Drana Badour the Swami (Allen Harvey & Art Hern)

 

DRANA BADOUR (Allen Harvey & Art Hern)

Murder Before Midnight (Jan. 23, 1950-Aug. 24, 1953; WBKB-4; Chicago, Illinois)

During the dawn of the 1950s, local Chicago television station WBKB (Channel 4) was, in all actuality, ahead of its time when it produced and aired a little programmer called Murder Before Midnight. Every week a different movie thriller would be showcased and hosted by an unusual Swami character, who went by the name of Drana Badour. The strange mystic spoke in an eerie voice and wore the appropriate attire and turban. The show's macabre theme music would play as the time grew nearer for the film to begin. Captivated television viewers would then be lured into Drana Badour's crystal ball where the week's mystery or horror thriller would start.

Originally, the man behind the turban was WBKB's very own television announcer Allen Harvey (see top pic). Eventually, actor Art Hern took over the role of the mystic Drana Badour. Hern was a former radio actor, best remembered as one of the cast in the 1939-1949 radio program Captain Midnight. After the cancellation of Murder Before Midnight in 1953, Hern was cast as a regular in the television series The Happy Pirates, a children's program which starred Dick Two Ton Baker. At the time, WBKB changed ownership and was bought by ABC (Channel 7). Over the decades, Art Hern continued to work in various films, such as Simon, King of the Witches (1971), and Transylvania Twist (1989), up until his death at the age of 90.

The Magic of the Knight

From the looming mountains surrounding a little bustling tourist town affectionately called Sin City, to the vast and varying landscape of the the Nevada desert, it is not surprising that film production studios have taken an interest in the state's unique resources.

However, immersed in the middle of it all are the local creatives who seek an opportunity to give authentic representation and be part of the magic that is often reflected back to them on the screen. 

That is where Kight Studios comes in. Spearheaded by the intelligent, ambitious, and talented Alissa Knight and her wife, Melissa Knight, the studio has given actors, production crew, and others alike an opportunity to establish and secure themselves in the entertainment industry.

According to various interviews, testimonials from those who are a part of the Knight world paint a picture of support, creative freedom, and hard work - a place to develop their skills and learn from one another, all in a safe and team-oriented environment.

Moreover, the studio's website (https://www.knightstudios.co/) states it provides a training ground for those seeking a career in film production. That would make it an amazing opportunity for students and other Las Vegas locals to gain hands-on experience with a studio that is ever-evolving and expanding with each new project. 

Because of her professional background in cybersecurity, Alissa Knight has utilized her expertise in telling stories about computer hacking and other cyber crimes as witnessed in Underdog Games, Catastrophe Inc., Heat, Ransom, Dark Ops, Scorched Earth, and the up-and-coming Shadow Unit. 

Like most people when they are busy, sometimes my focus and attention are on the projects I am personally involved in at the time, but regardless of that, word of the studio had been buzzing in my ear because of the awards they have been receiving. It wasn't until recently, however, that I had a chance to learn about the company. I must admit, that, whether it's a fault or a blessing of mine, I tend to geek out when I see people that I've worked with in the past on new productions. In this case, actress Johanna Gordon and actor Andrew Chan, (who I appeared with on Space Grandma back in early 2023) have joined the KS team on the series Dark Ops. And, although the episode that Chan appears in hasn't yet been released, I found myself hooked and binge-watched this past week every title KS has released to the public thus far. As a new viewer, I can safely say that I've been pulled into this world that Alissa Knight and her cast and crew created and I look forward to more. 

Also, check out The Alisa Knight Archives on YouTube.

SIDE NOTE: As you may have noticed this blog is undergoing reconstruction. In the last couple of years, my interests have expanded (some revisited like an old friend) and I have decided to include them to reflect what is important to me alongside TV horror hosting (particularly The Super Shock Show). I thank all of you for your support from the very start of this venture and to those who are discovering the show for the first time. 

Mistress Peace Theatre Gets Sick !!!

I created this poster back in 2022 when I made a guest appearance as Sicko-Psychotic the King of Ghouls on Mistress Peace Theatre hosted by the zany and wonderful Mistress Malicious herself. I had such a great time and I am very grateful to have been asked to appear alongside two of my favorite hostesses... the Mistress and her Magic Mirror. 

Cameo was also on board and, as some of you might know, I also puppeteer and do the voice of that wisecracking magic camera obscura. 

You can catch Mistress Peace Theatre on Beta Max TV, The Monster Channel, Otherworlds TV, Tingler Television, The Vortexx, and MAX-TV (Channel 43). For more information visit their website at: https://bordellomistressm.wixsite.com/mistresspeacetheatre/about .

The movie shown in this episode was the film-noir mystery Behind Green Lights (1946) starring Carole Landis and William Gargan. 

The Magic of Imagination

Thanks to Sid & Marty Krofft, this was my first gateway into the world of imagination. I wanted to be a part of a world where magic exists. It does. I found it through the visual, audio, and performance arts. 

Their television shows included H.R. Pufnstuf, The Bugaloos, Lidsville, Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, Land of the Lost, Far Out Space Nuts, The Lost Saucer, Dr. Shrinker, ElectraWoman and DynaGirl, The Krofft Supershow, Wonderbug, Bigfoot and Wildboy, Magic Mongo, The Krofft Superstar Hour, etc. 

