Five generations of Hoosiers have watched Sammy Terry's Friday horror shows

Five generations of Indiana residents have grown up with the character Sammy Terry, a horror host who became a staple of local television. This week, the figure behind the mask entered the 93.1 WIBC studio to discuss the history of the show with hosts Brian Baker and Ethan Hatcher on their program Baker & Cruz.

Sammy greeted the hosts with a familiar line from the airwaves: “Good evening, boys. It’s horrible to be here with you.” The character first appeared in 1962 on WTTV Channel 4. At the time, the station had acquired a package of 13 classic Universal monster movies, including Frankenstein, Dracula, and The Mummy.

According to Sammy, larger Indianapolis stations initially passed on the package. He noted that no one believed any good Hoosier would allow horror movies inside their home. Because Channel 4 had not yet invested in recorded commercials, every program required a live spokesperson. Broadcaster Bob Carter took on that role. He also hosted a three-hour live talk show, called championship wrestling with Dick the Bruiser, and reported the weather.

Carter created the Sammy Terry character specifically for the horror package. The role stuck, and the character became a fixture of Indianapolis television. Since 2010, Carter’s son, Mark, has carried on the persona. Baker shared a personal connection to the history, noting that his father operated the camera for the show at Channel 4 years ago.

When asked for Halloween recommendations, Sammy advised listeners to choose classic films over modern slasher movies. “There’s something about the classic horror films that stirs curiosity,” he said. “It stirs the imagination to be aware of the terror without necessarily being as graphic.”

Sammy directed fans to his website, where he hosts classic films similar to those broadcast on television. The lineup includes The Mummy, the first movie he ever broadcast, along with Creature from the Black Lagoon and Black Sunday. He told the hosts that the show continues to bring “many pleasant nightmares” to listeners every Friday. More content from the show is available on the 93.1 WIBC YouTube channel.