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288 entries on 1 page(s)
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Dr. Jitters' Homepage

288 

Date: 2007-09-08 03:21:48
Steve Bailey ( barbaraeberlyfan@excite.com / http://www.leaveemlaughing.com) wrote:

"Capt. Jinks" might be interested to know that he's the one who inspired my lifelong admiration for Laurel & Hardy after their short subjects were repeatedly aired on his Sat.-morning show! I now run a chapter of the International Laurel & Hardy Appreciation Society, thanks to my being introduced to them on his show!

287 

Date: 2007-08-31 17:09:50
Steven Jones ( Sphilipjones@aol.com / http://www.stevenpjones.com) wrote:

The eye were part of a creature feature KCRG ran at 10:30. This CF started before the Acri Creature Feature debuted on KCRG sometime around October 30 in 1973. When the ACF debuted, KCRG ran its CF first, then ran the ACF afterwards, creating a double feature.

The KCRG CF had no host. All the station did was run an opening with a close-up of somebody's eye, the soundtrack of a heart beating, and I think some creepy narration.

If memory serves, the face was part of the KCRG CF. It could have been part of the ACF, but I really don't think so. What I remember is a title card appearing at the start and end of every commercial break. This title card was black except for a face (could have been a vampire but not sure) on the left and the title of the film being played on the right. The face and title appeared in yellow. I'm not sure where the face came from. Most likely swiped from some comic book, but if it was I don't recall seeing it in any of the horror comics I read.

I hope this helps, Jens! :-)

286 

Date: 2007-08-14 23:33:15
Dr. Jitters ( no email / http://www.houseofjitters.com) wrote:

Is this it, Jens?

285 

Date: 2007-08-14 23:23:43
Dr. Jitters ( no email / http://www.houseofjitters.com) wrote:

I think I may have tried to help Jens (below) before, but couldn't. The Cedar Rapids opening isn't familiar to me. I definitely don't recall the eyeball bit.

The only thing that the vampire drawing/title card reminds me of is the opening you can see on this youtube video --

http://youtube.com/watch?v=NFT7qAhyr-o

If it's not that, it kind of sounds like the image of Lon Chaney as the LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT "vampire". There was a Creature Feature program out of Chicago that used that image for their main title card. There's even a Yahoo Group that's called Creature Feature(s) where you can see the old opening. That's all I've got.

284 

Date: 2007-08-14 17:15:44
rich ( captainerniesshowboat@yahoo.com / http://www.captainerniesshowboat.com) wrote:

Checking to see if anyone has the answer to this -

hello there, im a long time fan of the acri creature feature, but i was also quite young in the early 70s, however i do have a great memory, i do remember it was on at 1030 pm right after the news on kcrg tv 9 also i do remember someone playing a piano to the tune of windmills of your mind (henry mancini) also there would be this strange eyeball that would get closer and closer to the screen and then it would show a tilted yellowish colored vampire face with fangs like maybe a drawing or something and they would show this face at commercial breaks, and thats what really puzzles me, i cant find a picture of that face not even on the acri creature feature site, i know that its been a very long time since its been on the air here in cedar rapids but if you would be able to help me in any way i would be greatfully happy, thanks a million, jens

283 

Date: 2007-08-04 02:00:08
Susan Looney ( sglooney@comcast.net / no homepage) wrote:

I was born,(Susan Alford),in peoria in 1955 and lived in the area till 1967. I watched the show and had the occasion to meet Salty Sam at my church and get a glossy 8x10 of both he and the captain along with his autogragh. I have always been proud of that. I love that they were a part of my youth I will never forget them. Susan Looney, Florence, Alabama

282 

Date: 2007-07-15 01:44:43
rich ( captainerniesshowboat@yahoo.com / http://www.captainerniesshowboat.com) wrote:

Wasn't Gene Edwards, Dr. Igor in the early years?

Yes and if anyone has pictures or film of Chiller Theater, please let me know!

281 

Date: 2007-07-08 01:23:25
Dave Owens ( cnw100272@yahoo.com / no homepage) wrote:

Wasn't Gene Edwards, Dr. Igor in the early years?

280 

Date: 2007-07-01 15:38:14
chuck ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

Not that I'm suggesting anything, but I see that KLJB again has that 11:30 slot available Mr. Acri.
Thanks again to Heartland TV on You Tube for posting more segments.

279 

Date: 2007-06-07 04:28:25
Fred Fuller ( fmfuller@comcast.net / no homepage) wrote:

Always enjoyed cast of characters and looked forward to watching. I lived near George Sedlack who was painting Evel Kenievel's helmets, etc and several other customs - great artist.

278 

Date: 2007-05-29 02:45:17
Chuck ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

HeartlandTV just posted six more Acri segments on You Tube. Oh for his return.

277 

Date: 2007-05-08 08:32:58
Kris Ketz ( kketz@hearst.com / http://www.thekansascitychannel.com) wrote:

I happen to bump into this page and was sad to hear of Ken's passing. My father worked with Ken at WQAD-TV in Moline. I remember Ken's terrific work on the show and what a kind man he was. My best to his family.

Kris Ketz
KMBC-TV
Kansas City

276 

Date: 2007-05-08 03:35:46
Dwayne Paul ( bukeye@machlink.com / no homepage) wrote:

I remember Pywacket Presents, the movies werent quite as quirky. I still remember asking if we needed siding so the monster mobile would come to our house.
I miss those old movies, so much that now I look for the low grade B-movies just to see how bad they can be.

275 

Date: 2007-04-27 03:11:24
Dr. Jitters ( no email / http://www.houseofjitters.com) wrote:

Thinking back on horror hosts(esses), I recalled the show Hollywood Haunted Cinema that used to be on channel 69, KNLA, in southern California. It was hosted by a young brunette woman in braids named "Barby Braidy".

The set was a basement with stairs leading upwards and Barby's step-sisters would call down to her various mean things. They'd show the usual public domain horror movies. Does anyone else remember this show? Better yet, does anyone have a picture or video clips of it?

The spelling of her name above is correct, but may also come up Barbie Brady.

274 

Date: 2007-04-18 16:10:45
Steve Peterson ( Peterson@ghoulsburgillinois.com / no homepage) wrote:

I remember being at Sam's bowling alley when in walked the Creature Feature crew. They were in full costume and ready to tape. They had a camera man with them with a portable camera on his shoulder. They were hilarious. They were in character from the time they walked in the door. You could tell these guys were professional actors on a par with most any national television show. Not your common local wannabes. When they were set up and ready to film, they did all of the scenes in one take. They must have rehearsed before getting there. They all knew exactly what to do. It was fun to see this taping on the ACF show several weeks later. It is a fond memory from my high school days. Steve Peterson

273 

Date: 2007-04-18 05:01:40
CECIL FOUTS ( HOTROD2MAN39@YAHOO.COM / no homepage) wrote:

ACRI CREATURE FEATURE I LIKE TO HAVE THE MOVES OF THEM DO YOU GUYS SELL THEM IT WAS THE BEST SHOW ON WISH IT WAS BACK ON THINKS CECIL

272 

Date: 2007-04-17 16:39:20
Dr. Jitters ( no email / http://www.houseofjitters.com) wrote:

Our friend Phil from Dubuque contributed a fine tribute to the creators of the Acri Creature Feature, Bill Flannery and Don Raymond. Check out the new page here. Thanks, Phil!

