Posted on 10/30/2021 6:31:31 AM PDT by dmam2011
Local market horror TV hosts have helped us through nights for decades, using their quirky personalities to introduce popular, creepy or plain old bad movies - in most instances these were the pre-cable days that lent themselves to captive audiences. The popular figure that embodied this genre was Elvira (Mistress of the Dark). Unknown to an unfortunately large number of people, her meteoric rise would not have happened without local horror tv hosts building their audiences.
A few of these horror hosts became icons and gained national attention for their characters. However, most of these hosts were only seen locally and rarely given the opportunity to promote their programs outside their local markets. That didn't diminish the effort, entertainment or memories of their programs for the people soaking in the shows week-after-week. With that in mind, let's take a look at a few of the older shows being rediscovered with through the benefits of the web.
(Excerpt) Read more at clarksvillian.com ...
Thanks really funny, but isn’t but is.
Your Mom probably didn’t believe someone would shoot the President.
My Dad sold Bill Kennedy a car at a dealership he worked at.
It was the highlight of his career for many years, as if a real Hollywood big shot bought a car from him.
“Yeah, Cosby is a douche, but this is classic!”
It’s unfortunate the Bill Cosby post dates the era of radio. His work performed like radio is done on videos rather than open air and is available for sight. The radio “masters” were never seen when performing so the illusion of the story was laid out even stronger than today with the imagination of the listener.
wy69
Yes he was. Chilly Billy Cardille was the reporter at the end of the movie interviewing the local zombie hunters and sheriff.
Or Foxe’s Book of Martyrs.
First time I saw this character, I came in mid-show and didn’t realize it was a bit. Thought I had taken crazy pills or the local station had lost their minds. My introduction to SCTV.
My mom was 14 when this broadcast happened. She told us about a neighbor rushing over in a panic to fill them in.
Like others have mentioned here, Bob Wilkins on Channel 2 in the SF Bay Area.
I also saw “Night of the Living Dead” on his show, as well as all the “Abbott and Costello meet Dracula/Frankenstein/Wolfman” etc. movies.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WWtLdrevDW4
Anybody here remember “Morgus the Magnificent?”
“She told us about a neighbor rushing over in a panic to fill them in.”
I heard it rumored that people heard the early part of the broadcast and before it was announced it was not a new insert but a story, they left their houses and went over to people they hated nd killed them. It really caused a stir in America. I don’t think TV or movies could utilize the public’s imagination like this using video that the people could see.
wy69
I used to watch the Morgus reruns when I lived in Biloxi. I heard he passed away the last few years.
I went to college in Cincy.. hated monster shows... Skyline... and Graeters.
I now watch a monster show every month... order Skyline online and drive 45 mins out of my way for Graeters.
Ghulardi was the King of them all!!! This “Ghoul” character was just a latter day imitation of Ghoulardi - did he really say turn blue and stay sick? Taken directly from Ghoulardi. Everyone loved Ghoulardi!! But I guess some of his stuff became too controversaial (he blew up a lot of things on-air) and eventually he was taken off the air. He used to make fun of other Cleveland media personalities, especially Dorothy Fuldheim (DAH-thy. Isn’t she GAHjus?) Music - Papa Oom Mow Mow and Pink Dominoes, and his own little soap opera, Parma Place. Our teachers were always telling us he was bad, but we didn’t buy it, and that’s where we all were every weekend.
There was a positive outcome to this, however...I don’t know if any of the other hosts became very successful later on, - but Ernie did, as a voice over guy for network shows. If you ever heard the guy say “the LOVE Boat” - that’s Ghoulardi.
Now who was the guy in New Orleans? Don’t know why I don’t remember, but Dr.John did a song for him.
This is the guy I was thinking of but couldn’t remember!!!!
Yep that’s what I meant - Morgus the Magnificent. I’m sorry I forgot, but I got really involved with Ghoulardi. But what was the song Dr. John was involved in, or was there another one that’s been forgotten?
Dr. Shock
Real name: Tommy Reynolds Years active: 1970-1982, East Tennessee area and Northern Alabama
Moving into East Tennessee, the area may have lacked the variety of hosts of Middle Tennessee, but it more than made up for that in style. The first host of the area was WTVC program director Tommy Reynolds. Donning black greasepaint and a full tuxedo, Dr. Shock welcomed viewers to a variety of films and skits. Along with artist Dan East, the duo created Shock Theater, a weekly program on WTVC-9.
With a host of puppets, most notably Dingbat, and local beauties playing Nurses Goodbody, Badbody, and Purebody, Dr. Shock haunted the airwaves for several years. The show’s writing was considered a bigger draw than most of the movies shown and it was often considered a sign of success if Dingbat namedropped you on the show.
The show came to an end in 1976 when both East and Reynolds moved to other projects. Dr. Shock enjoyed a brief revival in the early 1980’s before Reynolds hung up the cape. Tommy Reynolds passed away in 2008.
Yes, you nailed it.
Seymour WAS great!!
First, he was on channel 9 in LA, then moved over to KTLA, channel 5. He had crappier movies at channel 9, so, in a way, was funnier. I read somewhere his videotaped programs were not kept, but recorded over. Too bad, he really was special!!
In the 1980s, in Deep East Texas (Nacogdoches, Lufkin area) we had a local horror master who called himself Count Bubba. He adopted a vampire persona but wore overalls, did funny skits, and showed the usual collection of “spooky” movies. My family simply would not miss his show.
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