1 9 5 7 – 1 9 5 9 (USA)
This Chicago-based Saturday night showcase for various Universal horror movies starred the husband and wife team of Terry Bennett as Marvin and Joy Bennett as “Dear”, whose face was ever hidden from the camera. The pair also worked on children’s shows including Jobblewocky Place.
Marvin – a delightfully demented beatnik with Coke bottle glasses – introduced the films and provided comedic ghoulish antics in the commercial breaks.
Other regular characters included “Shorty”, a Frankenstein monster-type (Bruce Newton); Marvin’s hunchback servant Orville (Ronny Born); and a musical group called The Deadbeats.
Shock Theatre aired on WBKB-TV, Channel 7 (the ABC-owned and operated television station in Chicago) from 7 December 1957 until August 1959, introducing thousands of Chicago youngsters to such classic chillers as Frankenstein, Dracula and The Wolf Man.
Marvin
Terry Bennett
Dear
Joy Bennett
Shorty
Bruce Newton
Orville
Ronny Born
The Deadbeats
Pat Ferreri (Guitar)
Harold Siegel (Bass)
Lenny Druss (Flute/Clarinet/Sax)
Sam Porfirio (Accordion)
Russ Crandall (Harp)
Clay Campbell (Drums)