THE PROFESSOR'S SF & HORROR HOST TOME

SHOCK

WENDELL JOHN BRENNER - "BARON VON BRENNER"

"Shock" was a hosted horror movie show with Wendell John Brenner as "Baron Von Brenner" who presented movies on KOLO-TV Channel 8, Reno, Nevada, USA between 10 October 1958 to 18 June 1960. Professional hypnotist Baron Von Brenner bent the airwaves and his audience to his will on his dungeon set as the host of KOLO-TV's Shock show. Shock moved from Friday to Saturday nights on 3 January 1959.

Wendell J. Brenner was born the 14 February 1916 in Bronx, Bronx County, New York, USA;

and passed away on 24 January 1975, in San Bernardino County, California, USA. He was married to Dorothy with whom he had a son Wendell.

Brenner also released a record on vinyl 7" 33 1/3 rpm - "Stop Smoking Through Self-Hypnosis".

From The Classic Horror Film Board:
Professional hypnotist Baron Von Brenner bent the airwaves and his audience to his will on his dungeon set as the host of KOLO-TV's Shock show. The show was produced by Don Thompson and directed by Durward Dean Yasmer. Von Brenner worked the show while still performing stage shows in Reno and the surrounding area. He seemed to possess a keen sense of fun; check out the Yerington event articles and photos where he had the city council and local law enforcement participate in the shows publicity. I bet his KOLO-TV Shock show was a hoot!

Shock moved from Friday to Saturday nights on January 3, 1959. Station manager Lee D. Hirshland requested police protection for the station because staff failed to inform the show’s teenage audience (apparently some had also participated in the show) of the move and was afraid of retaliation.

Countless classified ads attest that Baron Von Brenner also conducted private seminars. In 1960 he ran for Constable of Reno on the Republican ticket. He made it through the primary when his GOP opponent was disqualified, but lost in the general election. Baron Von Brenner passed away in 1975 just a few weeks shy of his 59th birthday. He is interred at the Rialto Park Cemetery (Section T, Block 07, Plot 20) in San Bernardino County, California.

Director Yasmer started as an editor, but became a cameraman, director and producer at the station. Shows he created included "Magic and Music" (he has a lifelong interest in magic) and "Pet Pals", a show involving kids and animals. The KOLO-TV website offers this Yasmer story about Pet Pals:

It was all live and sometimes produced some unexpected, memorable moments including one Pet Pal episode when a carnival elephant with a full bladder relieved himself on the air. "It flooded the studio", Yasmer remembers with a chuckle. "It washed a bunch of merchandise out of the prop room into the alley through the back door. I got a commendation from all my friends that I didn't even crack a smile.

This was live TV. You have to stand there. I was wet up to my knees.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLES AND ADVERTISEMENTS

There are no known clips from the show.