We’re kicking off Halloween week with a profile of actor, writer and producer Larry Underwood and local Nashville television legend Dr. Gangrene. Wait, is this one profile or two? Hmmm.
Horror hosts emerged nationwide after Vampira burst onto the late night Los Angeles television scene in 1954. In 1971, Nashville’s WSM-TV launched its own with Creature Feature Saturday hosted by Sir Cecil Creape. Decades later on July 1, 1999, Larry Underwood, inspired by the legendary Creape, created his Dr. Gangrene alter ego and produced his first episode of Chiller Cinema.
Today, we welcome the physician of fright, Dr. Gangrene, and Horror Host Hall of Famer Underwood to tell us about the history of Nashville horror hosts, the Gangrene origin story, and Underwood’s fascination with monsters, fear and the horror host genre of cornball humor.
This episode was produced by Khalil Ekulona and Elizabeth Burton.
GUEST
- Larry Underwood | Actor, writer, producer
- Dr. Gangrene | TV horror movie host
Learn More
- Countdown to Halloween with Dr. Gangrene on his YouTube channel.
- WPLN | Sir Cecil Creape: Nashville’s Hometown Ghoul
- The Historical Marker Database | Russ McCown/Sir Cecil Creape
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM