Bob Wells, "Hoolihan the Weatherman" 1933 – 2026

It was sad to see that Bob Wells, best known in Cleveland for The Hoolihan and Big Chuck Show and as WJW Channel 8's "Hoolihan the Weatherman," passed away on Wednesday at the age of 93. Wells and his on-screen partner, Charles "Big Chuck" Schodowski, made The Hoolihan and Big Chuck Show a weekly must-see TV fixture every Friday night for years. 

This Wiki post provides a nice biography of Wells, and tells how he teamed up with Big Chuck to create the beloved show that was a successor to Shock Theater with Ghouldardi (necessitated when Ernie "Ghoulardi" Anderson left Cleveland to pursue a career in Los Angeles).

Although my siblings and I were too young to stay up late and watch the show when it premiered in 1966, it was regular viewing for us on Friday nights beginning in the early 1970s.

It's pretty incredible how great a comedy team Wells and Schodowski made. They had the perfect balance – with Hoolihan providing the energetic, upbeat delivery contrasting with Big Chuck's likable, low-key personality. And each shined in their comedy skits.

What some people may not know is that Hoolihan and Big Chuck made countless appearances in high schools and community sports events, pitting their All-Stars team against a variety of competitors, including school faculties, police departments, amateur teams, Amvets and others. Sports included touch football, basketball, softball, and bowling.

And let's not forget the pizza eating competitions.

Anway, here's an ample sample of clippings showing just how dedicated Wells and Schodowski were when it came to making personal appearances in Northern Ohio on behalf of various charities and causes.

Dec. 2, 1968

June 14, 1969

October 8, 1969

Dec. 3, 1969

Dec. 8, 1969

Jan. 26, 1970

July 9, 1970

Nov. 20, 1970

Sept. 11, 1972

Dec. 17, 1972

April 18, 1973

June 3, 1974

March 22, 1975

Oct. 27, 1975

Nov. 21, 1975

Nov. 25, 1975

Nov. 29, 1975

March 11, 1976

March 1, 1977

March 3, 1977

March 11, 1978

Sept. 16, 1979

It was disappointing when Wells left Channel 8 for good, moving to Florida for a new opportunity in Christian broadcasting. But he never forgot Cleveland, and made many pilgrimages back for various personal appearances at conventions and shows.

Hoolihan and Big Chuck (and Ghoulardi too) have been featured on this blog several times.

Hoolihan & Big Chuck at Brookside High School – August 1975

Heather Feather
(Courtesy gulfcoast.prorasslin.net)

I already covered Ghoulardi's 1963 appearance in Lorain (back here) so it makes sense to do a post on a personal appearance of his late night TV successors – Hoolihan and Big Chuck. They appeared at Brookside High School as part of a night of big time wrestling action on August 24, 1975 – 39 years ago this month.

Headlining the show was Flying Fred Curry versus "Mad Dog" Zarnoff. Also on the card was "Wild Bull" Curry going up against former Ohio State football star Bob White.

A special tag team match featured female wrestlers teamed with midgets: 389-pound Heather Feather and Little Joe versus Marcia Rainbow and Pat Kennedy.

The McGuire Twins – listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the World's Heaviest Twins (each weighed more than 700 pounds) also made a special appearance, taking on The Assassins.

The McGuire Twins

Pound for pound, it sounds like quite a night of entertainment for a measly one dollar general admission ticket. Plus, you had the comic stylings of Hoolihan and Big Chuck.

Did anyone out there attend this gala event? If so, be sure to leave a comment!

Lorain Public Library Book Sale

The Friends of the Lorain Public Library held its most recent Book Sale a few weeks ago.

The Sales are always an interesting affair. On Members Night (usually a Thursday), the Sale is only open to members of the Friends, who get first dibs at the latest offerings, which are both from the library's shelves, as well as donated. At zero hour when the Sale opens, it's a veritable feeding frenzy – similar to what you see when tossing snacks to hungry carp in a pond at a tourist trap. The leftovers are then offered to the public on the first day of the regular Sale.

It's hard to understand why some books end up in the Sale. In the last few years, I've walked away with books that didn't seem to belong there, including a biography of Admiral Ernest J. King; a copy of An Open Book: Coming of Age in the Heartland by Michael Dirda; Lorain city directories; and several books that I have taken out many times in the last five years (which is contrary to the library's notion that only books that are not being taken out end up in the sale). But when I ask the volunteers why certain books are being removed from the library shelves and peddled to the public, they cheerfully maintain their vow of silence. I guess whoever is in charge of the Library collection these days prefers empty book shelves uncluttered by dusty, old volumes.

Anyway, let's look at my book booty from the most recent sale.

I was fairly alarmed to see this copy of Jim Mahony: Mr. Lorain, a collection of oral history interviews conducted by Sheila Ives, M.L.S. between December 1, 1987 and January 10, 1989, in the Book Sale. But apparently the Library still has at least one copy in its collection.

This copy of The Pogo Peek-A-Book from 1955 was a nice find. Unlike the daily comic strip (which I enjoyed, but didn't always understand and almost never found humorous), the stories in it are pretty funny.

