This Friday will be the 50th anniversary of Screaming Yellow Theater on WFLD-TV Channel 32.

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This Friday will be the 50th anniversary of Screaming Yellow Theater on WFLD-TV Channel 32 in Chicago. Jerry G. Bishop was the host as Svengoolie.

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My new story about the 50th anniversary of Creature Features is now published on my blog!
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13 SEP 2020 BY PETE KASTANES
The 50th Anniversary of Creature Features on WGN-TV Channel 9. My pleasant memories of watching the show.



Here is an ad for the debut of Creature Features on WGN-TV Channel 9 on September 19, 1970. The movies were Dracula and She-Wolf of London.

Hello everyone. Today I will be writing my fond memories of watching Creature Features in Chicago. Anyone who grew up in Chicago in the 1970s will undoubtedly remember this local program that debuted on Saturday night at 10:30 p.m. on September 19, 1970. The television program showcased classic horror movies from The Universal Studios Library. More classic movies from other film studios were typically shown as the years went on. The unique show instantly began with a creaking coffin door opening with the iconic theme song playing Experiment by Terror composed by Henry Mancini. ... During the proper introduction of the show, local news anchors Carl Greyson and later Marty McNeely read a creepy poem. It was recited off-screen for each movie that aired every Saturday night. The poem was recited like this:

Gruesome ghouls and grisly ghosts,
Wretched souls and cursed hosts.
Vampires bite and villains creep,
Demons scream and shadows sleep.
Blood runs cold in every man,
Fog rolls in and coffins slam.
Mortals quake and full moon rise,
Creatures haunt and terrorize.

As the poem was recited, a photo from the 1927 silent movie London After Midnight that starred Lon Chaney Sr. is revealed with announcer laughing in an evil way. His role as a toothy vampire was shown every week. Sometimes he was more frightening than the movies themselves. The movies were double features. That method last for only few months. The first movies that were presented were, Dracula from 1931 and She-Wolf of London from 1946.

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As the 50th anniversary approaches, I was hoping WGN-TV Channel 9 will commemorate this historic occasion. I have a feeling they won’t, and it’s a terrible shame. If they put together a special presentation, the ratings would hit the ceiling. The fans of the show would be tickled to death. Maybe for Halloween. Fingers crossed. We will see. On Saturday night, I am tentatively planning to watch the two classic movies, Dracula and She-Wolf of London on DVD. I am doing this to properly honor a remarkable wonderful show that Channel 9 created to Chicago television viewers. I have a feeling a lot of fans of the show will promptly do the same. Another treasured memory for me growing up Chicago. Thank you. Pete Kastanes. Admin for Vanished Chicagoland Facebook Page.