The Vincent Price Halloween Special You Didn’t Know Existed
By the late ’70s, Vincent Price was already cemented as the master of horror; his chilling performances in ’50s and ’60s films like House of Wax, The Fly and The Pit and the Pendulum made him a household name for anyone who loved a good scare. But in 1979, he stepped into a very different kind of role with Once Upon a Midnight Scary, a Halloween television special that aired on CBS on October 21, 1979. But this time, instead of playing a villain, Price served as host and narrator, guiding young viewers through three spooky tales that were meant not just to entertain, but also to encourage kids to pick up a classic book.
What was Vincent Price’s Halloween special?
The special was part of a short-lived anthology series called CBS Library, which aired sporadically between 1979 and 1983. Each episode adapted well-known children’s stories to television with the goal of inspiring kids to read the original works. Once Upon a Midnight Scary presented three tales adapted from classic and contemporary novels, all bundled together in honor of Halloween.
First was Richard Peck’s The Ghost Belonged to Me, about a boy who sees the ghost of a drowned girl who warns him of a looming tragedy. Then came Washington Irving’s timeless The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, with Rene Auberjonois stepping into the role of Ichabod Crane and Guy Boyd as Brom Bones. Finally, the special wrapped up with John Bellairs’ The House With a Clock in Its Walls, which introduced audiences to Lewis Barnavelt and his eccentric uncle Jonathan, played by Severn Darden.
Each story was trimmed down to just a few key scenes, ending on a cliffhanger that invited viewers to read the books themselves. While the reviews were mixed, most could agree that Price was the highlight of these specials, with his iconic voice narrating the way.
The special has since become a rarity. Unlike specials like It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, which has remained a seasonal staple, Once Upon a Midnight Scary is not currently streaming and only occasionally surfaces in collector circles or online uploads, making it hard to find to rewatch. We found a version for you in the YouTube video above.
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