R.I.P. BOB WILKINS, HOST OF "CREATURE FEATURES" (San Francisco)

[August]

Bob Wilkins, the legendary and beloved host of KTVU's "Creature Features" has been suffering from advanced Alzheimer's for several years and saddled with rapidly declining health. Now, I am afraid to report that only four hours after I received word that his wife Sally, and Bob’s doctors, said that we should prepare for his passing, Robert Gene Wilkins, has left us.

Inspired by the success of KIKAIDA in Hawaii in 1975, Bob produced the weekday show, "Captain Cosmic" (1977-81) which ran episodes of ULTRAMAN, JOHNNY SOKKO AND HIS FLYING ROBOT, THE SPACE GIANTS, SPECTREMAN, STAR BLAZERS and more. A big supporter of Japanese monster movies, "Captain Cosmic" also "serialized" several films, including GODZILLA VS. THE THING and DOGORA THE SPACE MONSTER, shown in five parts during the week.

Read the rest of my personal tribute, here:
http://augustragone.blogspot.com

 

[Forever Knight]

2009 is not off to a good start.

R.I.P. Wilkins.

 

[ryuuseipro]

2009 is not off to a good start.

R.I.P. Wilkins.

Sadly, the old generation is finally at the end of its rope. We're seeing veterans dropping left and right like flies, and it's reached an all-time high last year. It's a surprise when it happens to someone younger. (Aaron Smith, Guy Mariner Tucker, etc.)

I've heard of Bob Wilkins over the years, and saw a few of his works (like a couple of his many Creature Features hostings, and his "Captain Cosmic" role). While I never met him in person, I heard that he really was a nice guy. Imagine living in California to watch this guy on TV every day or week!

Mom vaguely remembered seeing his show! (In New York, even!)

According to Damon Foster, he wanted to bring Battle Hawk, among other shows, to the US, but of course, the US networks refused, as they thought they were too violent. (Yet they were still airing the "Classic Handful" at this point. Go figure!)

Bob was a very major part of our industry and fandom, tokusatsu or otherwise. May he rest in peace.

 

[GekiBlack]

R.I.P

 

[scikaiju]

R.I.P.

 

[August]

Actually, that story Damon told you, John, came from me. Bob consulted me on BATTLE HAWK, and I was in on an impromptu meeting at KTVU (while I was taping a show) with his consultant Bob Shaw. Wilkins was going to buy the series and syndicate it (since trying to get some series from KIKU and Tsuburaya Hawaii were frustrating and fruitless), and the discussion turned into a debate on the violence in the screener episode they received.

Shaw said that they were going to have to make some tough edits, especially a scene involving the villains machinegunning people into a mass grave. Wilkins argued that kids should be given more credit to tell the difference between real and cinematic violence. I guess they couldn't agree, and that adapting the series -- at that time when violence in children's programming was a very, very touchy subject -- proved to problematic.

Wow. We almost got BATTLE HAWK...

Another time, I was taping a show at the station, and Bob Wilkins asked if I could stick around and check out a screener. He set me up in a meeting room, told me this was "top secret" and popped in a tape. As the credits began I gasped, and Bob asked if I knew the series, and I belted out, "Yes, it's VOLTES V!"

The screener was the first episode of the series, dubbed into English and totally uncut (all of the violence was intact)... Bob said that he had to take care of some other business and that he would come back and find out what my verdict was. But, my mind was already made up as soon as the credits started. When Bob returned, he asked, "Should I pick this series up?" Of course, I said, "YES!"

When the series didn't materialize after a few months, I asked Bob what happened. He told me that the U.S. distributor had difficulty getting the series syndicated because of the brutality and violence. So, they pulled the show. But, a couple of months later, they offered another screener, this time, the series was featured a live action "host" and when things would get violent, he would say, "We're losing transmission kids; we'll be right back after these messages." Bob said that is was so awful, that it wasn't worth picking up.

Dammit, we almost got VOLTES V...

God Bless Bob Wilkins!

 

[CaptainB_Money]

R.I.P

 

[Black Ranger RX]

R.I.P.

 

[August]

In today's San Francisco Chronicle is a long and moving piece about the late great Bob Wilkins. host of the seminal "Creature Features." It appears in the last page of the B section of the paper.

You can also read it on SF Gate:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/09/BAQS15665F.DTL

There is also a story on KTVU.com:
http://www.ktvu.com/news/18442919/detail.html

This Saturday evening at 9:00 PM PST, there will be a tribute to Bob Wilkins on Cult Radio A Go-Go http://www.cultradioagogo with myself, John Stanley, Mr. Lobo, Will "The Thrill" Viharo and others. Please tune in!

This Monday evening from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM PST, the Joe Flynn Show will be dedicating their entire show to Bob Wilkins. Fans can call in or interact via Chat, and reminisce about Bob: http://www.livenow.com/thejoeflynnshow

A memorial service celebrating his life will be held on Saturday, January 24 at the Montclair Presbyterian Church in Oakland.

A recent documentary WATCH HORROR FILMS: KEEP AMERICA STRONG, will be screened at WonderCon at the end of February, with special guests sharing their memories of Bob, and DVDs of the documentary will be on sale at the show. http://www.comic-con.org/wc/

For more information about Bob, please go to the official website:
http://www.bobwilkins.net

 

[red spd ninja]

It was so Sad, My uncle Loves Sci-Fi Movies, We A huge Fan of Bob Wilkins, I watche Captain Cosmic & Creature Features.

R.I.P.