WTOG 44 - St. Petersburg, FL, Dr. Paul Bearer, Creature Feature, Tribute Video

Dr. Paul Bearer (Dick Bennick) was the host of "Creature Feature", one of the longest running horror movie hosts on television, from 1973 to 1995, on WTOG 44, St. Petersburg, now the CW44.
Sadly, Mr. Dick Bennick died on February 18th, 1995, but his memory will live on through this tribute video produced shortly after his death and other fans out there!
I'll be lurking for you!

[@twright3802]

Growing up in West Tampa in the 70s and 80s was the best. We had Creature Feature at noon and then Championship Wrestling from Florida with Gordon on the mike and Dusty taking care of " bidness". Man those were the best days...

[@gooner9038]

Gordon Solie and Dr. Paul Bearer: The icons of my childhood!

[@MarcillaSmith]

Son of a plummah, daddeh, if you wheel

[@twright3802]

@@MarcillaSmith if you wheel!

[@RobertMay-tr1yx]

I remember it well in the early seventies with my girlfriend going to the Florida armory to watch the taping of Florida championship wrestling I believe it was $2 per person to get in and I got to see Gordon solie his sidekick buddy Colt and I actually got to meet Jack and Jerry briscoe!

[@jroq1580]

I grew up in St. Creatursburg and the Saturday Creature Feature was such a staple of my childhood. Fond memories of Dr. Paul as the host and I miss those simpler times. I always think about him every year around Halloween.

[@pamelatorres156]

At least the tradition lives on. We have a 2nd Dr. Paul Bearer here in Florida. Last February, he judged and hosted the Valentween art contest at the St. Pete Art Lofts!

[@velveetaslingshot]

Saturday morning cartoons until 1030am, outside to play in the woods til lunch, after lunch play outside for a couple hours, then straight to jimmys house for creature feature. Simpler and better times. Every generation says that, but ours is the first generation to be right!

[@bigwillietheb]

your so funny with the Saint Creaturesburg

[@BrutusMcCrunch]

I was born in St Pete in 1972 and this guy was some of my earliest memories

[@Burt_Cokaine]

Orlando in '74, grew up in Dunnellon, Fl. Never missed a show as a kid. C.F. followed by Kung Fu theatre

[@tifh14]

St pete 75 and Dr Paul Bearer was my fave ❤️

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

I grew up in St. Pete, and watched MANY a _"horrible old movie"_ on this show. R.I.P., Mr. Bennick!!

[@velveetaslingshot]

This guy was the best scarehost ever. That voice was so perfect!

[@dickdastardly2560]

When I was a kid we moved to Orlando and back in those days there was no such thing as cable tv unless you Count the cable running from the rabbit ears to the back of the tv, and a Count-less number of Saturday afternoons were spent fooling around with those rabbit ears dialing in WTOG St.Pete/Tampa Channel 44 to watch Creature Feature and Dr. Paul Bearererer. Between Creature Feature with Dr. Paul Bearer and NWA Wrestling with Gordon Solie my weekend tv entertainment was filled, the best days were when GODZILLA was kicking MOTHRA and King Ghidorah ass then later watching Rick Flair, Superstar Billy Graham, Terry Funk and the son of a Texas plumber the American Dream Dusty Rhodes delivering his Bionic Elbow ending with Gordon Solie saying "So Long From the Sunshine State"

[@twright3802]

Man, those were the days.

[@aileenwagner2576]

U said it!!!

[@TampaAries]

Aww I use to watch this every Saturday at noon as a kid, couldnt wait to see what the horror movie would be for the day. Good memories. R.I.P Buddy😊😇

[@xtremeheightsproductions]

This right here is what started my infatuation with Horror Movies! Thank You Dr. Paul Bearer and Wtog TV.

[@TC-uy8ng]

As a kid, I enjoyed his horribly bad puns and jokes that made him so famous. And I still do.

