I'm not familiar with all of these, as I'm a Brit, but I love the names (eg Dr Gangrene) and word play (eg sin-sational)! I was in America for the first time when I was 15, and as we were tucking into the Thanksgiving meal I innocently asked what we were giving thanks for, to be told @Freedom from you lot!"
Great article - certainly brings back memories I'd long suppressed! Not that in Western NC we had any of these types of hosts (well, Elvira was in the mix somewhere I vaguely recall) - but 70s and 80s TV certainly wasn't shy of providing great scares, some of which stick with me to this day. Dark Shadows, Twilight Zone, Fantastic Stories .... Good stuff!
Thanks So much for sharing! I would hate to guess what a mess I would be if cable had been around when I was growing up. 3 channels and cartoons only on Saturday mornings. lol I would like to say it’s easier but sometimes having Too Much to choose from spreads you thin. Apparently being in Louisville a designated horror host wasn’t actively pursued. Like you, I would stock pile the snacks, candy, soda only I camped out to Creature Features on Saturday Nights. You mentioned social life. Haha Parents- it’s 10 O’clock- do you know where your children are?? Happy Halloween 🎃!
Oh, wow...I haven't thought of these guys in ages! We used to watch 'Chilly Billy' Cardille who hosted Chiller Theater (Pittsburgh) on Saturday nights. Then there was Ron Sweed as 'The Ghoul' also hosting a late-night Saturday horror show (Cleveland). He loved blowing stuff up. Fun times!
These were great! What a perfect slice of local horror hosts. In Detroit it was Count Scary, who you can find on YouTube and Wikipedia. Stations here also picked up Elvira: Mistress of the Dark. On Saturdays, all year round was Saturday Thriller Double Feature. You can find the commercial and intro on YouTube. Good stuff, Mark!
I'm not familiar with all of these, as I'm a Brit, but I love the names (eg Dr Gangrene) and word play (eg sin-sational)! I was in America for the first time when I was 15, and as we were tucking into the Thanksgiving meal I innocently asked what we were giving thanks for, to be told @Freedom from you lot!"
Great article - certainly brings back memories I'd long suppressed! Not that in Western NC we had any of these types of hosts (well, Elvira was in the mix somewhere I vaguely recall) - but 70s and 80s TV certainly wasn't shy of providing great scares, some of which stick with me to this day. Dark Shadows, Twilight Zone, Fantastic Stories .... Good stuff!
Thanks So much for sharing! I would hate to guess what a mess I would be if cable had been around when I was growing up. 3 channels and cartoons only on Saturday mornings. lol I would like to say it’s easier but sometimes having Too Much to choose from spreads you thin. Apparently being in Louisville a designated horror host wasn’t actively pursued. Like you, I would stock pile the snacks, candy, soda only I camped out to Creature Features on Saturday Nights. You mentioned social life. Haha Parents- it’s 10 O’clock- do you know where your children are?? Happy Halloween 🎃!
Oh, wow...I haven't thought of these guys in ages! We used to watch 'Chilly Billy' Cardille who hosted Chiller Theater (Pittsburgh) on Saturday nights. Then there was Ron Sweed as 'The Ghoul' also hosting a late-night Saturday horror show (Cleveland). He loved blowing stuff up. Fun times!
I have never watched any horror movies, probably because they would scare the heck out of me.
These were great! What a perfect slice of local horror hosts. In Detroit it was Count Scary, who you can find on YouTube and Wikipedia. Stations here also picked up Elvira: Mistress of the Dark. On Saturdays, all year round was Saturday Thriller Double Feature. You can find the commercial and intro on YouTube. Good stuff, Mark!