Monster Squad - Correct Date & Pricing, plus More Details, for The Complete Collection DVDs

While working as a night watchman at Fred's Wax Museum, Walt (Fred Grandy, Love Boat), a college student majoring in criminology , activates the crime computer he has invented and inadvertently brings to life three legendary monsters: Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Werewolf. Hoping to atone for heinous acts they'd committed in the past, they join Walt and attempt to solve crimes.

Yesterday we reported that Fabulous Films and distributor Virgil Films & Entertainment are gearing up for a 2-disc DVD release of Monster Squad - The Complete Collection. In our story, we passed along the release date of May 12th, and the price of $19.95 SRP, which retailers had been provided with. We also passed along that a post at the "70s Live Kid Vid" blog said that the title may actually be coming out in June, instead. After getting in contact with our friends at Fabulous, we've found out that this info is right on the mark (a tip of the hat, along with our thanks, to David Sykes at the 70s Live Kid Vid blog).

According to Fabulous Films, a bit more time is needed to produce this set, so the new release date will be June 23rd. Also, the cost info was initially incorrect; the list price is supposed to be $29.99 SRP (our apologies for getting your hopes up on the lower amount!). We're told that bonus material IS planned for this release, but that it is still being finalized at this time.

Otherwise, you can expect all 13 episodes from the 1976 NBC show's one and only season, including guest stars such as Alice Ghostley (Bewitched), Billy Curtis, Jonathan Harris (Lost in Space, Space Academy), Marty Allen, Julie Newmar (original "Catwoman" on Batman), Geoffrey Lewis, Sid Haig (Jason of Star Command), Vito Scotti, and Avery Schreiber. Monster Squad was developed by Stanley Ralph Ross, who wrote 17 episodes of another campy cult classic, Batman.

To paraphrase our friends at Fabulous Films: Batman is a show which Monster Squad bears some comparisons to, in that the villains were often of the exaggerated, campy sort (much like the ones in Batman). And the Squad had their own customized van, while each monster also had a "utility belt" that included a communicator device used to keep in touch with Walt (who apparently created them for the monsters to use). Here's a list of the episodes and their descriptions; stay tuned for cover art!

1. Queen Bee (airdate USA September 11th 1976)
   The Queen Bee ( Alice Ghostley ) tries to make Dracula her mate...
2. Mr Mephisto (airdate USA September 18th 1976)
   Mr Mephisto (Barry Dennen) creates life-sized dolls of politicians and uses them to commit robberies...
3. The Tickler (airdate USA September 25th 1976)
   The Tickler (Ivor Francis) , a man unable to laugh, captures the Monster Squad in his tickling machine...
4. The Ringmaster (airdate USA October 2nd 1976)
   The Ringmaster (Billy Curtis) kidnaps children and threatens to use 'Stupid Gas' on them. When the Monster Squad tries to save the children, they get locked into a lion's cage with the 'Stupid Gas Bomb'...
5. Music Man (airdate USA October 9th 1976)
   Lorenzo Musica (Marty Allen) steals money from a telethon and tries to destroy the Monster Squad with sound...
6. No Face (airdate USA October 16th 1976)
   No Face (Edward Andrews) disguises himself as Mayor and declares crime to be legal...
7. The Astrologer (airdate USA October 23rd 1976)
   The Astrologer (Jonathan Harris) steals an atomic bomb to cause an earthquake he has predicted. While trying to capture him, the Monster Squad gets captured in a giant clam...
8. Ultra Witch (airdate USA October 30th 1976)
   Ultra Witch (Julie Newmar) turns the Monster Squad into cardboard cut-outs...
9. The Wizard (airdate USA November 6th 1976)
   The Monster Squad attempts to stop the Wizard (Arthur Mallet) from stealing national monuments...
10. The Skull (airdate USA November 13th 1976)
    The Monster Squad tries to capture the Skull (Geoffrey Lewis)
11. The Weatherman (airdate USA November 20th 1976)
    After creating a national cold wave, the Weatherman (Avery Schreiber) refuses to stop until he is voted the President of the United States...
12. Lawrence of Moravia (airdate USA November 27th 1976)
    The Monster Squad does battle with an evil sheik, Lawrence of Moravia (Joseph Masedo)...
13. Albert/Alberta (airdate USA December 4th 1976)
    Albert/ Alberta (Vito Scotti), a half man and half woman, comes face to face with Monster Squad...