271 

Date: 2007-04-15 02:29:34
chuck ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

Yes, I'm all about finding a way to get Acri back on. At least I'm not alone.

270 

Date: 2007-04-13 20:28:28
Dr. Jitters ( no email / http://www.houseofjitters.com) wrote:

SPJ!
Nice to see you here again. Friday the 13th brings out the ol' creeps, doesn't it? ;) Thanks as always for the good words...

While I'm at it, does anyone from the Peoria area remember a latenight TV horror movie program called Moonlight Theatre, or Midnight Theater or something like that? It aired in the late 70s/early 80s and did not have an on-air host -- just a voice-over and a graphic image featuring a crescent moon. I believe, if I remember correctly, it was on channel 31, WMBD. I recall seeing the all-time turkey, The Creeping Terror on that show. Any info appreciated!

269 

Date: 2007-04-13 17:04:19
Steven Philip Jones ( sphilipjones@aol.com / http://www.stevenpjones.com) wrote:

Wowzer! I didn't realize it had been so long since I've dropped by the board here! Time flies on little bat wings and it flies dang quick, eh?

I wanted to thank whoever posted the Acri material on Youtube! A kind fellow ACF fan actually mailed me a CD-ROM with some of the skits from the more recent ACF but it doesn't want to work in my DVD player, so this is the first time I've been able to actually watch anything of the ACF's brief return. It sure did bring back wonderful memories. Again, thanks!

It sent pleasant shivers up and down my spine to read the suggestions about how to bring back to the ACF again. If only ... ! We can wish though, eh? :-) It sounds like if any of us ever found oil in the backyard, we'd betempted to sponsor a comeback ourselves. It would have to have the same music and maybe Mr. Acri would let us "borrow" the characters of Vincent Hedges, Bernie, etc. Like I said, we can wish, can't we?

Sorry to ramble. Thanks again, Dr. J, for this great place to meet and exchange posts! Glad to have you back again!

Steve

268 

Date: 2007-04-10 15:24:18
Brad Ruggles ( creaturefeature@kljb.com / http://www.kljb.com) wrote:

Doc,
I think that "Pyewacket Presents" actually took the place of Creature Feature on WQAD (here in the Quad Cities)in the 1980's. It was just video of a black cat slinking around that they used for the open, close and in and out of commercial breaks. I don't remember the show actually being "hosted" by anyone.

Brad Ruggles
Creative Services Manager
KLJB-TV FOX 18

267 

Date: 2007-04-09 05:18:05
Michael ( bodrasound@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

GREAT CLASSIC, LATE NIGHT HORROR SHOWS!
I grew up in Burlington, IA. During the 70's, as a youngster, there was nothing better than staying up late, and watching "Chuck Acri's Creature Feature!" In addition, there was another show, hosted by a black cat, called "Pywacket Presents." I tried finding something on YouTube, but nothing exists. Does anyone remember this show? Also, there was another program slated for late Saturday nights called "U.F.O." It was kind of late 60's early 70's take on sci-fi. There was a moon base, and a primary character named "Straker," that drove a car with doors that opened vertically.

266 

Date: 2007-04-09 04:07:35
witt ( shaddrack@earthlink.net / no homepage) wrote:

I remember our school being visited by the vampire and werewolf in thier hot-rod...In Aledo Il,The school name was apollo elementary...It was soooo cool to see these guys up close...me and my best friends watched the show every weekend...thanks for the good memories.

265 

Date: 2007-04-05 02:11:47
Dr. Jitters ( no email / http://www.houseofjitters.com) wrote:

Hi, Dawn. I don't think there was any cat on the old Acri Creature Feature. Do you mean the more recent version of Acri CF?

I also have read about an old horror hosted movie program from the Quad Cities area called "Pyewacket Presents", or something like that. Anyone know more about that show?

264 

Date: 2007-03-28 18:40:16
Dawn ( shadowofyourbach@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

Hi, Does anyone know the name of the cat on Acri Creature Feature. thanks!

263 

Date: 2007-03-19 22:45:00
Chuck ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

Thanks Mr. Ruggles. Then we convince Acri to buy his spot back. A bit easier said than done, but what the heck, we can try. Was there any truth to the rumor that the old Universal classics were not available to Acri? As I recall that was his reason for giving it up.

Thanks again.

262 

Date: 2007-03-18 22:11:39
George Sedlak (The Missing Link) ( airbrusher@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

Ken was a great guy to know and work with on the set of the Creature Feature.
Very talented and kind hearted.
We had some fun times together at the live remotes and charity events.
I'll miss him!

261 

Date: 2007-03-18 22:08:15
Greg ( greg.peak@insightbb.com / no homepage) wrote:

My best memories are of waiting up for my Dad to get home from work on Fridays. He was working second shift at Cat in East Peoria, and he would get home just after Midnight. I remember Creature Feature coming on and my Dad would stay up and watch with me.

260 

Date: 2007-03-16 21:12:01
BBR ( creaturefeature@kljb.com / http://www.kljb.com) wrote:

It's great to see all the coments about the Acri Creature Feature.
To tell you the painful truth...Zomboo was cancelled due to poor ratings...plain and simple. In the world of commercial television, ratings translate into advertising revenue...no ratings translate into cancelation. We were sorry to see it go as well, but we had no choice.
If Acri has any plans of returning, they have not discussed them with KLJB. KLJB did not cancel the Acri Creature Feature...the decision to discontinue the production of that program was made by Acri.
Good idea Doc J had about someone producing it for public access, unfortunatly, if it is sponsored, public access cable won't air it.
Mediacom does have an unsponsored public domain horror movies on weekends here in the Quad Cities.
I found some clips of the Creature Feature from KLJB on youtube posted by heartlandtv.
Keep up the good work Doc Jitters!

Brad Ruggles
Creative Services Manager
KLJB-TV FOX 18

259 

Date: 2007-03-08 02:00:45
chuck ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

Thanks Doc. You are probably right about a return. Not being satisfied with contacting Mr. Bain (who seems truly to be a nice man), we also called the Acri Company. At that time the person on the phone said Chuck was still considering a return (early 2006). I can only hope. There's nothing like trying to recapture youth through Creature Feature unless, of course, Dr., you have access to the fountain of youth.

Anyway, I enjoy the correspondence and the board. Please keep up the fine work.

258 

Date: 2007-03-08 01:38:59
Dr. Jitters ( no email / http://www.houseofjitters.com) wrote:

Hi, chuck!

First of all, to you and our other visitors, I have changed the guestbook via their new "laboratory" feature (fitting). Now all future notes left here will have to be approved by yours truly.

It's not an ideal option, but innocent eyes won't be sullied here anymore. Please allow me a day or two to mark your entry as "public".

