Rare News Reel: Sivad

Shown at a March 2010 Tribute Festival to Watson "Sivad" Davis, Horror Film Host of "Fantastic Features" on WHBQ Channel 13 in Memphis, TN, from 1962 - 1972. I think the film is late 1970's or 1980's? If anyone has more information, please share below. Sorry for the shaking, but I filmed this on my little digital camera to share with the world. He was VERY campy, but a great entertainer!

[@Goodboy0953]

Love it ! He terrified me but I had to watch!!!

[@kevinwilliams4845]

He was definitely scary to a bunch of folks, and I can see why. That creepy music and those slow turns...brr

[@flyboysteven9979]

I was there....still have my sivads of march booklet i bought there...as a boy in the 60s i NEVER missed Fanstatic Features on Saturday night....it started out at 6 pm but parents started complaining about horror movies being shown in prime time so they moved him to 11:30 pm....i remember watching Soul Train, followed by Roller Derby, then Sivad

[@kevinwilliams3633]

That is so very cool! I wish to goodness they had kept the recordings of Sivad instead of recording over them. So much fun lost to time.

[@flyboysteven9979]

@@kevinwilliams3633 I always heard all the tapes were lost due to a fire at WHBQ

[@kevinwilliams3633]

@@flyboysteven9979 It could have been. The rumor as I was given was that, to save money, they would film, wipe the tape, then film again - using the same cartridges over and over. I don't know enough about 'tape' to know one way or another. Wish WHBQ would do a special about Sivad.

[@OliverFurr-lw2vy]

I remember watching sivad every Saturday night as a kid on channel 13 in Memphis TN

[@kevinwilliams4845]

I so very much wish they had kept his shows, but due to expensive tapes, they would erase them for reuse.

[@taramaclaird9633]

Loved Sivad!

[@kevinmule]

I only got to see him when I was but a tiny infant, and I only remember a gorilla being there. Shame they didn't keep more of his films.

[@Professor1789]

I’ll always love Sivad! But I just realized something. How I missed this all these years, I can’t imagine, but a lot of his phrasing and delivery reminds me of Kingfish on “Amos ‘n’ Andy.”

[@brucenicholson1796]

Me and my cousin used to watch sivad from behind the couch with our head poking out from each end. Pulling our head back behind the couch when it got too scary.

[@deborahtuggle5722]

I m still scared of him and I'm now a senior citizen,i remember this show.so well,i always wanted to watch it,then afterwards I would be horrified as a kid!!!😬😰😵👿💀👹🤣😂😃🤣

[@kevinmule]

@MaverickBAS : Oh, but I'm jealous I didn't get to see any of it! Glad you have those memories--sounds like it was always fun. Everyone I talk to who did get to see it tells of goosebumps and spinal chills!

[@MaverickBAS]

Great seeing some new Sivad footage after all these years, thanks for posting this. Even with the corny jokes, Sivad had a talent for scaring kids, in a good way. He made the movies so much more fun to watch. That opening scene with Sivad pulling the coffin out of the hearse in the fog...seeing it now it makes me feel like I'm a 10 year old kid living in Shelby County outside Memphis again. Sivad had his time and place and I'm grateful I was there to enjoy it.

[@kevinwilliams4845]

I sure wish they had kept more footage of him instead of recording over his films. Wouldn't a "complete set" DVD be amazing to own?

[@NanceeLL]

Oh gosh ...this guy use to scare me to death when I was a little girl. Watched him every Saturday night! Loved this...Thank you for sharing brings back happy times.....with the family.

[@rkrealtorva]

Geeeezzzz...even now @ 45 years old, I get chill bumps watching Sivad.

[@badkitty9606]

as a 6 yr old little girl growing up in Memphis, Sivad was the star of my first nightmares! we had a love/hate relationship. there should be some type of tribute to him in Memphis.

[@michaelwhisman7623]

I could have bought a Hearse like that, in Collierville, TN, for $200.00 in 1969.

[@kevinwilliams4845]

That would have been awesome!! How much do they sell for now? A plain horse carriage looks like sells around $2600.

[@Lario]

This is GREAT!

[@rolindadice]

I was more fascinated with him than Elvis as a kid. He was bigger than life when I was seven. You had to be there. Those days are gone forever, but I am glad I had them. RIP Mr. Davis

[@kevinwilliams4845]

My mom has pics from a show when I was 1 or 2 and though I don't remember it, I saw him. I really remember a gorilla suit scaring me. Seems it was at the fair when it happened, but in a building.

[@kevinmule]

A local radio station has been playing some of his vocals for halloween. It's been great!

[@kevinmule]

@cedricm72 : That's cool news to know Svengoolie is going on--wish we had something similar in Memphis still.

[@lindagreaney5136]

💜

[@larryshackleford2644]

Davis spelled backward is SIVAD. It is said the carriage scene was shot at Overton Park in Memphis. I remember one night his vampire teeth drop out, I saw it live on TV. hahahahaha

[@daddyswagdollar8433]

That’s my name 😎

[@RussellJoynerKKB]

i spent many an evening on the floor in front of the tv with my friends and family watching this show and loving Sivad...his jokes were as corny as some of the movies he showed!!

[@kevinmule]

@Bigswolecam : I agree! He's a great guy. I'm surprised they don't have anything down at the TV Station where he shot all those videos. So sad there's so little of him to enjoy anymore.

[@daddyswagdollar8433]

I’m Sivad Davis and I had a recent nightmare about this guy.

[@kevinwilliams3633]

Interesting. Were you aware of this performer from Memphis, who was Watson Davis (Sivad is Davis backwards). He was manager of the Malco Cinemas and did BIG events around movies for years before doing this at WHBQ TV.

[@daddyswagdollar8433]

Kevin Williams i wasn’t aware until I looked my name up and saw a scary guy

[@kevinwilliams3633]

@@daddyswagdollar8433 That's very cool! I wish there'd been more footage of Sivad. His tapes were erased and reused, so there's very little left.

[@michaelwhisman]

Sivad is Davis spelled backwards.

[@saib46]

Didn't Sivad cut a record?

[@kevinwilliams4845]

He did. It's actually been uploaded to KZbin if you search "Sivad record" (or album). Both songs are there!

[@kevinmule]

@JayBleu There will be a Mule on the Street about the Sivads of March, but it gets taken over...

[@kevinmule]

@05221956js : That was Watson Davis as Sivad!

[@JayBleu]

Gee, and I kept looking for muley to be in the video? Nice though....

[@salgoudsamoht]

Nah, for sheer terror, no one could top Bozo the Clown. 'Howdy kids, welcome to the Showzo Bo. Hello, Jimmy. Do you walk to school or carry your lunch?' The little kid starts crying. Bozo slaps the kid and kicks his ass off the set. Bozo holds up 2 two fingers and asks little Mary, 'How many fingers am I holding up, Mary, 3 or 4?' Mary starts crying and Bozo grabs her by the collar and tosses her to one of the lighting technicians. 'Let's see some cartoons now, boys and girls.' Dead silence.

[@Grantalonus]

Lol