I was introduced to more sci-fi and horror movies than you could imagine - some very good - some very ignominious and rotten. Between movies, at times, Bob would interview sci-fi and horror stars - the likes of Christopher Lee and Buster Crabbe. It would start at around 8:00 or 9:00 in the evening (can't remember which) and ran until the wee hours of the morning, usually showcasing two movies per night. He would begin his commentary by telling the audience how bad the movie was, what was on the other channels, etc.

Wilkins knew folks wouldn't watch unless he told them NOT to. Sitting in a rocking chair next to a small table with a skull (with candle perched on top) and looking a bit like a thinner version of Laugh-In's Artie Johnson, Wilkins introduced me to the likes of 'Night of the Living Dead,' Ed Wood's 'Plan 9 From Outer Space,' 'The Monster of Echo Park Lake,' 'Dracula's Daughter,' 'Billy the Kid Meets Frankenstein,' some movie where an evil botanist develops a tree that sucks your blood from an elongated pistil through your cheek AND 'Bambi Meets Godzilla!' With such fine fare as this, who could resist? The show ran during the seventies. When there was nothing to do on Saturday night, I could always turn to my nerdy bespectacled friend, Bob Wilkins, who, between puffs of smoke on his giant cigar, would run commentary on the plethora of horror and sci-fi movies he presented on KTVU, Channel 2 - Oakland/San Francisco's independent station.

Creature features by steve jenkins