In regards to the history of Horror Hosts in this great old state of mine, North Carolina, I wanted to mention some of the Horror Hosts that that graced our airwaves here in Greensboro, NC.

First up, a lot of folks tend to forget (until I remind them) that the late Dr. Paul Bearer actually got his start as a horror host on what is now my town's FOX affiliate, WGHP, Channel 8. He started out when it was our ABC affiliate and he replaced the station's old host, Count Shockula on SHOCK THEATRE. Dr. Paul Bearer was the last host Channel 8 had for SHOCK THEATRE, even though they ran the show on Saturday nights at 11:30 PM until 1982. They cancelled the movies when someone at the station decided to replace the classic Universal Monsters and the Gang at Toho with Benny Hill repeats and wrestling matches.

Now, SHOCK THEATRE went over to WXII, Channel 12 (our NBC affiliate), and became SHOCK THEATER there. SHOCK THEATER didn't last long on Channel 12 though. Instead of the classic monster films, Channel 12's SHOCK THEATER tended to show films like THE BRAIN THAT WOULDN'T DIE. They did have two fellows that hosted the show (sorry I can't recall their names. I never really caught very many episodes since this version ran at 1:00 AM). I've asked several local horror fans who might have remembered who these gents were, but it seems they didn't leave much of an impression on anyone around here!

Now, as SHOCK THEATRE was making it's way from Channel 8 to Channel 12, Greensboro managed to get itself a new player in the local television field. In early 1981, an independent UHF station, WGGT, Channel 48, went on the air. WGGT had no affiliation with a network (this was way, way, WAY before FOX, UPN or the WB). They mainly got by on repeats of shows like THE REAL McCOYS, HERE'S LUCY and THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW. They also had the rights to BATMAN, SPEED RACER, STAR BLAZERS and THE OUTER LIMITS. But the thing I loved the most about this station was that they wound up with the rights to the Universal Monsters when Channel 8 let them go. Channel 48 ran the Universal classics at 8:30 AM every Saturday morning (which was great for me since I was usually up and about by that that time and could watch them without anyone else in my house hinting to turn the channel to something else). Alas, the Universal Monsters had to go it alone without the benefit of a host though.

In 1983, Channel 48 did became one of the first stations to carry the syndicated version of Elvira's MOVIE MACABRE. Later still, in 1986, they became the home to the short-lived CANNED FILM FESTIVAL with Larraine Newman of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE fame (I'm curious, does anyone else out there remember this show or am I the only one?)

Of course the host I went through high school with and recall with the most fondness was Billy Bobb, a redneck character that was created by comedian Dana Lowell for ACTION THEATER on WGGT, Channel 48. Dana got his gig at 48 after winning Showtime's award for the Funniest Person in North Carolina. 48 Started him out hosting kung-fu films, but as Dana often tells people, WGGT changed the films from kung-fu movies to horror movies within a few months because all the hardcore, serious martial arts fans in town complained (and both of those guys were very vocal!). He also said that horror films naturally lent themselves to "being ripped on" where as kung-fu film fans tended to take themselves way too seriously.

Dana had a lot of success as Billy Bobb. He started out replacing MOVIE MACABRE at 8:00 PM on Saturday nights and was moved to the more "kid-friendly" 2:00 PM on Saturday afternoon when 48 started carrying THE CANNED FILM FESTIVAL. He became so popular with children in my town that his character was eventually awarded a weekday cartoon show called THE 48 FUN CLUB. Dana kept Billy Bobb alive until the early 1990's when WGGT had to shut down its operations. They eventually managed to stay on the air, but only by simo-casting with our FOX affiliate (then WNRW, Channel 45). All their original programming though, including ACTION THEATER and THE 48 FUN CLUB, was cancelled.

The arrangement where 45 and 48 simo-casted FOX programming (and for a time ABC programming) lasted until 1996 when WGGT 48 became WUPN 48 and Greensboro's UPN affiliate. Meanwhile, Billy Bobb made a brief return to the airwaves of Greensboro in 1998 when he began hosting BILLY BOBB'S KILLER B'S on our cable access channel, GCTV, Cable Channel 8 (which is now home to the Horror Host Underground which can be seen every Saturday night at 1:00 am). But due to his work schedule, BILLY BOBB'S KILLER B's only lasted for nineteen episodes. I was lucky enough to work on the last batch of episodes of this show (mainly helping with gags, providing some horror trivia and arranging some local guest to come in and be interviewed). I can honestly say it was one of the greatest thrills of my life.

Wow, I just realized how much I wrote here. So much for a 'quick note'. I'm sorry if I went prattling on. Anyway, I hope this information helps to fill in some gaps with the history of Horror Hosts in North Carolina.

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