WIS-TV "THE FRENZIED ATTACK OF THE GIANT ROACH MONSTER"

Around 1977, the WIS-TV crew decided their next production would be a parody of 1950's Japanese horror films. Written by WIS-TV Creative Services writer Jennie Morris, "The Frenzied Attack of the Giant Roach Monster" understandably never aired. Other credits - the younger female lead is Kathy Nash (a studio camera operator and later weekend weathercaster) - the young male lead is Steve Griggs (a studio camera operator and later producer/director - for some reason this was his first and last venture into acting) - the older female portraying the mother seen near the end is Marsha Trotti (a studio camera operator and local theater actress) - the main character (the scientist / roach) was first and last played by David Dorsey (a studio camera operator and local theater actor who left WIS-TV in the middle of filming) - filling in for Dorsey as the scientist / roach is Joe Pinner (longtime "Mr. Knozit" and current occasional Friday weatherman) - Pinner also did all of the audio dubbing for Dorsey. The project was filmed by production manager Evan Wiggins who used a wind-up handheld Bolex. This clip is the last 10 minutes - and most action packed - of the 30 minute production.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• WIS-TV
• THE
• FRENZIED
• ATTACK
• OF
• GIANT
• ROACH
• MONSTER
• JOE
• PINNER
• KATHY
• NASH
• STEVE
• GRIGGS

[bluefalcon2099]

Do you have an footage of WIS Horror Host, "The Gravedigger"?

[snlgriggs]

@bluefalcon2099

No, I don't. The stuff that I saved was from my time at WIS-TV (1973-1981). "The Gravedigger" was before my time. I grew up watching "The Gravedigger" and googled him once only to find a publicity picture. Somebody else (maybe the guy who played him) may have the footage you asked about.

[bluefalcon2099]

@snlgriggs Who played him? The Horror Host websites have no idea.

[snlgriggs]

@bluefalcon2099

The name Dean Poucher (not sure of spelling) seems to come to mind - not sure why. Go to

myweb.wvnet.edu/e-gor/tvhorror­hosts/hostsg.html

to see an autographed picture.

[bluefalcon2099]

@snlgriggs Okay, I found a marriage announcement from a 09/05/1954 St Petersburg Times that lists a Dean Joesph Poacher as a director at WIS-TV. Thanks you so much for this info.

[snlgriggs]

@bluefalcon2099

Congrats on your possible confirmation on the name. I think I called WIS-TV when I was a kid and that's how I knew the name. If you talk to Joe (Pinner) feel free to drop my name (Steve Griggs). Joe and I go way back.

[bluefalcon2099]

@snlgriggs Yes, that site is where my research started. Alas, its signed "Gravedigger"! I called WIS, and they suggested I speak to Joe Pinner, so I left him a voice mail this morning and am waiting to get back from him. What started as a simple matter of curiousity has turned into a bit of a treasure hunt. I guess I'll have to pull on my old journalism school training and write up an article on it or something to justify all the effort.

[snlgriggs]

@SouthCaroliniana We figured it could air late at night. At that time local stations usually aired old movies - frequently dumb horror movies on Saturday nights - until the station signed off. Yes, stations would run a film of the Air Force flying over the U.S. with the "Star Spangled Banner" playing in the background and fade to black for the night. Quite frankly, we got what we wanted out of it when we made it. Airing it would have simply been lagniappe.

[SouthCaroliniana]

@snlgriggs Under what circumstances would this have aired? I'm imagining if there was a failure in the satellite feed...but maybe that's anachronistic for 1977?

[snlgriggs]

Of course there's 30 minutes. At the time, we wanted a product that could fill a standard time slot. We had every reason to believe it would air (our "Dracula" aired after all). By the time we finished it though - several years later - even we knew its chance of airing was slim to none!