Creatures and Zombies Invade Santa Cruz in an Exclusive South Bay Premier! Source: Bay Area Film Events
Bob Wilkins and John Stanley featured in new documentary. © 2008 Creatures at Large Press.Santa Cruz, CA - October 23, 2008 – Bay Area Film Events proudly presents the exclusive South Bay premier of a new feature-length documentary on one of the most popular local shows in Bay Area television history, CREATURE FEATURES! Taking its title from the show’s famous catch-phrase, WATCH HORROR FILMS, KEEP AMERICA STRONG! A JOURNEY INTO CREATURE FEATURES looks back at the showcase of classic horror, science fiction, and monster movies. Included in the evening’s events will also be the 40th anniversary screening of cult classic NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, a Zombie Fashion Show, special guests, displays, and more. The festivities start at 7:00pm on October 23, 2008 at the Del Mar Theatre, 1124 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060-4415. (831-469-3220) More information on the show and advance tickets are available at bayareafilmevents.com.
IT’S ALIVE!
From January 1971 through September 1984, CREATURE FEATURES ranked in the Nielsen ratings as one of the most popular TV shows in San Francisco Bay Area television history. Broadcast on KTVU Channel 2 in Oakland, California, the Saturday night series was hosted by former TV advertising writer Bob Wilkins for eight years, followed by San Francisco Chronicle entertainment writer John Stanley who kept the series alive for another six. To those who grew up watching with family members and friends, the mixture of host commentary and classic (and the not-so-classic) horror movies remain a nostalgic memory. WATCH HORROR FILMS, KEEP AMERICA STRONG! A JOURNEY INTO CREATURE FEATURES recaptures Wilkins` wit and unusually droll personality, and Stanley`s celebrity interviews and satiric mini-movies. The documentary features interviews with Wilkins, Stanley, and other key figures close to the show, as well as classic clips.
What are little girls made of? In NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD it`s blood and garden tools! Don`t miss this special 40th anniversary screening!A Night of Total Terror and Fun!
The event’s second feature is the classic horror film that ushered in an all-new era of ghastly gore! Bay Area Film Event’s is also ghoulishly gleeful to present George Romero’s original and never equaled, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, a movie that premiered on CREATURE FEATURES and was shown uncut for the first time on broadcast television.
Dressed to Kill!
Bay Area Film Events encourages all audience members to come to the theater dressed as zombies to participate in Santa Cruz’s first ZOMBIE FASHION SHOW for a chance to win a variety of prizes guaranteed to raise the dead! Come dressed as your favorite ghoul and sign up at the Bay Area Film Events table to qualify for the fiendish event. There will also be sinister shopping at merchandise booths on the theater’s mezzanine, displays, and more!
Zombie Bub wants everyone to come dressed as his next of kin...A Cast of Thousands!
Hosting this evening of Thursday night frights is radio station KFJC’s Robert Emmett. Robert Emmett is the host of THE NORMAN BATES MEMORIAL SOUNDTRACK SHOW every Saturday morning from 9am to 12noon on KFJC 89.7FM or netcast at kfjc.org. Each week Robert plays a wide variety of the best music you’ve ever seen -- soundtrack music from films, TV and more. Robert also hosts a talk/interview show on Monday nights from 6pm to 7pm called THOUGHTLINE. Our two special guests for the evening are CREATURE FEATURES host John Stanley and WATCH HORROR FILMS, KEEP AMERICA STRONG! producer Tom Wyrsch.
John Stanley has a bone to pick with a close friend. © 2008 Creatures at Large Press.For six years (1979-84) John Stanley hosted the highly rated CREATURE FEATURES in the San Francisco-Bay Area TV market, introducing science fiction and horror movies to a midnight audience, and interviewing the leading actors, producers and directors of the time. He also spent 33 years as an entertainment writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, specializing in interviewing TV and movie stars. John has written 13 books, including six editions of The Creature Features Movie Guide series. His novels include World War II and Bogart/`48. He edited and published Them Ornery Mitchum Boys by John Mitchum. John Stanley is a noted Elder hostel instructor (specializing in movies, TV and music) and he constructed crossword puzzles for TV Guide publications for eight years. Tom Wyrsch has worked diligently over the years to keep the CREATURE FEATURES flame burning bright. Through books such as the Bob Wilkins and John Stanley Scrapbooks, DVDs of classic clips and interviews from the show, products, convention appearances and now our feature documentary, Tom has promoted both John and Bob and kept the CREATURE FEATURES success growing and becoming more popular over twenty years since its final broadcast on KTVU.
And Featuring…
Proceeds from this event will go to assist in the care of original CREATURE FEATURES host Bob Wilkins who, sadly, is now suffering from Alzheimer’s, a disease causing his memory to diminish and taking away his wonderful sense of humor and deadpan wit.
A classic painting of Bob Wilkins from his days on CREATURE FEATURES. © 2008 Creatures at Large Press."Don`t stay up late, it`s not worth it," Bob Wilkins warned as he leaned back in his yellow rocking chair, smoke wafting from his big cigar. But monster movie fans in Northern California stayed up with him every Saturday night anyway. CREATURE FEATURES was an immediate success with its grade-Z horror films and Bob`s dry sense of humor. His cool, low-key deadpan helped him rise above it all. Bob once remarked, "We kicked off this show with HORROR OF PARTY BEACH and we knew we had our work cut out for us that night… and it seems it`s been that way every Saturday night." Bob hosted the show from 1971 through 1979, as well as the children’s show CAPTAIN COSMIC AND 2T2”, becoming one of the best-remembered and much loved personalities of Bay Area TV history. In appreciation of Bob Wilkins, Bay Area Film Events will be donating proceeds from this show to pay for the care of Bob Wilkins and help his family get through this very difficult time.
About the Del Mar Theatre
Opened on August 14, 1936 with First National Pictures’ CHINA CLIPPER, the art-deco styled Del Mar Theater has served the college town of Santa Cruz, California for over 70 years. The Del Mar was eventually sold in 1999 and closed. But after extensive renovation and restoration, the Del Mar reopened in February of 2002 with a bang, with more than 1,000 people coming to see MONSTER’S BALL, BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF, and DARK BLUE WORLD. The theater is a jewel of the downtown Santa Cruz area.
Bob as he appears today. Come out to the Del Mar and support Bob as thanks for all the years of entertainment he gave us! © 2008 Creatures at Large Press.About Bay Area Film Events
Bay Area Film Events is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving the movie-going experience. Bay Area Film Events screens the classic and cult films from yesterday and the limited release, independent, and hard to see films of today. Anyone can screen a film, but BAFE makes it an event! Through the use of guests, displays, on-stage talent and multi-media support, BAFE presents movies as a complete show and not simply as a movie screening. BAFE provides the live support, promotions and extra, added showmanship that will excite audiences and get them out of their living rooms and back in the theaters where movies were meant to be seen! Through repeat business and new audiences from throughout the Bay Area, we hope to keep the cinematic dreams alive for generations to come. More information on the show and advance tickets are available at bayareafilmevents.com. For more on Bob Wilkins and his tragic battle with Alzheimer`s, please to go his website at www.bobwilkins.net.
See you at the Del Mar Theatre on October 23. Don`t make us come and get you!