[@bigwillietheb]

oh those puns were the best , one of my favorites was when he said oh just sitting around here makes me wanna sneak uh I mean snack

[@TampaFanatic1]

This brings back good memories of growing up in Temple Terrace. Saturday afternoons meant "Creature Feature" followed by shows like Star Trek, Space 1999 and Championship Wrestling from Florida with the late Gordon Solie. Barbara Callahan was also a staple on WTOG, anchoring the nightly news on 44 and was on WFLA-8 before that. She passed of cancer a few years back. RIP to both, fond memories of both. I met Paul Bearer a couple of times at malls where he was doing some sort of promotions; once at University Square Mall and once way down in Fort Myers at the Edison Mall. I think he was actually a radio station manager for a AM station over in Winter Haven or Lake Wales. Thanks for posting this!

[@Eyelashviper]

Thx for mentioning Barbara Callahan, too. I just learned of her passing. Grew up watching her, as well.

[@aileenwagner2576]

Yesssss! Space 1999 was on too!! A classic!!

[@jacyg.3073]

Oh you're right, after Creature Feature was Star Trek in the evening, and lol, yes Gordon Solie and wrestling with our local hero Dusty Rhodes!

[@gooner9038]

Some of the most vivid memories of growing up in Haines City are of Saturday afternoons with the good doctor. It was a challenge getting channel 44 in Haines City so there was a lot of running outside to turn the antenna just right to get a signal. It was all worth it! Creature Feature (and Shock Theater on Channel 13) were the best!

[@Jayjay-ct6kh]

Sam Hankins Haines city here as well 😁. Good memories.

[@aileenwagner2576]

Awww man, I remember doing the same thing, trying to get the antenna just right. Difficult reception in Bushnell too. And u r so right, Shock Theater was on every Friday night at 11:30, right after the news, so COOL someone else remembers that too!! I remember the newsman, Paul Hawkins, saying, "Stay tuned next for Shock Theater." Then Creature Feature Saturday at noon. Those were really good times! Thanks for commenting!

[@cavemanrob]

Never missed it as a '70's kid in St. Pete!

[@KeifusMathews3]

Great memories of Dick Bennick used to see him all over town but always at the famous Gasparilla Parade Tyrone Square Mall. “I’ll be luuuurking for you.”

[@BUHNANUHBREAD]

I watched him when I was a kid in the mid-80s. My mom got me his autograph when she worked at the Gateway Mall.

[@spinalobifida]

he's the only one to go into the cornfield on Hee-Haw without wearing the overalls. Loved watching him as a kid. He was funny

[@gooner9038]

Completely forgot about Hee Haw! That's a great catch. The man was a legend, for sure.

[@0421072]

I grew up in Tarpon Springs. I Loved Dr. Paul Bearer!

[@michellecenters5655]

I grew up in Largo. I used to love watching this.

[@captchasuck]

Larghetto baby

[@ronhutchcraft2290]

Hello everyone, my Uncle was Mr Gail Odoski, and he did some work with Dr Paul Bearer, and I met Dr Bearer at a Kash & Karry in Clearwater Florida one day and mentioned my Uncle & he responded that He did indeed know him and had worked with him in the past. Dr. Bearer is sorely missed and I would like to add that I also miss Mr Christopher Lee, who did much the same work as Dr Paul did in the 1980's so thank you for this video I enjoyed it very much.

[@michaelmorris2243]

I remember watching him in 73, I was 12. Corny but funny. I met him in Brandon at a knock off of burger king called Buger Queen on hy 60. He was singing his picture and was in Character. What memories. Thank you very much. 🙃🙋‍♂️😸🖖✌

[@TUSK1157]

I remember Burger Queen well. I hung out at Woodbutchers and worked at Sunbums Records in the strip mall next door. I liked their burgers better than the Burger King that was on 60 around the corner from the Brandon Billiards.

[@sherladixon2842]

I grew up watching Dr Paul Bearer on Saturday’s. I loved him , I grew up in Plant City and loved to see him in the Strawberry Festival Parade every year.

