Arli$$ (HBO). Directed by Timothy Marx. Featuring Robert Wuhl, Jim Turner, Sandra Oh, Michael Boatman, Scott Patterson, Jim Childs, etc.
Mr. Rhodes (NBC Studios; Universal Television). Directed by Brian K. Roberts & Patricia Dyer Walden. Featuring Tom Rhodes, Stephen Tobolowsky, Jessica Stone, Wendie Malick, George Wyner, Lindsay Sloane, Jensen Ackles, Vic Polizos, Andy Berman, Jim Childs, etc.
MURDER BEFORE MIDNIGHT
WBKB-4, Jan. 23, 1950-Aug. 24, 1953; Chicago, Illinois
Host: Drana Badour the Swami (Allen Harvey & Art Hern)
During the dawn of the 1950s, local Chicago television station WBKB-4) was, in all actuality, ahead of its time when it produced and aired a little programmer called Murder Before Midnight. Every week a different movie thriller would be showcased and hosted by an unusual Swami character, who went by the name of Drana Badour. The strange mystic spoke in an eerie voice and wore the appropriate attire and turban. The show's macabre theme music would play as the time grew nearer for the film to begin. Captivated television viewers would then be lured into Drana Badour's crystal ball where the week's mystery or horror thriller would start.
Very little is known about this obscure television gem, but filmmaker and author Donald F. Glut (Dinosaur Valley Girls; The Erotic Rites of Countess Dracula) has stated that the show debuted on January 23, 1950, and he has generously shared knowledge about Murder Before Midnight at the Monster Kid Classic Horror Forum. Likewise, authors Ted Okuda and Mark Yurkiw have also provided a brief background of the program in their insightful book Chicago TV Horror Movie Shows from Shock Theatre to Svengoolie (2007; Lake Claremont Press; 1893121135). However, Okuda and Yurkiw have erroneously commented that the show ended its run in 1952. Ol' Sicko-Psychotic himself has picked up his shovel and did a little digging of his own, only to discover that Murder Before Midnight continued its run until August 24, 1953, according to the TV listing section in the Illinois newspaper - the Freeport Journal.
Murder Before Midnight was unique in that it not only had a creepy host as the master of ceremonies, the first of his kind in television history, but the show also featured a movie thriller in nightly installments, Monday through Saturday from 11:30 pm - 12:00 midnight. The half hour program would then usually be followed by the Nite Owl Movie, which showcased a random mix of full-length movies from various genres. Beginning on June 17, 1951, however, the WBKB studio began to do something special with Murder. On Monday nights, the local TV station started showing the entire length of the week's feature from 11:30 pm until 1:30 am. On these nights, Murder would be followed by the Ulmer Turner News prior to the station going off the air until later that morning.
Considering how quickly and frequently shows were cancelled during the golden age of television, it's apparent that Murder Before Midnight had a successful run locally. No doubt that introducing a viewer-participation gimmick added to the show acquiring a loyal following. "After the movie segment was over," Glut has stated, "the Swami would do an over-the-air quiz, phoning people at home and asking questions relating to the movie. Winners got a jackpot prize offered by sponsor Allied Motors."
Although the Swami Drana Badour hosted such horror titles as The Ape Man (1943), Revenge of the Zombies (1943), The Face of Marble (1946), etc., the majority of the program consisted of mystery and suspense chillers. Similar films found themselves as part of the film repertoire of later TV horror hosts that soon followed in the Swami's footsteps (i.e., Vampira's Lady of Horrors, 1954-1955, KABC and Vampira, 1956, KHJ; Dr. Diablo's Terror! Theatre, 1957, KCOP; Ottola Nesmith's Nightmare!, 1957-1958, KTLA). A couple of the Swami's known mystery and suspense flicks -- Red Dragon (1945) and The Panther's Claw (1942) -- were presented by other horror hosts, such as Vampira and Dr. Diablo, in their own programs. It's very likely that even more of the Swami's films would have appeared in the shows previously mentioned if they would have lasted as long as Murder Before Midnight did. The reason for so many suspense thrillers in these early programs was due to the fact that horror pictures were difficult to acquire and at affordable prices, as Maila Nurmi (a.k.a. Vampira) had once pointed out. These were local shows, after all, and they had a modest budget. Sadly, this is still the case in current times, which is why most horror hosts continue to show the same features, usually in public domain, as their colleagues.
