THE FAMOUS FACES OF INDY'S WTTV-4 By Julie Young

Recently I read THE FAMOUS FACES OF INDY'S WTTV-4 by Julie Young. This book tells about local television hosts such as Sammy Terry, Janie, Cowboy Bob, and Peggy.

 

 

I read it right after Sammy Terry died, but that was coincidental. I had asked about it in the library and had been placed on a hold list prior to his death.

I thought this was a pretty good book for the most part, although a little obtuse in places ( such as where there is a reference to Annette Funicello as someone who had been on the Mickey Mouse Club and later did peanut butter commercials, without mentioning her name ) and it mentions only criticism of classic films without any corresponding reference to criticism of modern television programs. I am none too keen about modern television programs, myself.






http://www.amazon.com/The-Famous-Faces-Indys-WTTV-4/dp/162619050X


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Sammy Terry Obituary

Sammy Terry was a local horror movie host on Indianapolis station WTTV Channel 4. You can see videos of him on youtube.

Sammy Terry had a long career as a horror movie host, but I think he was only on Channel 4 even though there was an item in the news that said he was going to be on Channel 11 ( a low power station that is no longer in operation ) which was repeated afterwards in a book about television horror movie hosts.

I met Sammy Terry years ago when he made a personal appearance at a Sears store downtown which has since gone out of business. That was back when he was on Channel 4, and I was only a kid at the time. I remember that his show was very popular with kids.

Here is his obituary from yesterday's paper:

Sammy Terry of Indianapolis late-night television dies at 83

Generations grew up watching TV pioneer on Indy's late-night horror series 'Nightmare Theater'

Bob Carter aka 'Sammy Terry' was a Friday night fixture as host of 'Shock Theater' and 'Nightmare Theater' during the 60s and 70s. The ghoul and his spider side-kick 'George' would introduce horror movies and provide banter during commercial breaks. Carter died Sunday at age 83. / File photo

Written by

Will Higgins

• From Star's archives: Revamping Sammy Terry

Bob Carter, who went by Sammy Terry while hosting a late-night scary movie on Indianapolis television from the 1960s into the 1980s, died Sunday, a spokesman for American Senior Communities confirmed.
Carter, who was 83, had been a resident of one of the communities for several years.
From 1962 to 1989, Carter introduced horror flicks on Channel 4’s “Nightmare Theater,” later called “Shock Theater.” He did it with style, beginning each show by climbing out of a coffin wearing extremely heavy make-up and a dark cape and skull cap arrangement. His sidekick was a pet spider named George. Carter, as Terry, was famous for his fiendish chuckle.
Carter had a separate life as the owner and operator of a music store on North Shadeland Avenue called Family Music Center.
Funeral arrangements could not yet be determined but are expected to include a public viewing

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