  Ed_golick Member Username: Ed_golick Post Number: 611 Registered: 10-2003 |
Just read on Keith Milford's Vintage Detroit TV and Movie Board that Lawson Deming, WJBK-TV's Sir Graves Ghastly, passed away last night. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 1255 Registered: 12-2005 |
Well, they obviously have already fit him for his casket.................... RIP Lawson, thanks for many chilling movie intros | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 2006 Registered: 12-2005 |
http://www.sirgravesghastly.co m/  | ||
River_rat Member Username: River_rat Post Number: 266 Registered: 02-2006 |
Another, never to be repeated, piece of Detroit history has passed. Even as an adult in the late 60's and early 70's, Lawson's camp schtik was fun. The show was never scary, but Detroit itself became scary about that time. | ||
Gibran Member Username: Gibran Post Number: 236 Registered: 02-2007 |
many a sat..we would go to the basement and turn of the lights and watch his show...when did he stop broadcasting? Remember Bill Kennedy at the movies?//these were icons as well as milky the clown... RIP (that almost seems redundant) thanks for the laughs... | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 2012 Registered: 12-2005 |
The saddest thing is that there's been no one available to pick up the batton for far too long. There the batton will sit on the ground, forever motionless. | ||
D2dyeah Member Username: D2dyeah Post Number: 49 Registered: 09-2005 |
Sir Graves was always fun and entertaining, never scary. Until one night when he showed, "Premature Burial", and that scared the S#*@ out of us. Thank you Lawson Deming!! | ||
Kenp Member Username: Kenp Post Number: 460 Registered: 03-2006 |
RIP Sir Graves, you were my favorite weekend TV ghoul as a little kid. | ||
Tammypio Member Username: Tammypio Post Number: 114 Registered: 04-2005 |
I spent many moments peering over my hands or a blanket while watching what seemed like the scariest movies EVER as a child! Sir Graves Ghastly...you are one of my earliest and fondest television memories! RIP...you will be missed! | ||
Kathinozarks Member Username: Kathinozarks Post Number: 404 Registered: 11-2006 |
Awww, time marches on. SGG was such a television staple of any Detroit area child during his run. Campy and great! RIP, you rocked! I just read the linked site and there was a picture of an album that I bought when I was a kid! Chilling, Thrilling sounds of the Haunted House! I've never remembered how I got that album, (maybe one of those little magazines that you got at grade school and ordered books and records and stuff?), but I still have it and play it while giving out candy on Halloween; the absolute BEST sound effects - really creepy! When the cat howls and screams come on, my cat freaks out, so I always pick up the stylus and go to the next cut. Great website! (Message edited by kathinozarks on April 25, 2007) | ||
Jimg Member Username: Jimg Post Number: 831 Registered: 10-2003 |
Graves, yeah baby I have many memories of you... and those funky flicks you'd host... | ||
Rickinatlanta Member Username: Rickinatlanta Post Number: 50 Registered: 07-2006 |
I'd spend the night at my buddy's house next door on Gartner in SW and watch Sir Graves. We'd literally scare the shit out of his little brother until their dad would come down to the basement and scare the shit out of US!! Those old movies left EVERYTHING up to your imagination unlike the gore now. RIP!!! | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 2013 Registered: 12-2005 |
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Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 2015 Registered: 12-2005 |
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Professorscott Member Username: Professorscott Post Number: 300 Registered: 12-2006 |
Has this information appeared anywhere public yet other than on blogs? I would think someone at the TV stations or newspapers would have it. I could be wrong, of course. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 2016 Registered: 12-2005 |
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Ookpik Member Username: Ookpik Post Number: 199 Registered: 01-2007 |
RIP Sir Graves! Thanks for putting my drawing in the Art Ghoullery!  Ookpik | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 2017 Registered: 12-2005 |
quote:If it hasn't, and he hasn't, he certainly deserves to see how he will have been respected after the fact. I so much loved that guy. [Sniff] | ||
Detroitej72 Member Username: Detroitej72 Post Number: 534 Registered: 05-2006 |
RIP Sir Graves... Yet another childhood icon is gone... ______________________________ ___________________ Another, never to be repeated, piece of Detroit history has passed. Aman. Thoughts and prayers to his family. I see him in heaven giving a performance to all those who loved his shtick as a glimps from past innocents. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 2018 Registered: 12-2005 |
Thanks to Ed_golick for bringing this to our attention and thanks to Keith Milford for keeping the flame alive for so many years. | ||
