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Bob Wilkins, former 'Creature Features' television host, dies
By Pat Craig
Bay Area News Group
Posted: 01/09/2009 12:43:13 PM PST
Bob Wilkins, the iconic and laconic host of the late-night "Creature Features" show in the 1970s, died Wednesday in Reno at the age of 76 from complications of Alzheimer's Disease.
A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Jan. 24 in Oakland's Montclair Presbyterian Church, 5701 Thornhill Drive, to celebrate the life of the slender man who stared at the world through horn-rimmed glasses and greeted viewers to his show by lighting a candle stuffed in the top of a skull, then settling into a wooden rocking chair to enjoy a cigar and the outrageously awful horror films that became another trademark.
Wilkins grew up just east of Chicago and was the oldest of seven children. Graduating from Hammond High School in 1950, he followed his father's footsteps to work at the local steel mill then joined the U.S. Army and served in Korea. Upon returning from service he enrolled at Indiana University. He moved to California in 1964 to produce TV commercials for Sacramento's Channel 3.
His career as a horror film host began a few years later when the station, which had a fine library of mostly old horror movies, asked Wilkins to offer a few words of introduction. He took the task to heart, truthfully telling viewers the movie — his first offering was "Attack of the Mushroom People," a low-budget Japanese film — was awful and suggested they not watch. Instead, he read listings from TV Guide and suggested viewers turn to another station.
Throughout his horror movie hosting career, Wilkins took a fairly jaundiced view of his offerings.
"Our second film is "Monster From the Ocean Floor," his Web site, www.bobwilkins.org quotes him as saying. "This movie is so bad that it was delivered to Channel 2 in a brown paper bag. When we're through showing it tonight, it will be part of a garage sale in Alameda tomorrow."
Wilkins' folksy, slyly funny personality won the hearts of viewers, and by 1970, he had moved to Channel 40 in Sacramento to host "The Bob Wilkins Horror Show" through 1981. He also hosted "Creature Features" from 1971-79 on Oakland's Channel 2, where he also did stints as a weatherman and host of the kids' show, "Captain Cosmic and His Wonder Robot 2T2." That show opened with a classic bit of video, which, according to the Captain Cosmic Web site, unreeled as: "Faster than a speeding BART train (a clip of the Captain running along side of a BART train as it departs from a station, Stronger than the entire Oakland Raider Football team! (a picture of the Captain lifting a Volkswagen over his head), Able to leap over tall buildings with a single bound (a picture of the Captain flying a little too close to the top of the Transamerica pyramid building and a sound effect of ripping pants)." The program also introduced the Bay Area to many Japanese sci-fi shows.
Although he later made occasional personal appearances for groups of fans who recalled "Creature Features," Wilkins left television in 1981 to return to advertising and his own agency and eventually to work for John Ascuaga's Nugget. He retired from the Sparks casino in 1995 and continued to live in the Reno area.
Wilkins is survived by his wife, Sally, of Reno, and children, Rob of Oakland and Nancy Fitzpatrick or Sacramento and sisters Nancy George, Linda Seth, Judie Chism, Sally Blevins and Sue Dorrance.
A fan celebration of Wilkins will be scheduled sometime in the coming months.
By Pat Craig
Bay Area News Group
Posted: 01/09/2009 12:43:13 PM PST
Bob Wilkins, the iconic and laconic host of the late-night "Creature Features" show in the 1970s, died Wednesday in Reno at the age of 76 from complications of Alzheimer's Disease.
A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Jan. 24 in Oakland's Montclair Presbyterian Church, 5701 Thornhill Drive, to celebrate the life of the slender man who stared at the world through horn-rimmed glasses and greeted viewers to his show by lighting a candle stuffed in the top of a skull, then settling into a wooden rocking chair to enjoy a cigar and the outrageously awful horror films that became another trademark.
Wilkins grew up just east of Chicago and was the oldest of seven children. Graduating from Hammond High School in 1950, he followed his father's footsteps to work at the local steel mill then joined the U.S. Army and served in Korea. Upon returning from service he enrolled at Indiana University. He moved to California in 1964 to produce TV commercials for Sacramento's Channel 3.
His career as a horror film host began a few years later when the station, which had a fine library of mostly old horror movies, asked Wilkins to offer a few words of introduction. He took the task to heart, truthfully telling viewers the movie — his first offering was "Attack of the Mushroom People," a low-budget Japanese film — was awful and suggested they not watch. Instead, he read listings from TV Guide and suggested viewers turn to another station.