On the topic of bringing back Chuck Acri, I have a feeling that he personally won't be doing shows anymore and unfortunately I don't have any sway with him. I DO, however, have an idea for an industrious, creative person in that area. If your local cable company provides Leased Access or Public Access channels, a new group of Creeps could create their own show -- the usual public domain monster movies -- and perhaps Acri and Co would sponsor it. The cost would be significantly less than producing a show from the local Fox studio. Just a thought. There are other horror hosts who bicycle shows through Public Access stations throughout the country. You should be able to find them by searching 'horror hosts'.

Your fiend,
-j

257 

Date: 2007-03-07 20:48:55
chuck ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

Dr., I remember when I first heard that Acri was canceled on KLJB. I accosted John Bain, the station manager, to ask what happened. He was a very nice man (to listen to a psychotic like me) and told me that Acri just gave it up. I can only hope he changes his mind now that Zomboo appears to be out of the picture.

Good luck with all the spam Dr. You have your work cut out for you. And please, to the extent you have powers of persuasion, convince Acri to come back.

256 

Date: 2007-03-07 00:44:10
Dr. Jitters ( no email / http://www.houseofjitters.com) wrote:

Thanks for writing, Chuck. I appreciate your comments and you're very welcome. This site was created to first pay homage to those ol' Creatures we all love. The most challenging part is maintaining the guestbook! If anyone else has written in a simple comment and has seen it deleted, I apologize but I am trying to get things cleaned up around here. Bear with us and we'll have some updates eventually.

Beast wishes to all...
-j

255 

Date: 2007-03-06 02:00:26
chuck ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

Welcome back Dr. Call me hooked, but I still say take up a collection to get Acri on again. Being the harsh parent I am, when he returned I had my kids send in drawings. They were hooked, and it was good family fun. And thank you for creating a forum for all to share their stories.

254 

Date: 2007-03-06 00:52:18
Dr. Jitters ( no email / http://www.houseofjitters.com) wrote:

Friends! Do not forsake me! :)

After a long time locked away in the dungeon, I'm finally back online. My apologies again for the glut of spammy notes left here in the guest book. I will be keeping a close eye here once again.

Thank you to the good people who have dropped in and left meaningful messages.

Your pal,
Jitters

253 

Date: 2007-03-04 01:30:08
chuck ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

Zomboo got canceled by KLJB. Please tell me it's because Acri is coming back.

252 

Date: 2007-02-19 05:21:53
Randy ( randy_pugh@sbcglobal.net / no homepage) wrote:

My first visit to a tv station occured when I was in grade school.I was one of the matties visiting The Captain Jinx and Salty Sam show.The station personel were very nice and allowed me to ask questions about the camera,s and other things.I am a retired tv engineer now.

251 

Date: 2007-02-14 22:06:48
Dr. Jitters ( no email / http://www.houseofjitters.com) wrote:

Greetings my fiends!

I apologize for some of the lousy spam that was here for a while. I've been out of the electronic loop and hope to get back into the fray before long.

Thank you to those who have added interesting notes to this guest book! A happy Valentine's day to you all!

250 

Date: 2007-01-25 22:14:36
chuck ( updadilute@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

I'm wondering if we could take up a collection and convince Chuck Acri to take another shot. I was so elated when I found out he was going to give it another try, and I was equally depressed when he decided not to continue with KLJB. Anybody heard if it's over for sure, or is there a chance he'll come back?

249 

Date: 2007-01-21 02:33:40
Ken Severson ( Kseve14032@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

I can't believe there's a page on the old "Acri Creature Feature." Unbelieveable! I loved it as a kid growing up in the Quad Cities.

I live in Los Angeles now and it's still better than Elvira. Not as sexy, but still better.

I'm just sorry I read that Vincent Hedges died. I remember meeting him and the Wolfman at a Creature Feature meet and greet at a haunted house.

Big thrill for a 12-year-old.

248 

Date: 2007-01-15 23:15:49
Phil from Dubuque ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

Dr. Jitters has been out of his laboratory for a few weeks and has not been able to update the site or clean the spam off his bulletin board. He asked me to tell you that he is inventing sorts of scary updates for the site and he thanked you for your continued patience.

He also asked that for all of you who are not selling stock tips or Viagra: keep the cards and letters coming in.

Nervously yours, Phil from Dubuque

247 

Date: 2006-12-17 00:04:00
Patrick Riordan ( riordant@swbell.net / no homepage) wrote:

Re: Captain Kinks & Salty Sam

I was born in Ottawa in '56, about half way between Chicago and Peoria. I wanted to be on Bozo's Circus for my 5th bithday. Unfortunatly, the "big league" had a 10 year waiting list, so my mother took me to the "minor leagues" to see the Captain. I sat with the other birthday kids eagerly awaiting my recognition from the Captain, nervous, sweating. Finally, my time came and the Captain said, "And how old are you?" Quickly I stammered, "4, no 5!" and that horrible old SOB laughed and said. "Oh, you don't know how old you are?" Then he chuckled again and moved on.

What kind of a schumck does that to a 5 year-old on television! Now, I am 50 years old residing in a cell in Huntsville, TX. With good behavior I will be out in 2 years, 3 months and 23 days, but who's counting?

246 

Date: 2006-11-05 18:45:55
rich ( no email / http://captainerniesshowboat.com) wrote:

Hey daddadhull, if you could post that picture, it would be great to see it! If you need any help getting it up, just let me know and I will be glad to help. If you have any memories to share of your appearances with the creeps, please share them too. Even better if you have exact dates & the places you were at, perhaps they could be found in advertisements in the microfilm of the local newspapers at the library.

245 

Date: 2006-11-03 15:31:57
A Friend of ACF ( no email / http://www.youtube.com/user/HeartlandTV) wrote:

...or follow the link below to where all the ACF show segments will eventually be posted.
There are 3 there already.

http://www.youtube.com/user/HeartlandTV

244 

Date: 2006-11-02 22:03:09
A Friend of ACF ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

Creature Feature Fans...follow the link below...this is just the beginning...more to come as time permits.

Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2KyTcq4QUw

243 

Date: 2006-11-02 20:31:44
john hullinger ( daddadhull@yahoo.com / no homepage) wrote:

Hello i was a creep in the group in its latter years i met ken at the events. i have a pic of Vincent giveing the peace sign while laying in a graveyard with an evil Ginni ill try and post it

242 

Date: 2006-11-01 03:34:06
John Battles ( chicagobattles@comcast.net / no homepage) wrote:

To the Gibson family , my deepest sympathy. I still think a great deal of Ken , and was shocked and saddened by his recent passing. Ken's son , Joe , was a childhood friend of mine in Kewanee , and Ken , needless to say , was the coolest grownup in town. His professionality in hosting a fantastic Haunted House for The March of Dimes inspired me to work with the same organization in the same capacity (Even playing a Vampire in a real coffin) for two seasons in High School.He had an all - monster baseball team for the same good cause , and ,of course , was beloved by the kids for his portrayal of Vincent on TV. BUT!!!!!! My most vivid memory was when he opened a teen and preteen club called "Vinnie's Hideaway". It contained the usual 70's trappings , black light posters , pinball , air hockey , and something new called "Pong". Best of all , patrons were informed to throw their coats in a coffin!Gibson would talk to the kids and serve cokes . He never talked down to us , and always showed a lot of enthusiasm for working with the kids. He was , of course , doing a community service. Did the other parents appreciate it , HELL , NO! THEY CHASED HIM OUT LIKE AN ANGRY VILLAGE MOB IN PURSUIT OF THE FRANKENSTEIN MONSTER! It was fun while it lasted , having something that we felt was ours...Later , he opened a family restaurant under the same name. I don't think it lasted long either. It's been over 30 years , but , I remember Ken as a nice man , as being genuine and very , very funny. A REAL RAY OF SUNSHINE IN AN OFTEN DRAB COMMUNITY (mAKE NO MISTAKE , i HAVE GOOD MEMORIES OF THE TOWN). Joe , if you see this , please accept my condolences. Your Dad meant a lot to so many of us kids . If you'd like to contact me , I'd love to hear from you , when you're up to it. With Love ,John Battles. Chicago. chicagobattles@comcast.net.

