If you grew up in the San Francisco area in the 1970’s, you probably spent a Saturday night or two with Bob. He was the original “Weekend Horror Host” in the Bay Area. Wilkins was was a low-key, nerdy-looking guy who sported a big cigar. He was the perfect master of ceremonies to a multitude of classic-to-MST3K-worthy movies and out-there guest appearances.
I was a faithful viewer, and was the lucky winner of his “Last Man On Earth” contest. Funny thing–I got 6 movie passes for submitting an entry, but only 2 passes for winning! Thanks for the memories, Bob!
When I was a kid I lived in the bay area in the early to mid seventies, and I was a big, big Bob Wilkins fan. It was sometimes a struggle to stay up late enough to see both films, and I sometimes didn’t make it. Every Monday my friends and I would recount how great that weekends Creature Features had been.
Somewhere around here I’ve still got an autographed photo Wilkins sent me in response to a letter I’d written him.
I considered starting this thread myself, but wondered if it might not be a bit to obscure for most folks outside the Bay Area and of a certain age.
But man, I worshipped Bob Wilkins and Creature Features. The struggle was always to last all the way through that and ( the original ) SNL. It was a great time in late night television. Cinematic “classics” like The Legend of Hell House and Let’s Scare Jessica to Death are firmly entrenched in psyche because of that show. Sometimes when the film was particularly bad, the intro and Wilkins were the best part :).
Bob Wilkins–there’s somebody I was familiar with but stopped thinking about after I left Sacramento years ago.
Although I doubt there was any connection or influence on them, to me Wilkins seemed like a precursor to David Letterman and MST3K. What stood out most about him is that he wasn’t your typical local Saturday-night horror movie host. He didn’t dress up like a vampire and affect a campy accent. Instead, he was this ordinary looking guy in a suit who, in a deadpan manner, would sit, smoke a cigar, and make snarky comments about the movie. (This was because more often than not, the film would be 100% pure cheese. Although sometimes he would show a genuine classic like Bride of Frankenstein, King Kong, or Night of the Living Dead.) There were also interviews with local eccentrics, film historians, and celebrities along with off-beat cartoons and shorts (e.g., Nixon’s 1952 “Checkers” speech).
Absolutely, Wilkins was way ahead of MST3K. Although you only got to see him during some of the commercial interruptions, he would inject some humor into usually pretty scary movies (although there were a lot of lame movies on Creature Features as well) that helped to break up the tension. He had a great wit and was a master at tongue in cheek. He will be missed. I am sad to hear this news.
I remember when the original series “Star Trek” was first released in syndication, Bob introduced a “preview” episode. I don’t remember if it was part of “Creature Features” or not, but I always associate Wilkins with the “return” of “Star Trek.” (I don’t remember the title, but it was the episode with Abraham Lincoln and the rock monster)
I used to watch him on Channel 40 here in Sacramento. I can remember him sitting in his chair with his cigar, but oddly enough I can’t recall any of the movies themselves…though I suppose that was usually the point.
Sorry to hear this. I never heard of him till now, but this October, Indiana’s “Nightmare Theatre” host from 1962-85 “Sammy Terry” (Bob Carter) came to my town to do a show. The place was sold out! I was fortunate enough to be able to see him again… and he’s around 80 now. Whew!
Well, that’s a bummer! I used to watch old Bob when I lived in Sacramento back in the day and it used to just amaze me that such a geeky, monotone, nebbishy guy was on the TV–the gigantic “never smoke anything bigger than your dick” cigars just made it even more incongruous. I saw some great movies, though, and Bob’s probably a big part of the reason I’m still a big old horror movie fan.
Was this program syndicated around the country? I recall watching one with that title (although I recall the “Feature” as being singular, no “s”) as a kid in the mid-70s here in Cincinnati, though I seem to remember the host dressing as a vampire.
Or is it just a generic title that many stations used to package old horror films for show on the weekends?
Nope, it wasn’t syndicated. There were a ton of such shows around the country (think I’m exaggerating? Take a look :eek:) and more than a couple used variations of the Creature Feature title. Many were hosted by over the top vampire or ghoul type characters.