[@bigwillietheb]

so did I , I grew up in Plant city too

[@MessianicJewJitsu]

So many memories with my dad with this show. This man set the bar for local horror in central florida. He will always be #1

[@leftylou6070]

I was brought up in Scarasota county and enjoyed ever minute of Dr. Paul Bearer, and the Rowdies because they were a "Kick in the Grass"! Thanks for bringing a good time to our living room and you have been missed terribly over the years.

[@jacyg.3073]

Wow, I thought no one remembered they were a kick in the grass! Went to a few Rowdy games, my dad met the Dr. in Srq at the Fair Grounds and laid in his coffin. Back in those days the haunted houses were allowed to be pitch black and my grandma got lost in there!

[@44kickinit]

I grew up in Sarasota in the 70’s too. I remember watching Dr. Paul Bearer on Channel 44, the Tampa Bay Rowdies, and the haunted houses they used to have at the fairgrounds. I remember my mom making my younger brother go through it even though he didn’t want to because we had waited a long time in line. He still reminds her of that! Fun memories.

[@TheNightmareMan]

when I was a child I lived in Ocala FL I used to watch him every Saturday after the Saturday morning cartoons Dr Paul barer was an idol for me he is greatly missed I'm glad they didn't replace Dave it would have ruined an icon

[@williamshuert1486]

They hsve. There's a Dr Paul Bearer 2.

[@Burt_Cokaine]

Lived in Dunnellon, right around the corner from ya. Got to see Dr. Paul Bearer back in '84 when I was 10. I think it was channel 44 creature feature then Kungfu theatre.

[@myeishaosse7817]

if you grew up in the 70s or 80s there is NO way in the world that you did not know who Dr. Paul Bearer is...lol He was funny and scary at the same time. #liveoncreaturefeature

[@MikeBrown-bs7qu]

Especially if you lived in Florida

[@LilJerg]

Our cable provider stopped showing him and channel 44 sometime in the mid seventies and I was heartbroken! Had no idea he continued into the '90s. Not a bit surprised that he stayed so popular.

[@JhomasE]

@@LilJergwhere were you living at the time?

[@jerryrogersrogers1728]

I live in Plant City early 70s between dr. Paul Bearer and Gordon solie they kept me sane

[@michaelsingletary4526]

I remember watching Channel 44 and Creature Feature as a kid. Where my love of horror movies came from. "I'll be lurking for you" was my all-time favorite. As good as Elvira any day.

[@Burt_Cokaine]

Every Saturday, followed by Kungfu theatre. I grew up in Dunnellon, rainbow river livin

[@louieflash7190]

Always watched his show growing up in Tampa. Every kid knew him. It's such an honor having Dr Paul being part of my childhood memories. You are truly missed to this day. RIP Dr Paul.🙏♥

[@demonic477]

God I miss this getting to watch my favorite old movies every Saturday I watched from 72 tell around 1990 when I was working every Saturday . It was one of the only times the whole family would all sit down and watch the same show . and I think I miss that more.

[@mcrazy11]

Suddenly Im feeling like I know where Michael Keaton got Beetlejuice voice from. . . close your eyes, listen.

[@MatChew75]

That raspy voice I'll never forget it I remember when he was on Hee Haw that blew my mind and I'm so grateful that his show lasted and he got the coverage that he did in the respect that he deserves cuz I don't know where I would be today without him because horror movies are my life and he was the start of that

[@theexpert5085]

Ya I remember watching this with my grandpa on Saturday as a kid. Makes me smile. Those times were def so much simpler. Im 43 now but the memories are so vivid.

[@sonichuizcool7445]

as a really young kid he scared me. i got a little older I one day saw him at Busch Gardens. It freaked me out at first. He was SO NICE! really! Then I was in shock I actually met someone off of TV. He stayed in character for me the whole time... I miss him... :(

[@thenormanfair]

I remember watching him as a kid all the way over in DeLand. Now I need to look up "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park"

[@bigwillietheb]

I've seen him in the Christmas parade in Plant city a couple of times as a kid, always fun to watch

[@michaelharbuck2057]

Like everyone else watched him every Saturday starting in 1975 in pinellas park and as a very young man I was scared at the age of 4 but I grew into the show and his character hope he's entertaining God in heaven

[@none-ya-dam821]

I live in Winter Haven right down the street from his old home on the lake.

