Willinois

Once upon a time there was UHF television! This was before cable. For those that don’t know, UHF TV was were the lower class of stations existed. In Chicago we had WFLD – Channel 32, WCIU – Channel 26, and WSNS-channel 44. These stations still exist today but the low budget programing doesn’t compare to the way it was back in the 70.

On WFLD, there was a cheap but very humorous chow called Screaming Yellow Theater starting Svengoolie (local actor Gerry G. Bishop). Dressed in a bizarre, hippy style costume, would show old, “classic” horror movies, and do comedy during the breaks. The show ran from September 18, 1970 until late summer 1973. A writer for the show, Rich Koz, does a version of the show today, but for us old timers, it just isn’t the same.

On Aug 2, 1973, Gabe Kaplan, TV star on the late 70’s show, Welcome Back Kotter, and now a Poker play and poker TV announcer, appeared on the show. All the segments are on YouTube buy Fuzzy Memories! Here is the opening!

Update 11-3-09
A friend, Marty Zivin added some information about Jerry.
“Jerry has been in San Diego since he left Chicago in the mid 70s. He owns a popular local restaurant and hosted a morning TV show. In 1988 I snagged some video of his show…sorry no sound effects (oww oww oww).”