241 

Date: 2006-10-31 16:21:14
Dr. Jitters ( no email / http://www.houseofjitters.com) wrote:

Just wanted to wish all my favorite fiends out there a safe yet insane Halloween!

A couple of weeks ago my lovely pet, Nurse Titters and I were strolling along and found ourselves before a costume shop. Who was looking back at me through the storefront window but Bernie the skull! Well, it looked like it could be Bernie's cousin anyway. I just had to take him home with us.

I haven't done much "horror hosting" yet, but Dr. Jitters will be making his annual Halloween appearance in our hometown and this year I will be projecting a few old super 8 horror films (The Beast with Five Fingers, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Mummy's Hand and others) in the driveway.

Remembering Ken "Vincent Hedges" Gibson and saying hello to our new pal, Acri Creature Feature co-creator Don Raymond (below) -- Hello, Don! -- I bid you all a Happy Halloween and a great evening!

240 

Date: 2006-10-30 15:30:32
Don Raymond ( donwelch202@yahoo.com / no homepage) wrote:

As one of the originating forces behind the Acri Creature Feature, I am amazed at the "legs" the program continues to have. I can tell you it was great fun putting together the concept and the skits on a weekly basis. I am deeply moved that so many still remember. Thanks for keeping the memory alive. Don Raymond

239 

Date: 2006-10-29 03:34:31
rich ( captainerniesshowboat@yahoo.com / http://www.captainerniesshowboat.com) wrote:

While surfing the internet, I ran across this one. It is from the Kewanee Star Courier. It had one of those "on this date in history". I was amazed to see that Acri's Creeps coming to town was one of the headlines. If anyone is in the Kewanee area, the Star Courier is on microfilm in the library. If you get a chance and have time to do this, it would be cool if you could look up 09/19/81 and in particular 09/26/06 and 09/27/06 to see if there is an article and possibly a picture of this event. Finding things on microfilm is like a needle in a haystack so when the date is actually given, it is a huge bonus!


Saturday, Sept. 19, 1981



- The Chris Greicius Make-A-Wish Foundation has been set up in memory of a 7-year-old former Kewanee boy who died in April of last year in Arizona after losing a three-year battle with leukemia.

- Benson Hedges (a.k.a. Ken Gibson of Kewanee) and the Acri Creature Feature "Creeps" from WQAD-TV will face the Kewanee-Galva-Bishop Hill All-Stars in a charity softball game in Bishop Hill on Saturday, Sept. 26.

238 

Date: 2006-10-18 06:03:54
John "Jitters" ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

Thank you, Phil, and Genny. We'd love to read some stories when you feel like it. Take care.

237 

Date: 2006-10-13 22:37:35
phil ( p.mitro@mchsi.com / no homepage) wrote:

Dr. Jitter your memoral page of Ken Gibson is awsome, Knowing him as i did he would be impress with the way your web site keep the Acri Creature Feature alive. Not just you but all the people who write and leave messages how much they thought of him, I see my niece Genny wrote a nice little message. He will be greatly miss because he was so much part of our lives, Now as are family heals from our lost and we will we will be able to sit down and tell story about Ken and Vincent Hedges and maybe pass a few on to your readers as time goes on. But again thank you and all your reader for keeping him alive in print

phil

236 

Date: 2006-10-13 22:37:20
phil ( p.mitro@mchsi.com / no homepage) wrote:

Dr. Jitter your memoral page of Ken Gibson is awsome, Knowing him as i did he would be impress with the way your web site keep the Acri Creature Feature alive. Not just you but all the people who write and leave messages how much they thought of him, I see my niece Genny wrote a nice little message. He will be greatly miss because he was so much part of our lives, Now as are family heals from our lost and we will we will be able to sit down and tell story about Ken and Vincent Hedges and maybe pass a few on to your readers as time goes on. But again thank you and all your reader for keeping him alive in print

phil

235 

Date: 2006-10-07 22:51:42
Phil from Dubuque ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

Thirty five years after the fact, I still vividly remember meeting Ken Gibson when my buddy Dave and I appeared on the ACF. Even sans his costume, we instantly recognized Ken when he greeted us outside the WQAD studio that Thursday evening in September 1971. He was so down-to-earth, so friendly, so attentive, and so complimentary. We instantly felt comfortable with him. He personally escorted us around the studio and introduced us to the other actors and the production crew. He then arranged for us to see operations in the control booth, and most memorable, he let us watch him don his Vincent Hedges costume. He explained every step of the process from applying foundation to the spirit gum for the sideburns and eyebrows. When the time came to tape our segment, he coached us on what to say and helped us enter the set on cue—although I still managed to botch the lines he gave me. He was really large and in charge of the entire creative process. Throughout the evening I did not sense one whiff of ego on his part. He was a total gentleman through and through. When it came time to leave, he stood at the door, sitll in costume, and waved goodbye as we walked to the parking lot. I never saw him again, but as my buddy Dave said on air that night: "We will never forget you." I think that pretty much says it all.

234 

Date: 2006-10-03 16:22:03
Genny Gibson ( glgibso@ilstu.edu / no homepage) wrote:

I never saw the show back in the day when it was still on the air, but from the stories that I have heard, it was quite the show to see. I am Ken Gibson's granddaughter and I can tell you from personal experience that he enjoyed making so many people smile. I just want to thank all of you for your support and shared memories of my grandpa. Please continue to share these memories as they are very comforting and bring smiles to our faces.

233 

Date: 2006-10-02 17:48:08
Steven Philip Jones ( sphilipjones@aol.com / http://www.stevenpjones.com) wrote:

I received your email with the news a couple of days ago, John, but it is still hard to believe. The world is a little sadder without "Vincent" around, and especially without a lovely man like Ken Gibson in it. He will be sorely missed.

