Recently I wrote about TV watching and choices in the 1960s for me. Even though I only had 3 channels to choose from, there was plenty of shows to watch.

Every Saturday, I looked forward to what I call quality cartoons and shows, unlike the offerings of today. We had Popeye, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Bugs Bunny, Dick Tracy, Underdog, Magilla Gorilla, The Monkees, The Thunderbirds and so many more that I've probably forgotten.

After the onslaught of cartoons, I looked forward to the 1pm showing of 'Monster Movie Matinee' with host Dr. E Nickolas Witty and his trusty sidekick, Epal. It aired from 1964 to 1980 on WSYR in Syracuse. Where I grew up, we received only 3 channels, all from Syracuse. If you lived in the greater Syracuse/Utica area during those years, you probably remember 'Monster Movie Matinee.'

If I remember correctly. we never saw the good Doctor. You heard him speak from a coffin with his hand, complete with long fingernails sticking out of the coffin. The show was produced locally at the Syracuse TV station and it was as good as anything Hollywood could have produced at the time!

The movies the show aired, were your typical older science fiction/monster movies, including 'The Day The Earth Stood Still', Frankenstein', 'The Wolfman' Them!', 'The War Of The Worlds', 'The Brain That Wouldn't Die'  and my favorite 'the Creature From The Black Lagoon.' As a child, the Creature was a frightening monster, but if you watch the movies today (there were 2 sequels), it's quite campy.

I miss those Saturdays and Monster Movie Matinee. Another great memory from my childhood. This was the opening to the show.

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