Please Help Bob Wilkins, Former Host of "Creature Features"

[DougandJaci]

Like you - I grew up with bob - loved him - have all the DVDs from his store - SORELY missed!!

[rclaughlin]

Bob Wilkins did not introduce anime to the American mainland. When I was growing up, anime programs were broadcast on San Francisco and Sacramento stations as early as the late sixties.

[Vividcranberry]

Hey Rob, it's Mattie; Great video about Bob Wilkins~!....Loved learning about him~!

Wait....KTVU did a great job but they cut the "worst stuff" from Night of the Living dead....that's Blasphemy~!

[Vividcranberry]

Hey Rob, it's Mattie; Great video about Bob Wilkins~!....Loved learning about him~!

[TheNewMusicNetwork]

werent you on his show once??

[papamalo]

Did anyone ever bring this to the attention of George A. Romero directly?

[robtran]

Not that I'm aware of, no.

[trinzeon]

Dude - I am sorry you disabled the ratings for this. I would have given it a zillion stars. Way to go

[ISleepNow]

Further, I watched Captain Cosmic regularly of course. I don't know if you can say he 'introduced' Japanese Animation. The foreign language stations (channels 20, 26) had already broadcast a few shows. He mainly showed the live action shows (Ultraman, Johnny Sokko, Space Giant) but I do know he was pals with the main Japanese animation fans in the Bay Area at that time and he Did broadcast Starblazers (Yamato). He also promoted the first fan event in the Bay Area that happened in 1979.

[ISleepNow]

I might add that I attended it and became directly involved with the fandom (such as it was) at that time. I guess I hadn't considered before how much Bob Wilkins was directly responsible for my interests. I only saw him once up at a grammar school in Montclair where he sponsored a showing of Godzilla vs the Thing (Mothra)

[robtran]

Cool!! You're not alone. He effected many, many people across the United States. I'm beginning to think that his story, and the story of CF, might be worth a documentary.

[ISleepNow]

I almost forgot, I think he might have also premiered Spectreman in the US

[robtran]

Thanks very much for all your comments!!

[robtran]

Don't forget that by that time KTVU was a cable "super station." I've been contacted by a few people from around the country whose first exposure to Starblazers and other stuff was through Captain Cosmic.

[August138]

Hello! I was the guy who put together that event at the Union City Mall, with another superfan, and Bob sponsored it. It was called "The Japanese Fantasy Film Faire" and my name is August "Augie" Ragone, who was Bob's "Godzilla" and "Japanese Film Expert."

Bob Wilkins forever!

[ISleepNow]

Thanks very much for posting this. Some of what you said hits very close to home. I grew up in Oakland. I watched CF regularly beginning when it first came on. I was very Very young. I saw part of NOTLD when it first showed and every time thereafter it was broadcast because it scared the living shit out of me every time. Even though I was repelled I couldn't stop watching it and I still consider it one of the most important movies that I've ever seen.

[robtran]

You're very welcome. It is now a part of established cultural history that Bob Wilkins was the TV host who gave NOTLD its TV premier.

[leilanihanaike]

i am so sad that biob passed away. i met him a few times and he was always really nice to me, and he actually remembered me a few times till his alzheimers began to get worse. he was a very nice man and will very much be missed.

[marginallymental]

Miss Bob still--shivery good times watching Night Of the Living Dead w/other 9-year-old friends in 1970. Bob was gorgeous, deadpan, strangely intellectual, and he made me LONG for a skull and candle. Thanks for his history, and your dear wishes for his family. It's guys like you that make the world REALLY tick.

[robtran]

I was right with you (if in a different locale) for that legendary screening. I couldn't sleep for a week!! Everything you wrote about Bob is true, and will remain true. And thank you for the kind remarks.

[marginallymental]

You got it right, about NOtheLD--we girls slept together in a tight little knot for weeks after, too. (Did you know that dark bedsheets are more powerful in keeping out the living dead than pale ones are?)  Back then you couldn't pause a DVR--you had to take the slurping cannibalism along with the Ivory Soap Flake ads! The Wizard of Oz only played once a year, too!!

[robtran]

LOL!! I wish I had been aware of the Bedsheet Rule back then, it could have helped!

[the60sKid]

hey robtran. I know this is old news now thats Bob is now gone (Jan 7, 2008). But to set the record straight on his start was at KCRA 3 in Sacramento doing the 7 Arts Theater in 1966 which he started to show horror flicks. He moved to KXTL 40 in 69-70 time frame and it became the Bob Wilikins Horror Double Feature. Just an FYI. Dont want to seem to bust your chops. We BW fans are an elite group and should stick together.

[robtran]

Thanks for the information, and correction. And you're right: we need to stick together. Bob was much more of an influence than perhaps even he knew.

[the60sKid]

Thanks for your response robtran, I know everbody talks alot about Creature Features or Captain Cosmic but we Sacramento kids got to enjoy Bob 5 years before San Francisco KTVU 2 picked him up. He developed his dry witted shtick on KCRA 3 before moving to KXTL 40. It was always the weekend treat to stay up (or try to) late to watch his show. Boy I miss those days. Never will be another like Bob.

[robtran]

Very true. I've always wondered if Bob was native to Sacramento or grew up somewhere else. And in fact a lot of TV folks who found a home in the SF Bay Area started out in the Sacto/Stockton region.

