CHILLER THEATRE

JERRY CARR - "THE CHILLER"

"Chiller Theatre" (aka "Chiller Theater") was a hosted horror movie show with Jerry Carr as "The Chiller" who presented movies on WOKR-TV Channel 13, Rochester, New York from 15 September 1962 and into the mid 1960's. "The Chiller" was the horror host without a face; had his own fan club; and his show's producers cut a record that became a local hit. From The Classic Horror Film Board: In early 1964, Production Director Don Friedman wanted to cut a promotional record for Chiller Theater and wrote two songs for it, "The Chiller" and "Chiller Limbo". The record was backed by The Vic Plati Quintet. Plati, who was the record’s music arranger and played tenor sax on the both tracks, was also a music teacher at Eastride High School. The vocals for both songs were handled by one of WOKR’s directors and cameramen who also happened to be local folk-singer Guerin Barry. Aside from Barry at the microphone and Plati on sax, the rest of the musicians were Earl Jerris at the piano, Jim Galusha on bass, Joe Torrie on guitar and Chuck Morey on drums. Though this was the only time Barry sang with the quintet, he would go on to have a career in music, even replacing Bowser in Sha Na Na. The record itself became something of a local phenomenon, selling in the thousands according to a station newsletter and making it one of the easier horror-themed 45 rpm records for collectors to find. Side one - "The Chiller" Play Clip Side two - "Chiller Limbo" Play Clip In 2022 and 2023, Jerry Carr as "The Chiller", was a nominee in the "The Official Horror Host Hall of Fame".

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