[@OrigDJAnimate]

What an awesome trip down memory lane. Fond memories from south St Pete. Thanks for posting this

[@joeykardos7602]

What a memorable time in all of our lives! Dr. Paul Bearer, you are forever missed! You were a treasure! R.I.P. Dick Bennick.

[@toneslice989]

Grew up with this guy! Blast from the past. With steaming and media nowadays the creature feature is a thing of the past. I miss Saturday morning cartoons and at noon once the cartoons ended the creature feature began. RIP! I'll be lurking for you!

[@KING4aday46]

I remember watching his program. In 1974 and 1975.

[@MatChew75]

I saw something on TV about Joy Junction from Expo and I remember that as a kid living in Florida and watching Floridian cable TV from Central Florida when we lived in Longwood and something just smacked me right in the head Dr Paul Bearer from Creature Feature I believe he was out of Winter Haven so I decided to look up Dr Paul Barrow on KZbin and I realized that his Legend is still going on in Florida after all these years I mean I live in Louisiana now I haven't lived in Florida since the early 80s but I remember his show very well it's remarkable you can find anything on KZbin I haven't so many memories that are flooding back to me right now

[@koolhand415]

I loved watching this. It was a faint memory until watching this. The voice, the talking spider, the intro and outro music, the creaky door and the periodic laugh brought it all back. I think he even did the "WTOGeeee as far as the eye can seeeeeeeee"

[@silvereagle2061]

MST3K wouldn't be what it is without guys like this.

[@MatChew75]

It's great that he got a dedication and I had no idea he was on TV as long as he was for three generations well I'm proud to say I got to watch him when I was a kid living in Central Florida I wasn't too sure where the show was from but now I know it's from Tampa but I used to watch it when I lived in Orlando and Tampa in the early 80s and I moved away but I never forgot about his name in the way that he used to say it and it stuck with me and I never decided to check and see what happened with his story so I got on KZbin and looked it up and sure enough there's another Dr Paul Bearer version too but it's sad to see that he's since passed on the original but yeah I have so many fond memories of him as a kid living in Orlando and Tampa and I think he's the one that turned me on to horror movies and I've been in love ever since so thank you Dr Paul Bearer and may you rest in peace

[@billfranks9058]

I grew up in Raleigh North Carolina watching Dr Paul bearer I love that show on the weekends it was great

[@austinfamily2201]

I remember watching him right after my Saturday morning cartoons. I loved his show.

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

Man, does THIS bring back memories!

[@Spaceflightlover2010]

I remember watching this show all through the 1970s every Saturday. It was a great Channel, they had this show, Star Trek, Monty python, space 1999. All good memories!

[@michaelharbuck2057]

Also may you rest well barbara you were beautiful

[@angrybusdriver5656]

I'm from Sarasota Fl and Saturdays were not complete until I watched my wrestling and creature feature hosted by the one and only Dr. Paul Bearer

[@curtiseh]

Used to look forward to our family trips to Statesville, NC, where Dr. Paul Bearer was on TV. I loved him. Then on one trip..I was told he was no longer on TV. Imagine my delight when I turned on the TV here in Tampa, to discover he was now on TV here! Watched him for years and got his autograph. A great memory from my childhood and he is missed.

[@zcam1969]

i watched him from high point nc . back in the late 60s Shock Theater on ch 8

[@elvometer]

One of the “Horrible Old Movies” turned out to be the US telecine transfer of the the original Wicker Man film from 1973. The actual print master was lost, and the video safety copy was the only thing left that had the missing scenes in it for the restored UK release. So the legend goes. We saw it in on WTOG-44 one Saturday afternoon.

[@summerbreeze3090]

I also enjoyed his program on Saturdays. Found out he was manager at WTOG at Cypress Gardens and went to meet him. Years later we started dating. What a wonderful, kinky man!!!!

