I Was a Teenage Hunchback on Chiller Theater button How I Spent One Chilly Halloween graphic

MY VISIT TO CHILLY BILLY'S CASTLE

By SUSAN DONLEY JOHNSTON

(Originally published in MonsterMad # 1, July 1997)

NOTE FROM THE WEBMONSTER:
About twenty years ago I worked in a computer center office with a young woman named Susan Donley (now Johnston). Eventually she got married and moved away to start a family, but since she has family and friends where I still live, I still hear from her once in a while.

You could've knocked me over with a feather when I learned that this vision of loveliness, this paragon of wholesome family values, had once appeared on Chilly Billy's show dressed up like Quasimodo — and had pictures to prove it!

I imposed on our friendship to get Susan to share her enviable experience with readers of my MonsterMad fanzine, and I'm reprinting it on my website now, years later, to embarrass her even more! So here's Sue with the story...
— E-gor

The face behind the mask! Sue Donley

THE FACE BEHIND THE MASK —
SUSAN DONLEY way back then!

Susan, Chilly Billy and Marci celebrate Halloween 1980

SUSAN, CHILLY BILLY and MARCI
Click for larger view.

In October 1980 my friend Marci Eddy (now McCulla) and I heard on a Pittsburgh radio station that Chilly Billy was asking for volunteers to be on Chiller Theater on Halloween night.  We decided to give it a shot and applied to be on the show.

I don't know how or why we were chosen (maybe it was the swimsuit photos?), but Chilly Billy himself called us and invited us on the show!

We had a fairly difficult time finding the studio, but we did find it about 30 minutes before taping began.  There were about 20 other "invitees" there (I didn't think to ask them if they got a personal invitation from the man himself...)

Chilly Billy would introduce the movie and would come back after some commercial breaks with various stunts. We were part of one of his commercial breaks.

The movie was terrible — The Electronic Monster. I think it's a close second to Plan 9 from Outer Space as the world's worst sci-fi movie.

Marci and I had decided to do a spoof of the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Hunch had married the girl he loved and this was 40 years later. I was poor henpecked Hunch and Marci was the Mrs. She created a hilarious costume with knee-high hose, a polyester floral dress, beads, and grapefruit placed strategically to mimic what time does to many unfortunate women's bodies.

We told one of Chilly Billy's helpers (sounds like Stephen! — E-gor) to introduce us as "Hunch and Mrs. Back." The young man did not quite get it and introduced us as "Mr. and Mrs. Humpin' Back." We really made quite a sight and Chilly Billy rose to his feet laughing and applauding.

Susan and Marci on the Chiller Theater Castle Set

"MR. AND MRS. HUMPIN' BACK" get a warm Chiller reception from
NORMAN THE CASTLE KEEPER (just visible behind hunch), STEPHEN
THE CASTLE PRANKSTER (to right and below grapefruit), GEORGETTE THE FUDGEMAKER, CHILLY BILLY CARDILLE and TERMINAL STARE.
Click for larger view.

Chilly Billy Cardille button (neon lettering)

See a feature article about Chilly Billy from the same issue of MonsterMad!

Read more MonsterMad raves!

Read a terrific Chilly Billy Interview originally published in Santo Scene, "The MexicanMonsterMovieMag"!

Visit E-gor's Chamber of TV Horror Hosts or go right to the CHILLY BILLY entry.

Browse the Chiller Theater TV Log, a growing list of movies shown.

Check out Chilly Billy's Records and Other MemoraBillya!


Posted March 12, 2005 by George "E-gor" Chastain.   E-mail E-gor!