The Creature Features Movie Guide by John Stanley

But movies were consistently their ratings grabbers. I started watching in the late 1950s/early 1960s when they aired cool (to a kid) live shows such as Captain Satellite, Roller Derby, and National All-Star Wrestling. KTVU, Channel 2 in Oakland, California, was one of the nation’s powerhouse independent television stations. “Watch Horror Films – Keep America Strong” – Bob Wilkins Keep up to date with our new Sprocket Vault releases by liking us on Facebook Also, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel: Visit our website to order DVDs from the Kit Parker Films Collection – John Stanley’s efforts too often fall under the radar…don’t let him fall under yours. Even if you don’t buy the book, be sure to check out his site and “click” every option as there are more cool books including, “The Creature Features Movie Guide” and his autobiographical, “I Was a TV Horror Host,” and various “Creature Feature” DVDs as well. You can buy the book from Amazon, but if you get it through John’s site, he’ll autograph a copy for you.

John knew Joe Rosenthal, photographer of the famed Iwo Jima flag-raising, and there is a very interesting piece on him, too. My favorite is the section on Samuel Fuller. John Stanley’s latest book, “The Gang That Shot Up Hollywood” is loaded with re-worked interviews/observations/reflections (and over 750 photographs) of many of the famous entertainers he’s interviewed through the years at the Chronicle. “Creature Features” gave John an opportunity once again to interview science-fiction and horror stalwarts this time on camera: Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner, Ray Harryhausen, Roger Corman…again, too many to recall. He interviewed Clint Eastwood on the set of “Rawhide,” James Stewart, Lauren Bacall, Ida Lupino, Barbara Stanwyck, Jane Russell, even Arnold Schwarzenegger, and …I couldn’t begin to remember them all. Apparently I wasn’t the only one John’s tenure at the Chronicle lasted 33 years! John knew how to conduct an interview, and I always looked forward to reading them in the Chronicle. It turned out he was one and the same, and I was pleasantly surprised that he was a worthy successor to Bob.

John Stanley was to be Bob’s replacement, and the only “John Stanley” I knew was an entertainment writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. I was disappointed when it was announced that Bob Wilkins was leaving Oakland’s KTVU after having been Channel 2’s host of “Creature Features” from 1971 – 1978.

The Creature Features Movie Guide by John Stanley