Longtime readers may recall the autograph at right that I got from seven-footer "Mr. Whopper" when I was 8 years old. Today on Facebook, comics writer/artist (and actor) Craig Boldman reminded me of a long buried memory. Before Cincinnati's iconic Cool Ghoul came along to host WXIX-TV's SCREAM-IN Saturday night horror movie show, it was hosted by a "ghoulish couple" that
included...Mr. Whopper!
Mr. Whopper was Bill Engesser, a former (you guessed it) basketball player turned small time actor and spokesperson for Partridge Meats "Whopper" franks.
As an actor, he got the parts that were turned down by Ted Cassidy and Richard Kiel, ranging from the werewolf in the now classic nudie film HOUSE ON BARE MOUNTAIN (under the name Abe Greyhound) to Bigfoot on TV's Saturday morning superhero series, ISIS. His biggest credit was in the Burt Reynolds/Lauren Hutton picture, GATOR.
Memories are unclear and old newspapers aren't helping as to sorting out when the "ghoulish couple" ended and the Cool Ghoul began. If anyone has any more info (or photos!) please let me know! Thanks!
I believe that the Cool Ghoul took over for Mr. Whopper and "Ghostly Alice" in 1969
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