"I can honestly say 'Chiller Theater' was an honest expression of what Bill Cardille is all about." - Bill Cardille

Goodbye, Chilly Billy
by Mike Hasch, The Pittsburgh Press, Saturday, December 31, 1983

A part of Pittsburgh will die tonight.

While you're finishing your New Years Eve party and washing down that last bit of sauerkraut and hot dog with a swallow of IC Light, Chilly Billy Cardille's last "Chiller Theater" show, which begins at 1 am., will have about run its course.

Actually, the end came nine days ago when the crew set up the castle setting one last time to tape the grand finale - a double feature tribute to Cardille and the television program that replaced the bath as a Saturday night institution.

Some of the cameramen and technicians involved in taping the show were there 20 years ago in the days of live television when "Chiller" made its debut.

The rapport they had with Cardille, along with the directing of Jack Bleriot and inspired shenanigans by the star himself, contributed to making "Chiller" a success.

Typically, the last taping session wasn't maudlin. Although not as upbeat and snappy as usual, the jokes and laughs were still there, especially during the playing of a few old tapes resurrected for tonight's program.

Some of the crew confided privately that they couldn't understand why such a "classy" show kept getting pushed around and changed by Channel 11's management until its demise became inevitable.

In the show's heyday, "Chiller" double features, beginning at 11:30 p.m., aired until the wee hours of Sunday morning.
Later, the station bowed to network pressure and replaced the first movie with NBC's once-popular "Saturday Night Live" even though, according to some crew members, "Chiller's" ratings were still high and brought in better advertising revenue than its successor.

At the same time, the station stopped airing promotion spots for the program. Later, in what was seen as the most obvious attempt to kill the show, the starting time was pushed. back to 2 .a.m.

Nevertheless, the prevailing attitude at the taping of the final show wasn't bitter. Station vice president Pat Gmiter, who axed "Chiller," even showed up to appear with Cardille on the show's opening segment.

And there was some guarded optimism that WPXI's management will change its mind and resume the show someday, especially if public response to the cancellation is negative. Actually, the station will continue to present a horror movie at 2 a.m. Sundays without a host.

Cardille, a warm yet realistic individual and a survivor in the harsh world of TV, clings to the hope that the show will be revived.

His never-look-back attitude is nowhere more apparent than in his collection of "Chiller" memorabilia and tapes - there aren't any.

He and Bleriot had to scrounge to dig up the 12 tapes of past shows and skits By Cardille's estimation, there are no more than a half-dozen more in existence, a paltry reminder of the more than 4,500 bits presented in the past 20 years.

These tapes add poignancy to the show, none more than a black and white tape of a much younger Cardille playing the Little Old Monster Maker with Phyllis Diller.

The one closest to Cardille's heart is a skit with his late father, a tape Chilly Billy couldn't bear to watch again until years later.

Some other familiar faces appear on the show, including Bonnie Sue Barney and Steve Luncinski, better known as Georgette the Fudge Maker and Stephan the Castle Prankster, from the one-time Chiller Family.

Although Cardille's real-life family sent flowers for the occasion, only his son, Billy, attended the final taping session. He remained in the background and, like Miss Barney and Luncinski, didn't stay around for the finale.

Perhaps they were busy like they said; maybe they didn't want to see a friend die; possibly they also believe the show will be revived.

By 10 p.m., two hours after the taping session started, it was over.

Cardille, a half-dozen members of the crew, and some old friends such as Frank Gilbert, who is director of promotions and advertising for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and pizza maker Cyrus Skeuino gathered around for a final toast of champagne 1 "Only a little bit for me. I'm silly enough as it is," Cardille said Appropriately, they drank them in plastic foam cups, followed by a pizza chaser.

Chilly Billy sums up the whole experience this way.

"This is the New Year's Eve party I've been planning for 20 years. It was a longer run than I ever imagined. And I loved every minute of the show. I love to write it ... to think of different bits ... to look at the finished product.

"Being a realist, I also knew I would have a final show. Times change. attitudes change. etc. But I really can say the management of 11 has always supported me and never tried to suppress whatever creative talents I may have. I have no complaints about the management at 11.

"1 always tried to do everything in good taste and with a touch of class. If I failed or rubbed you wrong, please forgive me.

"Chiller" host Bill Cardille, a survivor in the harsh world of TV, clings to the hope that the show will be revived.

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