I flipped through this copy of Scarne on Cards by John Scarne (copyright 1949) is really interesting. He exposes all of the secrets of how experts cheat at cards. He covers all the games: gin rummy, Black Jack, Faro, Poker and Pinochle. Just reading a few pages of how to tell if cards are marked is pretty fascinating. I figure once I'm done reading it, it's time for a road trip to Las Vegas.

Lastly, and perhaps best of all, is this battered copy of Meet Andy Capp (1963). The paperback is a collection of early comic strips, which are pretty shocking if you're not familiar with the uniquely British character. (He was in the Plain Dealer Sunday comics when I was a kid so I remember him well.)

As the back cover notes, "Readers all over the world are howling over the daily newspaper antics of this raffish nogoodnik from Britain who drinks a lot, gambles a bit, knocks his wife out a bit – and doesn't work – not a bit. Everybody loves him."

It's interesting seeing how Andy Capp looked in his early adventures.

As a bonus, my copy of Meet Andy Capp had a surprise inside: two autographed photos of late night Channel 8 TV hosts Hoolihan and Big Chuck that someone apparently used as bookmarks!

And I've got just the snack to enjoy while perusing Meet Andy Capp.

The History of the Journal's Mary Lee Tucker Program – Part 5

By 1968, changes had taken place regarding the Journal’s charity program. It was now known as Clothe-A-Child. Mary Lee Tucker – the behind the scenes ‘face of the program’ – was still around, but her name was somewhat downplayed in the Clothe-A-Child promotion.

The Journal explained the program in a front page article over the headline in its November 28, 1968 edition. It noted:

“THE CLOTHE-A-CHILD program consists of:

THE TRADITIONAL Mary Lee Tucker Christmas Show, which has been highlight of the holiday season in Lorain.

--CONTRIBUTIONS, which may be sent directly to the Mary Lee Tucker Fund at The Journal, Lorain. Miss Tucker will have special shoppers to take the children shopping in area stores with this money.

--A MILE OF DIMES promotion in downtown Lorain and at various locations around the county, where residents can contribute a dime to help the clothing program.

ORGANIZATIONS, INDUSTRIES, churches, labor unions, civic clubs, nationality groups, and fraternal organizations will be encouraged to participate in one of the most heart warming parts of the program.

They may want to spend some of their own money to clothe needy school children and may personally take some youngsters shopping for new clothes. It takes approximately $35 to clothe one child.”

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The traditional Mary Lee Tucker charity show sponsored by the City Club went on as scheduled that year with a “Christmas Around the World” theme and all local talent. Fifty-three acts with performers “from every part of the Golden Crescent” auditioned. Eighteen acts were selected to perform at the show, which was held on Wednesday, December 4, 1968.

Hoolihan and Big Chuck from Channel 8 served as masters of ceremony.

The Biz Grove Band once again performed. Members included Charles Bisgrove, Ed Zaphor, Merl “Doc” McDonald, Frank Katrick, Charles Ensign, Melvin Gymorie, Kenneth Lorence, Mitch Hallie, Leonard Gerace, Richard Cooley, Dave Noe, Ralph Woerhman, Floyd Hayes, Richard Reed, and Bob Gawne.

The Mary Lee Tucker program clothed more than 300 needy children that year. Mary Lee Tucker herself was quoted on the front page of the Journal on December 24, 1968. She noted, “You just don’t know what it’s like to see kids who never had a pair of new pants walk into a store and get them. I just can’t thank the people enough who helped and contributed. This will be a little better Christmas for many children because of their generosity."

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The Journal’s Clothe-A-Child program underwent a big change in 1969. 

That was the year that the charity show apparently became independent of the Mary Lee Tucker name. The benefit show was no longer a component of the Journal’s Clothe-A-Child program. It was now known as the Lorain City Club’s Charity Show.

The Clothe-A-Child program benefitted from the unveiling of an illustration by artist Larry Alvarez that first accompanied the stories that year. The logo did a good job of symbolizing the misery and sadness experienced by a child with no warm winter clothes.

The illustration was used for many years and is still well-remembered by longtime readers of the Lorain Journal.

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It is certainly a credit to the Morning Journal that the Mary Lee Tucker program survives to this day.

The Journal's original concept of a newspaper employee devoted to helping the less fortunate in the local community, and known only by her name – Mary Lee Tucker – is a charming and magical one. 

I hope Mary Lee Tucker always has a place at the Morning Journal. She is needed more than ever.

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To donate to the Morning Journal’s Mary Lee Tucker Clothe-A-Child program, click here.

Barnaby and Clarabell the Clown at Oakwood Shopping Center – Jan. 1959

Being born in 1959, I was a little too young to remember the original television run of Howdy Doody, which ran from  1947 to 1960. The popular children's television show featured host "Buffalo Bob" Smith and his freckle-faced puppet Howdy Doody, Clarabell the mute clown (who communicated by honking horns) and a variety of other characters, both human and puppet.

