Childhood Memories and Comic Conventions

Cool-Ghoul-by-Craig-Boldman

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”

  1. Red Avatar

    Seriously cool. The art is great, and I miss the horror days.
    Red.

    1. Bearman Avatar

      This guy was more campy than scary.

      1. Androgoth Avatar

        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 🙂

        1. Bearman Avatar

          Are you another one that only looks at the picture? I didn’t draw this one haha

  2. Bo Lumpkim Avatar

    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.)

    1. Bearman Avatar

      With a name like Davis, I might have called myself D.V. Is.

    1. Bearman Avatar

      What’s the matter you don’t like ghostly clowns?

  3. Tim Green Avatar

    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!

    1. Bearman Avatar

      Yeah I remember Elivira was syndicated in the 80’s. Sometimes you couldn’t wait for the commercial break.

      1. Friggin Loon Avatar

        Elvira was the best ever. I have her movie somewhere on VHS 😯

        1. Binky Avatar

          Elvia had the perfect mix of camp and sexiness. And sometimes the movies weren’t bad either.

          1. Bearman Avatar

            She showed movies? hha

          2. Androgoth Avatar

            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 🙂

          3. Binky Avatar

            She showed movies and other things!

            She also always seemed to enjoy the whole thing, her persona and fame, which was nice.

        2. Bearman Avatar

          She made a movie?

          1. Friggin Loon Avatar

            Yes indeed. It was hilarious. Her poodle was pink 😉

        3. Androgoth Avatar

          Loon I love Elvira Mistress of the Dark, she is gorgeously attractive, mind blowingly seductive and… Well do I need to go on? 😉

      2. Christina Avatar

        Elvira is still around. She is on a radio show we stream occasionally.

        1. Bearman Avatar

          Radio show…the effect is lost..haha

  4. Jim Avatar

    Here in the Buckeye Capital, our Fritz The Night Owl is still ‘workin it’ at a local theater.

    http://niteowltheatre.com/

    1. Bearman Avatar

      Haven’t heard of Fritz…cool.

  5. Comedy Plus Avatar

    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. 🙂

    1. Bearman Avatar

      haha….you have more respect than I do. I certainly would have said something.

  6. DrFaust Avatar

    love the shading and highlights on this!

    1. Bearman Avatar

      Of course you do because I didn’t do it. haha

      1. DrFaust Avatar

        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. 🙂

        1. Bearman Avatar

          I don’t think I’ll be reading it even then.

    1. Androgoth Avatar

      Sooooo Loon you are into the
      Creature Feature are you? How
      incredibly wicked of you 🙂

      1. Bearman Avatar

        She is pretty wicked

  7. Binky Avatar

    I’ve never heard of the Cool Ghoul before.

    1. Bearman Avatar

      That’s because you are in Canada

      1. Binky Avatar

        You mean Wombania.

  8. Jande Avatar

    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

    1. Bearman Avatar

      haha…now that I look at it again..

      I like campy horror which is what these guys used to show

      1. Bo Lumpkim Avatar

        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.

        1. Binky Avatar

          And comic strips which are the epitome of culture and class.

          1. Bo Lumpkim Avatar

            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.

          2. Binky Avatar

            As long as Buster can spell it, he can use it!

          3. Bearman Avatar

            What about defining it?

          4. Bo Lumpkim Avatar

            Since when do you have to know the definition of a word, or spellin’ either to use it.

          5. Bearman Avatar

            Since I am a grammar nazi

  9. Deb Avatar

    I’ve never heard of him before.

    1. Bearman Avatar

      Didn’t think you would.

  10. SpilledInkGuy Avatar

    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.
    🙂

    1. Bearman Avatar

      It probably would have gotten annoying after a while as he talked in a high pitch voice.

      1. Bo Lumpkim Avatar

        I always liked Les Nesmans Farm Reports. He must have been good because he had that pig award.

        1. Bearman Avatar

          And his own office

          1. Bo Lumpkim Avatar

            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.

          2. Bearman Avatar

            She will knock all right…you in the head

          3. Bo Lumpkim Avatar

            I wasn’t aware you knew my wife so well.

          4. Bearman Avatar

            She is female. I think I get part of their psyche

  11. Tony McGurk Avatar

    He’s a creepy looking kinda bloke.

    1. Bearman Avatar

      He is indeed…esp if you don’t like clowns

  12. Mark Stokes Avatar

    Man I would have really dug watching a movie with that guy hosting! Thanks for sharing!

    1. Bearman Avatar

      I think you can find a couple youtube videos online

  13. Craig Boldman Avatar

    Wooo! Flattered to have my Ghoul drawing on your entertaining blog! Great to meet you at the Cincinati Comic Expo.

    1. Bearman Avatar

      Thanks Craig. Your talent is obviously appreciated.

  14. starlaschat Avatar
    starlaschat

    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.

  15. DadaHyena Avatar

    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.

    1. Bearman Avatar

      Haven’t heard of him, but I am sure there could a room for a cool ghoul in Scapula.

  16. JerryBenedict Avatar

    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!

    1. Bearman Avatar

      I liked the genre much more as a child than now.