Billy Van was the star of The Hilarious House of Frightenstein, but Vincent Price was the celebrity name that gave the show credibility, and probably led to wider distribution of the show than it would have otherwise seen. His role was that of comic narrator; from what was presumably supposed to be a balcony of the castle he gave spirited introductions to the sketches of all the featured players (save for the Wolfman) in sometimes amateurish but often clever rhyming verse. Counting the opening and closing sequences of the show, it meant that he usually appeared in each episode 8 times. Though he never actually appeared on screen with any of the other characters from the show (save Brucie), his poems suggested his character was a frequent castle guest and friend to all its inhabitants. Nearly every Vincent Price sequence featured props, with recurring ones being big floppy hands, a skull, and the ubiquitous beakers with coloured water and big chunks of dry ice spewing copious amounts of gas and foam. Appropriate attire was also worn — for Zany Zoo he wore a pith helmet; for Grizelda a chef’s hat; for the Oracle a pointed wizard’s hat; for the Librarian mid-19th century dress; and for the Professor a business suit and frequently spectacles.