FILMS SHOWN (Incomplete):
The Accused (1949)
*The Ace of Spades (1935)
*The Ape Man (1943)
*Below the Deadline (1936)
*Blake of Scotland Yard (1937)
*The Case of Charles Peace (1949)
*Charlie Chan in the Secret Service (1944)
*The Corpse Vanishes (1942)
*Dark Alibi (1946)
*Detective Kitty O'Day (1944)
The Face of Marble (1946)
*Hammer the Toff (1952)
*The Important Witness (1933)
*The Intruder (1933)
* Lord Edgware Dies (1934)
*Meet Sexton Blake (1945)
The Night Comes Too Soon (1947)
*The Night Has Eyes (1942)
*The Panther's Claw (1942)
*Paul Temple's Triumph (1950)
*The Phantom Shot (1947)
Red Dragon (1945)
Return of the Ape Man (1944)
*Revenge of the Zombies (1943)
*Salute the Toff (1952)
Shadows Over Chinatown (1946)
*A Shot in the Dark (1935)
*Someone at the Door (1936)
Tangled Evidence (1934)
There Goes Kelly (1945)
*The Thirteenth Guest (1932)
*Three Witnesses (1935)
*White Zombie (1932)
*Woman in the Shadows (1934)
Mansion of Mystery (Studio Kaiju, WBXZ-TV, Throwback TV). Directed by Joseph Reboy. Featuring Judith Reboy, Colin Reboy, Tina Corcoran, Isaac Fesmire, etc. Las Vegas actor Jim Childs has guest starred on 2 episodes.
3rd Rock from the Sun (Carsey-Werner Company, BBC, NBC Studios - National Broadcasting Company). Directed by Terry Hughes. Featuring John Lithgow, Kristen Johnston, French Stewart, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jane Curtin, etc. Las Vegas actor Jim Childs appeared in 2 episodes.
Murder Before Midnight (Jan. 23, 1950-Aug. 24, 1953; WBKB-4; Chicago, Illinois)
During the dawn of the 1950s, local Chicago television station WBKB (Channel 4) was, in all actuality, ahead of its time when it produced and aired a little programmer called Murder Before Midnight. Every week a different movie thriller would be showcased and hosted by an unusual Swami character, who went by the name of Drana Badour. The strange mystic spoke in an eerie voice and wore the appropriate attire and turban. The show's macabre theme music would play as the time grew nearer for the film to begin. Captivated television viewers would then be lured into Drana Badour's crystal ball where the week's mystery or horror thriller would start.
Originally, the man behind the turban was WBKB's very own television announcer Allen Harvey (see top pic). Eventually, actor Art Hern took over the role of the mystic Drana Badour. Hern was a former radio actor, best remembered as one of the cast in the 1939-1949 radio program Captain Midnight. After the cancellation of Murder Before Midnight in 1953, Hern was cast as a regular in the television series The Happy Pirates, a children's program which starred Dick Two Ton Baker. At the time, WBKB changed ownership and was bought by ABC (Channel 7). Over the decades, Art Hern continued to work in various films, such as Simon, King of the Witches (1971), and Transylvania Twist (1989), up until his death at the age of 90.
WBXZ-TV (Throwback TV) - Fresh from a Friday Night online premiere at the Monster Channel, Las Vegas horror host Jim Childs, a.k.a. Sicko-Psychotic, played MTV VeeJay for a change, spinning an insane assortment of horror-themed music videos, sprinkled with guest appearances!
SIDE: A of Sicko-Psychotic's Halloween Music Marathon aired October 29, 2021 on WBXZ's 56.4 Throwback Television station. SIDE B was shown October 31st right before the holiday favorite Halloween with the New Addams Family (1977).
Joining the King of Ghouls were all the familiar characters from the Super Shock Show: Aunt Clarice, Cameo, Mama Lilith, Mr. Nasty, Silky Harlot, the Mail Mummy, and Sicko's deadly household plants - Drake and Shade.
