Tales from the Cryptkeeper facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Tales from the Cryptkeeper
Genre	Animation, horror comedy, fantasy, science fiction, children's horror
Developed by	Libby Hinson Ben Joseph
Directed by	Laura Shepherd
Voices of	John Kassir Elizabeth Hanna David Hemblen
Theme music composer	Heart Times Coffee Cup Equals Lightning
Country of origin	Canada France
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	3
No. of episodes	39
Production
Executive producer(s)	Joel Silver Richard Donner David Giler Walter Hill
Producer(s)	Michael Hirsh Patrick Loubert Patricia R. Burns
Editor(s)	Rick Hickson
Running time	22 minutes
Production company(s)	Nelvana Fantome Animation (Season 3)
Distributor	Nelvana
Release
Original network	YTV (seasons 1-2) and Teletoon (season 3) (Canada) ABC and CBS (United States)
Original release	September 18, 1993 (1993-09-18) – December 4, 1999 (1999-12-04)

Tales from the Cryptkeeper is an animated horror children's television series made by Canada-based Nelvana. It was shown on YTV in Canada and on ABC in the United States. It was based on the 1950s EC Comics series Tales from the Crypt and the live action television series of the same name, which aired concurrently on HBO. Made for children, Tales from the Cryptkeeper was significantly milder than its live action version and all blood and gore were completely removed in order to target the audience.

Most of the episodes take place within the fictional city of Gravenhurst, California.

The series was cancelled on December 10, 1994. In 1999, the series returned to the air as New Tales from the Cryptkeeper. The animation was different from that of the previous episodes and it switched over to Teletoon in Canada, and also switched to CBS in the United States.

Plot
Cast
Episodes
Syndication
See also

Plot

The series details the Cryptkeeper telling other horror stories to the viewers, each with a lesson to be learned.

In Season 2, the Cryptkeeper was continually feuding with his rivals, the Vault-Keeper and the Old Witch who were continually trying to steal the show from him as they didn't have one of their own, only to have their plans backfire on them. This season also saw the Cryptkeeper in different locales than his mansion, as he tried to elude his rivals.

Season 3 is aired in 1999 was the final season of the series. It was the only season to never aired on YTV in Canada and ABC in the United States. Instead, New Tales from the Cryptkeeper aired on Teletoon in Canada and on CBS in the United States.

Cast

John Kassir as The Cryptkeeper
Elizabeth Hanna as The Old Witch
David Hemblen as The Vault Keeper

Episodes

Series overview

Season	Episodes	Originally aired
Season	Episodes	First aired	Last aired
1	13	September 18, 1993	December 18, 1993
2	13	September 10, 1994	December 10, 1994
New Tales from the Cryptkeeper	13	October 10, 1999	December 4, 1999

Season 1 (1993)

