A Public Memorial To Bob Wilkins In Sacramento

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: Mr. Lobo

This coming Sunday there will be a public memorial to the late Bob Wilkins in Sacramento.

According to Mr. Lobo (of the TV series Cinema Insomnia and a dear friend of Wilkins) the three-hour event will feature some rare 16mm films of the Bay Area television icon that reportedly will "blow fans away." The event will also feature several clips from Bob Wilkin's late night program, "Creature Features", along with a display of memorabilia that includes the infamous Captain Comics Costume.

Fans will also be able to sit, and have photos taken, in one of Bob's signature rocking chairs.

Mr. Lobo, Ernie Fosselius, Scott Moon, the Wilkins Family, close friends and fans will all get a special chance to share their memories of Bob Wilkins in a special 'open-mic' presentation. This is certain to be a very emotional moment that will honor a man who brought so much joy to so many people.

There will be refreshments, water and soda on hand, plus a special "Watch Horror Films" documentary will be on sale at the event.

SACRAMENTO BOB WILKINS MEMORIAL FOR THE FANS AND GENERAL PUBLIC
When: Sunday March 29th
Time: 5PM to 8PM
Where: 17th & "I" St. Downtown Sacramento



See Also: Is There Something Bold And Creative Brewing In Sacramento? / Support Your Local Horror Host....Or In This Case Mr Lobo / Bob Wilkins 1932-2009 The Passing Of A Bay Area Icon / Merry Christmas From Monster Island / Mr Lobo Composes A New Halloween Song / Silicon Presents The Lobotronix Film Show / Mr Lobo And Conrad Brooks Cast In Plan 9 From Outer Space Remake / Mr. Lobo & The Queen Of Trash Get The VIP Treatment At The B Movie Celebration / Sara Dunn Photo Shoot And Casting News / B Movie Celebration Scores World Premiere Of Cleavagefield / The Hometown Of The B Movie Celebration Needs Our Help! / Cinema Insomnia: In Search Of Ancient Astronauts /Mr Lobo To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award At The B Movie Celebration / Famous People Talk About Star Wars / Two More Big Reasons To Go To The Fangoria Weekend Of Horrors / Donate Trash So That The Queen Of Trash Can Make Her Music Video Debut / Interview: Sara Dunn (Queen of Trash)

Is There Something Bold And Creative Brewing In Sacramento?

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: Mr. Lobo

Okay, I'm only supposed to 'tease' this one, although I know a lot more that isn't going to be published.....at least not yet.

Three cult movie icons, Mr. Lobo (Cinema Insomnia), Scott Moon (Planet X Magazine) and Ernie Fosselius (Harware Wars), have come up with a very interesting way to pay tribute to the late San Francisco television icon, Bob Wilkins.

Presently the trio is working on putting together "The Wilkins Building Project", a creative think tank and art collective with a focus on the Sacramento community. Ultimately the group hopes that their collective will become the artistic 'center-piece' of the greater Sacramento area.

Mr. Lobo explains, "Our ambition for The Wilkins Building is to encourage Sacramento artists, media professionals, companies, and patrons to stay in region and to provide activities and events that enrich the community, generate funds, as well as raise money for worthy causes like Alzheimer’s research, Literacy, Children’s Hospitals and Suicide Prevention."

At this point the "The Wilkins Building Project" is in its early planning stages, in fact at this point it is only a proposal, but it looks like it should be able to gain enough support from local government and residents to become a reality. God willing.

Mr. Lobo promises to keep us updated on the projects progress. As soon as there is a need, I will post information on how fans can help get the ball rolling.

All great things start off as good idea or a dream.

See Also: Support Your Local Horror Host....Or In This Case Mr Lobo / Bob Wilkins 1932-2009 The Passing Of A Bay Area Icon / Merry Christmas From Monster Island / Mr Lobo Composes A New Halloween Song / Silicon Presents The Lobotronix Film Show / Mr Lobo And Conrad Brooks Cast In Plan 9 From Outer Space Remake / Mr. Lobo & The Queen Of Trash Get The VIP Treatment At The B Movie Celebration / Sara Dunn Photo Shoot And Casting News / B Movie Celebration Scores World Premiere Of Cleavagefield / The Hometown Of The B Movie Celebration Needs Our Help! / Cinema Insomnia: In Search Of Ancient Astronauts /Mr Lobo To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award At The B Movie Celebration / Famous People Talk About Star Wars / Two More Big Reasons To Go To The Fangoria Weekend Of Horrors / Donate Trash So That The Queen Of Trash Can Make Her Music Video Debut / Interview: Sara Dunn (Queen of Trash)

Support Your Local Horror Host....Or In This Case Mr Lobo

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: Olav Phillips / Support Your Local Horror Host.com

As writer of fantasy and Sci Fi news and entertainment related articles, I receive frequent requests to lend my name to all kinds of causes and products. Admittedly most of the stuff that fills my e-mail inbox is crap. It seems everybody wants you to say something good about their cause.

Well today I actually received an e-mail about a cause that I can....honestly, put my backing into.

It seems that a group of fans has put together a website to gather support for their quest to get the nationally syndicated program, "Cinema Insomnia" back on the air in the San Francisco area. Now, I know that sounds strange. Isn't "Cinema Insomnia" produced in Sacramento? Didn't you just say that the show was syndicated around the country?

