[arnett]

http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/3257/

Some of the younger guys are saying, “what the hell is a horror movie host?” Back before the days of infomercials, local stations had to fill up airtime with something. Usually, it was Brady Bunch reruns and the like. But most markets had a cheesy late-night horror movie host who played really bad B-movies from the 50s and 60s. Growing up in the early 80s, I used to love watching these guys.

I was in the fortunate position of having access to two horror movie hosts growing up in north central Indiana. I could watch Sammy Terry Friday nights on WTTV 4 from Indy, and Son of Svengoolie on WFLD 32 Chicago on Saturday afternoons. In fact, I used to love the Son of Svengoolie. All those jokes about Berwyn.

I thought it might be fun for some of you to take a trip down memory lane and remember your local horror movie host (. . . then again, maybe not

).
These guys were so cheesy. But you can’t help but to love ‘em. Too bad they're now extinct.

check out the link above.

 

[williamgoody]

I used to watch Uncle Ted

 

[andrzejpw]

what the hell is a horror movie host?

A bit before my time. . .

 

[RickG]

Bill Camfield on Saturday nights as Nightmare's "Gorgon" :

Who was also Icky Twerp weekdays on Slam Bang Theatre (cartoons and Three Stooges):

On KTVT Channel 11 (Ft. Worth, Texas) from the late 50's until the early 70's.

 

[jude]

In Detroit, I grew up with The Ghoul and Count Scary. Count Scary was my favorite because he was such a cheeseball (as though any of these hosts weren't cheeseballs?

).

Odd but cool topic, arnett!

 

[andrzejpw]

Hmm, were these people that sort of introduced each movie at the beginning, and then made odd comments at the commercials, etc?

 

[JMT]

I grew up watching a guy named Bob Wilkins on KXTL, channel 40. He looked like the definitive nerd. Thick horn rimmed glasses, skinny, voice like a real tough girl. His trademark was his ever present stogie.

Bob Wilkin's Creature Feature Website

 

[RickG]

Quote:

Originally posted by andrzejpw Hmm, were these people that sort of introduced each movie at the beginning, and then made odd comments at the commercials, etc?

Yeah, comments, little skits, and corny jokes!

Of course, Elvira (Mistress of the Dark) is the most famous of these. She took it to another level, went nationwide, and ultimately became a cult "star"!

 

[arnett]

Quote:

Originally posted by jude Odd but cool topic, arnett!

that's me . . odd but cool.

hehehe. glad you like it, Jude.

i wanted to post this for a long time but i didn't know how it would go over. these guys are like a piece of Americana that no longer exists. damn those infomercials!

Quote:

Elvira (Mistress of the Dark) is the most famous of these.

the younger guys might remember JOE BOB BRIGGS on TNT. but he was nothing like the real horror movie hosts.

i'm surprised that no one from Chicago has posted about Son of Svengoolie. he was kinda like groucho marx. he would hit everyone over the head with a rubber chicken as part of his shtick. SOOOO cheesy.

 

[andrzejpw]

Good lord. These guys are scary! In that las vegas sort of way. . .

 

[daycart1]

Anyone interested in this topic MUST watch some old Second City TV tapes.
"Monster Chiller Horror Theatre". "Oowwwwwooooooo; that was scaaarry boys and girls!". Sometimes he was assisted by Igor. Films were either horror spoofs like "Dr. Tung's 3-D House of Stewardesses", or things that weren't scary at all, like a Bergman film (spoof).

I watched some Elvira (my kid brother ran her TV fan club for a couple of years) in LA and Svenghoulie in Chicago.