Okay Count, why not start us off with telling how your host persona was born?

It was a dark and stormy night...no wait, it was a beer filled late night viewing session in Paducah, Kentucky. Several of us where with the General Manager, watching packages of movie opens. Up on the screen came a demo for a hosted horror showcase and I blurted out in my best Bela Lugosi imitation, "That's what we need, a horror host!"

The GM turned around and said, "You're hired!"

You were a horror movie host in DC and Chicago throughout much of the 70s and 80s and prior to the demise of local programming. What was your favorite part about doing your weekly creature features?

A small correction. I never was in the Chicago market, I was just born and raised there. I started in Paducah and went right to DC. I mean someone had to show those folks on Capital Hill what a real blood sucker was like!

Anyway, I had many favorite parts: The annual visit from the Penthouse Pets, the wonderful and lovely necks I could bite, the ability to make money while having fun, and did I mention all the pretty women?

Local programming is also somewhat notorious for having some awesome gaffs and goofs on air. Anything hilarious you would care to put in the Count Gore DeVol programming?

Two immediately come to mind. One we aired and the other we didn't. I was doing a bit about making outrageous sandwiches and I asked my crew to yell out ingredients. Well, one of them yelled out "Smegma!" Not knowing it was a real word or what it meant, I latched onto it and abused it for the rest of the show. Only after the show was in the can did I learn the meaning and it was too late to do anything about it. What does it mean you ask? Look it up...in a really big dictionary!

The other incident was when we had a musician on performing a piece he wrote for us called "The Rites of Spring!" I didn't know he was bringing dancers to perform, but what the heck. The music started and out came the dancers with snakes, props and a female with no top! Well, we taped it all, I went up to my female director and asked if there was anyway we could air it. She laughed and remind me that the cameramen were all guys and showed me a tape with all three cameras glued to the woman's chest!

Needless to say we had to re-shoot the segment because Washington is the home of the FCC! By the way, that was the only segment we ever re-shot. Any other mistakes went out on the air, because I believed in shooting "as live."

I am very impressed how you promptly adapted to the changing situation by becoming the first horror host of an internet weekly streaming horror videos on your site www.countgore.com Tell me how that came about and what surfers can expect who make a habit of hitting your site for some fright?

I had received many emails from fan who had found me through my DJ site (www.soundsfabulous.com ). They asked me to do some sort of site for Gore. I looked around and all the sites for horror hosts (and there weren't that many in 1998) were tribute sites, as if they were dead! Well, of course I'm dead, but I still had plenty of life in me, so I sat down and tried to figure out how to bring Creature Feature to the Internet without the streaming video. Remember that in 1998, a 28.8 dial up was the norm!

Well, on July 11 of that year, we hit the web with the promise that the show would change every Saturday night. We did movie reviews, audio interviews with stars and writers, a contest...about 5 pages.

Needless to say it has evolved with the Internet. We now stream Public Domain films, hosted by yours truly from my new HD ready dungeon. We have a showcase featuring shorts from exciting new film makers. There are many contributors including horror writer J.L. Comeau, who is my TombKeeper, reviewing books every week and interviewing some of horror's best authors. There's the Mad Skotzman, who takes on the world of monster model kits. Athena, The Crowgrrl, explores the music scene with incredible interviews with some of horror's best bands and also does album reviews. Renfield grabs his controller and delves into the gaming scene. Prof. Griffin, a national host for Fangoria TV, does a weekly essay on monsters and their movies. LadyBoneYard, Dr. Sarcofiguy, Sir Peiter Petulant and I provide DVD reviews. We have a listing of upcoming conventions, great contests, contemporary movie reviews, a weekly look at horror history and so much more. And it still changes every Saturday night! Oh and in 2006 we introduced podcasts of our movies and interviews!

You also have a 2007 calendar, do you show a lot of skin?

Actually....no. but there are pictures of our dysfunctional family of contributors, funny moments from past shows and there are fascinating facts for each day of the year. For example, "Do you know who else was born on Dec. 25th? Rod Serling!" Doesn't that put Christmas sort of into the Twilight Zone? Truly, the calendar has 15 full page photos, more than 365 horror facts and no fan should be without it! Plus, I'm I'm having a SALE!

So you also host a few conventions annually. I see in 2007 you are already scheduled for Cinema Wasteland and Monster Bash. What is the convention experience like for you and what do you usually do to keep the fans entertained?