232 

Date: 2006-10-01 03:38:00
Dr. Jitters ( no email / http://www.houseofjitters.com) wrote:

Dear friends,

I am sorry to have to share this information with you. Yesterday evening I received an email from the family of Ken Gibson. Ken Gibson is known to us by way of his character Vincent "the vampire" Hedges he created for The Acri Creature Feature. The email follows:

"My name Is Phil Mitro. My father-in-law is Ken Gibson, a.k.a., Vincent Hedges. [He passed] away this morning at 12:40am, September 28, 2006, at the VA center in Iowa City. He could not believe how much you kept Acri Creation Feature alive, and, Vincent Hedges. I wanted to let you know before it hit the paper because you kept him alive through your web page. TV was much different back in the early 70s, relatively new, so he brought laughter in the world, or just our part of the world. So please let Phil from Dubuque and Steven Jones know. I just recently found your web page and have been following it for the last few months. I did show this to Ken and he couldn't believe the following your web page had. So thank you from the Gibson Family for keeping the greatest Creep alive in print and in your heart. And [thanks to] Phil from Dubuque and Steven Jones and the rest of the creeps who sign your web guest book. So for right now I will let you go and again want to thank you from our hearts and help us remember Vincent Hedges and the man who played him, Ken Gibson.
-- The Gibson Family"

Our condolences go out to his family and friends. Ken Gibson's creative energy, talent and love of music were evident in every show. He will be missed. Rest in Peace, Ken.

We will share more information as it comes available.

Sincerely,
John

*****

Our memorial page for Ken Gibson is below:
http://www.houseofjitters.com/gibson.htm

An obituary for Kenneth Gibson in two parts:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/drjitters/KGObit12.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/drjitters/KGObit23.jpg

Kenneth Gibson memorial at Powell Funeral Homes:
http://www.powellfuneralhomes.com/obit-display.jhtml?DB=update/obits/dbase&DO=display&ID=1159476716_32510

231 

Date: 2006-09-13 16:10:00
Steven Philip Jones ( sphilipjones@aol.com / http://www.stevenpjones.com) wrote:

Wicked, Dave! Thanks for sharing!

230 

Date: 2006-08-31 17:44:28
Dr. Jitters ( no email / http://www.houseofjitters.com) wrote:

Remember this?
(click link below)

http://www.houseofjitters.com/images/acrihouse.jpg

Our friend Dave France wrote this (in part) about the photo:

"Thought you might get a kick out of this…it's the haunted house used by Channel 8 (Moline, IL) for 'Chuck Acri's Creature Feature' [intro] back in the VERY early 70's (note the date on the photo: Jun 72). I asked my dad (Don France) more about it. He made it from some scrap masonite. It's layered 2 or 3 pieces thick for a 3D effect and painted. According to my dad (now 70) the model was taken to school (he seems to remember it being my brother) for show and tell, and it either getting broken or lost soon after.

The whiteish-yellow at the bottom is most likely a tablecloth. The pic appears to have been taken at table-level…I believe that's my brother's sleeve on the right.

My dad is the one who made the haunted house. He was friends with a man named Ron Olsen (Olson?) who was somehow involved (and whom Don Molander also knew) - possibly a cameraman. My dad made it as a favor for Ron, who then provided it for use in the show."


Thanks Dave!

229 

Date: 2006-08-29 22:32:54
Thomas Hart ( crackerhorn@liveontape.tv / http://www.liveontape.tv) wrote:

As a kid I used to love Acri Creature Feature--- I spent a lotta nights sleeping with the lights on when I was a tyke. In the late 80's I had a sketch comedy show on KLJB called "Live on Tape" that some of which was inspired by what I saw on Creature Features.

Check out the website for more info on the show... ah, a shameless plug in the guest book. ;-)

228 

Date: 2006-07-23 06:08:08
Mike of Fort Madison ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

I grew up on Acri Creature Feature and WGN Creature Features. I never won creep of the week, but I did get a autographed pic of the gang. I was so thrilled to read that Acri Creature Feature was coming back to TV in 2005 - unfortunately I no longer live where I could receive it. I was even more bummed when I discovered that the show is no longer on the air and there are no plans to return it. What a shame. I hope Acri reconsiders and finds a station to carry it. There are so many of those PAID ADVERSTIMENT 'shows' on these days pushing cooking implements, vitamins, and all sorts of other stuff. Why not Home Improvement, but with a twist - show a horror movie and hock your siding at the same time. C'mon Chuck - it would work.

227 

Date: 2006-06-15 16:38:55
Dr. Jitters ( no email / http://www.houseofjitters.com) wrote:

Bosun Joe! Thank you so much for signing the guest book (below) and your kind words. Glad you liked it. Your contribution to The Captain Jinks Show was a welcome addition -- you're a talented cartoonist.

Thanks for everything, Joe!

226 

Date: 2006-06-12 20:49:54
Joe McGuire ( jmcguire@pjstar.com / no homepage) wrote:

I just tripped upon your site searching for something else. You have done an excellent job with the Captain Jinks site. Very well written and researched. I have fond memories being associated with the Captain Jinks Show. Still several times a month, people recognize me and remember the show. I don't know about me "taking over the show", Stan and George were the stars, but I appreciate the kind words.

I was also a big, big fan of the ACF. Always a classic.

Joe McGuire
(Bosun Joe)

225 

Date: 2006-05-17 03:42:01
R Hawks ( links2links56@yahoo.com / no homepage) wrote:

I was very excited when the Acri Creature Feature came back in 2005. I had grown up watching the show back in the 70's and now I was getting my grandchildren interested.

It broke my heart when it didn't return in 2006 (like Chuck said it would). I was never a big fan of "The Count" but it seemed to be getting better and it looked like it might have potential.
I was the last person to win the "Creep of the Week" award and I won it with a drawing of Vincent and Emmett!
I'll cherish the T-Shirt and DVD forever.

224 

Date: 2006-05-12 18:22:46
Rick Sheese ( rsheese@mchsi.com / no homepage) wrote:

I grew up in Monmouth, IL watching Acri Creature Feature. It was probably the best time I had on Saturday nights at 12. But before Acri there use to be a creature feature starring Egor. I remember him scarring me where I couldn't sleep. Can you tell me if they will be back in syndication. Or is there a way to get DVD'd of the old shows?
Thank you

223 

Date: 2006-04-25 15:47:04
Steven Philip Jones ( sphilipjones@aol.com / http://www.stevenpjones.com) wrote:

Phil and Dr. J, if you have any audiotapes of the ACF that I don't have -- which are two programs from late May and early June 1974 --
is there any way I could get a copy of them? I'd be happy to send any cassettes or CD-ROMs needed. I have been searching for audio copies for years, but gave up when those searches came to naught.

While video copies would be fantastic, and I for one do hope those old 2" tapes reappear some day -- though I fear they likely were destroyed in that fire at Mr. Acri's house, but my fears are more often wrong than right -- and would love to get a copy of those, the audio tapes would be just as wonderful for me. Like I said, I used to listen to audio tapes I made of the ACF while writing as a kid. To this day, when I get a bit of writer's block, I pull out my one ACF tape, put it in while at the keyboard, and the writer's block melts away.

Could you guys please let me know one way or the other? :-)

And I think we were submitting an entry at the same time yesteday, Dr. J! I submitted mine, went to read it for mistakes, and there was your entry!

Very quickly, let me just say that when ACF premiered on KCRG, I do believe the vignettes were in B&W. Beauregard was included, I'm pretty sure, and the man playing Vincent Hedges was a taller, thinner man than the one who played him in the color video tape vignettes that came later. The first few ACFs on KCRG featured Chuck alone, and I don't think it was long before the "cellar" set was added. I'm also pretty sure that Bernie the Skull appeared in late 1973 but defintely no later than early in 1974.