[the60sKid]

He was from Hammond Indiana. Guy just got a job at KCRA writing commercials and the rest is history. He filled in for weather and some other spots. Once he got 7 Arts Theater we were glued. That following Monday in the school yard we'd be talking about the cool monster movie show on Channel 3. I just get a little annoyed at all the press CF gets and not much gets said about the Sac show. where it all began, Thats all.

[the60sKid]

Also As a loyal Wilkins Sac show guy I got to put my 2 cents in just to keep people informed. But we are all part of the Bob Wilkins fan-clan even if we are from different city camps. That's what counts.

[matthew1906]

Hey Rob,

I just got a call that came down the line from Bob's family saying our friend Bob Wilkins died today. Thank you for your support. What wonderful memories we all share of Bob and his programs.

[MrDefaulto]

I hope Bob either miraculously recovers or passes quickly.. Alz is one of the sickest conditions ever to be thought up. My grandma was perfectly healthy EXCEPT that her mind was completely gone. she was some weird little child and yet she lived and lived and lived over 10 years, I honestly prayed for her death. It was like a mockery of her existence. I sincerely hope Bob recovers, but if not, I hope his body goes with his mind. My prayers go out to Bob, a huge influence on me.

[lordoftheringo]

I lived for Creature features on the weekends in 1970's northern Cal.. Thx to Bob I had access to great horror movies and my Grandma had a great laugh at him and his movies

[TigerTiger83]

Ultraman was on KTVU in the late 70's early 80's. I remember it was between Spider-Man and I think Tom & Jerry.

[matthew1906]

FRI-SAT OCTOBER 17-18, 2008

Remember Creature Features and its host, Bob Wilkins? Well, even if you dont, San Franciscos premiere classic horror film festival is devoted to the classic (and not so classic) gems from the Golden Age of Horror Cinema, and returns to the Castro Theatre for its fourth year with live presentations on stage, celebrity guests, and a vendors area on the Castros monstrous mezzanine!

[robtran]

THANKS!!

[brabon]

thank you for doing this...i donated a few months back. i wish i could do more, because bob is a very special talent. and most of my love of movies comes from him. and he was right on top of both the star treck and star wars fan stuff...i think it was he who had the first on air broadcast of the brilliant parody hardware wars. but wasnt it channels 44 and 20 that first did the whole japanese anime things with simba, speed racer, jonny socko and ultraman? keep up the good work, and god bless you

[robtran]

You know you're right, kinda. KTVU was a cable "super-station" when Bob started airing anime on "Captain Cosmic." That's how anime got it's national boost. But if memory serves I believe you're right about 44 and "Ultraman" and "Kimba."

[DRbiohazard]

KBHK 44 also aired Marine Boy in 1971.

[robtran]

Wow. The nostalgia is getting surreal. I used to watch "Marine Boy" every damn day. I was, like, seven.

[DRbiohazard]

lol...Yeah, I was five at the time and I used

to go to this girls house 'cause they were

one of the few people in our neighborhood

that had a COLOR (WOW-Neato) TV! (one of those

25" wood encased "monster tvs". lol.)

[brabon]

first, i apologize for typing simba...i know its kimba the white lion..and disney ripped it off...also, bob created captain comic for kcra frist, so it is possible that he started showing the japanese anime before 44 and 20 picked it up

[DRbiohazard]

Prior to 1971???

[robtran]

No, just before he introduced Captain Cosmic to KTVU he did it for about six months on KCRA. My understanding is that the KTVU version was MUCH better, as they had a much bigger budget. It would appear that Wilkins was not tied to an exclusive contract while at KTVU, or anywhere else for that matter.

[DRbiohazard]

Okay, that makes sense...thanks!

[stellaluna4u2]

Also...bless your heart for your love and concern for our beloved Bob. I also agree...I hope someone writes a book about this great icon of the 60's and 70's

[robtran]

You're welcome, and thank you, and yes, someone should.

[stellaluna4u2]

Bob Wilkins was a Bay Area icon, who I watched every saturday night for years and years. I met him at a Sci-fi convention in the 70's when I was 17. He autographed a big poster I bought and I had that poster up for years. About 7 years ago, he and John Stanley were at a sci-fi con in Sacramento, so I took down the poster and had him autograph it for me again..30 some odd years later. He and John Stanley were in shock that someone actually still had that old poster!Thanks for the interesting post

[robtran]

That's a great story! And of course you're most welcome!

[DRbiohazard]

Your comments about Bob are AWESOME!

I never knew Creature Features had ever topped

SNL in the ratings...LOVE IT!!!

I am going to budget a monthly amount to send

Bob's family. Bob holds a special place in my

heart as I know he does for many of us who

were priveleged to watch a bye-gone era in

television.

[robtran]

Well, you're welcome!!

[ANGELS3018]

I wish I could help but I'm having my own financial problems and I truely believe he should be taken care of b/c the history he gave us is precious and should not be forgotten. You really are the coolest

[robtran]

Don't feel bad. And thanks for the kind words.

[paint1487]

ur very knowledgable about these little facts! i love em! keep it up!

[robtran]

Thanks for the kind remarks, and for commenting!

[kenrg]

That was a great tribute and history of a great broadcaster. Thanks.

[robtran]

You're welcome, and thanks for commenting!