Yes, I have those two booked and I hope to also be at Balticon Memorial Day weekend and Horrorfind in August. As to what I do? It depends on the convention. the common factor is the chance to meet and talk with fans. Horror fans are some of the most interesting people! I also offer them the opportunity to take pictures, get things autographed and to purchase T-shirts, photos, calendars and DVDs.

At Balticon I've been the MC for the film competition. At Horrorfind, I've produced and hosted the costume competition for the past 6 years. At Cinema Wasteland, I get together with other hosts and we provide some sort of entertainment....sometimes planned, sometimes spontaneous.

Now you also step in front of the movie camera as well. And to my count have made about 10 horror and Sci-Fi flicks. Does a lot of your networking for casting come from attending those conventions or is it through knowing people or auditioning?

Audition? What's an audition? No, all the films I've been involved with have been through networking with new film makers. The three big ones were "Alien Factor," "Nightbeast," and "Galaxy Invader." All three were shot by legendary independent producer/director Don Dohler, who recently passed away. I also have a good working relationship with Don Glut, who invited me to host the extras on "Countess Dracula's Orgy of Blood!"

Telling me about filming 'Countess Dracula's Orgy of Blood' (2004) with Glori-Anne Gilbert and Arthur Roberts?

I wish there was a lot to tell. I've known Glori-Anne through the convention circuit and love her dearly. She's a wonderful and generous person with her fans. Unfortunately, I was not involved with the primary shooting, which was done in one week in California. My sole role was an on TV cameo and then hosting the extras. That was shot on my own set.

I also want to find out about your role in Steve Sessions' horror quartet 'Cremains' (2001) which also featured Debbie Rochon and Lilith Stabs.

Steve came to me and asked if I would be in the film. I said "Yes!" But again the film was shot in Mississippi and what he wanted was to have Gore appear on a TV set as a horror host. So, there I was, but I didn't have any interaction with the rest of the cast.

Tell me a bit about your newest film 'American Scary'.

This is a documentary about the art of Horror Hosting. It's been in the works for years and just started showing in late 2006. I haven't seen the whole finished product, but from what I've seen and what I've heard from those who have seen it, horror fans won't want to miss it! It looks at the early days of hosting on major market VHF stations, goes through the era of UHF hosts and then examines the cable access and Internet hosting phenomenon. I can't wait for a full national release.

I find it intriguing that in your films you usually play a vampire or yourself, but you have also played a Mayor three times in 'Crawler' (2004), 'Nightbeast' (1982), and 'The Alien Factor' (1978). What's that all about...what is the connection between blood sucking and public service?

Well, you know, politicians have more lives than vampires or cats. I think it was a bit of type casting. When dressed as a mortal, I'm not very scary...actually I'm pretty ordinary. So a mayor was safe casting. Of course in "Galaxy Invader" I played a college professor and loved the role. I also get cast as police officers when I do feature film extra work. What's that all about?

Okay, we're pulling the jalopy into the Count Gore De Vol Drive In. What three horror flicks are on the triple bill for tonight and what goodies are they going to be serving up at the concession stand?

Well, are you alone or with a hot babe? If you're alone (shame on you), I'll show, "Halloween," "Young Frankenstein" and "Alien." If you're with a hot babe I'll show three films that are so bad, you'll have to find something else to do. As for concessions....I make concessions to no man!

As a horror host you have probably witnessed a lot of trends in the horror world. What do you see as the next HOT commodity - psychos, vampires, zombies, werewolves, creatures, aliens, or something else...?

I've given this a lot of thought and as weird as it may seem, I agree with my friend and fellow horror host, Karlos Borloff (Jerry Moore), I see the return of giant rubber suited monsters! I mean there are cities that need to be stomped on!

What scares you in real life?

Snakes, Spiders and Heights! Oh yes, and the IRS!

Any other projects pending you would care to mention or let the www.racksandrazors.com readers know about?

Every January we re-evaluate Creature Feature the Weekly Web Program. Going into that re-evaluation, I would like to see us have more big name "in studio" guests. I want to strengthen our relationships with the major producers and distributors of horror films. I am looking for new features to add to the web program. And, I would be interested in having a few more contributors as part of that effort.

In addition, I certainly wouldn't mind having my own national horror showcase (wouldn't we all?) and I want to expand the web program's Internet coverage....before the big boys ruin it, like they've done to TV and movies.

Thanks so much Count...and by the way has Gore Vidal ever contacted you about your De Volish name?

Gore Vidal? Who's he? Funny you should mention that, especially now that I'm back in the DC area. I understand that initially (back in the '70s) he was not amused, but then again, who said I was playing off his name? I've never read any of his books, but I did drive past the De Vol funeral home every day on my way to Channel 20!