilling Shockers.  Penny's show has been scaring up the fun since January of 2006 and has spread like wildfire throughout the New England states.  A full TV schedule is available at the show's official website: www.shillingshockers.com.  In addition to the TV show, the mysterious Penny and her spooky friends attend classic horror conventions throughout the country. They also host live movie and rock 'n' roll events in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. 

Penny's alter ego Danielle Gelehrter first conjured up her Penny persona while playing Medea in a stage production.  "I was joking with the cast backstage while remaining in character." Gelehrter said.  "The idea of this vengeful sorceress from Greek tragedy making bad puns struck me as very horror hostess-like, and I thought it would be fun to be a host like that – sort of dark and dramatic but also very silly with a dry, withering sense of humor." 

After Gelehrter discovered shows like Ghoul a Go-go and the Horror Host Underground, she realized her desire to create a show of this type was within the realm of possibility.  "I had actually talked with Ivan (Von Bulow) 10 years ago about doing a horror host show because I'm a classic horror fan and we were both involved in a sketch comedy troupe at the time.  The horror host is just a great melding of horror and comedy.  But we didn't have the camera equipment.  Later on, when I started putting Shilling Shockers together, everything just fell into place. 

Garou (aka Magoo Gelehrter) is a natural clown and has a propensity for physical comedy so we made him the funny, non-speaking werewolf henchman.  He's sort of the Harpo Marx character.  I brought Ivan Bernier in as the wacky, monster hunter foil.  And my old friend and fellow sketch comedy troupe member Rebecca Paiva came on as director during the first season.  We're having a blast."

Penny was rewarded for her creepy antics in March of 2008 when she received the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award for Favorite Horror Host of 2007.  She was the only female horror host nominated in the highly competitive category.  Ms. Dreadful says of the win, "I am honored by the Rondo.  I hold the other nominees in very high regard and am flattered that the spell actually worked…er… I mean that people voted for Penny." 

 

Additional tidbits…

 

Shilling Shockers is transmitted via black magic.

Penny Dreadful's past is shrouded in mystery.  She hints at an age-old tragedy but never elaborates on this.  The witch magically manages to preserve her youth but is actually almost 700 years-old.  She became a horror host through a backfired spell that bound her to the show.  However, she recently broke this spell - reversing it - so that her audience is now cursed to watch the program while she hosts it of her own free will.  She's a very naughty witch. 

 

Garou is deeply devoted to Penny.  His boundless energy and a childlike enthusiasm make it clear that he loves being a werewolf.  Indeed, Garou somehow found a way to remain a werewolf all the time.  The only time he is forced to revert to his human form is during a lunar eclipse.  He is very embarrassed about this and usually hides until the moon comes out again.

Dr. Von Bulow is a semi-retired monster hunter and sometimes threatens the witch and werewolf.  Yet, he never actually harms them.  It is rumored that Von Bulow and Penny became reluctant friends many years ago because they bonded over some dark thing which haunts them both.

 

Shilling Shockers is directed by Rebecca Paiva, who is a one-woman production crew.  She directs, operates cameras, does the lighting and all the editing on the show.  She is responsible for the overall creepy look of the program.  She also plays numerous guest roles on the show such as the madwoman Luna.

Penny Dreadful has left her witch's mark on local New England TV stations and continues to have a "hexcellent" time on her show.  To find out more about Penny Dreadful's Shilling Shockers visit the official website at www.shillingshockers.com or email shillingshockers@gmail.com.

© 2008, Horse Archer Productions, LLC  All Rights Reserved.