I really don't think KCRG ever played any ACFs with video tape vignettes. The show went off the air before then. I've seen some of these vignettes on the "Best of ACF" DVD, and, being an adolescent at the time, I'm sure I would have remembered the girls in those vignettes. (Where did the show find so many cute girls?!) I also have no recollection of the Vincent Hedges hunchbacked sidekick.

Sorry to ramble. Just in a chatty mood these days.

OH!, I do have to add one quick thing. The Acri influence continues in my writing. I am writing the first book in a new YA novel series for a line called Actionopolis (www.actionopolis.com). The series is called HENRIETTA HEX, PARANORMAL INVESTIGATOR, and I have Henrietta living on Acri Street, while the town's police station is on Hedges Street. More tribute names are sure to follow... ;-)

222 

Date: 2006-04-25 02:57:12
Phil from Dubuque ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

Hi All:

I never saw the WEEK-TV version of the show, but if they used B&W footage, I bet they recycled those original WQAD tapes from 1970 and early 1971. From the pictures Dr. Jitters posted of the WEEK era, it appears that they used different actors to play the various roles. Those doubtless were shot in color.

Of interest, the medium on which they shot the vignettes reflects a bit of television history in itself. When the program started on WQAD, the commercial segments with Chuck et. al. were shot in color on videotape. They taped every Thursday evening. The early vignettes were shot using WQAD's old B&W cameras in the studio at a different time. In the spring of 1971, the crew started going on location and shooting in 16mm color film (unless someone trashed them, these films should have survived somewhere – film, unlike VT, is very durable).

By the time Beauregard showed up, the vignettes were shot on location in color. At some point after I quit watching in early 1973 (during the KCRG iteration), I think the vignettes were shot on location using portable video cameras and color VT. The last batch – the ones Acri featured this past year – were from this era. Although I did not see this last iteration of the show, I have seen these vignettes and it appears that Ken Gibson again was playing Vincent Hedges. I cannot be sure of this, because that KG appears a few pounds lighter than the person I met, plus he is wearing less elaborate makeup. But the actor looks like KG and he is a southpaw like KG -- a champion bowler, who had trouble on the pro tour because he was a lefty (he told me that).

If there is any hopeful news related to all this rambling, it relates to the fact that when stations shifted away from 2-inch videotape in the early 1970s, they stopped erasing over the tapes. Sometimes the station ditched the tapes, other times the tapes were stashed away somewhere. Occasionally, they resurface. Wow, wouldn't that be great? Anyway, since the 2-inch tapes appeared to be in Acri's possession as he moved the show around, perhaps they were squirreled away and forgotten about. On the other hand, I do know that Chuck Acri lost a lot of his possessions in a house fire in the 1990s, so that could have been the fate of the tapes – or not????

Another plus is that my old cohort from Dubuque audiotaped most all of the early programs. I THINK he still has all the tapes.

Anyway, keep digging fellow creeps!

221 

Date: 2006-04-24 19:22:05
Dr. Jitters ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

Wow, Steven! We must've been writing entries at the same time. I do have your audiotape as well as another audio cassette sent in by another fan. I'm going to be adding a media page with audio excerpts and video files, eventually. :)

I really appreciate all the efforts you and other fans have passed along. This site wouldn't be the same without your participation.

220 

Date: 2006-04-24 19:13:54
Steven Philip Jones ( sphilipjones@aol.com / http://www.stevenpjones.com) wrote:

Phil, I wish you luck in trying to dig up some of those original sketches. I know I'd love to see them.

FWIW, regarding KCRG, I can't recall the exact date the ACF launched, but Halloween 1972 sounds about right. I can guarantee the first movie was DRACULA with Bela Lugosi, because I can remember watching it with my brother, Tom. I assumed KCRG was just going to run it on their local CREATURE FEATURE, which had no host, just a goofy opening credit sequence and that's all. Tom and I were surprised when the ACF came on and Chuck started pitching siding!

As for tapes, I know exactly how you feel. I used to audio tape the ACF starting some time in 1973. I'd listen to them while I was writing, and they were great company. I only have two episodes left, and managed to hold on to them because those were the first two nights I won Creep of the Week awards. I would give a lot to locate more audio copies of the shows, just to listen to Chuck and Bernie. (FWIW, I made a copy of these episodes and sent them Dr. Jitters to listen to. It was the least I could do for the guy who's put together this great website!)

219 

Date: 2006-04-24 19:12:12
Dr. Jitters ( no email / http://www.houseofjitters.com) wrote:

Thanks for posting that, Phil.

You wrote, "It appears that the only surviving tapes were from the late 1970s, and those efforts lacked the magic of the originals."

True, as far as surviving tapes go, but my own memories of watching the show as it broadcast out of WEEK-TV from Peoria contain yet other elements. There must've been additional footage shot between those two bookends of Acri CF history. I recall some black & white scenes, but there were also shots of Acri in that dungeon setting you can see in the photo section. Vincent Hedges and Beauregard in particular would appear in that setting, and later Bernie the skull would be introduced. The dungeon setting made for a more provocative location that spurred the imagination of many youngsters. It would be a treasure to uncover remains of this footage as well.

218 

Date: 2006-04-24 05:50:15
Phil from Dubuque ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

Kudos to Rich for digging up that old advertisement. He definitely is becoming a go-to guy when it comes to resurrecting eastern Iowa's lost broadcast history. His splendid tribute sites to both Captain Ernie and Sandys drive-ins exemplify his skill and tenacity in this regard.

As I posted elsewhere on Dr. Jitters' site, I was on the ACF in September 1971 and, at the time, asked Ken Gibson directly about the show's premier. Ken said it all started on Halloween night 1970 – I remember that distinctly. Although the Acri website dates the show to 1968 or 1969, I think those dates reflect faulty memories. Rich's discovery seems to validate my recollections.

Of note, when the ACF premeired on KCRG in Cedar Rapids in late 1972, I noted that it used the original B&W videotaped Vincent and Emmett vignettes dating to October 1970. Those classics were shot in the WQAD studio on 2-inch B&W VT, I believe. Since then, I have wished that, since those original tapes survived at least two years, someone squirrel them away somewhere. Unfortunately, though, I haven't seen any evidence that this was not the case. It appears that the only surviving tapes were from the late 1970s, and those efforts lacked the magic of the originals.

217 

Date: 2006-04-19 15:36:12
Steven Philip Joens ( sphilipjones@aol.com / http://www.stevenpjones.com) wrote:

Wow! Thanks for posting that proof, Dr. J! And thanks thanks thanks for digging it up, Rich!

216 

Date: 2006-04-15 17:31:36
Douglas Horsberg ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

I miss the Acri Creature Feature too. I grew up watching the show in the 70's, but loved what the new characters were doing when they brought them in. Zomboo is fun at times, but don't like him as much as Creature Feature.

215 

Date: 2006-04-14 22:29:09
Melinda Hagerty ( mhagerty52632@yahoo.com / http://my.yahoo.com) wrote:

I MISS THOSE NIGHTS WATCHING THE ACRI CREATURE FEATURE SHOW.I TELL MY DAUGHTER ABOUT HOW COOL IT WAS AND WISH IT WERE STILL ON THE AIR.LOTS OF PEOPLE FEEL THE SAME WAY.