No.	Title	Written by	Original ABC air date
1	"While the Cat's Away"	Manny Coto	September 18, 1993 (1993-09-18)
Two brothers plan to rob an abandoned mansion, where The Cryptkeeper has set up a monstrous security system to get rid of intruders. Based on "While The Cat's Away..." from The Vault of Horror #34.
2	"Nature"	Juan Carlos Coto	September 25, 1993 (1993-09-25)
After two brothers torment ants at a picnic, they are shrunk by a mysterious ray and are forced to face the trials and tribulations of the insect world. The Cryptkeeper makes a cameo on a penny; he is wearing a hat and a beard making him resemble Abraham Lincoln.
3	"Pleasant Screams"	James Thomton	October 2, 1993 (1993-10-02)
A teacher and one of his students find themselves trapped in the fantasies of another student whom they have tormented. The Cryptkeeper makes a cameo on a box of matches. Based on "Pleasant Screams!" from Tales from the Crypt #37.
4	"Gone Fishin'/A Little Body of Work"	Terry Black (Gone Fishin') David Hines and Jeff Hause (A Little Body of Work)	October 9, 1993 (1993-10-09)
Gone Fishin: A boy tries to warn his uncle, a wasteful fisherman, of the fish that are out for revenge. The Cryptkeeper makes a cameo at the end holding a can of the boy's uncle. Based on "Gone... Fishing!" from The Vault of Horror #22. A Little Body of Work: Two hoodlums challenge a boy to a race on the Mustang he's renovating. A car which, unbeknownst to them, has a mind of its own. The Cryptkeeper makes a cameo dressed as a diner waitress.
5	"The Works.... In Wax"	Eric Luke	October 16, 1993 (1993-10-16)
A boy discovers that statues in his favorite wax museum come to life. The Cryptkeeper makes a cameo dressed as a wax mannequin of Marie Antoinette. Based on "The Works... In Wax!" from Tales from the Crypt #25.
6	"The Sleeping Beauty"	Edithe Swenson and David Finley	October 23, 1993 (1993-10-23)
In a terrifying retelling of the classic fairytale, a self-absorbed prince named Chuck Charming and his nerdy put-upon twin brother Melvin go on a quest to wake the Sleeping Beauty, the slumbering princess, whom, unbeknownst to them, is really a bloodthirsty vampire. Based on "The Sleeping Beauty!" from Tales from the Crypt #39.
7	"Cave Man"	Ed Naha	October 30, 1993 (1993-10-30)
The son of a scientist befriends a Neanderthal that has been encased in ice for millions of years, but the friendship turns sour when the caveman can't adapt to the modern world. The Cryptkeeper makes a cameo dressed as a ticket salesman. Based on "Cave Man" from Tales from the Crypt #19.
8	"Hyde and Go Shriek"	Dana Olsen	November 6, 1993 (1993-11-06)
A group of bullies fear for their lives when their victim Wendell drinks a potion that turns him into a werewolf. The Cryptkeeper makes a cameo on the box of the magic potion.
9	"Fare Tonight"	David Finley	November 13, 1993 (1993-11-13)
Two paranormal enthusiasts create a homemade vampire detector and use it to hunt for bloodsuckers...only to learn that one of them is right under their nose. The Cryptkeeper makes a cameo as a bar patron. Based on "Fare Tonight, Followed By Increasing Clottyness..." from Tales from the Crypt #36.
10	"Gorilla's Paw"	James Thomton	November 20, 1993 (1993-11-20)
In a classic retelling of W. W. Jacobs' The Monkey's Paw, an unpopular kid steals a gorilla's paw in order to be a part of a secret club, and discovers that the gorilla's paw can grant wishes with twisted results. The Cryptkeeper makes a cameo as the host of television program Gruesome Gladiators. Based on "The Gorilla's Paw!" from The Haunt of Fear #9.
11	"This Wraps It Up"	Peter Sauder	December 4, 1993 (1993-12-04)
During a class trip to an Egyptian pyramid, a tall girl who keeps getting bullied because of her height must save her classmates from a mummy's curse. The Cryptkeeper makes a cameo on top of a tomb entrance. Based on "This Wraps It Up!" from Tales from the Crypt #35.
12	"Grounds for Horror"	Ed Naha	December 11, 1993 (1993-12-11)
Summer campers befriend an invisible being who plays pranks on a strict, no-nonsense counselor. Based on "Grounds... For Horror!" from Tales from the Crypt #29.
13	"Ghost Ship"	Peter Sauder and Eric Luke	December 18, 1993 (1993-12-18)
Ben and his friend Mike go for a joyride on Ben's father's new yacht and sink it, leaving the two stranded in the ocean until a phantom ship haunted by pirates comes to their rescue. Based on "Ghost Ship!" from Tales from the Crypt #19.

