SCIENCE FICTION THEATER
SHOCK THEATRE


TOMMY REYNOLDS - "DR. SHOCK"
PATRICIA ABNEY - "NURSE GOODBODY"
DAN EAST - "DINGBAT"



SCIENCE FICTION THEATER

"Science Fiction Theater" was a hosted horror/science fiction show with Tommy Nelson Reynolds presenting movies in the 1960's for WTVC, Channel 9 Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. The character name is not known.


SHOCK THEATRE

"Shock Theatre" was a hosted horror show with Tommy Nelson Reynolds as "Dr. Shock", assisted by Patricia

Abney as "Nurse Goodbody" and Dan East who operated and voiced "Dingbat". The trio hosted horror movies starting with WTVC, Channel 9 Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA from 3 June 1972 until 1974. The show moved to WDEF, Channel 12 Chattanooga, Tennessee, from 1974 until 1976. The final stop for the show was on WHNT-TV, Channel 19 Huntsville, Alabama in the early 1980's for about six months.


Thomas Nelson "Sonny" Reynolds, born on 30 October 1932, and had a long and illustrious career in radio and television broadcasting. He worked at Channel 9 in Chattanooga for many years before returning to Huntsville where he was employed at Channel 19 as the creative commercial director until his retirement. He will probably best be remembered as "Dr. Shock". He was also a 32nd degree Mason.

Sadly, he passed away on 23 January 2008. He was preceded in death by his son, Thomas Nelson Reynolds, Jr. and granddaughter, Lorraine Anne Merriman. He was an inspiration to his family and known by his friends as a "real character".

Survivors include daughters, Diane Heap and Debi Heath; ex-wife and friend, Mary Reynolds; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.



In 2023, Thomas Nelson Reynolds as "Dr. Shock", was a nominee in the "The Official Horror Host Hall of Fame".



Portrait of "Dr. Shock" by Bradley Beard.
"Dr. Shock" - biography (taken from Bradley Beard's Facebook page)
FLASH!, FLASH!, FLASH! Tonight I present Dr. Shock, host of Shock Theatre on WTVC-TV Channel 9 in Chattanooga, TN. The show began on WTVC and then in 1974, it moved to WDEF-TV Channel 12 until 1976. Dr. Shock was played by Tommy Reynolds. Reynolds again revived the show in the early 80's for 6 months. Dr. Shock's side kick, Dingbat, was an oversized bat-like puppet with long, stringy hair and over pronounced fangs. Shock played straight man to Dingbat's hi jinx and sarcastic remarks, a good portion of which I'm sure were directed towards Nurse Goodbody. Dr. Shock carried a cane with a full-size plastic human skull on top which he would use to whack Dingbat over the head after his comments. Even though the show was humor driven, Dr. Shock also had a serious side, he would close his show by saying, "And if you should awaken in the still of the night, the scream you hear... may be your own."


In 2010, John Gray would relaunch the show with the same characters (and more) and a new cast. Click on the link below to view details on the new "Shock Theatre".



The following are some clips from "Shock Theatre":

Shock Theatre hosted by Dr Shock (Tommy Reynolds) (clips) from The Professor on Vimeo.

LINKS


Internet Movie Data Base
"Science Fiction Theater"

Internet Movie Data Base
"Shock Theatre"

Internet Movie Data Base
"Shock Theatre"

Facebook: Bradley Beard - Horror Host Artist
"Dr. Shock"

E-gors Chamber of TV Horror Hosts
"Dr. Shock"

Internet Movie Data Base
"Shock Theatre"

Internet Movie Data Base
"Dan East"

Internet Movie Data Base
"Tommy Nelson Reynolds"

Internet Movie Data Base
"Patricia Abney"


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Last modified: June 2023