214 

Date: 2006-04-13 19:50:37
Dr. Jitters ( no email / http://www.houseofjitters.com) wrote:

The date of the newsclipping below is October of 1970.

213 

Date: 2006-04-13 19:47:03
Dr. Jitters ( no email / http://www.houseofjitters.com) wrote:

Our friend and fellow horror host historian, Rich, was doing some digging on the old Acri Creature Feature and found what appears to be proof of the premiere of the show. A huge thanks to Rich for the leg work. I'll place this within the cobwebsite before long.

212 

Date: 2006-04-11 02:48:00
Cousin It ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

Zomboo sucks.

211 

Date: 2006-03-31 17:11:56
Steven Philip Jones ( sphilipjones@aol.com / http://www.stevenpjones.com) wrote:

As a fellow KCRG-ACF fan, I couldn't agree with you more, Mr. Baker!

210 

Date: 2006-03-28 02:05:12
Scott Baker ( zeno@telecomwest.net / http://www.myspace.com/visualconfections) wrote:

If you lived in eastern Iowa,in the early to mid 70's,who can ever forget those Friday nights, after the late news on KCRG TV.

We'd all anxiously wait for 10:30 to roll around after a long week in school. After the popcorn was popped and the sodas iced, we'd plop down in front of the TV to the heartbeat and the eye appearing on the screen before our
eyes.
The Creature Feature was one of the few times that we were allowed to stay up late.

It became quite a deal for us in the age before VCRs.

We often had friends over and the Creature Feature soon became one of the focal points of our week for family & neighborhood friends to get together and spent some quality time together. Those evenings are amongst some of happiest memories of my youth.

My earliest memories of classic B&W Horror were on the Acri Creature Feature and
even to this day, I'll set aside all else to
to watch the movies that were 1st encountered on those late Friday nights of long ago.

Thanks for the Memories & for allowing me to share.

Yours Truly

Scott Baker
willyzeno@yahoo.com

209 

Date: 2006-03-16 21:04:28
Buck Waddell ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

Thanks for a neat website on Captian Jinks and Salty Sam!! It brought back so many memories of living in Glasford & coming home from school and running in to watch the fun on WEEK! I sure wish I could get copies of the show for my kids! Thanks for the memories!!

208 

Date: 2006-03-16 00:29:52
candy horn ( candyinfm@mchsi.com / no homepage) wrote:

can i purchase dvds of the best of the acri creature feature?

207 

Date: 2006-03-12 19:23:19
Ed Young ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

Hey, Zomboo was pretty fun... sort of like Mystery Science Theater with Zomboo throwing comments into the movie every so often. The 3 minute movie is a neat idea, and "rack girl" is very easy on the eyes. Look forward to next weeks show.

206 

Date: 2006-03-12 15:10:14
rich ( captainerniesshowboat@yahoo.com / http://www.geocities.com/captainerniesshowboat) wrote:

A new late-night horror show creeps in to Fox 18 By By David Burke |

Miss Transylvania has a unique relationship with Zomboo, star of "Zomboo's House of Horrors," a syndicated television show a la the "Creature Feature" series that recently ran on KLJB Fox Ch. 18. KLJB will pick up the "Zomboo" show and begin airing it tonight at 11 p.m.

It's not exactly of the magnitude of Isabel Blooms being made in China, but KLJB-TV 18 is outsourcing its late-night Saturday horror show, beginning tonight.

"Zomboo's House of Horrors," premiering at 11 p.m., is made in Reno, Nev., and Fox 18 is the first station in the country to pick it up in syndication.

It fills the gap left by the revival of the "Acri Creature Feature," which ran from May until December last year. The Milan, Ill.-based Acri Company, a windows-siding-doors-sunrooms dealer, brought back the show that was a Quad-City staple on WQAD-TV8 from 1968-80 — first with repeats of the classic shows, then with a new troupe.

But Acri decided not to renew its contract past New Year's Eve, said KLJB program manager John Bain. Bain said Fox 18 wanted to keep the audience it had built up in those seven months.

"We already had ratings that proved this was a popular genre," Bain said. "I went on a hunt to find something that would work."

He found it in "Zomboo's House of Horrors," which has been on the air at the ABC station in Reno since 1999. Zomboo (the second "o" is silent) is the creation of Frank Leto, creative services director at the TV station.

"Reno's in a time warp, fortunately, and there's a lot of people here who grew up with 'Creature Features' in the (San Francisco) bay area," Leto said. "It's something where people remember this show, because it's kind of a lost art now."

Tonight's first episode includes the movie "Devil Girl From Mars."

Leto studied local TV horror shows from the past and found it took "certain elements that would make it successful — bad movies, pretty women, audience participation, cheesy set — everything that would make it humorous."

The bad movies come from everything that he could find in public domain, he said. The pretty women include a former Bud Girl (who plays "Bianca the rack girl") and a costume shop worker (who plays "Miss Transylvania"). Other characters include Quasi the Hunchback, the Head Nurse (because she carries around a head), Officer Not-So-Friendly and Wolfie the wolfman.

And the humor, Leto said, came from inspirations including Soupy Sales, the Three Stooges and the Marx Brothers.

He said the secret was rapid-fire jokes.

"You run into trouble if you have a couple of good jokes in the middle of a lot of bad jokes," he said.

Bain said he was impressed with the humor of the sample episodes.

"I showed it to the staff, and everybody was in stitches watching it," Bain said. "He just has fun with them. If you're really into those old movies, he doesn't hurt the spirit of the movie. Yet, he breathes new life into it."

Leto said he "sanitized" the episodes, taking out any Reno-centric jokes and making questionable punchlines a little more universal.

He called "Zomboo" a "labor of love," with the emphasis on labor.

"They don't realize how much work this really is," he said. "I spend every extra hour of my day writing, editing and putting the show together."

A former aerospace engineer, Leto said he's used Zomboo as the "spooksperson" for the local blood bank, and brings special-needs children to the set each year for a Halloween party.

"At my age," the 53-year-old said, "You want to give back to society after a point, and do something good rather than take, take, take."

David Burke can be contacted at (563) 383-2400 or dburke@qctimes.com.

205 

Date: 2006-03-06 23:02:54
John Battles ( chicagobattles@comcast.net / no homepage) wrote:

Vincent Hedges was a big part of my life , and that of my friends , when we were kids in the early 70's , because Ken Gibson was a resident in Kewanee , Illinois , the town that I lived in at the time. This was , of course , when '

204 

Date: 2006-02-28 20:10:06
Steven Philip Jones ( sphilipjones@aol.com / http://www.stevenpjones.com) wrote:

Thanks for the nice words on Mr. McGavin, Dr. J.

Like you, my fonest memories of him come from the NIGHT STALKER films and program, and then from A CHRISTMAS STORY. (That film bombed when it came out, but my friend Dennis Stick and I saw it FIVE times in the two weeks it was in theaters in 1984. What a great film, and he was wonderful in it.)

