SHOCK!

MEL JASS

"Shock!" (aka "Shock Theater") was a hosted horror movie show, with host Mel Jass. The show was screened on WTCN-TV, Channel 11 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; commencing on 1 February 1958; every Saturday at 10:30pm. The show presented and screened the 52 Universal horror movies, with the first being the 1931 horror movie "Frankenstein". The show likely ended in early 1959. MEL JASS Mel Jass (born on 24 March 1917 in St Paul, Minnesota, USA) was a pioneer who became one of the region’s best known and best loved personalities. Born in St. Paul, he began his career at a small Montana radio station where he served as manager, program director, and salesman. Within five years, he was announcing for NBC. He served in the US Air Force, then returned to the Twin Cities as a key figure at Twin Cities Television Lab, which opened in 1947 to provide training for the new industry. In 1949 he joined WCCO TV as an announcer and emcee, hosting his Mel Jass Show variety program, Popeye's Clubhouse, and other programs. He moved to WTCN TV in 1957, and in 1958, Mel's Matinee Movie began its 21-year run. The movies were not always great, but the real attraction was Jass himself. He interviewed guests, told stories about Hollywood, where he had worked for several years, and, of course, did lots of commercials. He called his style aggressive humility. His sincerity and ingratiating manner won viewers over while his powerful voice grabbed their attention and urged them to buy. The audience loved him, and his fellow broadcasters admired his generosity and devotion to family as much as his incredible ad-lib skills. Mel Jass passed away, at the age of 80, on January 20, 1997.

LINKS

Internet Movie Data Base "Shock!"	Film Dope "Mel Jass"	Internet Movie Data Base "Mel Jass"
St Louis Park Historical Society "Mel Jass"	Minnesota KidVid "Mel Jass"	Pavek Museum "Mel Jass"

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