FuzzyMemories of Classic Chicago TV

[jeff_duntemann]

I have a lot of things on my mind (and plate) today, but I did want to pass along a pointer to a site that I received from Kevin Anetsberger: FuzzyMemories.TV, the Museum of Classic Chicago Television. What we have here is a large collection of short video clips from Chicago TV, the bulk

Comments

[apostle_of_eris]

I had a special love for Fernwood 2 Night.
A few years before, Martin Mull had toured a show called Martin Mull And His Fabulous Furniture in Your Living Room, with a van load of Salvation Army store furniture on stage.
When Fernwood 2 Night came on, and there was Martin Mull and his fabulous (sic) furniture in your living room, I had one of the biggest laughs of my life. He actually did it!

Fernwood, and the Goul in Cleveland

[n8ux]

I remember Fernwood playing *late* at night on one of the Cleveland stations. But my fondest TV memories are of Ghoulardi re-runs (Ernie Anderson), Hoolahan and Big Chuck, and of course the Ghoul (Ron Sweed), who picked up on the original Ghoulardi character in the early seventies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e52cXCrmauc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoiU6uOTkvc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roVBALpWBuQ

Rich, N8UX

Seminal "Shock Theater"

[jeff_duntemann]

Heh! Chicago had its own "Shock Theater" on WBKB-TV (Channel 7) hosted by a beatnik character played by Terry Bennett, a local TV personality better known for a kids' show called Jobblewocky Place. Shock Theater ran from 1957 through 1959 and was thus a little early for me, so I never saw it. (I was only 7 when it went off the air). The show had elaborate sets for the time and Bennett's offbeat humor was legendary, though I doubt he was the cultural kidder that Ghoulardi was. Here's a good writeup

Re: Seminal "Shock Theater"

[n8ux]

Anderson was doing TV spots for WJW when they purchased one of those horror packages, and asked him to host them on Saturday afternoons. They held a name contest, "Ghoulardo" was chosen, Anderson changed it to "Ghoulardi", and the rest was history.

A year or so ago, my niece wanted to watch the remake of Amityville horror. I thought it might be a little too much for a 14 year old (but it was PG-13), but after she got her parents' approval, we all watched it. There were a couple scary scenes that made her (and a couple of us) scream, but then she would follow up with a huge laugh. And that was what Ghoulardi, the Ghoul, and Hoolahan and Big Chuck were for me back then. A rollercoaster of scares and laughs.

Rich, N8UX