Season 2 (1994)

No.	Title	Written by	Original ABC air date
14	"Game Over"	Peter Sauder	September 10, 1994 (1994-09-10)
Two boys pay for skipping school to play video games when the characters come to life.
15	"Cold Blood, Warm Hearts/The Spider and the Flies"	Cold Blood, Warm Hearts: John de Klein and Erika Strobel The Spider and the Flies: Eric Luke	September 17, 1994 (1994-09-17)
The Cryptkeeper and the Old Witch meet at the beach to swap stories: Cold Blood, Warm Heart: A man and a woman find that they have a lot in common while investigating rumors of a monster dwelling in a lake. The Spider and the Flies: When spiders infest their town, two siblings find out that a mysterious exterminator is not what he seems to be.
16	"The Avenging Phantom/Myth Conceptions"	The Avenging Phantom: Eric Luke Myth Conceptions: John de Klein (story) Vince Grittani (teleplay)	September 24, 1994 (1994-09-24)
After besting the Vaultkeeper in shadow puppets, the Cryptkeeper tells two stories: The Avenging Phantom: A young boy named Jimmy wishes he can get revenge on his tormentors like his comic book superhero "The Avenging Phantom" and gets his wish, but with dire consequences. Myth Conceptions: An archaeologist discovers the tomb of Medusa and learns the hard way why others before him have died trying to find it.
17	"All the Gory Details!"	Erika Strobel	October 1, 1994 (1994-10-01)
A pair of newspaper reporters try to track down an old mad scientist.
18	"The Weeping Woman"	John de Klein (story) Libby Hinson (teleplay)	October 8, 1994 (1994-10-08)
Camille and Mildred from "Fare Tonight" return, this time, to investigate the sightings of the ghost of a woman who haunts a local inn.
19	"Dead Men Don't Jump!"	Eric Luke	October 15, 1994 (1994-10-15)
The Old Witch, The Cryptkeeper, and The Vaultkeeper return and compete to decide who tells today's story. When the Old Witch wins thanks to her magic, she tells the tale of a boy who challenges a demon to a basketball game that could mean the end of his life if he loses.
20	"The Haunted Mine"	John de Klein (story) Eric Luke (teleplay)	October 22, 1994 (1994-10-22)
After incapacitating Scariff Cryptkeeper in a ghost town, the Vaultkeeper tells the story about a young man who goes to visit his aunt which leads to a trip inside an abandoned mine filled with unusual shapes and a dark secret.
21	"Growing Pains"	Libby Hinson	October 29, 1994 (1994-10-29)
The Old Witch takes over telling this episode's story after turning the Cryptkeeper into a scarecrow. In this installment, Wendell from "Hyde and Go Shriek" falls for Rose, a new girl at school with a rather "weedy" family secret.
22	"The Brothers Gruff"	Peter Sauder	November 5, 1994 (1994-11-05)
A boy named Eddie is followed home by a troll after crossing a bridge. Now it's up to him and his friend Sheldon, who knows almost everything about monsters, to defeat the troll when it kidnaps Eddie's older brother.
23	"Uncle Harry's Horrible House of Horrors"	Erika Strobel	November 12, 1994 (1994-11-12)
During a trip to the carnival, a boy's birthday is being spoiled by his skeptical uncle, but the latter of whom soon has his views of the supernatural challenged when they take a ride through a frighteningly realistic haunted house.
24	"Hunted"	Peter Sauder	November 19, 1994 (1994-11-19)
A heartless hunter in the Amazon is soon the hunted when a shapeshifting monster named Onnaya starts pursuing him after freeing the captured animals.
25	"Chuck (and Melvin) and the Beanstalker"	David Finley	December 3, 1994 (1994-12-03)
Chuck and Melvin from "The Sleeping Beauty" return; this time in a horrifying retelling of "Jack and the Beanstalk" where they must steal the treasure of a giant Cyclops named Beanstalker.
26	"Transylvania Express"	Peter Sauder	December 10, 1994 (1994-12-10)
Two surfer dudes, none other than Mike and Ben from "Ghost Ship," accidentally get on a train headed for Transylvania, where they must fight back against vampires.

