Local Horror Shows - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Retro4Life · 06-10-2017, 09:38 PM

I'd like to share memories of local horror shows with everyone; whatever region you lived in, at least in the U.S., it's likely that those "of a certain age", have some.

Mine were the legendary WGN Creature Features, which was basically done without a host, but used a cutout of Lon Chaney's "London After Midnight" character, and the voice of newsman Marty McNeely, who read punny lines and poems about the movies of the week.

I also have great memories of the Acri Creature Feature, hosted by cheerful siding and window salesman, Chuck Acri. He'd read fan letters, judge a "Creep of the Week" contest (kids would send in artwork; I won once!), and do crazy skits with his monster crew during the break, often at remote locations.

There are others, but I'll let someone else chime in. (Torgo, I sense your presence...lol).

Torgo · 06-12-2017, 10:11 AM

My presence mainly out of envy

, I never got to experience a true local horror host.

When we lived in Seattle, I was too young to be aware of local Tacoma host Dr. Zingrr...

Then when we moved down to Vancouver WA (just South of Portland OR), Portland's local horror host had just gone off the air, though I didn't learn of him until years later. It ran from 1971 to about '75 0r '76. Sinister Cinema hosted by Victor Ives...

I would have loved to have been around Portland in the 1950's for Tarantula Ghoul...

The closest I had to a local horror host was a local car salesman that would introduce movies in the afternoons. I remember coming home from school just as he came on. I don't think they played just horror, but I do remember seeing horror films on there including The Shuttered Room.

Ah well, least I had Commander USA and Elvira.

MrCleveland · 06-12-2017, 03:44 PM

Cleveland had Ghoulardi/Houlihan/Big Chuck and Lil' John!

MA · 06-12-2017, 07:50 PM

Svengoolie

stevea · 06-13-2017, 05:06 PM

"Sammy Terry", a ghoulishly dressed character who showed horror movies on WTTV 4 Indianapolis, was a local fixture for years.

There is a short Wikipedia article on him. The original portrayer, Bob Carter, died in 2013.

Mr. Television · 06-13-2017, 06:05 PM

I don't remember any local horror shows. I do remember a nut who used to come on late on Saturday nights and introduce movies. It was called Will C's Red Eye Cinema. It aired on WCTI-TV 12 in New Bern NC. I'm pretty sure they aired horror movies as well but they had a huge variety. They were mostly low budget drive-in type movies. I miss the days when you'd get local shows like that. Damn I just looked it up on Google and found his obituary. He died in 2007.

06-10-2017, 09:38 PM	#1
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	Local Horror Shows I'd like to share memories of local horror shows with everyone; whatever region you lived in, at least in the U.S., it's likely that those "of a certain age", have some. Mine were the legendary WGN Creature Features, which was basically done without a host, but used a cutout of Lon Chaney's "London After Midnight" character, and the voice of newsman Marty McNeely, who read punny lines and poems about the movies of the week. I also have great memories of the Acri Creature Feature, hosted by cheerful siding and window salesman, Chuck Acri. He'd read fan letters, judge a "Creep of the Week" contest (kids would send in artwork; I won once!), and do crazy skits with his monster crew during the break, often at remote locations. There are others, but I'll let someone else chime in. (Torgo, I sense your presence...lol).
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

06-12-2017, 10:11 AM	#2
Torgo Omaha & Fritz Forum Star Join Date: Mar 06, 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 19,032	My presence mainly out of envy , I never got to experience a true local horror host. When we lived in Seattle, I was too young to be aware of local Tacoma host Dr. Zingrr... Then when we moved down to Vancouver WA (just South of Portland OR), Portland's local horror host had just gone off the air, though I didn't learn of him until years later. It ran from 1971 to about '75 0r '76. Sinister Cinema hosted by Victor Ives... I would have loved to have been around Portland in the 1950's for Tarantula Ghoul... The closest I had to a local horror host was a local car salesman that would introduce movies in the afternoons. I remember coming home from school just as he came on. I don't think they played just horror, but I do remember seeing horror films on there including The Shuttered Room. Ah well, least I had Commander USA and Elvira.
	__________________ "I'm going to go do something productive. I'm gonna go watch television." - Ray Peterson, The 'burbs "I am the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and Fries." - Stephen King "There's nothing wrong with G-rated movies, as long as there's lots of sex and violence." - Elvira

06-12-2017, 03:44 PM	#3
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,222	Cleveland had Ghoulardi/Houlihan/Big Chuck and Lil' John!
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

06-13-2017, 06:05 PM	#6
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,133	I don't remember any local horror shows. I do remember a nut who used to come on late on Saturday nights and introduce movies. It was called Will C's Red Eye Cinema. It aired on WCTI-TV 12 in New Bern NC. I'm pretty sure they aired horror movies as well but they had a huge variety. They were mostly low budget drive-in type movies. I miss the days when you'd get local shows like that. Damn I just looked it up on Google and found his obituary. He died in 2007.
	__________________ Sonny

06-12-2017, 07:50 PM	#4
MA Member Moderator Forum Idol Join Date: May 20, 2017 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 127,479	Svengoolie

06-13-2017, 05:06 PM	#5
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,587	"Sammy Terry", a ghoulishly dressed character who showed horror movies on WTTV 4 Indianapolis, was a local fixture for years. There is a short Wikipedia article on him. The original portrayer, Bob Carter, died in 2013.