Who was your local horror host? [Archive]

misterdroid

May 5, '08, 10:03 PM

Forgive me if this has been done to death, but who hosted your local horror fix? In Michigan we had Sir Graves Ghastly and The Ghoul (who I THINK was from ohio actually).
Who did you guys in the rest of the country have?
YouTube - Apr 29 2007 Fox 2 - Sir Graves Story (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDAU7YPsWs8)

Dr. Phibes

May 5, '08, 10:14 PM

Elvira Mistress of the Dark here in so cal, and I think back in the day a guy named Seymor.

madmarva

May 5, '08, 10:36 PM

In Memphis, in the 1960s and early 1970s, our horror host was Sivad (Davis spelled backwards). He lived down the street from me and was a nice guy. He always wore his makeup on Halloween. His look was based on Lon Chaney's Vampire from "London After Midnight."

He also showed up every now and then on our local wrestling show.

Mikey

May 5, '08, 10:37 PM

STELLA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! of --------

Saturday Night DEAD !!!!!!!!!!!!

YouTube - Saturday Night Dead Intro (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xcg9PSLr9vs)

Also

CHILLER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YouTube - Chiller Theater Intro- WPIX-TV NewYork (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asO97gdn2oo&feature=related)

m

ctc

May 5, '08, 11:33 PM

Hmmmm....

We had TONS of 'em for a while in the Windsor/Detroit area. I remember "Saturday Night Dead," and Sir Graves Ghastly, and Count Scary, and Big Chuck/Little John.....

But the Ghoul was always the best! I can still remember seeing him in person when I was 4 or so. Changed my life it did!

Don C.

Bo8a_Fett

May 6, '08, 1:43 AM

Never took off in the UK , I think there is a sat channel now with the lovely Emily Booth hosting http://www.bouff.tv/start.php

lepage

May 6, '08, 6:22 AM

YouTube - Dr. Paul Bearer 4th Promo (http://youtube.com/watch?v=i2WJ3sFiDGA)

Sadly, he is dead now

HardyGirl

May 6, '08, 12:19 PM

For me it was Elvira in So. Cal too. (and I LOVE Chiller Theatre!). For my brother it was "The Creep" of Creature Features when we were living in NYC.

Seeker

May 6, '08, 12:32 PM

STELLA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! of --------
Saturday Night DEAD !!!!!!!!!!!!

I loved Stella! When I first got married we lived in PA and Saturday Night Dead was a regular show for me.:yeah:

Thanks for the clip Mike.:smile:

EMCE Hammer

May 6, '08, 12:50 PM

http://www.geocities.com/televisioncity/3257/Summer99/FRITZ.JPG

Fritz the Night Owl. I love that dude.

http://haljor.homestead.com/niteowl.html

Godzilla

May 6, '08, 1:31 PM

In Indiana we had Sammy Terry. He's in his 70s now but still does con appearences.

thunderbolt

May 7, '08, 10:16 AM

Acri Creature Feature and Son of Svenghoolie in Ill, Dr. Paul Bearer in FLA

Boris71

May 8, '08, 5:15 AM

deadle earnest was the only one we had in the uk as far as I can remember

Type3Toys

May 8, '08, 10:13 AM

Here in Jersey it was Dr Shock.

Goblin19

May 13, '08, 11:14 AM

In Cleveland, we had 3. Big Chuck and Houlihan, which became Big Chuck and Lil John. They played on Friday nights when I was a kid. They just retired last year, though they didn't play horror movies anymore because Fox didn't have the rights to enough of them. Superhost played on Saturday afternoons. He was a fat guy in a ripoff Superman outfit. The Ghoul played on Saturday nights here. He was an imitation of Ghoulardi, who was around in the sixties. And, of course, Elvira played hgere, but I think she played just about everywhere.

Bionic Joe

May 13, '08, 9:28 PM

I'm from SOUTH NEW JERSEY and in the early 70s sat afternoon meant one thing DR Shock :yeah:, Stella was in the mid 80s i believe

polyester

May 30, '08, 2:44 PM

Sir Graves...... I'm in Michigan too.... I want to do a custom of him....

DocDrako

Jun 9, '08, 8:02 AM

I can only remember Bob Wilkins, although he was on an Oakland/San Francisco station that we got in Reno. I guess that means he's not local, so please disregard this post.

:crazy:

twilitezoner

Jun 9, '08, 8:44 AM

I grew up watching Creature Double Feature on Channel 48 in Philadelphia.

mitchedwards

Jun 9, '08, 10:00 AM

Robert Reaves was Dr shock on the local channel in Huntsville inthe 80's

Action Martin

Jun 14, '08, 10:45 AM

I recall Chiller but I could swear that it was on WWOR ch. 9 not WPIX ch. 11. I don't recall any other horror hosts.

saildog

Jun 14, '08, 12:09 PM

Count Gregore in Oklahoma City.

He has been hosting for fifty years now! Still going strong at age 80.
Count Gregore's Site (http://www.screamcountry.com/countgregore/index.html)

Actor John Ferguson first appeared as television's beloved horror host Count Gregore on May 10, 1958 as Shock Theatre premiered on WKY-TV in Oklahoma City. Considered the longest-running horror host in the world, John Ferguson continues to delight audiences on screen, stage, and public appearances as the Count or one of his diverse characters (see next note! — E-gor). John's love of children and acting has aided him in becoming an Oklahoma icon and cherished memory in the hearts and minds of millions of fans.

E-gor's Chamber of TV Horror Hosts — List of Names starting with C (http://myweb.wvnet.edu/e-gor/tvhorrorhosts/hostsc.html)
(PS this site has an index of TV Horror Host!!!)

unataper

Jun 16, '08, 9:33 PM

In Indiana we had Sammy Terry. He's in his 70s now but still does con appearences.