The answer to both of those questions is....yes. However, the program that is produced in Northern California, isn't on the air there. I personally have talked to the shows host, Mr. Lobo, about this enigma many times. He has always been amazed that his program has gained popularity is several regions of the country, yet it has remained somewhat unknown in his own back yard.

Well, now maybe something will be done about that.

It is only fitting that after the passing of legendary Bay area Horror Host, Bob Wilkins, that Lobo and "Cinema Insomnia" enter the very same homes that cherished Wilkin's "Creature Features.".

In fact it is even more apropos, when you consider that Mr. Lobo, himself, was mentored by the late Bob Wilkins.

Most fans already know that I consider "Cinema Insomnia" to be a hidden treasure, in the mixed-up television circus of reality shows and boring sitcoms.So, it would stand to reason that I would jump aboard this cause with both feet.

OKAY FANS! KNOW IS THE TIME TO GET "CINEMA INSOMNIA" ON THE AIR IN THE BAY AREA! HECK....LETS GET THE SHOW ON THE AIR ACROSS THE COUNTRY!

For more info please visit: Support Your Local Horror Host

See Also: Bob Wilkins 1932-2009 The Passing Of A Bay Area Icon / Merry Christmas From Monster Island / Mr Lobo Composes A New Halloween Song / Silicon Presents The Lobotronix Film Show / Mr Lobo And Conrad Brooks Cast In Plan 9 From Outer Space Remake / Mr. Lobo & The Queen Of Trash Get The VIP Treatment At The B Movie Celebration / Sara Dunn Photo Shoot And Casting News / B Movie Celebration Scores World Premiere Of Cleavagefield / The Hometown Of The B Movie Celebration Needs Our Help! / Cinema Insomnia: In Search Of Ancient Astronauts /Mr Lobo To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award At The B Movie Celebration / Famous People Talk About Star Wars / Two More Big Reasons To Go To The Fangoria Weekend Of Horrors / Donate Trash So That The Queen Of Trash Can Make Her Music Video Debut / Interview: Sara Dunn (Queen of Trash)

Bob Wilkins 1932-2009 The Passing Of A Bay Area Icon

Written By: Scott Moon
Additional Content: Youtube / Bobwilkins.net / Wikipedia

Dear Friends,

On January 7, 2009, Bob Wilkins passed away peacefully. As many of you know, Bob had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for the past several years and his family appreciates the concern, thoughts and prayers from his friends and fans.

When I first met Bob in 1995, he was still at the top of his game. Since then, I've been designing and maintaining his official website, and even produced (along with Mr. Lobo) two live Creature Features events in Sacramento. Its been an honor and a privilege to not only work with Bob, but to become friends with him and his family.

You can email your condolences to scottmoon@scottmoon.net and I will pass them along to the Wilkins family.

Scott Moon



Bob Wilkins was best known as the creator and host of a popular television show named Creature Features that ran on KTVU in the San Francisco Bay Area from 1971 to 1982 that showed (usually) very bad science fiction and horror films. For example the classic low-budget Plan 9 From Outer Space, produced and directed by Ed Wood Jr. and which features the last footage of Bela Lugosi, was first televised in the San Francisco Bay Area on Creature Features. In addition, "Night of the Living Dead" by George A. Romero received its world television premiere on the show, just a couple of years after its original theatrical runs.

His style of wit was very dry, and the type of movies that were shown fit very well with his poking fun at them, which was a big part of his appeal to his fans (think MST3K). As host of the show, his dry wit and onmnipresent cigar became his trademarks.

Bob Wilkins started his on-camera television career in 1963 at KCRA in Sacramento. He was writing and producing commercials for the station when he was tabbed to be a fill in host for an afternoon movie show in 1964. On September 10, 1966, Bob Wilkins got his own time slot, hosting Seven Arts Theater which followed the station's 11 p.m. newscast. On January 9, 1971, KTVU hired him to host the Bay Area version.

In 1978, Wilkins launched an afternoon kids' program on KTVU, Captain Cosmic, which showcased various sci-fi serials such as Spectreman, The Space Giants, Ultraman, and Johnny Sokko. Japanese imports were a prime focus, though the show also featured old Hollywood serials such as Flash Gordon. Wilkins was uncredited, but fans of his Creature Features program recognized him immediately. His sidekick on this show was a robot named 2T2, which emulated R2D2 in the Star Wars movies

On February 24, 1979, Wilkins relinquished the Creature Features hosting duties to San Francisco Chronicle writer John Stanley. He continued his Seven Arts program on KTXL (which had picked up the program after KCRA cancelled it in 1971) on September 18, 1971 until February 14, 1981. Wilkins's fans include Bay Area filmmakers, including George Lucas, who watched the Sacramento programs as a youth in Modesto.

Although no longer a fixture on television, Wilkins continued to make appearances at comic book and fantasy festivals. As of 2007, Wilkins retired and moved to Reno, Nevada.

John Stanley, Wilkins's replacement on Creature Features, reported in an interview on the radio program Coast to Coast on August 14, 2007 that Wilkins has been stricken with Alzheimer's disease. Bob Wilkins lived out the remainder of his life in Sacramento, California.