The cast of Shock Theatre, from left, Dirge the Dream Reaper, Ding Bat, Doc Shock and Nurse Goodbody.It looks like the hard work, patience, passion and belief in the project might be paying off for Jack Gray and Shock Theatre. Several years ago, Gray revived the beloved format and the characters Dr. Shock, Dingbat and Nurse Goodbody and has spent many hours trying to find a regular home for it.
For those unfamiliar, Shock Theatre was a popular local TV show in the '70s. Gray has added a new character, Dirge, and a musical component to the old format, which featured the characters yukking it up as they introduced a different horror film each week.
The crew has completed its seventh episode, which includes the horror classic "The Brain That Wouldn't Die," and will air it Saturday, Sept. 6, just after midnight on WDEF-TV 12. Kevn Kenney of Drivin' N Cryin' will make a special appearance on the show.
On Oct. 4, the film will be "House on Haunted Hill," and the crew headed down to Prater's Mill in North Georgia to film the segment with the Murray County Paranormal Investigators. Musical guest for the show will be Louie Wamp and band, the Bootastics.
Later in the month, on Oct. 25, Shock Theatre will screen an indie film called "The Dead Matter." Adding to the flavor of the evening with be horror-film soundtrack composers Midnight Syndicate.
Another new episode will air Nov. 1 featuring the film "Spider Baby." Gray says he has a surprise planned for that night but isn't ready to announce what it is yet.
n Mayor Andy Berke has declared this Artist Appreciation Week. It is timed to end on Saturday with the annual Gallery Hop, sponsored by the Association for Visual Arts. Both events are being endorsed by Friends of Local Artists and Galleries, a new organization created to promote original, local art and the notion that people might actually pay for it.
FLAG was founded by Tony Roland, Courtenay James, Kat Morris, Steven Llorca and David Jones.
One of their goals is "to double the sales of local, original art in Chattanooga within three years."
That is a bold and noble goal. We've written here many times that Chattanoogans love attending the many cool local events that showcase local art, but we don't seem to like paying for it. Hopefully that is changing, and Gallery Hop is a good way to get out, have some fun, see what's out there and buy something.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6354.