We chat with Butch Patrick about his weekend in the Ville! He’ll be the Grand Marshal in Caufield’s Halloween Parade tonight and a special guest at The Baxter Avenue Morgue all weekend!
Good morning, Boils and Ghouls, it’s The Phantom of the Ville coming to you from the haunted Highlands in anticipation of the biggest weekend of the Halloween season. There’s a lot going on this weekend and you won’t want to miss any of it. It’s Harvest Homecoming across the lagoon in New Albany. The weather is going to be beautiful and all the haunted houses and haunted forests are open and ready to terrify. Season four of “The Walking Dead” premieres this Sunday, October 13th at 9PM.
The biggest event of the weekend, however, happens tonight on Friday, October 11th at 7PM in the Highlands. Of course, I’m talking about the 10th Anniversary of Caufield’s Halloween Parade! Caufield’s annual celebration of the Halloween season has gotten bigger and more elaborate every year, and they’ve pulled out all the stops to make 2013 the biggest parade in its history. This year, the parade will be marching in the opposite direction from its usual starting point. It will start at the Baxter Avenue Morgue at 451 Baxter Avenue and end at Valumarket at Mid City Mall.
For the first time this year, the Caufield’s Halloween Parade will have a Halloween icon as Grand Marshal, Butch Patrick, known worldwide for his performance as Eddie Munster in the beloved 1960’s TV series, “The Munsters.” Patrick will also be meeting fans and signing autographs at the Baxter Avenue Morgue after the parade tonight from 9PM until 1AM and again on Saturday night from 8PM until 1AM. The cost is $20 for an autographed photo and a picture with Patrick.
Last week, I wrote to Butch in anticipation of his arrival in the Ville and he kindly answered all of my questions for our Louisville Halloween fans. Without further ado, here’s our interview with Eddie Munster!
The Phantom of the Ville: Good evening, Butch! This is quite an honor. Congratulations on your invitation be the Grand Marshal in the 10th Anniversary of the Caufield’s Halloween Parade! Have you ever been Grand Marshal in a Halloween parade before?
Butch Patrick: Yes, I have, but it was many years ago.
POTV: At the convention where we first met, you were seated right next to one of Louisville’s favorite horror icons, John Dugan, who played the corpse-like Grandpa in both the original “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and the new “Texas Chainsaw 3D” 39 years later! Do you have any stories about John that are legally acceptable to print?
BP: No, not recently, but I heard stories about John when I lived and filmed in Austin, TX at the same studio where “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” was made.
POTV: I’m sure it goes without saying that playing Eddie Munster on “The Munsters” must have had a great impact on your life, both good and bad. What are your feelings today about your status as a classic horror icon?
BP: I LOVE hearing the stories of the fans who grew up watching the show.
POTV: Besides your role on “The Munsters,” you also played the starring role in Sid & Marty Krofft’s psychedelic, “Lidsville”? What are your best memories of that experience?
BP: Wow, those were crazy times with Charles Nelson Reilly and the little people.
POTV: I’ve always wondered, do you remember where the title sequence of “Lidsville” was filmed? Was that at a real theme park or was it on a back lot?
BP: That was a real theme park. It was filmed at Six Flags Over Texas.
POTV: Friday and Saturday night, October 11th and 12th, you’ll be hanging out, meeting fans and signing autographs at one of Louisville’s best haunted attractions, the Baxter Avenue Morgue. Do you like going to haunted houses when you’re not appearing at them?
BP: No, actually I don’t, but I do put on a brave face when I’m appearing at a haunted house!
POTV: Can you tell us what your favorite Halloween memory is from when you were a kid?
BP: Absolutely! I remember Mike Westmore giving me a bunch of different monster masks to try on during the Halloween season when I was working on “The Munsters” set! (Editor: Michael Westmore is a legendary Hollywood make-up artist who got his career started doing make-up on “The Munsters” and went on to become most famous for his make-up work on all of the modern “Star Trek” TV series.)
POTV: You’ve probably heard people refer to themselves as a Beatles or an Elvis fan. In the horror fan community, you’re either a “Munsters” or an “Addams Family” fan. You can like both, but you have to loyally align with one or the other. Are you a fanatical fan of anything?
BP: No, I’m not what you would call a FANATIC at all.
POTV: Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us at Louisville Halloween! We hope you have a great weekend in the Ville!
BP: Thanks, I’m looking forward to it.
