By Rebecca Carter

In the tradition of vintage radio horror shows, Dr. Chris’ Radio of Horror is keeping the monsters on the airwaves ~ but times have changed and rattling chains and werewolf howls have been replaced with thrashing metal guitar riffs and discussions with some of the top wizards of gore.

“I have for a long time wanted to break into the media in some way,” explained Chris. “I found that community radio would be the best way and this is the first time I’ve been on the radio.” First broadcast on October 15th of 2007, the not-for-profit, noncommercial Dr. Chris’ Radio of Horror has continued to broadcast on a weekly basis ever since on 91.3 WCUW, Worcester’s community radio station. Nestled quaintly amongst local news talk and American roots music shows, Dr. Chris’ Radio of Horror is a voice promoting and supporting the underground network of horror fanatics. “At the time there were no horror radio shows in Worcester County ~ or Massachusetts, for that matter. I also knew of the history of horror radio and saw a lot of them don’t play the soundtracks to horror films so I decided to start with that.”

In addition to classic horror film soundtracks, the self-described doctor of horror films also features band interviews and rebroadcasts of vintage horror shows and hosts discussions with some well-known names in the horror film industry. The radio show encompasses all aspects of the horror genre from music to comics, from the old school films that started it all to today’s most gruesome bloodbaths. Some of the past interviews have included actresses Dee Wallace-Stone from such films as Rob Zombie’s Halloween, E.T., Cujo and The Howling, Louise Robey from the “Friday the 13th” television series, comic artist Gene Colon of Blade and Tomb of Dracula fame, comic writer Steve Niles, the co-creator of 30 Days of Night, and Worcester-born metal masters Beware the Ides.

On top of his in-studio broadcasts, Dr. Chris has also been on the scene at the Rock and Shock horror and music festivals in 2007 and 2008 and will be at Arisia, New England’s largest science fiction convention, this January in Boston. “I am also currently working on a YouTube documentary about the lost Lon Chaney film London After Midnight and hope to start my own Vampire Convention,” explained Chris.

Dr. Chris and his radio show are proof that DIY media can still exist and that through community radio and venues such as YouTube, you can promote your passion and your niche. Worcester has long been a haven for metal heads and, if the not-necessarily bad stereotype holds true, metal fans love the horror and love the gore. Dr. Chris’ radio show has come to the right place to provide an outlet for another aspect of the metal culture scene. If you play it, the fans will come.

Dr. Chris’ Radio of Horror broadcasts Sunday nights going to Monday morning from 12 to 2 a.m. on 91.3 WCUW. You can contact Chris and get information on his upcoming guests and appearances at www.myspace.com/drhorror2008.