Yeah, the past 2 HorrorHound Conventions in Indy, he has been there in full make-up. The lines for pictures and autographs with him are as long as the modern horror stars.

Cecil

BrianAlbright

Jul 2, '08, 10:31 AM

I grew up watching Fritz the Nite Owl on Channel 10 in Columbus. Not only did he host a Friday night "Double Chiller" double feature, but he actually hosted regular movies all week long. He also did live commentary (into the wee hours of the morning) during the commercial breaks -- he'd do the weather report, read viewer letters, talk about the movie, etc.

Timothy2251

Jul 2, '08, 2:56 PM

Here in Jersey it was Dr Shock.

I vaguely recall the good Dr. (I used to watch Creature Features on Channel 5 out of NYC, and Monster Week on the ABC 4:30 Movie), but I used to catch Stella, and while I was in college, I'd watch Commander USA's Groovie Movies ("Commander USA, Legion of Decency, retired").

I get Cablevision out here, and I used to watch the public access channel, where I'd catch some of the current horror movie folks like the Bone Jangler, Halloween Jack, etc. Man, we DESPERATELY need some horror hosts nowadays!

Edgaar

Jul 3, '08, 12:50 PM

Doctor Shock - Philadelphia PA

justzeg18

Jul 6, '08, 2:48 PM

Detroit has a new horror host: Wolfman Mac.

Wolfman Macs Nightmare SINema airs Saturdays at midnight on MyTv20 out of Detroit.

Wolfman Mac's Nightmare Sinema - Classic B-Horror, Sci Fi movies, local bands, zany skits and other schlock! (http://www.nightmaresinema.com)

He's an awesome guy with a great crew. He's working with a few people who lent a hand on the Ghoul

Although I haven't been able to see the show (local comcast doesn't carry the channel) he invited 2 friends and I out to a tapping. Great time, great people.

Super Fun!

Check him out, let him know what you think.

fallensaviour

Jul 8, '08, 10:03 PM

Elvira.....Mmmmm.
Not much else to say really she was the only host I ever remember.

Hector

Jul 17, '08, 12:40 AM

I can only remember Bob Wilkins, although he was on an Oakland/San Francisco station that we got in Reno. I guess that means he's not local, so please disregard this post.

:crazy:

Yes, I love Bob Wilkins, he's an institution here.

http://www.novemberfire.com/shirtspopup/NFTpop349.gif

John Stanley who took over his show, sadly reports that Bob Wilkins now has Alzheimer's disease...what a bummer, man.

He is truly one of the originals, baby...he still has a devoted site:

BOB WILKINS - CREATURE FEATURES HOST (http://www.bobwilkins.net/)

Here are all the big boys of Creature Features...and Bob Wilkins is there:

Creature Features - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creature_Features)

This is him now, physically in good shape:

http://www.comic-con.org/wc2006/celebs/wilkins_bob.jpg

On a side note, I was on the actual set of Creature Features...but with the host John Stanley...not Bob Wilkins.

:smiley13: :smiley13: :smiley13:

jds1911a1

Jul 17, '08, 7:28 AM

garagesale

Jul 17, '08, 5:14 PM

Count Gregore in Oklahoma City.

Todd:

I remember Count Gregore well! My grandparents once let me stay up until 2 a.m. in 1975 so I could see the 1966 Batman movie hosted by the count! Ah, that's a memory. Thanks for the website link. I didn't know he was still around.

I also remember--actually only kind of know about, as it was before our time--Danny Williams as 3D Danny, the local sci-fi kids show.

Here's a cool link (http://www.dddynamo.com/index.html)

As you probably know, Danny's still on KOMA radio and for years he had that show Dannysday (sort of a local Regis & Whoever) with Mary Hart (later of Entertainment Tonight) as his cohost in the late 70's.

JamesD

saildog

Jul 17, '08, 5:57 PM

Todd:

I remember Count Gregore well! My grandparents once let me stay up until 2 a.m. in 1975 so I could see the 1966 Batman movie hosted by the count! Ah, that's a memory. Thanks for the website link. I didn't know he was still around.

I also remember--actually only kind of know about, as it was before our time--Danny Williams as 3D Danny, the local sci-fi kids show.

Here's a cool link (http://www.dddynamo.com/index.html)

As you probably know, Danny's still on KOMA radio and for years he had that show Dannysday (sort of a local Regis & Whoever) with Mary Hart (later of Entertainment Tonight) as his cohost in the late 70's.

JamesD

Count Gregore still draws a crowd for local festivals and I hear him mentioned quite frequently, not just in the context of "remember when", but I got to "meet Count Gregore!!!".

Yeah, 3D Danny was definitely before our time, but folks still wax nostalgic about that one.

I recently discovered that 3D Danny was "franchised" to the local CBS affiliate in Tampa/St. Pete's, Fl.
Ken Smith on 3D Danny (http://www.big13.net/kensmith.htm)

Man, I wish TV Programming still had some local flavor.

garagesale

Jul 17, '08, 6:04 PM

Count Gregore still draws a crowd for local festivals and I hear him mentioned quite frequently, not just in the context of "remember when", but I got to "meet Count Gregore!!!".

Man, I wish TV Programming still had some local flavor.

Maybe I need to get out a little more! Does Count Gregore go to SoonerCon?

JamesD

saildog

Jul 17, '08, 6:30 PM

Maybe I need to get out a little more! Does Count Gregore go to SoonerCon?

JamesD

He has done SoonerCon (he was on the list for this year) and there is a local Paranormal Convention that he does. Just a few months ago, Cox Cable local access had an entire special to celebrate his 50th Anniversary and he makes frequent appearances on Enid's local cable access Horror Show. The Gazette ran a feature on him not too long ago.