Redford Theatre honors beloved local horror host
A celebration of Sir Graves Ghastly this weekend will feature film screenings, rare clips from the original TV show and a sculpture unveiling.
Still from Frankenstein (1931). Photo credit: Universal Pictures.
A whole generation of Metro Detroiters remembers hearing the familiar voice of Sir Graves Ghastly on their TVs every Saturday afternoon around this time of year, presenting “tales of supernatural ghost stories, monster tales and stories to chill your blood.”
This weekend at the Redford Theatre, there’s going to be a huge celebration in honor of this beloved horror host from the 1960s, 70s and 80s. He was on WJBK here in Detroit.
The celebration will feature a showing of Young Frankenstein (1974) on Friday, Oct. 14 at 8 p.m., including rare clips from the old TV show. Then, on Saturday, there will be showings of the original Frankenstein (1931) and The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), as well as an unveiling of a sculpture of Sir Graves Ghastly, who was played by Lawson Deming.
Deming’s son, David Deming, joined CultureShift along with John Monaghan of the Redford Theatre to tell us more about how the character came to be, and how the event this weekend aims to honor his legacy in Detroit.
“It was more of a love for just movies, period. Growing up in our house — I have three brothers — we all enjoyed horror movies. So the chance to host the show and become this character that he became was almost a natural happening for him.” — David Deming, son of actor Lawson Deming.
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