[@Fraiyia]

Watched his show every Sunday .

[@jerraldmackey7933]

My brother and I were wondering if anyone has the intro theme for the show that came on Saturdays in South Florida. Part of the theme stated, "Monsters and occasion of a terror. Now it time for Creature Feature, ha, ha, ha." This is a classic for us growing up.

[@filmmkr1]

Thank you for this. I remembered this as a kid. He made it easier for a young tike to watch scary movies. I’m in my 40s now and remember his bits like it was yesterday. This was great to revisit

[@TUSK1157]

I moved from Memphis (by way of Jacksonville for 6 months) to Brandon in 1973. In Memphis we had Sivad for our horror movie host. I missed my Saturday night horror movies. When we got to Brandon. There was Dr Paul Bearer and I realized that Sivad was cool but I had found his match.

[@davidtrahan3062]

I love this guy and show🎉❤

[@w2504x4]

I was watching a video of the Oak Ridge Boys "Elvira" which visited his show often. I watched it almost every sunday, loved his laugh. You will be missed and thank you for entertainment you helped make a great childhood. We didn't have much to do in Wauchula but he made for a great time back then.

[@zcam1969]

i watched this guy on shock theater in the late 60s when he started in north carolina ..i live not far from his home town mayodan ,,he had a gag about whip scream pie

[@MatChew75]

That sounds about right 1973 to 1995 three generations and the longest running Horror Show in US history even longer than Elvira that's amazing I had no idea it ran that long I only watched it in the early and mid 80s and once I left Florida well that was it and I was wondering what his real name was Paul bennick but it was a true honor that I was one of his viewers as a kid and I was able to experience his show through early Central Florida cable TV. I love when he said his name in the beginning and it echoed I really remember that and I'll be lurking for you. Hahaha what a trip down memory lane thank you very much for this

[@silvereagle2061]

We got him here in Orlando too.

[@seekandcrush]

I grew up in Dead City, just north of Tampon Bay and Sufferhills. DPB was practically my best friend every Saturday.

[@MatChew75]

First time I saw a Creature Feature was when I was living in Longwood Florida right outside of Orlando I guess in early 1980 and we had a subsidiary Channel of wtog out of st. creaturesburg I believe it was channel 44 if I'm correct. I've moved around the country a lot my dad was a banker I lived in pretty much every state in the south but my most memorable time as a child was living in Florida in Orlando and Tampa and also growing up as a teenager in New Orleans which is like Ground Zero for horror Freaks and aficionados Halloween in New Orleans is a sight to Behold The Freaks really do come out and they love it here especially with that Voodoo vibe Dr Paul Bearer would have approved. The tenement Castle love it. I used to tell my friends about this show like when I moved to another state and they would just think I was crazy that I was making this stuff up but now I have proof on KZbin thank you for the Memories this was a true blessing seeing this and thank you for the great memories Paul bennick AKA Dr Paul Bearer rest in peace brother ghoul. No I went to McDonald's today and I decided to try their new chicken McMaggots. Ridiculous. I love the footage from Busch Gardens in Tampa St Pete used to have season passes love those roller coasters course when I was there they only had two of them I don't remember the names of them and then there was also an amazing water park near Walt Disney World called wet and wild that was the baddest water park I've ever been to I don't even know if it's still down there or not. I couldn't take you to where I lived in my house in Orlando but I could take you right where I lived in Tampa was right off Kennedy Boulevard before you got to the Causeway or Bridge. I even remember my address 210 S. Hesperdis( don't know if that's how it was spelled). But it was right near the end of Kennedy Boulevard before you went across one of the two Bridges or the causeway.. if I'm not mistaken I believe the causeway went to Clearwater and then the two Bridges went to St Pete I could be wrong. I remember there was another big road down there that cross Kennedy Boulevard called Dale Mabry. Still got some of my memory left great times down there so much fun stuff to do outdoors wow

[@pamelatorres156]

I wonder who's responsible for making the spoof product labels? And how were they done since there couldn't have been Photoshop back then.