Although Howdy and the gang were nearing the end of their TV run in January 1959, I'm sure that the appearance of Clarabell at Oakwood Shopping Center was still a big deal – especially since he was accompanied by local TV host, Barnaby. Barnaby's show (which featured made-for-TV Popeye cartoons) and Howdy Doody were both on KYW Channel 3.

Here's the tall ad promoting the big event. It ran in the Lorain Journal on January 29, 1959.

I'm not sure if it was the real Clarabell (Lew Anderson) making the appearance with Barnaby, or just someone hired to wear the clown makeup and impersonate him. The Journal from the day after the joint appearance was unavailable, so I'm not sure.

(It reminded me of a story my mother told me. She had taken my sister all the way to Halle's in Cleveland on the bus to see Mr. Jingeling – only to find out that the guy who played him on TV wasn't at the store the day they went there; it was some other actor. Mom said my sister wasn't fooled and was pretty unhappy about it.)

Anyway, click here to read an extremely comprehensive and well-written story about the Howdy Doody show.

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"Big Chuck" Schodowski's passing a few days ago was a sad reminder to those of us who grew up watching and enjoying The Hoolihan and Big Chuck Show on Channel 8 (and later, Big Chuck and Lil' John) that we're all getting older and time is marching on. It's hard not to be a little sad seeing these old friends like Big Chuck that we welcomed into our homes for so many years pass away; they're almost like family.

Ghoulardi at Meyer Goldberg's – Nov. 7, 1963

Today's a big day in local pop culture history. It was November 7, 1963 – 50 years ago today – that Ghoulardi  made live appearances in Lorain at the two Meyer Goldberg supermarkets.

Ghoulardi, of course, was the popular late night TV movie host character played by Ernie Anderson on WJW Channel 8 in Cleveland from 1963 to 1966.

(Here's a link to a great article written by John Petkovic of The Plain Dealer about the 50th anniversary celebrated earlier this year of Ghoulardi going on the air, complete with some great clips.)

What was Ghoulardi's visit to Lorain like? Here's how The Journal reported it the next day on November 8, 1963.

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Ghoulardi 'Knifs' His Way Through Thousands In City

Ghoulardi visited Lorain last night and had to "knif" his way through the crowds that turned out to meet him.

The Pied Piper of TV reportedly met an estimated crowd of 10,000 at the Meyer Goldberg Supermarket in the Oakwood Plaza Shopping Center and another 5,000 at the Meyer Goldberg Supermarket on S. Broadway.

Youngsters climbed on every available step and even hung from the tops of cars to get a look at one of the hottest personalities in the entertainment field in this area.

The situation got so hot that even Ghouldardi was unable to "cool it with the boom-boom" and Lorain police, sheriff's department units and state patrol cars were called out to help control traffic.

Goldberg reported that all autographed photographs of Ghoulardi were used up. More copies will be available to parents next week at Goldberg's stores, he said. He also said efforts will be made to bring Ghoulardi back for a return engagement.

Although the crowd was generally well-behaved, two persons reported damage to their cars and youngsters even climbed on a Lorain police cruiser to get a look at Ghoulardi. The cruiser was also damaged.

Charles A. Dalton, 30, of 4504 Maple Rd., and Larry L. Cordova, 18, of 1620 E. 29th St., reported dents and scratches in the roofs of their cars made by children climbing on them.

One of the cars had its front license and the radio aerial torn off.

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Courtesy Cleveland.com

Being born in 1959, I don't remember Ghoulardi; instead, my brothers and I watched and enjoyed the Ghoul on Channel 61 in the early 1970s– which was basically Ghoulardi as performed by Ron Sweed, Ernie Anderson's intern. I had no idea that that Ghoulardi even existed until my older brother told me about him.

(Click here to visit the Ghoul's website.)

And of course we watched Hoolihan and Big Chuck (at left), the successor show to Ghoulardi. If you've never read "Big Chuck" Schodowski's book– Big Chuck! My Favorite Stories from 47 Years on Cleveland TV – be sure to read it. It's a terrific, fun book and a must-have for fans of the show.

Ghoulardi at The Note – August 1963

Ghoulardi (Ernie Anderson)

Although I grew up in the 1960s, I was a little too young to be aware of late-night movie host Ghoulardi (played by Ernie Anderson) during his stint on Channel 8 from 1963 to 1966. (I only remember his successors in that time slot on Channel 8, Hoolihan and Big Chuck, and The Ghoul over on Channel 61). But it's well known that Ghoulardi was wildly popular during his time on the airwaves and, naturally, he made personal appearances in Northeast Ohio and the surrounding areas.

And sixty years ago, Ghoulardi made a one-night appearance at The Note, the dance hall in Ruggles Beach that catered to young adults. Below is the ad that appeared in the Entertainment section of the Journal, promoting his appearance the following day – August 4, 1963.

Ghoulardi has appeared on this blog before. This post told of his personal appearance at the Meyer Goldberg grocery stores in Lorain in November 1963.

And this post includes a photo of the now-demolished Ghoulardi's nightclub in Lorain.

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The Note was the subject of a post back in 2019 that featured many ads for the popular nightspot.