Barnesfoto Member Username: Barnesfoto Post Number: 3406 Registered: 10-2003 |
I am so sad, what an original part of Detroit history...I had not thought about that show in decades, and yet, it was one of so many things that made growing up in Detroit so amazing. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 4195 Registered: 08-2004 |
Seems like all 60's local icons we have left are Sonny Eliot, Soupy Sales and to a lesser degree (for those who watched her 15 minute show in the late afternoons) Carol Duvall. Sonny still does his shtick on WWJ in the afternoons, Soupy is retired (?) in NYC, and Carol Duvall (after decades of not seeing her) does her HGTV craft shows from Leelanau (her home) or Traverse City. | ||
Redvetred Member Username: Redvetred Post Number: 8 Registered: 04-2007 |
Sad that another legend has departed. What an entertaining site has been left in his memory: http://www.sirgravesghastly.co m Thanks Jimaz. | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 5059 Registered: 11-2004 |
Count Scary couldn't carry this guy's jock. Sir Graves was truly a Detroit TV icon for me growing up. He will be missed. | ||
Bongman Member Username: Bongman Post Number: 1469 Registered: 12-2003 |
I Remember when he would that "I Want To Bite Your Hand" song ? Didn't he and the Ghoul do a one-time show together on a Saturday night ? | ||
Mallory Member Username: Mallory Post Number: 103 Registered: 05-2006 |
The REAL sad thing is that, not only has this icon passed, but this type of television has passed. There are no movie hosts anymore. And some of the "dinner and a movie" fare on the cable networks just insult one's intelligence. Too bad most local channels today have long bailed on the "Bill Kennedy"-type movie shows. Sad. Sir was pure shtick, but imagine a cable network (like an AMC) that would have hosts that would work shifts, like the old MTV VJ's used to do. Cool, different, and the corporate blowhards would never have it. | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 5061 Registered: 11-2004 |
Mallory- I think you nailed it. I remember the production values on this gimmick being dirt poor and yet he was out there every week trying to generate some interest for the flicks that they showed. Any quirky knowledge that you could learn about a movie won't be served up by a knowlegable host anymore. Much like Detroit radio- there aren't any more true personalilities to follow as authorities any more. | ||
Illwill Member Username: Illwill Post Number: 89 Registered: 11-2003 |
i still got chills when i opened up the website...wow! | ||
Ewo Member Username: Ewo Post Number: 22 Registered: 05-2006 |
Goodbye Sir Graves, I enjoyed many Saturday afternoons watching you. NYAH AH AH AH AH!!! | ||
Ed_golick Member Username: Ed_golick Post Number: 612 Registered: 10-2003 |
Fox 2 did a short story on Deming this morning. | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 1571 Registered: 10-2003 |
I really enjoyed Sir Graves as a kid. I think I was more scared by his makeup job than his movies. | ||
Pam Member Username: Pam Post Number: 1435 Registered: 11-2005 |
quote: Heh. I thought his nose was fake but looking at the pics above, I guess it wasn't. | ||
Beadgrl Member Username: Beadgrl Post Number: 130 Registered: 07-2006 |
Great site by Keith Milford. I wonder where he will be buried. i'd love to visit his grave at some point. /morbid | ||
Cambrian Member Username: Cambrian Post Number: 1034 Registered: 08-2006 |
Many a Saturday was spent watching Sir Graves, He came on at like 2pm? If his movie was lame that week, you could flip over to the Channel 50 creature feature that started at 3 pm. Anyone remember who did the Creature feature them song? Mom was strict and would not let me stay up late on the weekends, so it was a real treat to stay over at my friends house and watch Svenghali. Why are there no shows like this now? I could use a few more Sir Graves's and a few less "pimp my rides". | ||
Paulmcall Member Username: Paulmcall Post Number: 91 Registered: 05-2004 |
The guy was so bad... he was good. I sort of miss the corny, local tv hosts we had back in the day. Everything is so homogenized these days. I don't recognize most of the "local" news people anymore. | ||
Spacemonkey Member Username: Spacemonkey Post Number: 191 Registered: 03-2006 |
That guy scared the pants off me as a kid. Very creepy. | ||
Esp Member Username: Esp Post Number: 56 Registered: 09-2005 |
I've been watching old horror movies lately. 75th anniversary editions "Dracula", "Frankenstein" ... Bela Lugosi's "The Black Cat" up next. A lot of these old thrillers were barely over an hour long. Looking back I remember all the commercials, but I hung in there with Sir Graves. He really favored the BEST horror classics from the 1930s. I remember "Creature Feature" coming later on channel 50 or 56? I think they ran more British horror? Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee's claim to fame before "Star Wars." | ||
Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm Post Number: 821 Registered: 10-2003 |
Probably should throw this in (for historical purposes only)..... www.morgus.com Should be DrMorgus, shouldn't it? | ||
