A serial killer is on the loose, leaving a trail of mutilated female corpses in his wake. Kolchak has been assigned to handle Miss Emily Fenwick’s letter column after irritating the police. The reporter can’t stay away, however, and is soon witness to a number of occurrences where the press-dubbed Ripper, seemingly immunity to gunfire and possessed of superhuman strength, escapes the police with ease on several occasions. Kolchak soon comes to believe that the murderer is the 19th century Jack the Ripper, gifted with immortality. Going back through the historical accounts, Carl discovers that the Ripper broke off his killings in New York with the invention of the electric chair. From this, he suspects that electricity may be the Ripper’s one weakness. Following up the lead of an elderly writer to the “Dear Emily” letter column, he tracks the Ripper to the abandoned house where he has made his lair.
Season 1 Regular Cast: Darren McGavin (Carl Kolchak), Simon Oakland (Tony Vincenzo), Jack Grinnage (Ron Updyke), Ruth McDevitt (Emily/Edith Fenwick/ Cowels/Cowles), John Fiedler (Gordan “Gordy the Ghoul” Spangler), Carole Anne Susi (Monique Marmelstein)
written by Rudolph Brochert
directed by Allen Baron
music by Gil MilleGuest Cast: Beatrice Colen (Jane Plumm), Ken Lynch (Captain Warren), Mickey Gilbert (The Ripper), Ruth McDevitt (Elderly Woman)
Notes: Ironically, the premiere episode aired on Friday the 13th (9/13/74). Ruth McDevitt plays an elderly woman who writes to the “Dear Emily” letter column. A few episodes later, she plays Miss Emily. In this episode, Emily’s last name is Fenwick.
LogBook entry by Steve Crowe