THE HOOLIHAN AND BIG CHUCK SHOW
THE BIG CHUCK AND LIL' JOHN SHOW


BOB WELLS - "HOOLIHAN"
CHARLES SCHODOWSKI - "BIG CHUCK"
JOHN RINALDI - "LIL' JOHN"



"The Hoolihan and Big Chuck Show" was a hosted horror movie show with Bob Wells as "Hoolihan" and Charles Schodowski as "Big Chuck" presenting movies on Friday nights on WJKW-TV Channel 8 Cleveland, Ohio during December 1966 until August 1979. Hoolihan had nicknames including "Hoolie," and "Hoolihan the Weather Man." which Bob Wells was for a while on the TV-8 news.



Robert D. "Bob" Wells (born September 27, 1933), known as Bob "Hoolihan" Wells, is an American former television and radio personality and actor, who is best known to Cleveland, Ohio television viewers for his appearances on the then-CBS affiliate WJW TV Channel 8 during the 1960s and 1970s as "Hoolihan the Weatherman" and one-half of the Hoolihan and Big Chuck Show movie hosting team. Wells and partner Charles "Big Chuck" Schodowski replaced the former movie host, Ernie Anderson aka "Ghoulardi," in 1966 when Anderson left for Los Angeles to pursue a free-lance announcing and acting career.



Portrait of "Bob Hoolihan Wells" by Bradley Beard.
"Bob Hoolihan Wells" - biography (taken from Bradley Beard's Facebook page)
He was a supporting cast member on Shock Theatre with Ghoulardi. Tonight I present Bob "Hoolihan" Wells, host of the The Hoolihan and Big Chuck Show on WJW-TV Channel 8 in Cleveland, OH. When Ernie Anderson retired his Ghoulardi persona in December 1966, Hoolihan was partnered with Charles "Big Chuck" Schodowski to replace Anderson. Their combined natural talent and on-screen chemistry was a winning combination that made their show a smash hit. It became so popular that WJW refused to pre-empt or move the show for CBS network programming; it was the number one show on Friday Nights beating out Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show. In addition to hosting movies, Wells also assumed the role of "Hoolihan the Weatherman" for WJW. The show ran for 13 years until Hoolihan decided to relocate to Florida in 1979.



In 2015, Bob Wells - "Bob Hoolihan Wells" was inducted into "The Official Horror Host Hall of Fame".


The following are some clips from "The Hoolihan and Big Chuck Show":

"The Hoolihan and Big Chuck Show" - clips from The Professor's Scary Clips on Vimeo.



"The Big Chuck and Lil' John Show" was a hosted horror movie show on Friday nights on WJKW-TV Channel 8 Cleveland, Ohio, USA. The show was hosted by Chuck Schodowski as "Big Chuck" and John Rinaldi as "Lil' John". The show also included comedic sketches and music.


From IMDB:
Chuck's TV career began at WJW-TV8 in 1960 as an engineer. In 1969 he was promoted to director/producer. WJW is where Chuck met Ernie Anderson and Tim Conway. Chuck began working with them on Ernie's show (Ghoulardi) in 1963. He reluctantly started doing sketches for the show, first as "handsome, debonair, downstairs neighbor, Jerry Kreegle". When Tim and Ernie left for Los Angeles, the Hoolihan & Big Chuck Show took over Ghouldardi's time slot in 1966 with Bob Wells as Hoolihan. When Bob left for Florida in 1979, the show became The Big Chuck and Lil' John Show, with John Rinaldi. The show continued until 2007 when Chuck retired. In 2011 Chuck and Lil' John are back showing old skits as, apparently, after 47 years Chuck missed TV.


Portrait of "Chuck and Lil' John" and "Hoolihan & Chuck" by Dave Dunlap.




Portrait of "Big Chuck Schodowski" by Bradley Beard.
"Big Chuck Schodowski" - biography (taken from Bradley Beard's Facebook page)
He got his start as an engineer/producer on Ghoulardi 's Shock Theatre show. Tonight I present "Big Chuck" Schodowski, host of The Hoolihan and Big Chuck Show and The Big Chuck and Lil' John Show both of which ran on WJW-TV Channel 8 in Cleveland, OH. After Ernie "Ghouldardi" Anderson's departure from WJW in 1966, Bob "Hoolihan" Wells and "Big Chuck" Schodowski premiered The Hoolihan and Big Chuck show which ran until 1979, when Hoolihan departed WJW. "Lil' John" Rinaldi joined Big Chuck on The Big Chuck and Lil' John Show which ran until June 16, 2007. The show has earned several Emmy's over the years. Numerous stars such as Buddy Ebson, Andy Griffith, Tim Conway, Muhammad Ali, and more have made cameo appearances on the show. After more than 40 years as an active horror host, no one can deny that "Big Chuck" Schodowski is truly a living legend.



In 2012, Charles Schodowski - "Big Chuck" for "Big Chuck and Lil' John Show",
was inducted into "The Official Horror Host Hall of Fame".



John Rinaldi is an actor, known for The Big Chuck and Lil' John Show (1979), D.T. In 'Dawg Territory' (1988) and Bleeding Orange & Brown: A Cleveland Tradition (2005). Joined Chuck Schodowski's TV show in 1970. He debuted with a skit shot in a local bar for Ray Stevens' recording of "Bridget the Midget." For his daytime job, he was in the jewelry for 50 years. At the age of 71, he closed his own jewelry store, Rinaldi's Jewelry, on Valentine's Day 2017 after 24 years.



Portrait of "Lil' John" Rinaldi" by Bradley Beard.
"Lil' John" Rinaldi" - biography (taken from Bradley Beard's Facebook page)
Hoolihan's departure left some "big" shoes to fill. Tonight I present "Lil' John" Rinaldi, host of the The Big Chuck and Lil' John Show on WJW-TV Channel 8 in Cleveland, OH. When Bob "Hoolihan" Wells left the Hoolihan and Big Chuck Show in 1979, Rinaldi, who'd been featured in skits on the show, took over as co-host. The show re-launched under a new name and horror hosting history was made. Continuing its previously established format, the show was an immediate hit and ultimately won several Emmy Awards. Big Chuck and Lil' John ended their amazing run in 2007 after nearly 30 years; the last episode aired on the afternoon of June 16, 2007. This horror hosting dynamic duo also hosted Couch Potato Theatre on Saturday mornings, offering up viewers heaping helping of the Three Stooges, The Abbott and Costello Show, etc. Lil' John's legacy is legendary... and anything but little.



In 2012, John Rinaldi - "Lil' John" for "Big Chuck and Lil' John Show",
was inducted into "The Official Horror Host Hall of Fame".


The following is a clip from "The Big Chuck and Lil' John Show":

"Big Chuck and Lil John Show" opening with King Kpng from The Professor's Scary Clips on Vimeo.

LINKS


Internet Movie Data Base
"The Hoolihan and Big Chuck Show"

Facebook: Bradley Beard - Horror Host Artist
"Bob Hoolihan Wells"

Internet Movie Data Base
"Bob Wells"

Facebook: Bradley Beard - Horror Host Artist
"Big Chuck Schodowski"

Internet Movie Data Base
"The Big Chuck and Lil' John Show"

Internet Movie Data Base
"Chuck Schodowski"

Facebook: Bradley Beard - Horror Host Artist
"Lil' John Rinaldi"

E-gors Chamber of TV Horror Hosts
"Hoolihan and Big Chuck; Big Chuck and Lil' John"

Internet Movie Data Base
"John Rinaldi"



Facebook: Dunlap Art
"Horror Host Artwork"



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Last modified: November 2023