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The Iconic Local TV Horror Hosts (memory lane on Halloween weekend)
The Clarksvillian ^ | October 27, 2021 | Dave McGuire

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 ...


TOPICS: History; Humor; Music/Entertainment; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: holiday; horror; movies; tv
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To: dakine

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.


61 posted on 10/30/2021 10:03:28 AM PDT by David Chase
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To: dfwgator

“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


62 posted on 10/30/2021 10:08:05 AM PDT by whitney69
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To: E.Allen

Yes he was. Chilly Billy Cardille was the reporter at the end of the movie interviewing the local zombie hunters and sheriff.


63 posted on 10/30/2021 10:09:14 AM PDT by 4yearlurker (Freedom is just an injection away Comrades.)
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To: Hardastarboard

Or Foxe’s Book of Martyrs.


64 posted on 10/30/2021 10:10:11 AM PDT by MayflowerMadam (When government fears the people, there is liberty.)
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To: mrs. a
Count Gore De Vol, host of WDCA-20's Creature Feature:


65 posted on 10/30/2021 10:13:58 AM PDT by PLMerite ("They say that we were Cold Warriors. Yes, and a bloody good show, too." - Robert Conquest )
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To: dfwgator

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.


66 posted on 10/30/2021 10:16:46 AM PDT by larrytown (A Cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do. Then they graduate...)
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To: whitney69
"And of course the great broadcast in October 1938 adapted from the book written by H G Wells, War of the World. The book was originally situating the story in England."

My mom was 14 when this broadcast happened. She told us about a neighbor rushing over in a panic to fill them in.

67 posted on 10/30/2021 10:18:14 AM PDT by Grammy (When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty. Thomas Jefferson)
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To: dmam2011

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


68 posted on 10/30/2021 10:46:32 AM PDT by Disambiguator
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To: dmam2011

Anybody here remember “Morgus the Magnificent?”


69 posted on 10/30/2021 10:52:49 AM PDT by D_Idaho ("For we wrestle not against flesh and blood...")
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To: Grammy

“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


70 posted on 10/30/2021 11:57:31 AM PDT by whitney69
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To: D_Idaho

I used to watch the Morgus reruns when I lived in Biloxi. I heard he passed away the last few years.


71 posted on 10/30/2021 12:12:52 PM PDT by dmam2011
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To: Bartholomew Roberts

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.


72 posted on 10/30/2021 12:14:29 PM PDT by dmam2011
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To: Polyxene

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.


73 posted on 10/30/2021 1:04:51 PM PDT by smalltownslick (a)
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To: D_Idaho

This is the guy I was thinking of but couldn’t remember!!!!


74 posted on 10/30/2021 1:14:24 PM PDT by smalltownslick (a)
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To: dmam2011
A hosted horror movie show with Dick Bennick as firstly "Count Shockula" and "Dr. Paul Bearer" presenting movies on Friday or Saturday nights around 11:15pm or 11:30 pm on WGHP, Channel 8 Winston-Salem, North Carolina from 1966 until 1971.

His favorite cereal: Raisin Brain
75 posted on 10/30/2021 1:16:31 PM PDT by AppyPappy (How many fingers am I holding up, Winston? )
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To: smalltownslick

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?


76 posted on 10/30/2021 1:34:19 PM PDT by smalltownslick (a)
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To: dmam2011
For a kid in Chattanooga too young to go out on Saturday night...lightning effects flashed on the screen while Black Sabbath's "Black Sabbath" loudly played. From the darkness emerged the South's Dr. Shock usually hosting two decent horror/sci-fi films for the next few hours.

Shock
Dr

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.

77 posted on 10/30/2021 1:39:24 PM PDT by MikelTackNailer (What is this that stands before me? Figure in black that points at me.)
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To: Bon of Babble

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!!


78 posted on 10/30/2021 2:04:09 PM PDT by Radagast the Fool
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To: dmam2011

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34c4k23JNTk


79 posted on 10/30/2021 2:04:36 PM PDT by smalltownslick (a)
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To: MikelTackNailer

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.


80 posted on 10/30/2021 2:07:28 PM PDT by Robwin ( )
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