Throughout his horror movie hosting career, Wilkins took a fairly jaundiced view of his offerings.
"Our second film is "Monster From the Ocean Floor," his Web site, www.bobwilkins.org quotes him as saying. "This movie is so bad that it was delivered to Channel 2 in a brown paper bag. When we're through showing it tonight, it will be part of a garage sale in Alameda tomorrow."
Wilkins' folksy, slyly funny personality won the hearts of viewers, and by 1970, he had moved to Channel 40 in Sacramento to host "The Bob Wilkins Horror Show" through 1981. He also hosted "Creature Features" from 1971-79 on Oakland's Channel 2, where he also did stints as a weatherman and host of the kids' show, "Captain Cosmic and His Wonder Robot 2T2." That show opened with a classic bit of video, which, according to the Captain Cosmic Web site, unreeled as: "Faster than a speeding BART train (a clip of the Captain running along side of a BART train as it departs from a station, Stronger than the entire Oakland Raider Football team! (a picture of the Captain lifting a Volkswagen over his head), Able to leap over tall buildings with a single bound (a picture of the Captain flying a little too close to the top of the Transamerica pyramid building and a sound effect of ripping pants)." The program also introduced the Bay Area to many Japanese sci-fi shows.
Although he later made occasional personal appearances for groups of fans who recalled "Creature Features," Wilkins left television in 1981 to return to advertising and his own agency and eventually to work for John Ascuaga's Nugget. He retired from the Sparks casino in 1995 and continued to live in the Reno area.
Wilkins is survived by his wife, Sally, of Reno, and children, Rob of Oakland and Nancy Fitzpatrick or Sacramento and sisters Nancy George, Linda Seth, Judie Chism, Sally Blevins and Sue Dorrance.
A fan celebration of Wilkins will be scheduled sometime in the coming months.
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Re: RIP Bob Wilkins, Host of Creature Features
Fri, January 9, 2009 - 1:30 PMOh that is so sad I remember that show and waited up I think late Saturday nights to watch everyweek a fond memory for me... -
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Re: RIP Bob Wilkins, Host of Creature Features
Fri, January 9, 2009 - 6:04 PMI just saw this! So sad.....
The first things I saw on Creature Features were 'Night of the Living Dead' and "Bambi v. Godzilla". After moving up to the Bay Area from L.A. (and being used to Seymour and Fright Night), seeing Night and Bambi made me feel like I was in good hands. :) -
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Re: RIP Bob Wilkins, Host of Creature Features
Fri, January 9, 2009 - 9:05 PM>The first things I saw on Creature Features were 'Night of the Living Dead' and "Bambi v. Godzilla". After moving up to the Bay Area from L.A. (and being used to Seymour and Fright Night), seeing Night and Bambi made me feel like I was in good hands. :)
Ah yes Seymour. I used to watch him too back when I lived in LA. :)
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Re: RIP Bob Wilkins, Host of Creature Features
Fri, January 9, 2009 - 9:52 PMGood lord...that was the first Creature Features I ever saw. I was maybe six years old. Bambi v. Godzilla disturbed the hell out of me and my sister and I spent most of Night of the Living Dead hiding our heads under blankets. -
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Re: RIP Bob Wilkins, Host of Creature Features
Fri, January 9, 2009 - 10:16 PMThat's really funny, Pi.
Memorable night though. :)
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Re: RIP Bob Wilkins, Host of Creature Features
Fri, January 9, 2009 - 10:54 PMI remember Bob. He was a kind sort. Probably one of our founding geeks. I think this is what made him perfect for the job.
~sleep well Bob
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Re: RIP Bob Wilkins, Host of Creature Features
Mon, January 12, 2009 - 8:48 AMI was a HUGE fan of his show. It has shaped my movie preferences for my entire life. I go to the DVD store and movies that most peeps say NO NO NO to, I say YES YES YES.
If it wasn't for his show, I wouldn't have had anything to do when I was up all night as a teen.
R.I.P. Bob, I'll watch Golden Voyage of Sinbad tonight in your memory. -
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Re: RIP Bob Wilkins, Host of Creature Features
Tue, January 13, 2009 - 10:09 PMaww!!! i have fond memories of this too. at the time, i think it was where i felt like i was growing up cause my normally strict parents let me stay up later to watch and he seemed so off-beat squarish cool that it made me feel kinda cool to be a fan.
RIP Bob! Thanks for the memories!
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