HOUSE OF SHOCK
MORGUS AND THE WEATHER
MORGUS PRESENTS
THE WACKY WORLD OF DR. MORGUS

SIDNEY NOEL RIDEAU (SID NOEL) - "DR. MORGUS"
AKA "MORGUS THE MAGNIFICENT"
AKA "MOMUS ALEXANDER MORGUS"
AKA "DR. ALEXANDER MORGUS"
JAMES GUILLOT - "CHOPSLEY"
GEORGE THOMAS - "CHOPSLEY"

From Legacy.com" Sidney Noel Rideau was born in New Orleans on 25 December 1929. Sid graduated from Alcee Fortier High School. During the Korean War, he served 8 years, honorably, in the U.S. Navy Reserve. From the 1950s, Sid's professional name is fondly remembered as Sid Noel, the host of WWL radio's morning Dawnbusters program, which replaced the original Dawnbusters live studio orchestra, hosted by Henry Dupre. Earlier, while attending Loyola University in communications studies, Sid's creative faculty was already on display. As master of ceremonies of the music department's Campus Capers, he led the college's charity entertainment group that visited hospitals and nursing homes throughout the region. In 1957, Loyola University acquired the license for Channel 4 Television station (WWL-TV). In January, 1959, with his identity kept secret, Sid created and became the mad but hilarious scientist Dr. Momus Alexander Morgus the Magnificent, whose quixotic, scientific experiments caused a sensation as host of WWL-TV's Saturday night movies. The character's popularity was overwhelming, and continued on and off various television stations, countrywide, for over half a century. Throughout the years, Sid generously used the popularity of the Morgus character to raise funds for local charities, civic causes, and WYES-TV auctions. In between, he had other projects that kept him busy in New York, Detroit and New Orleans. He wrote, produced and hosted over 500 television programs, 180 in syndication. Beyond radio and television, Sid was a storyteller. He patented and manufactured what may be the first "fable-telling" attraction called The Story Castle. From telephones attached, children listened to The Castle's audio stories that spread joy and bits of moral education in shopping malls throughout the United States, and in Canada. Privately, Sid enjoyed being home with family and restoring various houses throughout the years. In the early 1990s, Sid turned his interest toward the growing violence and disciplinary problems in schools throughout the country and at a time, character education became an initiative with educators. As S. Noel Rideau, he authored and published a K-5 reading program titled Uncle Noel's Fun Fables, which got parents involved in reading with their children. The program was featured on the NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw. Sid also made school visits with his live presentation Storytelling for Character. In 1993, he was invited into the newly organized Character Education Partnership, Inc. in Washington, D.C. In addition, he was a lifetime member of The Storytelling Network. At the beginning of the 21st century, he began developing, on the Internet, a K-12, "ethics for kids" reading program as a free supplementary resource for schools. The 52 original stories titled "Fables to Grow On" were incorporated into what became the Internet Story Club of America, Inc. Co-founded and hosted by The New Orleans Public Library, it became an independent, 501c(3) non-profit charity. He was married to Aldona Nalecz-Tyminska from 1963 until her death on 6 April 2015, having two children. Sadly, he passed away on 27 August 2020. Television shows and movies Sid appeared in as Morgus were: House of Shock (WWL-TV Channel 4) 1959-1962 The Wacky World of Dr. Morgus (1962) assisted by "Chopsley" played by George Thomas Morgus and the Weather (WJBK-TV Channel 2) mid 1960s Morgus Presents (WJBK-TV Channel 2) mid 1960s assisted by "Chopsley" played by George Thomas Morgus Presents (WXYZ-TV Channel 7) 1964-1965 assisted by "Chopsley" played by George Thomas Morgus Presents (WWL-TV Channel 4) 1965-1967 assisted by "Chopsley" played by George Thomas Morgus Presents (WDSU-TV Channel 6) 1970-1971 assisted by "Chopsley" played by George Thomas Morgus Presents (WGNO-TV Channel 26) 1986-1989 assisted by "Chopsley" played by James Guillot and George Thomas Morgus Presents (WVUE-TV Channel 8) early - mid 2000s Morgus Presents (Cox Cable Channel 10) early - mid 2000s In 2011 "The Mystery Of Morgus" a documentary of Sidney Noel Rideau and his horror host character of "Dr. Morgus" was released. "Dr. Morgus" had been on the air from 1959 through the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's; and syndicated from 2005; on television stations in New Orleans, Louisiana and Detroit, Michigan. Over 16 guest provided memories and insight into "Dr. Morgus". Portrait of "Morgus" by Dave Dunlap.

Portrait of "Morgus the Magnificent" by Bradley Beard.
"Morgus the Magnificent" - biography (taken from Bradley Beard's Facebook page)

"Hello there friends of science, historians, archeologists, and especially those of the inner circle who understand the symbol. Heh heh heh. Tonight is the glorious night we have been waiting for." Tonight I present Morgus the Magnificent AKA Momus Alexander Morgus, host of House of Shock WWL-TV Channel 4 in New Orleans, LA, which began in January 1959. In 1962, Dr. Morgus hit the big screen in The Wacky World of Dr. Morgus. In 1964, he began his programming anew under the guise of Morgus Presents and has continued in various incarnations on several channels over the years. He's joined by Chopsley, whose botched facial transplant surgery left him without a face so he now wears a hooded mask. Dr. Morgus is earth's leading member of the Higher Order and Its rumored that his IQ is in the 300's. The celestial bodies have aligned tonight, for tonight is the night of Morgus the Magnificent. In 2011, Sidney Noel Rideau - "Dr. Morgus" for "House of Shock", was inducted into "The Official Horror Host Hall of Fame". The following is a trailer for "The Wacky World of Dr. Morgus": The Wacky World of Dr. Morgus - trailer.mp4 from The Professor's Scary Clips on Vimeo. The following is a clip from the 1987 episode "Bride of Morgus" from "Morgus Presents": "Morgus Presents" - clip from The Professor's Scary Clips on Vimeo.

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