[@timemerson4162]

Just came across this. Mrs. Callahan recently passed. R.I.P to both Bay Area legends.

[@yourroyalhighness7662]

On “Shock Theater” in North Carolina back in the 1960s Dr. Bearer once said that he fed his dog Grave Train dog food.

[@terri0elise]

i watched him every week.no matter what was going on.

[@jimmiddleton5093]

Many fond memories of him as I grew up in Tampa.

[@wataki2]

Been looking for this for years.

[@marclayne9261]

I had to work at Publix Supermarket..on Saturdays....i missed these great films..

[@atdclo2889]

wow, I didn't know he lived in fl., and winter haven. yeah I watched him religiously as a kid in the ninties.

[@jennifercantrell3737]

I remember watching him when I lived in Florida years ago

[@rellman85]

I loved how he had a slight southern accent, beneath the creepy/goofy “horror” voice. (When I was a kid, lots of folks in Tampa did sound southern!)

[@alleloc]

Enjoyed every show :)

[@ross5323]

Hey, my dad was the engineer! Larry Cassidy!

[@madmonkee6757]

Great memories!

[@bigwillietheb]

He did show some cheesey old horror movies , some were good , but I always loved commercial breaks I remember watching from the age of 4 years old to when he died in 1995 & every year around Halloween he made fun , always gave tips for children trick or treating on Halloween night & sometimes the Saturday night before Halloween he would host a late night movie , hard to believe he died 26 years ago

[@Kennethrandallross]

I'm here. AND A FAN BECAUSE I WAS PUT UNDER HIS SPELL SINCE 197?

[@marthatoler2936]

He was so cool and always had time for his fans

[@beledigrrl]

I loved him so much when I was a kid!!! RIP!

[@FingerBreakerWu]

Remember watching him riff “The Wraith” back in the day because it was so memorable for him continuing to mispronounce the name as “The Wrath”. 😂

[@jeffcook1054]

Thank you. I miss him.

[@ianfeuerhake1859]

RIP Paul, and Barbara

[@marklawrence2970]

I so miss Dr

[@demonic477]

my bad 73 till 90 forgive me I'm Old I just posted a minute ago and caught my miss type

[@matthewbennett85]

Great stuff Truly missed

[@MikeBrown-bs7qu]

I remember watching this and Elvira as a kid.

[@margueriteschneid6236]

I loved it

[@lonniedohlen]

Any Chance I can Buy a COPY of this?

[@theaustinwalker]

Are there full episodes of Creature Feature available anywhere?

[@marclayne9261]

How can one find a list of movies Dr Paul, hosted...

[@gooner9038]

Here ya go: web.archive.org/web/20090224031933/www.crazedfanboy.com/creaturefeature/index.html

[@zcam1969]

there is a website google his name

[@marclayne9261]

@@gooner9038 Thanks!!!!

[@serafindecubacigars6871]

A Tampa Legend

[@rudyiraheta80]

that's should be now my network & cw they are branded as my/your cw 44

[@alleloc]

How did he come up with the name ? Dr. Paul Bearer

[@nfergus11]

FYI...A pallbearer is a person who helps to carry or officially escort a coffin at a funeral

[@aileenwagner2576]

I think there was someone who really had that name in real life.

[@MatChew75]

Dr Paul Bearer rer rer rer rer.

[@bookhouse70]

What's the last name of the author of that letter? William... what? Meis? Myes? Neis? Nyes?

[@davidhunt8456]

Who was that lady reporter? Is that Kelly ring? She was replaced by Kelly Craig

[@davidhunt8456]

@@RobMillerFL no Rob I was mistaken. But I remember Barbara Callahan ty

[@themeanhornet1070]

I remember he use to take nails out of his coffin and smoke them.

[@dennisssmock3553]

Doctor Paul bear Woodruff haven Florida. We watched his program. And then we watched . Is tells from the crippled

[@roaddjack2404]

wonder was dr paul flattered or insulted when wwf created their own version of Paul Bearer??