COBWEB THEATRE
MONTERPIECE THEATRE
SHOCK THEATRE

WILLIAM BOWMAN
- "THE BOWMAN BODY"
- "THE BODY"
? - "COUNTESS VAMPULA"

Bill (William) Bowman was "The Bowman Body", also known as "The Body", with a career as a horror host lasting from 1970 until 2015. Bowman hosted three horror movie series, as well as three direct to DVD movies, documentaries, live appears, and guest appearances. SHOCK THEATRE (1970-1976) From IMDB: "Shock Theatre" was a hosted horror movie show with Bill Bowman which aired on WXEX, Channel 8, Petersburg, Virginia between 22 June 1970 and September 1976. COBWEB THEATRE (1977-1979) From IMDB: "Cobweb Theatre: was a hosted horror movie show with Bill Bowman as the Bowman Body; which aired on WVIR-TV Channel 29 Charlottesville, virginia from 1977 till 1979. MONSTERPIECE THEATRE (1983-1984) From IMDB: "Monsterpiece Theatre" was a hosted horror movie show with Bill Bowman as "The Bowman Body"; which aired on WNVC, Public TV, Channel 56 Fairfax, Virginia from 1983 till 1985. Bowman was assisted by "Countess Vampula". The name of the actor who played the countess is not known. Monsterpiece Theatre hosted by The Bowman Body & Countess Vampula (clip) from The Professor on Vimeo. BOWMAN BODY HOSTS CITY OF THE DEAD (2015) From IMDB: "Bowman Body Hosts City of the Dead": Facing financial difficulties, The Bowman Body decides to open his castle as a haunted hotel. When Dr. Sarcofiguy arrives, he expects to see ghosts, but unfortunately they have all hit the road. Through this episode, The Bowman Body has to wrangle a "rent-a-ghost," manage the lounge and deal with a surly gift shop clerk while screening City of the Dead, a.k.a. Horror Hotel. BOWMAN BODY PRESENTS HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL (2015) From IMDB: When the Bowman Body wins the Transylvania lottery, it seems like a great chance to make a few improvements around the old castle. At least that's what his old pal the Mummy recommends as his financial adviser, but maybe he should have looked into the contractor a little more closely. As it turns out, 10 million drachmas just doesn't buy what it used to. But that's okay because after years underground, The Bowman Body has also crawled out of retirement to host House on Haunted Hill. SHOCK THEATRE RETURNS: BOWMAN PRESENTS (2015) From IMDB: This was a hosted horror direct to DVD movie show with Bill Bowman as The Bowman Body; produced by Horse Archer Productions in 2015. The DVD includes the movies "House on Haunted Hill" and "Horror Hotel / City of the Death". HI THERE HORROR MOVIE FANS (2011) From IMDB: For nearly two decades in three different TV markets, Bill Bowman entertained horror movie fans as "The Bowman Body". In the early 1970s in Richmond, Virginia, he outdrew Johnny Carson and became a local icon with little kids, college students, shift workers and night owls. With a ukulele, tennis shoes and a tuxedo, The Bowman Body crossed social barriers with humor, inspiring music and art along the way. A lifetime in broadcasting yielded dozens of hilarious stories captured in this film, from Bowman's hearse misdirecting a funeral for 20 miles, to naked coeds appearing at his door, to the Hell's Angels seeking autographs. But it also explores the impact Bowman had on the community and the meaning of local television in a different time. Hi There Horror Movie Fans - The Bowman Body from The Professor on Vimeo. SLIME THEATRE (1973-1975) Bill Bowman appeared as a regular guest as "The Bowman Body" on the show. For more information on Slime Theatre, use the below link: VIRGINIA CREEPERS: THE HORROR HOST TRADITION OF THE OLD DOMINION (2009) From IMDB: "Virginia Creepers" examines more than 50 years of television horror hosting in the Commonwealth of Virginia as a reflection of a national cultural phenomenon. The film not only documents shows and personalities but also the transformation of local television programming from a breeding grounD for homegrown talent and community involvement to its current state as a corporate cookie cutter. It also documents the rise of the internet host, which began with Virginia's Count Gore De Vol. The film allows actors, producers and fans to tell the story, concentrating on the best tales and gags. More than 100 interviews were conducted over 16 months and the film includes recovered video, audio and stills from as far back as 1958. Virginia Creepers from The Professor on Vimeo. In 2011, Bill Bowman - "Bowman Body", was inducted into "The Official Horror Host Hall of Fame". Portrait of "The Bowman Body" by Dave Dunlap.

Portrait of "The Bowman Body" by Bradley Beard.
"The Bowman Body" - biography (taken from Bradley Beard's Facebook page)"

The first movie he hosted was the 1935 Universal Studios classic The Raven. Today I present The Bowman Body, host of Shock Theatre on WXEX-TV Channel 8 in Richmond, Virginia from June 22, 1970 to 1976; host of Cobweb Theatre on WVIR-TV Channel 29 in Charlottesville, Virginia from 1977 to 1979; and host of Monsterpiece Theatre on WNVC-TV Channel 56 in Fairfax, Virginia in the 1980's. The Bowman Body was born... err, died to be a horror host. His career has been a long and colorful one; shared memories of this incredible host can be found on both Hi There Horror Movie Fans!: The Bowman Body Documentary and the Virginia Creepers documentary. He was one of the first inductees into the Horror Host Hall of Fame. Bill Bowman is a living horror host legend and he's turning 80 today. Happy Birthday to The Bowman Body! The following are some clips from the shows: The Bowman Body from The Professor on Vimeo.

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