Did Kiss Do ‘The Paul Lynde Halloween Special’ Just to Meet Margaret Hamilton?

Paul Lynde Halloween Special
ABC;YouTube

On October 16, music fans — and the Kiss Army — lost Ace Frehley, the beloved founding guitarist of Kiss, who died at age 76. A standout musician best known for his blues-inspired riffs and for helping build the mythos around the larger-than-life rock band with his “Space Ace” persona, Frehley was a pioneering force who shaped Kiss’s signature sound and image, leaving behind a legacy as dazzling as his silver stage makeup.

The first time Frehley and Kiss ever made their debut on primetime TV was a little trippy, as they were infamously guests on The Paul Lynde Halloween Special, an old-school variety special that was all camp, no creep, and seemed a little out of pocket for the band. But they had their reasons, and they were a little bit Wicked.

Kiss, from left: Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, Ace Frehley, circa 1998. ph: Randee St. Nicholas / TV Guide / courtesy Everett Collection

Randee St. Nicholas / TV Guide / courtesy Everett Collection

Airing on October 29, 1976, and written by Bruce Vilanch, The Paul Lynde Halloween Special combined skits, musical numbers, comedy bits, and celebrity cameos, all with a Halloween theme that was both kitschy and delightfully absurd. Among the many guests were Tim Conway, Florence Henderson, Donny and Marie Osmond, the aforementioned Kiss in their primetime debut, and Margaret Hamilton, who was dressed as the Wicked Witch of the West.

Appearing alongside Billie Hayes (who played Witchiepoo from H.R. Pufnstuf), the two iconic actresses off a little “chamber music” for their host to liven up dinner. Cue Kiss, as witches transform Lynde’s mansion into a psychedelic concert stage and summon the rockers, who perform “Detroit Rock City.”

After the performance of “Beth,” Hamilton, in her witchy persona, gushes over them, introducing them as personal friends to host Lynde. In the special, they also perform “King of the Night Time World,” complete with fire-breathing, to end the show.

The Paul Lynde Halloween Special seems like an odd fit for Kiss, but the band had its reasons for joining. First, it was their first time on primetime television, which was a big deal for the band. But also, Kiss reportedly joined the special because they wanted to meet Margaret Hamilton. They were huge Wizard of Oz fans, particularly Gene Simmons, and were thrilled to appear on the same show as the Wicked Witch herself.

THE WIZARD OF OZ, Margaret Hamilton, 1939

Simmons confirms this in an interview: “We were so off center because we had never done TV before, and honestly, Margaret Hamilton, the original Wicked Witch from the Wizard of Oz was there. Bloody hell!,” said lead singer Gene Simmons in an interview.

“You never expect Margaret Hamilton to not only be alive, but to be real,” said Simmons. “And by the way, backstage, I was hanging out with Margaret, and she’s going, ‘Hey, what’s up?’,” which Simmons followed with an imitation of the actress meeting Kiss.

And that’s the story of how the iconic rockers met their hero. You can watch the legendary Halloween special in its entirety on Prime Video.