R.I.P. JOHN ZACHERLE

If you grew up in the New York City area in the Fifties/Sixties, chances are you were a fan of John "Cool Ghoul" Zacherle (sometimes he spelled it Zacherly). He hosted horror-movie shows on TV, and he was funny as hell. As a boy I was a huge fan of his, and in later years I discovered to my delight that he was a fan of mine. We corresponded for years and talked a few times on the phone; he even came to one of my signings. He was just as delightful off-camera as on it. He died Thursday at the age of 98, just before Halloween. Wherever he is now, the spirits are laughing.

(Thanks to Al Barkafski for the heads-up.)

Comments

[howard rotterdam]

RIP

He's doing the Monster Mash somewhere

[Ms. Flukey]

How great to know that someone you were a huge fan of became a fan of you.

I had better do something spectacular so that Dave can become my fan. So far my skills only include quoting funny movies and lasagna. In my defense, it's a great lasagna.

[manual tomato]

Here's praying for John, when Elvira goes...well, here's praying.

[clankie]

He's in that great Channel 9 in the sky.

[pogo]

There was a guy, Bob Carter, in Indianapolis who did a similar thing as "Sammy Terry",saying rude things about the grade C movies he showed. (Inspiration for MST3K?) He too had a long run, and a big following. His son took over the role after his death.

[Jeff Meyerson]

Extremely cool, Dave.

When we were kids our neighbor upstairs did a very elaborate Halloween thing every year - think the Roseanne Halloween shows - complete with a skeleton on a wire that came down the stairs at you. THe guy dressed as Zacherle.

RIP Cool Ghoul

[Howard from Broward]

Here's the NY Times obit.

[Theresa]

Wow that is something 98.

[nursecindy]

How great that he had such a long life and was able to spend it doing something he loved. RIP Mr. Zacherle.

[wiredog]

He was DJ-ing at a rock station until he was 78!

[WVPlantman]

I was reminded by the post of my early years in Pittsburgh watching "Chilly Billy" Cardille. I looked him up and sad to say he passed in July this year. He did the B grade late night scary movies in that market. He also announced pro "wrestling" and worked as a DJ. One of his claims to fame is that he had a role as the TV reporter in the original "Night of the Living Dead". RIP all.