Recognize this dapper fellow? Unless you lived in the Cincinnati television area you probably would not recognize one of the mainstays of my childhood, the Cool Ghoul. I was too small to remember seeing him except in repeats of his Saturday night hosted horror movies but he still made appearances especially around Halloween up until his death in 2004. I was fortunate not only to meet the Cool Ghoul’s alter ego Dick Von Hoene but was interviewed by him for a local show a year before his passing.
I know in the 70’s and 80’s, the horror hosts were big in other areas. I remember being able to get Dr. Creep to come in from Dayton stations as well. Any horror hosts in your towns?
What is also cool is that I picked up this picture at the Cincinnati Comic Expo. I had friends exhibiting there including Tim Fuller of Zombie Marge cartoon, Darryl Collins, and Dave from Rockin’ Rooster Comic and Games but I am not what you would normally expect as a comic book junkie. I couldn’t tell you who wrote or drew a comic but it seems others can and there are waves of fans lining up to get a signed copy of whatever.
I dragged my wife this year because we were heading to the Oktoberfest festivities just a few blocks away. As soon as we got into the Expo we came across a large line of people. My wife asked “What’s that line for?” to which I replied, “Probably some artist”, not knowing who was set up there. Two fanboys waiting in line were appalled by my response because as we continued walking one of them said to the other incredulously “SOME ARTIST???”
Speaking of artists. The Cool Ghoul artist is actually better known as a writer. Craig Boldman has written the Archie newspaper strip since 1992 and writes the Jughead line of comics as well.
Comments
68 responses to “Childhood Memories and Comic Conventions”
Seriously cool. The art is great, and I miss the horror days.
Red.
This guy was more campy than scary.
I have never even heard of this guy before but you have a ghoulishly artistic way of portraying all of your subjects and so I will take your word for it on how wicked this cartoon really is, besides it is a fine example of your work whether I know the Cool Ghoul or not so well done Bearman 🙂
Are you another one that only looks at the picture? I didn’t draw this one haha
I need me a hat like that. We used to have a guy that called himself “Sivad” I have a sneaky feelin’ his real name mihgt have been Davis. (Of course back then we didn’t have electricity yet and we had to watch TV by candle light.)
With a name like Davis, I might have called myself D.V. Is.
He scares me.
What’s the matter you don’t like ghostly clowns?
I remember watching Elvira on TV in the Atlanta area, Wow, she really got my attention! I used to love watching those cheesy, low budget horror flicks!
Yeah I remember Elivira was syndicated in the 80’s. Sometimes you couldn’t wait for the commercial break.
Elvira was the best ever. I have her movie somewhere on VHS 😯
Elvia had the perfect mix of camp and sexiness. And sometimes the movies weren’t bad either.
She showed movies? hha
Binky they were superb, and did you notice how delicious she always looked, especially during her naughty scenes, I remember one where she bent over and… Hey that is quite enough for you, I don’t want you or Bearman hunting down that episode so hard lines 🙂
She showed movies and other things!
She also always seemed to enjoy the whole thing, her persona and fame, which was nice.
She made a movie?
Yes indeed. It was hilarious. Her poodle was pink 😉
Loon I love Elvira Mistress of the Dark, she is gorgeously attractive, mind blowingly seductive and… Well do I need to go on? 😉
yes
Elvira is still around. She is on a radio show we stream occasionally.
Radio show…the effect is lost..haha
Here in the Buckeye Capital, our Fritz The Night Owl is still ‘workin it’ at a local theater.
http://niteowltheatre.com/
Haven’t heard of Fritz…cool.
No I don’t believe that I know any horror hosts here. I wouldn’t be looking for them either.
Isn’t is amazing the folks that make comments about what you say or what’s in your shopping cart? We went to Costco the other day and stocked up on champagne. Some really fat kid that was filling his pie hole with food from the vendors took great offense to my champagne. He told his father how out of control we were. I wanted to say, I drink and you eat, but I just smiled at the clod.
Have a terrific day. 🙂
haha….you have more respect than I do. I certainly would have said something.
love the shading and highlights on this!
Of course you do because I didn’t do it. haha
whoops I should probably read posts…..I’m more of a visual person and will only read War and Peace when they bring out a picture book version. 🙂
I don’t think I’ll be reading it even then.
Hows about this dude?
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRJxarWEqq9x3D5_Fgj5ltw79h90DXs61SLCDBZK7zwftd4N0tT
Hows about this dude?
http://www.tvacres.com/horror_paul.htm
As opposed to this Paul Bearer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Bearer
Sooooo Loon you are into the
Creature Feature are you? How
incredibly wicked of you 🙂
She is pretty wicked
I’ve never heard of the Cool Ghoul before.
That’s because you are in Canada
You mean Wombania.
Same thing
Horror is my most abhorred genre. I really dislike it. And clowns are creatures of horror. It’s saying something really good about the two horror webcomics I read semi-regularly: Scapula and Walking on Broken Glass. They surpass the genre even though they can still make my flesh crawl and I hate crawly flesh.
At first I thought your cartoon was of Stan, of Stan and Ollie, all dressed up for Hallow’s Eve. Same chin. :`D
haha…now that I look at it again..
I like campy horror which is what these guys used to show
I’m kinda with Jande on this. I loved the horror flicks when I was a kid but when I grew up I chose more mature themes like comedy and cartoons.
And comic strips which are the epitome of culture and class.
Epitome is a good word. I have thought of doin’ some videos of Buster called…A word from Buster. Epitome would be a good word from Buster.
As long as Buster can spell it, he can use it!
What about defining it?
Since when do you have to know the definition of a word, or spellin’ either to use it.
Since I am a grammar nazi
I’ve never heard of him before.
Didn’t think you would.
I’m not sure we had any local horror hosts where I grew up.
I’d like to have seen this guys version of the Farm Report, though.
🙂
It probably would have gotten annoying after a while as he talked in a high pitch voice.
I always liked Les Nesmans Farm Reports. He must have been good because he had that pig award.
And his own office
I think I will put imaginary walls around my end of the couch and tell my wife that it is my home office and she has to knock to talk to me.
She will knock all right…you in the head
I wasn’t aware you knew my wife so well.
She is female. I think I get part of their psyche
He’s a creepy looking kinda bloke.
He is indeed…esp if you don’t like clowns
Man I would have really dug watching a movie with that guy hosting! Thanks for sharing!
I think you can find a couple youtube videos online
Wooo! Flattered to have my Ghoul drawing on your entertaining blog! Great to meet you at the Cincinati Comic Expo.
Thanks Craig. Your talent is obviously appreciated.
I do not recognise the Cool Ghoul. I don’t remember any horror hosts. I asked Navar if he remembered horror hosts and he said no as well. I think we missed out.
The only “cool ghoul” that I know of is one of the most famous horror hosts of all time, Zacherley (aka John Zacherle, aka Roland). I doubt they were related in any way (or associated), but it’s the first thing that crossed my horrible mind.
Haven’t heard of him, but I am sure there could a room for a cool ghoul in Scapula.
In the Philly area we had good ol’ “Doctor Shock”… I can’t really said that I was much of a horror fan though… but we did have our share of the local campy TV shows!
I liked the genre much more as a child than now.