7-ARTS THEATER
CREATURE FEATURES
I WAS A TV HORROR HOST
THE BOB WILKINS DOUBLE HORROR SHOW
THE BOB WILKINS SUPER HORROR SHOW
UP LATE WITH BOB WILKINS
WATCH HORROR FILMS, KEEP AMERICA STRONG!

BOB WILKINS
JOHN STANLEY

The weekly San Francisco Bay area horror movie show "Creature Features" launched on KTVU in February 1971 with the 1964 movie "The Horror of Party Beach", hosted by Bob Wilkins. The show ran Saturday nights at 11:00pm (1971 - 1973), Saturday nights at 8:00pm to 1:00am (1974 - 1979) and then Friday nights 11:00pm to 1:00am (1976 - 1979). In contrast to the many ghoulishly costumed contemporaneous horror hosts, Wilkins opted for an urbane Ivy League type persona with a trademark cigar. During the show's thirteen year run, numerous horror, science fiction, and film industry luminaries made guest appearances, including Ray Harryhausen, Christopher Lee, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, John Landis, Cloris Leachman, William Marshall, and Forest J Ackerman. Though Wilkins continually mocked the quality of the films he presented in a humorously acerbic manner, the show proved immensely popular, prompting KTVU to extend its length for double features, even adding a second weekly slot. The opening segment from "Ceature Features" with Bob Wilkins: "Creature Features" - opening with Bob Wilkins from The Professor's Scary Clips on Vimeo. 7-ARTS THEATER An early horror movie show hosted by Wilkins was "7-Arts Theater". Wilkins presented horror movies on Saturday nights at 11:30pm on KCRA Channel 3, Stockton, California from 10 September 1966 until 14 March 1970. The first movie to be presented was the 1963 Japanese movie "Attack of the Mushroom People". THE BOB WILKINS DOUBLE HORROR SHOW "The Bob Wilkins Double Horror Show" was a hosted horror movie show with Bob Wilkins presenting horror movies on KXTL Channel 40, Sacramento, California from 9 May 1970 till 1978. Wilkins presented a variety of horror / science fiction movies whilst also hosting "Creature Features" on KTVU Channel 2, Oakland/San Francisco, California. "The Bob Wilkins Double Horror Show" - trailer from The Professor's Scary Clips on Vimeo. In 1979, Wilkins left as host and was replaced by genre-expert John Stanley, who brought an erudite genre incisiveness to the show until its ultimate end in 1984. Today, "Creature Features" is historically noted as the confluence for broadcast premiers of the 1959 "Plan 9 From Outer Space" and the 1968 "Night of the Living Dead". "Creature Features" - opening with John Stanley from The Professor's Scary Clips on Vimeo. THE BOB WILKINS SUPER HORROR SHOW In 1979, Wilkins hosted the television special "The Bob Wilkins Super Horror Show", with guest John Stanley. Through rare clips, trailers and interviews with horror veterans, Bob will revisit your cinematic nightmares. The films that kept you awake and hidden under the covers. You won't want to miss this amazing cinematic chill-ride. "The Bob Wilkins Super Horror Show" - opening from The Professor's Scary Clips on Vimeo. WATCH HORROR FILMS, KEEP AMERICA STRONG! In 2008 a direct to video was "Watch Horror Films, Keep America Strong!" hosted by Bob Wilkins and John Stanley. The story of one of the most popular Bay Area television shows ever: Creature Features. As told by Bob Wilkins, John Stanley, film critic Bob Shaw, Japanese monster movie expert August Ragone, film maker Ernie Fosselius, Bob's wife Sally, daughter Nancy, son Rob, John's wife Erica, Creature Features Archivist Tom Wyrsch and Planet X magazine publisher Scott Moon. "Watch Horror Films, Keep America Strong!" - trailer from The Professor's Scary Clips on Vimeo. UP LATE WITH BOB WILKINS "Up Late with Bob Wilkins" is a feature-length documentary film about Bob's shows told by those who watched him faithfully every weekend. Viewers recount what the shows meant to them, and in many cases, shaped their lives. The film is packed with rare show clips from Bob Wilkins personal collection. It is the ultimate tribute to Bob Wilkins and the era of the horror host. n "Up Late with Bob Wilkins" - Trailer from The Professor's Scary Clips on Vimeo. CAPTAIN COSMIC AND 2T2 From 1977 until 1982, Bob hosted "Captain Cosmic and 2T2" as "Captain Cosmic". For more information on this show use the below link. Portrait of "Bob Wilkins" by Dave Dunlap. Portraits of "Vincent Van Dahl" with "Bob Wilkins" by Dave Dunlap.

Portrait of "Bob Wilkins" by Bradley Beard.
"Bob Wilkins" - biography (taken from Bradley Beard's Facebook page)

"Can you feature that awful creature? Can you feature that ugly creature?" Tonight I present Bob Wilkins, host of Creature Features on KTVU-TV in San Francisco, CA. Wilkins was both the creator and star of the show which he hosted from 1971 to 1979. He had previously hosted 7-Arts Theatre on KRCA-TV Channel 3 in Stockton, CA KRCA-TV and The Bob Wilkins Horror Show on KTXL-TV Channel 40 In Sacramento, CA. Wilkins is widely recognized for his huge cigars, originally used as a way for him to calm his on-screen nerves. As with most TV personalities from that period, he performed numerous duties and character roles for the station, he also donned a motorcycle helmet and a crimson cape to portray Captain Cosmic for an afternoon children's program in 1977. On February 24, 1979, Wilkins left Creature Features in the hands of San Francisco Chronicle writer John Stanley. In 2012, Bob Wilkins for "Creature Features", was inducted into "The Official Horror Host Hall of Fame". Portrait of "John Stanley" by Dave Dunlap.

Portrait of "John Stanley" by Bradley Beard.
"John Stanley" - biography (taken from Bradley Beard's Facebook page)

He's one of the foremost horror movie historians in the world. Tonight I present John Stanley, host of Creature Features on KTVU-TV in San Francisco, CA. Stanley took over as host of the show on February 24, 1979 when Bob Wilkins decided to leave after 8 years. Bob Wilkins wasn't a fan of the genre but Stanley most definitely was. He took the same friendly and informative approach as Wilkins but he was able to draw upon his vast personal knowledge of the genre and provide his viewers a wealth of information. The show also provided numerous A-list Hollywood guests. He hosted the show until September 1, 1984. Stanley has gone on to write several books on the horror genre. "Creature Features: The Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Movie Guide" is considered by many to be the best written guide of its kind. He also wrote "I Was a TV Horror Host: Memoirs of a Creature Feature Man" , which recounts his incredible experience as a horror host. I WAS A TV HORROR HOST "I Was a TV Horror Host" was a 2009 direct-to-video documentary behind-the-scenes look at the history and legacy of the legendary Bay Area television show Creature Features, from the viewpoint of longtime host John Stanley. In 2017, John Stanley for "Creature Features", was inducted into "The Official Horror Host Hall of Fame". Stanley and Wilkins published a number of books on the horror genre.

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