Blue Öyster Cult: Godzilla

It’s TV Thursday and our Halloween feature today comes from Blue Öyster Cult and their tune immortalizing the classic B movie character "Godzilla." This song was recently featured in a commercial for Auto Trader and qualifies for our inclusion as a Thursday feature.

Here’s the Auto Trader commercial:

Godzilla was one of those creature features often to get played on Pittsburgh’s Chiller Theater. In fact you might see the original (and best version) “Godzilla “and countless sequels such as, “King Kong vs. Godzilla,” “Godzilla vs. Mothra,” “Destroy all Monsters,” and “Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster.”

Hosted by Bill Cardille from 1963 to 1983, Chiller Theater was a Pittsburgh staple that aired a double feature every Saturday night at 11:30 on channel 11 (WIIC/WPXI). Chilly Billy Cardilli (as he was called) provided light hearted skits during commercial breaks. His campy humor and grade B horror films kept Pittsburghers amused for 20 years.

To get a sense of the antics of the host and his show, the following clips are from the 1991 Chiller Theater Reunion Show (in six parts).

In addition to his 20 year stint with Chiller Theater, Bill also hosted Studio Wrestling, was a Channel 11 weatherman, and appeared on numerous other TV and radio shows.  Securing his place in the pantheon of horror flix, George Romero hired Bill to play the role of the newscaster in both versions of his “Night of the Living Dead.”