Kolchak: The Night Stalker: Chopper

"Chopper" is the fifteenth episode of the supernatural mystery series Kolchak: The Night Stalker. It was directed by Bruce Kessler with a teleplay written by Steve Fisher and David Chase, based on a story concept developed by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale. It first aired on ABC on Friday, January 31st, 1975.

Notes & Trivia

 * Kolchak: The Night Stalker was created by Jeffrey Grant Rice.


 * This episode is production code number 1x15.


 * This episode has been made available on Netflix instant streaming video.


 * This episode was released in VHS format along with "The Knightly Murders" as part of the Kolchak: The Night Stalker Collector's Edition series.


 * This episode is included on disc four of the Classic Television: Kolchak: The Night Stalker DVD collection.


 * This is the only episode of Kolchak: The Night Stalker directed by Bruce Kessler.


 * This is the only episode of Kolchak: The Night Stalker co-written by Steve Fisher.


 * This is the only episode of Kolchak: The Night Stalker co-written by Robert Zemeckis. This is Zemeckis' first work in the horror genre. He will go on to become an executive producer on the horror anthology series Tales from the Crypt.


 * This is the only episode of Kolchak: The Night Stalker co-written by Bob Gale. He too will go on to work on Tales from the Crypt.


 * Dirk Wayne Summers is uncredited as a story contributor to this episode.


 * Actor Art Metrano is credited as Arthur Metrano in this episode.


 * This is the fifth episode of Kolchak: The Night Stalker with Rudolph Borchert as an editor.


 * This is the fourteenth episode of Kolchak: The Night Stalker with Paul Baxley as a stunt coordinator.


 * Steve Boyum is an actor and a stunt coordinator. This is his only work on Kolchak: The Night Stalker. He is also known for his work as a director, and has directed at least eight episodes of the CW Network television series Supernatural.


 * The Devil's Rejects actor, Kelvin Brown, was born on the same day that this episode first aired.

Allusions

 * A chopper is a style of custom made motorcycle, so-named because it is usually constructed from the "chopped" pieces of other bikes. In modern contexts, choppers are usually characterized by their monkey bar handlebars and extended forks.


 * The concept of a headless motorcycle rider is drawn from the idea of the Headless Horseman, who was the supernatural entity known to plague Ichabod Crane in Washington Irving's 1820 short story, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow".


 * Neil compares Carl Kolchak to Spike Jones in this episode. Spike Jones was an American band leader specializing in performing satirical arrangements of popular songs.


 * Carl Kolchak makes a reference to the Ropckettes while admonishing Captain Jonas. The Rockettes are a New York City dance troupe notable for their kickline and eye-high kicks.

Bloopers

 * Due to prop and costuming (as well as budget) restrictions, the headless motorcycle rider is ridiculously tall in this episode. With all of his body parts intact, his full height would be close to eight or nine feet.

Quotes

 * Carl Kolchak: The teenage years: sixteen candles, fervent passions, aimless joyrides and the forbidden taste of beer. A time the world allows for sowing one's wild oats. But for some individuals I came to know in this summer of their discontent, it had been a time when they had sown the seeds of their own destruction.

....
 * Carl Kolchak: If you saw what you say you saw, you won’t find anybody more interested in it than I am.

....
 * Tony Vincenzo: Boy, you people got a lot of gall, let me tell you. You sit around here collecting your salaries and gassing about guillotines and corpses on motor scooters and stuffing your faces.
 * Carl Kolchak: Ahh-ha.
 * Tony Vincenzo: This isn't a functioning newsroom. This is occupational therapy!