Thnk2mch Member Username: Thnk2mch Post Number: 888 Registered: 02-2006 |
Sir Graves Ghastly's My Space | ||
Vic_doucette Member Username: Vic_doucette Post Number: 329 Registered: 10-2003 |
They say these things happen in threes: http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBI Z/Music/04/26/obit.pickett.ap/ index.html Who'll be next? Elvira, Mistress of the Dark? | ||
Eric_w Member Username: Eric_w Post Number: 146 Registered: 02-2007 |
I loved his show. The Blob was classic corny TV. Whenever I watch the Vampire flick Fright Night I think of him- HAPPYYYYY HAUNTINGGGGG SIR GRAVES " To die to be truly dead,that must be glorious!" Count Dracula "AKA" Bela Lugosi 1933 | ||
Ed_golick Member Username: Ed_golick Post Number: 613 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thnk2mch, That's just a fan site, with someone pretending to be Sir Graves. Vic, What a bizarre coincidence! | ||
Walkerpub Member Username: Walkerpub Post Number: 155 Registered: 12-2003 |
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=/20070426/ENT 03/70426045 | ||
Thnk2mch Member Username: Thnk2mch Post Number: 889 Registered: 02-2006 |
quote: I figured as much, but it's still pretty cool. | ||
Ed_golick Member Username: Ed_golick Post Number: 614 Registered: 10-2003 |
I agree. It's a cool site, but I don't understand why people get their jollies pretending to be someone else on the internet. It also appears that whoever put up the site stole a great deal from Keith Milford's Sir Graves site. (Message edited by Ed Golick on April 26, 2007) | ||
D2dyeah Member Username: D2dyeah Post Number: 50 Registered: 09-2005 |
Does anyone know if WJBK still has his coffin,"BINKY/NIGHTY NIGHT "or any of the other show props? | ||
Ed_golick Member Username: Ed_golick Post Number: 615 Registered: 10-2003 |
WJBK doesn't have anything from the show, not even video footage. The original gate with the SG monogram that opened every show is in the posession of a local musician. | ||
Quozl Member Username: Quozl Post Number: 496 Registered: 07-2005 |
I will miss ya Sir Graves, watched you all the time as we dimmed the lights, pulled down the shade and closed the drapes on a Saturday afternoon... | ||
Bongman Member Username: Bongman Post Number: 1471 Registered: 12-2003 |
Anyone remember who did the Creature feature theme song? The middle theremin section of Zep's, "Whole Lotta Love" was used for years. | ||
Mcp001 Member Username: Mcp001 Post Number: 2607 Registered: 11-2003 |
If anyone's interested, "TV Land Detroit" by Gordon Castelnero has a chapter in it on Sir Graves. There's one line in it that comes to mind from Lawson Deming himself," I never had one bit of hostility directed toward me. The press was always very kind to me...I was lovable, and I really had fun doing Sir Graves Ghastly." They definitely don't make them like that anymore. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 2046 Registered: 12-2005 |
quote:He would show artwork sent in by children. Some of it was absolutely hideous. But he always praised them all as masterpieces no matter what. Who could fault a guy like that? Yep, one of a kind. | ||
Ookpik Member Username: Ookpik Post Number: 201 Registered: 01-2007 |
I was one of those children who had their art displayed by Sir Graves. That was easily 35+ years ago. I remember it fondly to this day. Ookpik | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 2048 Registered: 12-2005 |
Ookpik, I'm sure your's was not one of the hideous. Don'tcha wish you'd saved a copy of it to post here?  (Message edited by Jimaz on April 27, 2007) | ||
Ed_golick Member Username: Ed_golick Post Number: 617 Registered: 10-2003 |
If your masterpiece was picked to be in the "Art Ghoulery" you were sent a Sir Graves photograph. | ||
Ookpik Member Username: Ookpik Post Number: 202 Registered: 01-2007 |
Which I still have. And yes Jimaz, I wish I had a copy to post here. I think Sir Graves even said my name! Oookpik | ||
Steamaker Member Username: Steamaker Post Number: 10 Registered: 03-2007 |
I remember watching him also. Gosh, the memories. SGG, the Ghoul, Bill Kennedy, Rita Bell. I can't remember the last time I just sat around the house watching old movies | ||
Leob Member Username: Leob Post Number: 89 Registered: 10-2005 |
I gotta share my Sir Graves story: When me and my pal were 12 years old we were serious SGG fans. My pal was an even bigger monster movie fan, and he would have his mom mail his carefully crafted monster drawings to Sir Graves on a weekly basis. He could never figure out why his art never appeared in the "Art Ghoullery". One day, while we were at the local paper drive rooting through reams of papers for "magazines", we discovered his art work. "Wow !! Sir Graves must live in our neighborhood!" my buddy said. "He must have loved my work so much he took it home to post it on his fridge!" "Then, somehow it fell into his recycling bag and ended up at the paper drive!" I think we spent the rest of the afternoon arguing over which was more likely, Vampire T.V. hosts living in our neighborhood or his mom pitching out his artwork along with the rest of the recycleables !! |
