She was sporting her best faux-Morticia Addams dress, vampy fingernails, long black hair and an imperious expression.

John Zacherles Roland haunted the airwaves of Philadelphia in 1957.

Ray Sparenbergs Selwin kicked off in 1958 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Sid Noels Morgus the Magnificent began practicing his mad science in 1959 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Not so these days.

The monster is within

Television has entered what may be the true golden age of small-screen horror.

If you like psychological horror mixed with small town politics and drug cartel wars, theres AMCsBates Motel.

Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore power the audience-pleasing black comedy of a particular motel with a very famous name.