The World of Sid & Marty Krofft website: https://www.sidandmartykrofft.com/ 

The NEW Sin City Horror Club !!!

 

Las Vegas locals who love horror movies have a new platform to network with like-minded fans of the genre and it's called Sin City Horror Club. It's a Facebook group where everyone shares what's what and what's happening in the horror community of Sin City. 

It's run by film director and composer Knik Woods (Clemency Blvd; Shoe Gazer) over at GhostChaser Productions and he's taken the group to another level by hosting the Vintage Horror Screenings (VHS) at the Millennium FANDOM BAR, a wonderous sci-fi/fantasy/horror themed establishment located at 430 Hoover Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89101. These events are hosted once a month and it is a great place for group members + friends to meetup and hang out in a casual and friendly environment... must be 18 and over.   

Vintage Horror Screenings was first launched on September 20th, 2023 with a showing of the gore classic "Saw" (2004). All films shown are screened from actual VHS tapes, taking us on a nostalgic trip in time when video stores were often the go-to source for watching all of your favorite movies. As of this post, the other films shown thus far have been An American Werewolf in London, Black Christmas, Candyman, Dawn of the Dead, and a double feature - Child's Play 2 and Bride of Chucky. 

I, and a friend, of mine have been going to VHS since it started and it has been a lot of fun. There is also a trivia session right before the start of the film in which you can win prizes. As you can see in the following pics, I'm goofing off with R2-D2 and showing what I won during trivia. 

You can join the Sin City Horror Club at: 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/sincityhorrorclub ;

Their Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/sincityhorrorclub/ ;

Follow the Millennium Fandom Bar on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/millenniumfandombar 

You can also follow me, Jim Childs, on Instagram at: 

https://www.instagram.com/officialjimchilds/ 

 

Terrence Sir (a.k.a. John Barclay)

TERRENCE SIR (John Barclay)

Nightmare Theater (Jan. 29, 1958-1958; KRON-TV; channel 4; San Francisco, California)

Voice actor, TV and radio producer John Barclay took over hosting Nightmare Theater as Terrence's father, Terrence Sir. It aired Wednesday nights at 10:35 pm. "To introduce Nightmare Theater on KRON in San Francisco, John Barclay enters as a two-faced monster from studio mummy's tomb wearing a grotesque mask on the back of his head and speaking in sepulchral tones learned during long years as a Shakespearean actor," is how LIFE magazine (May 26, 1958) described the host and the show. 

The Daily Independent Journal (Feb. 7, 1958) revealed much more information about the new host's debut and take over of Nightmare Theater: "Fans of the 'Nightmare' TV show have been startled the last two weeks to see a new face - and a bearded one at that. It belongs to Terrence Sr., father of Terrence Jr. who has been acting as host of the horror program on KRON. Senior stirred his creaky bones and left the comfortable dampness of his mummy's cage, just to return to life and see how Junior was making out with the television audience. During the course of a chat last Wednesday, Pop learned Son was doing fine, only he was getting a bit tired and and could use a little vacation. Now, you'll be seeing Senior on 'Nightmare' every Wednesday while Junior rests his creaky joints in the family tomb. Oh, yes, Terrence Sr. is really John Barclay of Sausalito, whose mannerisms on the air are faintly reminiscent of Boris Karloff. Barclay has had a long career as an... opera singer, dramatic actor and radio-TV writer [and] producer." The films shown were from the Shock! package.

FILMS SHOWN: The Black Cat (1934); Calling Dr. Death (1943); Chinatown Squad (1935); Dead Man's Eyes (1944); Dracula (1931); Dracula's Daughter (1936); Enemy Agent (1940); Frankenstein (1931); The Frozen Ghost (1945); The Invisible Man (1933); The Mummy (1932); The Mummy's Ghost (1944); The Mummy's Tomb (1942); The Mystery of Marie Roget (1942); Mystery of the White Room (1939); Sealed Lips (1942); The Strange Case of Doctor Rx (1942)

 

Uneasy Alliance !!!

Scene from Sicko-Psychotic's Super Shock Show featuring all your favorite characters L to R: Mr. Nasty, Sicko the King of Ghouls, Silky Harlot the Spider, and Cameo the Magic Camera Obscura. 

When I first took on my horror host persona it was my way of contributing to the horror genre and reach out to like-minded fans. But I wanted viewers to only see Sicko not the person behind the make-up - Jim Childs - so, I tried to keep them separate. I felt that Jim would be a distraction from simply enjoying the character and the wonderfully creepy and bizarre world the ol' ghoul lives in. In time, however, I realized that to promote the show and do interviews, Jim would have to step in and take over occasionally. For better or for worse, you got to see more of the creator side of me.

Sicko-Psychotic Pre-Production Shot #7

Who is this ghoulishly handsome devil? Why, ME!!! Sicko-Psychotic... of course... in the last of the pre-production shots. This one is actually used on the show as the portrait hanging in the Sick Shack. (Sicko-Psychotic's Super Shcok Show TV Series)