Clad in tuxedo, cape and large brimmed black hat, Seymour (played by Larry Vincent) offered the worst in vintage horror and sci-fi movies. Vincent also hosted Seymour's Monster Rally on KTLA-TV Channel 5 in 1973 on Saturday, 5 p.m. and Sunday, 1 p.m. A year later, Larry Vincent returned to KHJ as the host of Seymour Presents. During his absence at KHJ-TV from January 1972 through mid-1973, Seymour had been replaced by Moona Lisa (Lisa Clark), a beautiful Moon Maiden.

Fright Night was introduced by the never seen announcer "Wayne" (and later "Herkimer Eugenski"). A typical introduction would begin "Welcome to FRIGHT NIGHT. The title of tonight's turkey is ...now here is your host, the Master of the Macabre, the Epitome of Evil, the most sinister man to crawl across the face of the earth....Seeeeeeeeeeeymour!"

Seymour once told Wayne "Afterall, I'm what the Fringies tune into see, the movies are just incidental to the show, just something to fill in between my brilliant though exhausting performances"

People who watched the show were referred to as "Fringies". These official fans received a "Certificate of Demerit" which read:

"To whom it may concern...and it won't. This is to certify that (have a friend help you spell you name) is a member in bad standing in Seymour's Society of FRINGIES. Because you enjoy such outstanding horror films as Attack of the Mushroom People and Monster from the Surf etc. & etc. you are truly on the LUNATIC FRINGE and deserve all the help and recognition you can get. You are an idiot of the very first order."

It was signed "Disrespectfully Seymour, Master of the Macabre, Epitome of Evil, The Most Sinister Man To Crawl The Face Of The Earth."

Seymour loved to put down the movies on his show. One time he told the audience ""Tonight I have a pair for you, Monster From The Surf and The House on Haunted Hill. I can never get any swell movies! You can stay here and watch these turkeys, if you like. I'm going to go crash the party down the street---!" One night during a break from the movie the cameras caught Seymour watching MANNIX that aired at the same time on CBS network. The look on Seymour's face when he got caught off guard was priceless.

Other characters on the show included Pizza Guy, whom Vincent called on the phone and tried to con the guy out of a pizza; and Banjo Billy, Seymour's alter ego (played by Larry), a Banjo playing nice guy in an bright orange marching band outfit who always tried to get on Seymour's show to perform as "The Banjo Whiz"

During a parody sketch of Oscar Wilde's Dorian Gray character (written by Douglas McEwan), Seymour began "Many of you have commented on how I appear to be eternally youthful, how my classically chiseled features never show the wear of time.") We are then treated to a large portrait of Banjo Billy and Seymour was livid. "That can't be me! I want my money back! Eternal youth isn't worth that! Get me Dorian Gray on the telephone immediately!"

One of the recurring gimmicks on the show was the Slimy Wall, a fake moss-covered brick wall that concealed weird scenes or things. As Seymour loved to say ""Come with me if you dare, and together we will explore that uncertain horror that lurks behind the slimiest of walls!" (The official Seymour newsletter was called "The Slimy Wall Times.") Another gimmick would insert Seymour (via special effects) into the scene of a movie so he could mock the actors in the scene. Then there was a sketch called "Seymour's Fairy Tales" where Seymour as he told horribly warped new versions of old children's favorites.

Two other characters added to the show were a biker hipster called "Mr. Cool" and "Ranger Bob", a forest ranger who dispensed insane forestry advice.

Seymour closed each show saying "I'd like to wish you a good evening. I'd like to...but that's just not my style!" On his last show, Seymour sat quietly as the stagehands dismantled his set around him. Then without saying his catchphrase final words of "Bad Evening," the ailing Larry Vincent as Seymour shrugged his shoulder and waved goodnight.

Born Jerry Vance in Boston Massachusetts, Larry Vincent, a.k.a. "Seymour" died from stomach cancer on Sunday, March 9, 1975 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Burbank. He was 50. Larry Vincent began his career in broadcasting as  "Captain Starr" on WFBM in Indianapolis in the 1960s.

Vincent scored some minor roles on the TV series GET SMART, I DREAM OF JEANNIE, MANNIX and MISSION and IMPOSSIBLE as well as Amos Coffin, the member of a witchcraft coven in the movie The Witchmaker (1969);  as Andrew the gardener in The Incredible Two-Headed Transplant (1971), and  as a strangler in Doctor Death, Seeker of Souls (1973).

In 1973, Larry Vincent syndicated his Seymour character with Rhodes Productions that aired the program nationwide. Larry also found time to perform at such live events as  "Seymour Days" at Marineland;  "The Seymour Show" at Knott's Berry Farm's Halloween Haunt.
 

External Links

• Larry Vincent (IMDb)
• Seymour Presents (LA Local Legends)

Back to Top