Starter of this subject: CZ
Last post in this subject: 11/9/1999
Messages in this subject: 2
| CZ | 11/9/1999 2 replies |
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::: KGO had a saturday nite show at 10 pm to midnite, which played shows such as "X minus 1"; "The Black Museum" hosted by Orson Welles; "The Third Man"; "The Shadow" with Orson Welles; "Lights Out" and several others.
::: The host (who did a Bela Lugosi imitation) was a vampire who called himself "Clawed, The Magnificent." : ::: What I'd like to find out is ..... : 1 .... What was the host's name? : 2 .... What year's was it on? Best I can remember is that it date's to early 1960's. : |
| Michael Ogden | 11/22/1999 1 replies |
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CZ,
In the course of asking your questions, you actually provided some answers that I had been trying to find out about this program. I had come across mention of it a few months ago when I was researching the San Francisco Examiner in 1963 and '64 for any information about the KPFA series THE BLACK MASS. The KGO show started up around the same time that BLACK MASS did, but I was puzzled by its two-hour time slot and thus had concluded that it wasn't doing original programming but probably reruns from earlier series (which you confirmed in your posting). Judging from the show titles that you mentioned, I presume that KGO was getting these shows primarily from either Charles Michelson or Harry Alan Towers. The name of the program was DREADFUL MYSTERIES (aka THE SATURDAY NIGHT MYSTERY THEATER). The "horror host" Claude the Magnificent was played by the station's then-new program director Jim Dunbar (who is still, after all these years, with KGO). The show premiered on October 5, 1963 and ran until, at least, 1968 (that's the point at which my research has stopped, for the time being). And now the questions begin (again).... Based on what you remember about the show, what was the opening like and what was Claude's patter like? Did he treat the shows in a kidding manner as did many of the TV horror hosts of the day? Did they do any other horror series besides LIGHTS OUT? Do you recall whether they ever did any original radio drama or strictly repeats of older series? Thanks for whatever further info you can supply. I'm trying to determine whether DREADFUL MYSTERIES rates an entry in my forthcoming encyclopedia of radio horror programs (now up to over 270 series!). Mike Ogden |
| CZ | 11/29/1999 0 replies |
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:: As to the opening, he might have started it with a Wolfhowl, but I'm not positive.
:: Believe he called the program director 'Igor', but far as I can remember, Igor didn't speak. :: Once in a while Claude would laugh about something, and usually end it with a "ooohhhh voonderfil!" Best I can type a Lugosi accent :) The 'o's were prounonced like those in "Moon". : He would make fun of the shows' plots occasionally, but during program breaks, he'd describe what "The Children" were doing to each other & the prisoners in the Dungeons. One bit that showed up occasionally would be some kind of--and it's the only way I can describes it--wierd sounding music, & Claude would make remarks about the childred "tuning up thier human musical instruments." : Idea being I suppose the humans were themselves were the instruments. :: They had sci-fi, mystery-type shows based on stories by Arch Obler--and, I think he may've hosted one of them. At least one of the series KGO broadcast would say that the "episode is based on a story especially written for ... by Mr. Obler" :: I think they ran "The Green Hornet" & a couple of mystery-type series that were set in the old West. And one series with Michael Rennie, and another with Marius Goring(?) called "The Scarlet Pimpernel." : ::Right no |