New Tales from the Cryptkeeper, Season 3 (1999)

No.	Title	Written by	Original CBS air date
27	"Sharon Sharalike"	J.D. Smith	September 11, 1999 (1999-09-11)
A selfish teenage girl who never shares decides to steal her five-year-old little sister's doll and soon learns that the doll doesn't like it when its owners don't share.
28	"Imaginary Friend"	Kim Thompson	September 18, 1999 (1999-09-18)
Two teen boys torment a nine-year-old girl who has an imaginary friend who gets back at the boys for their actions.
29	"Waste Not, Haunt Not"	Peter Sauder	September 25, 1999 (1999-09-25)
Two boys improperly dispose of toxic waste from their science project into a bog which creates a bog monster.
30	"Unpopular Mechanics"	Peter Sauder	October 2, 1999 (1999-10-02)
Randall "The Vandal" is a kid inventor who has a gift for mechanics, but uses his talent for destructive pranks—and when he invents a remote control that can cause machines to go haywire, he gets his comeuppance when the appliances say "No more!" and attack him.
31	"Competitive Spirit"	J.D. Smith	October 9, 1999 (1999-10-09)
Victor tricks his rival into thinking a ghost exists in the mountains, but a real mountain spirit comes after the boy for his deceptive ways.
32	"Trouble in Store"	J.D. Smith	October 16, 1999 (1999-10-16)
Two boys who are known for stealing end up getting locked in a store during closing hours and discover that the mannequins don't take kindly to those who steal from their "home".
33	"So Very Attractive"	John de Klein (story) Ben Joseph and J.D. Smith (teleplay)	October 23, 1999 (1999-10-23)
An insecure girl buys a beauty cream from an abandoned drugstore that makes her an irresistible force to everything....including animals and the dead.
34	"Drawn and Quartered"	J.D. Smith	October 30, 1999 (1999-10-30)
An aspiring artist named Ralph finds a magic pencil that brings his drawings to life whenever he draws with it. Especially his cartoon character named "Wahoo." He vows to get back at the bullies who torment him by having him torment them back. He then learns that two wrongs don't make a right after things go over the top. Based on "Drawn and Quartered!" from Tales from the Crypt #26
35	"All Booked Up"	Deborah Goodwin and J.D. Smith	November 6, 1999 (1999-11-06)
A boy who hates to read gets trapped in a library where he goes inside the dark world of classic literature.
36	"Town Gathering"	J.D. Smith	November 13, 1999 (1999-11-13)
A girl known for her pranks must convince her mother that a group of businessmen are actually aliens bent on eating the townspeople.
37	"It's for You"	J.D. Smith	November 20, 1999 (1999-11-20)
A fourteen-year-old boy named Gary gets his own phone line as a Christmas present that he wanted for a long time. However, he abuses his privilege and goes against his parents wishes by making several prank calls after he made an agreement with them saying he wouldn't. The problem gets worse when he accidentally makes a prank call to a mysterious old woman who begins to stalk him over the phone.
38	"Monsters Ate My Homework"	J.D. Smith	November 27, 1999 (1999-11-27)
A boy named Evan lies to his teacher by saying that monsters ate his homework in order to avoid getting into trouble. All goes well until problems escalate when real monsters actually come after Evan by coming out under his bed and they want to go after his homework.
39	"Too Cool for School"	John de Klein (story) Erika Strobel (teleplay)	December 4, 1999 (1999-12-04)
Two girls who don't like to follow authority rules mess around with the objects in the school science lab and inadvertently create some half-dinosaur/frog creatures after refusing to clean up frog eggs and a serum containing dinosaur DNA off the floor. After the situation gets more haywire, they then learn the hard way that it's important to obey rules.

Syndication

In North America, the series was premiered on YTV and on ABC, but later on Teletoon and CBS. In August 2012, Fearnet aired reruns in their "Funhouse" block, only on weekends.

Outside of North America, the series aired on Canal+ and M6 in France and Kindernet in The Netherlands.