It's always nice to watch a film and have McGavin show up in it. I remember he was in the first film Jerry Lewis made sans Dean Martin, and in THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM, THE NATURAL, and numerous television programs. Stephen King once said that no one in the second half of the 20th century could play a private eye like McGavin could, and I agree. And he is one of the few actors I can think of who could go toe-to-toe in a tough guy competition with Jack Palance.

God's rest,Mr. McG. You will be missed but never forgotten.

203 

Date: 2006-02-27 18:56:43
Dr. Jitters ( no email / http://www.houseofjitters.com) wrote:

Rest in Peace, Darren McGavin.

Darren McGavin is probably best known by his role as the Old Man in A Christmas Story. My dearest held memory of him goes back to his role as Carl Kolchak in Kolchak: the Night Stalker. (A show, by the way, that Chris Carter credits as the inspiration for The X-Files.) Alongside the Acri Creature Feature and its cast, Darren McGavin's Kolchak character was the TV presence that helped shape my young self, for better or worse. :) His forceful, charismatic personality and sense of humor made him beloved by many devoted fans. He was one of our greatest character actors. Goodbye, Darren McGavin. Thanks for all the wonderful work you gave us.

http://www.darrenmcgavin.net

202 

Date: 2006-02-18 14:27:00
yvonne ( yvonne2711@msn.com / no homepage) wrote:

Ha! found ya! M

201 

Date: 2006-02-14 06:08:49
les Whisler ( les@bonewhistlegraphics.com / no homepage) wrote:

Fantastic, really loved the tribute to Capt Jinks. I remember Hobo Kelly too, dint know she moved to CA. so that was very interesting too. Keep up the great work, ohh, btw, the pic
on the filmstrip of DrJitters and Nurse Titters should link to a mpeg of your show,, hint hint.

200 

Date: 2006-02-14 01:02:54
Mike Isenberg ( isenbergmichael@yahoo.com / no homepage) wrote:

I was on the Captain Jinks Show in I believe 1960 or 61 with my cub scout pack. Our den mother drove us there and I remember saying that she was going the wrong way because we were driving away from the river. I actually thought the show was done on a boat! When we got there, it was a big fairly empty studio room with cinder block walls, a couple of cameras and a cardboard stage set. There were bleachers off to the side where the kids sat and a TV moniter to watch the show and cartoons on. Salty ( George ) was the one that talked to me, I could see the glue holding on his moustache, which really upset me. When he went on to some kids on the other side of the bleachers, I said to my friend next to me "I bet he's not even a real sailor." Well, I was eight years old. As I grew up, I saw George and Stan all the time because I lived around Peoria. What a great part of my youth they were. Early on, Superman was a part of the afternoon festivities, as well as The Three Stooges. My how kids have been robbed these days. Small wonder they see things the way they do. God rest Stan and George, or should I say the Captain and Salty.

199 

Date: 2006-02-13 23:24:34
Dr. Jitters ( no email / http://www.houseofjitters.com) wrote:

Ahoy mates! The first thing I wanted to do with this website was to create tributes to a couple of shows that meant a lot to me when I was a kid (and still mean a lot to me now).

The Acri Creature Feature was the first and The Captain Jinks Show was the second. If you grew up watching WEEK-TV out of Peoria, Illinois, you know who Captain Jinks and Salty Sam were.

There's a surprise waiting for you on the new Captain Jinks page. Look in the upper right corner when you get there. Check out the filmstrip on www.houseofjitters.com for directions.

George "Salty Sam" Baseleon said it best:

"The children need a local show, not only for the entertainment but for something to take part in. It wasn't just the show that the children and adults liked. It was all the times we visited the hospitals or made a public appearance at a picnic or entertained for Christmas. I miss those children. They made up the best audience in the world."

So here's a little something back for them. Share your memories! :)

198 

Date: 2006-02-11 22:57:56
rich ( captainerniesshowboat@yahoo.com / http://www.geocities.com/captainerniesshowboat) wrote:

3 cheers for kljb!

197 

Date: 2006-02-10 23:10:25
Dr. Jitters ( no email / http://www.houseofjitters.com) wrote:

Hey! That's cool. I've heard of Zomboo before and if I remember correctly he started his show in the Reno, Nevada area. Somewhere around there... Congrats to Zomboo and the Quad Cities viewers! :)

196 

Date: 2006-02-10 19:50:09
mike coffey ( pingjockey691@excite.com / no homepage) wrote:

BRING THE SHOW BACK!!!!!!!!!!!

195 

Date: 2006-02-08 16:55:29
Steven Philip Jones ( Sphilipjones@aol.com / http://www.stevenpjones.com) wrote:

Wowzer! That's great news! Thanks for sharing the 4-1-1, Mr. Ruggles! I, for once, will be sure to check out Zomboo's website right away! (Hmm..sounds like a funky zombie to me. ;-) )

Thanks again!

194 

Date: 2006-02-08 16:51:37
Brad Ruggles ( creaturefeature@kljb.com / http://www.kljb.com) wrote:

Well, I promised I would post it here first as soon as any announcements were made, so here you go...
Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 11th at 11pm because that's when the Quad Cities gets it's first look at "Zomboo's House of Horrors" on KLJB-TV FOX 18! Same great movies you loved on Creature Feature with a new twist. Zomboo is unlike any horror movie host this area has ever seen.
What about Chuck Acri? Well, he could still show up as an advertiser...who knows.
That's all for now.
For more information on Zomboo, visit www.zomboo.com
For more information on great FOX 18 programming, visit www.kljb.com

Thanks-

Brad Ruggles
Production Manager
KLJB-TV FOX 18

193 

Date: 2006-02-01 19:32:59
Steven Philip Jones ( sphilipjones@aol.com / http://www.stevenpjones.com) wrote:

That's too bad. I wonder why? You would think it would be great promotion for the Acri Company, but I suppose it is also expensive. I'll keep my fingers crossed that a substitute will be found, and that the Count, Max, Goth Girl, et al. will soon return to the airwaves.

And let me also add my own "Thanks for the memories!" to Chuck and all the folks involved with the original ACF and ACF 2.0. You'll always have a fond spot in my heart.

192 

Date: 2006-01-20 18:59:18
Carmen ( jeffandcarmen79@yahoo.com / no homepage) wrote:

I have an update. The Acri Company has decided to NOT go forward with the project. FOX 18 realizes that there is a following for this type of programming & currently looking for an appropriate substitute. Once found they will promote the program aggressively. We'll miss you Chuck Acri & the Creature Feature. Thanks for the memories. Thanks for coming back for those 5 wonderful months. If there is ever a slight chance of coming back, please do.

191 

Date: 2006-01-20 09:51:40
Mike ( armoredyak@yahoo.com / http://www.salvationbygrace.org) wrote:

I have some of the fondest memories of this show, when I was a kid. It was magic. It had that feeling like you were a member of Chuck's family when you tuned in, and that he knew how silly the movies were, but everyone was having a good time with them.
I even remember sending in fan mail...(I was 8)

190 

Date: 2006-01-20 08:25:36
Carmen Hay-Kent ( jeffandcarmen79@yahoo.com / no homepage) wrote:

It was wonderful to see that Creature Feature made a come back. WOW !!! What memories.