What a frightfully fun way to spend Friday nights! The Sicko-Psychotic Super Shock Show appears on WBXZ-TV's (channel 56.4 in Buffalo, NY) Throwback Television as part of the Friday Night Mystery Host Movie of the Week. Also appearing are horror hosts Tripp Punter (Colin Reboy), Vincent Grimmly (Darren T. Knaus), Remo D, and The Evil Dr. Toad (Erik J. Nielsen). Sicko-Psychotic played by Jim Childs.
This was an amazing October... four episodes of the Sicko-Psychotic show were aired on The Monster Channel. This was definitely a record for us since the Super Shock Show is relatively new. However, the show can be seen occasionally on Friday nights on WBXZ-TV's Throwback TV station. Also, a couple of the episodes appeared on The Vortexx streaming channel during the first week of November.
As we wrap up four more episodes of the first season, we are already planning some changes for the second season in order to get even more episodes out to you quicker and provide fun content for viewing, Because of the serialized segments of WEIRD ADVENTURES, featuring Starman and The Sons of Hercules, the episodes had to be watched in order. This will change in the second season so that episodes can be watched in any order. But we have a lot of really cool surprises in store for you with the up-and-coming QUICKY SHOCKERS segment that will replace WEIRD ADVENTURES. As for the main FREAKY FLICK presentation, the running time will be extended.
But getting back to the month of October, 2021... The Monster Channel aired our first Halloween Special from the original show, which introduced the characters of Aunt Clarice and Mama Lilith, along with two NEW Halloween Specials. It was an incredible event with an endless supply of horror-hosted shows featuring Arachna of the Spider People, Bobby Gammonster, Dario Eville, Dr. Dreck, Karlos Borloff, Mice Mace and David Binkley, Misty Brew, Remo D, Sally the Zombie Cheerleader, Victor Von Scary, and many others!
A special thank you to all of the artists out there who continue to create, entertain, and bring joy to us. This Halloween was a memorable one for us from the Super Shock Show because of the participation and generous contributions all of these people provided to our holiday Music Marathon. We thank you for reminding us that life is about LIVING and CREATING not just for ourselves, but for the SHARING with others.
Angels and Devils; Apology None; Arachna of the Spider People (Alexis Hmielak); Aunt Clarice; Bobby Gammonster; Captain Isotope (Erik J. Nielsen); Cathrina Ortiz; CJ (Colin Reboy); Cliff and Ivy; Crematia Mortem (Roberta Solomon); The Cutthroat Brothers; Dali's Llama; Danvers (John Benjamin Faust); Destroyah; The Dev; Dr. Dreck (Michael Legge); Dr. Fearless (David Dastmalchian); Dr. Sarcofiguy; Drac and Countess Carita; The Evil Dr. Toad; First Boy on the Moon; Halloween Jack; J. Gust Anderson; Jerome P. Eadeh; Joe Reboy; Mama Lilith; Marquis of Vaudeville; Michael Raco-Rands; Mike Diva; The Mobile Hot Spots; Molly the K; The Monster Channel; Mr. Nasty; Penny Dreadful XIII (Danielle Gelehrter); Phoenix Comics + Toys (Rob Fleck); Phyllis Johnson; Princess Daphne; The Rhythm Coffin; Sally the Zombie Cheerleader (Nicole M. King); Scarlett Kaiju; Sheiks of Neptune; Slash; The Slow Poisoner; Sluggo Gonzales; Steve Ritchie (from WBXZ-TV); Tim the Enchanter; Undadogz; Vincent Grimmly (Darren T. Knaus); The Vortexx; ZombieSuckers
Sicko-Psychotic's NEW Super Shock Show premiered on The Monster Channel
www.TheMonsterChannel.com at 3:30PT / 6:30 ET - Friday Jan 22, 2021.
In addition to the main FREAKY FLICK (i.e "Bloody Pit of Horror" in this episode), the program also features WEIRD ADVENTURES (featuring serialized segments of "Starman" and "The Sons of Hercules"), MONSTER MEMES, and TOMB OF TRAILERS. Sicko, Cameo, Mr. Nasty, and Silky Harlot all return from the original show. Aunt Clarice makes semi-appearances and new characters, like the Sick-Shack, ET the Evil Tree, and the Mail Mummy, are featured.
Sicko-Psychotic's Super Shock Show is also part of Throwback Television's lineup of Friday Night Mystery Host Movie of the Week at WBXZ-TV 56.4 Buffalo, New York.
