WINDBER —
Boy Dracula paid a visit to the Arcadia Theater in Windber on Saturday for DraculaCon II.
Actor Butch Patrick, better known as Eddie Munster in the TV series “The Munsters,” signed autographs and shared stories about the show that aired 70 episodes from September 1964 to May 1966.
“I got a call from Blair Murphy asking if I’d like to come out for an extremely unusual event and brief appearance at the historic Arcadia Theatre so here I am,” said Patrick, 56.
Murphy – filmmaker and owner of Grand Midway Hotel and creator of the vampire thriller “Jugular Wine” – hosted the event that included live music, speakers, costumes and a “Munsters” episode.
Patrick talked about his time as Eddie Munster and gave his thoughts about fellow cast members, now deceased.
On Fred Gwynne, Herman Munster: “A wonderful gentleman. Very talented and very patient. He illustrated children’s books and loved working with children. He was
6-foot-7, and with his shoes on he was 7-foot tall. He was pretty good at ducking through doorways.”
On Yvonne DeCarlo, Lilly Munster: “A nice woman. A big movie star. She was probably the biggest name in the show.”
On Al Lewis, Grandpa Munster: “What can you say about Grandpa? He was a character. He always took time to throw the Frisbee or toss the baseball with me. He treated me like a regular kid. Everybody on the show was very kid friendly.”
Patrick stopped in Windber on his way to a charity event in New York.
Longtime Munsters fan Donna McCall drove from the Philadelphia area to meet her childhood sweetheart.
“My first crush was Butch Patrick,” she said.
McCall said as a girl she wrote a fan letter to Patrick and recently found his Internet site.
“He e-mailed me back with his cell phone number,” she said. “I was really, really nervous when I called him. I felt like I was 10 years old again. He put me quite at ease. He handed the phone to his mom and I got to talk to her for a little bit.”
When she found out Patrick was coming to Windber, McCall made the trip from West Chester.
“I met him for the first time, but I feel like I’ve known him forever,” she said.
Local News
Related Photos
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Munsters fan Donna McCall traveled from the Philadelphia area to meet Butch Patrick, aka Eddie Munster, at DraculaCon II on Saturday at Windber’s Arcadia Theater. Submitted Photo
Discussion
Fangs for the memories
‘Munsters’ actor Butch Patrick attends Windber event
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