I grew up during the 60's and 70's, right when there was a revival of interest in films like Frankenstein, Dracula, and the 50's sci-fi like "Them". Every week I would watch the "Chiller Thriller" movie from Pembina, North Dakota, Saturday at 10:30pm. Anticipating the weekly dose of classic horror was heaven to kids like me; in other words, kids who weren't the popular or athletic kids in school.A fellow fan of KCND's old horror show pays tribute to a man recently passing from us...
One thing I'd love to have is a copy of the short bit of credit animation and music the Chiller Thriller used-I still remember the footsteps going into the haunted house, and the bats flying out of the door. It was probably just pre-made production stuff the station picked up, but have you ever seen it posted anywhere?
ReplyDeleteYou remember more than I do, but now that you described it, I do remember that! No, alas I have never seen it. You're probably right, it's probably something someone slapped together, or stock footage, long gone...
ReplyDeleteAn interesting post with most comprehensive history of the behind-the-scenes mechinations surrounding the creation and eventual sale of KCND can be found at http://theviewfromseven.wordpress.com/2009/04/22/tv-stations-no-longer-a-licence-to-print-money/
ReplyDeleteMany years ago, my dad was hired by KNOX TV in Grand Forks, and was later assigned to be the station manager at the satellite station, KCND in Pembina. He is now 79, and suffering from Parkinson’s. My mom, who he’d married in 1956 while in Grand Forks, died last May. Dad’s having a rough go of it, and in several recent conversations, he revealed an interesting story: He was going to college and needed a job. He applied to KNOX TV out of Grand Forks in 1955. He married mom in 1956, and in 1958, when KNOX decided to provide television to Canada, which at that time, depended on the BBC for TV, a satellite station in Pembina was created, KCND TV. Dad was transferred there to be the station manager. He helped design and oversaw the building of the station, including channels below the flooring (which was 8" square metal plates) to accommodate the cords for the cameras and such. He was quite good and regularly commended for his work as a camera man at KNOX, but as a station manager, he didn't do so well, and was fired in 1960. While at KCND, he and several of his crew had worked up a deal in which Barney’s Ball Lake Lodge in Ontario would trade out a trip to their fly-in access only lodge for fishing if dad would create a segment about the place. Film clips were made, and then voice-over was added.
ReplyDeleteNow, as he is getting older and more debilitated by Parkinson’s, he said that his life would come full circle if he could go back to Barney’s. However, the original lodge and grounds no longer exist (although there is another one on the lake that goes by the name Ball Lake Lodge.) My two brothers and I would like to present him with a gift of a fishing trip to the existing lodge, along with his best fishing buddy from Montana. Along with that, we are looking for memorabilia that tags along with his time at KNOX and KCND. We have an old black and white of him behind the camera, but that’s all. I have found some old postcards online, as well as matchbooks, but would really like to find more personal items; most importantly, that clip he did at Barney’s. Is it even possible that it is stored somewhere? Or, perhaps, some archived paperwork or pictures of him from KNOX… anything! His name is Melvin Gene Higdem, and goes by Gene.
Dear 'Anonymous': I would LOVE to help you! Contact me at trishymouse@gmail.com if you see this. I truly appreciate the added history of KCND that you provided in your comments. I'd also like to obtain copies (or scans) or the photo of him behind the camera, etc. That would be amazing! But back to your questions. I will see what I can find out from any contacts I can dig up, but it won't help if we can't be in touch. I hope you read this and email me directly. Hope to hear from you!
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