Bill Cardille
Encyclopedia
William Robert "Bill" Cardille (born December 10, 1928, Farrell, Pennsylvania
), is a broadcast personality from Pittsburgh
, Pennsylvania
.
, Cardille was long a fixture on the former WIIC Channel 11, the NBC
affiliate in Pittsburgh, and was the first voice heard when the station went on the air on September 1, 1957.
, a late night Saturday program that showed horror and science fiction films. It is this program for which Cardille is best remembered, earning him his famed nickname. The program aired from 1963 until its cancellation in 1983. Joe Flaherty, a Pittsburgh native, acknowledges this show as an influence in the formation of the popular "Monster Chiller Horror Theatre" sketches on SCTV
.
, and a combination game show
/movie program that ran in the late afternoon. He hosted a teen dance show, the Four O'Clock Money Movie, and Movies to Laugh By for WIIC. He remains the local host for the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon
. Cardille appeared in both the 1968 original version and the 1990 remake of Night of the Living Dead
, in the television movie, The Assassination File, and in the documentary American Scary
. He was especially famous in Boston, where the weekly pro wrestling program was extremely popular. Cardille also called the play-by-play of western Pennsylvania high school basketball playoff games for many years on WQED-TV
, the Pittsburgh PBS
affiliate. Cardille also hosted morning radio shows on Pittsburgh radio stations WWSW and WIXZ.
Outside of broadcasting, Cardille owned and operated Chilly Billy Cardille Travel and Tours in Wexford for many years, which was managed by his son, Bill Jr.
AM 1320 in the mid-day slot. He resides in McCandless
, in Pittsburgh's North Hills, with his wife Louise. He is also the father of actress Lori Cardille
who played the lead role in Romero's Day of the Dead.
Pittsburgh City Council, as well as officials from Mercer County and Sharon, PA, announced plans to honor Cardille with a proclamation to declare September 28, 2010 "Bill Cardille Day."
Farrell, Pennsylvania
Farrell is a city in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,050 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Youngstown–Warren–Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
), is a broadcast personality from Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Early career
Originally from Sharon, PennsylvaniaSharon, Pennsylvania
Sharon is a city in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, in the United States, northwest of Pittsburgh. It is part of the Youngstown–Warren–Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
, Cardille was long a fixture on the former WIIC Channel 11, the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
affiliate in Pittsburgh, and was the first voice heard when the station went on the air on September 1, 1957.
Chiller Theater
Cardille is probably best known as Chilly Billy, the host of Chiller TheatreChiller Theatre
Chiller Theatre may refer to:*Chiller Theatre *Chiller Theatre *Chiller Theatre *The title, title track and inspiration for 2001 album of musician John Babcock....
, a late night Saturday program that showed horror and science fiction films. It is this program for which Cardille is best remembered, earning him his famed nickname. The program aired from 1963 until its cancellation in 1983. Joe Flaherty, a Pittsburgh native, acknowledges this show as an influence in the formation of the popular "Monster Chiller Horror Theatre" sketches on SCTV
Second City Television
Second City Television is a Canadian television sketch comedy show offshoot from Toronto's The Second City troupe that ran between 1976 and 1984.- Premise :...
.
Other work
Cardille also hosted other programs including Studio WrestlingStudio Wrestling
Studio Wrestling was a live professional wrestling show broadcast from WIIC-TV Channel 11 in Pittsburgh every Saturday evening. In 1959, WIIC began broadcasting professional wrestling from their studio located in Fineview. The show was hosted by Bill Cardille through most of its run, although he...
, and a combination game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
/movie program that ran in the late afternoon. He hosted a teen dance show, the Four O'Clock Money Movie, and Movies to Laugh By for WIIC. He remains the local host for the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon
Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon
The MDA Labor Day Telethon is an annual telethon in the United States to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association . The first MDA telethon was during the Thanksgiving Day weekend of 1952 and titled Party for MDA. It has been held annually since 1966...
. Cardille appeared in both the 1968 original version and the 1990 remake of Night of the Living Dead
Night of the Living Dead
Night of the Living Dead is a 1968 American independent black-and-white zombie film and cult film directed by George A. Romero, starring Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea and Karl Hardman. It premiered on October 1, 1968, and was completed on a USD$114,000 budget. After decades of cinematic re-releases, it...
, in the television movie, The Assassination File, and in the documentary American Scary
American Scary
American Scary is a 2006 documentary film about the history and legacy of classic television horror hosts, written and directed by American independent filmmakers John E...
. He was especially famous in Boston, where the weekly pro wrestling program was extremely popular. Cardille also called the play-by-play of western Pennsylvania high school basketball playoff games for many years on WQED-TV
WQED (TV)
WQED is a Public Broadcasting Service member Public television station based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Established April 1, 1954, it was the first community-sponsored television station in the United States as well as the fifth public TV station...
, the Pittsburgh PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
affiliate. Cardille also hosted morning radio shows on Pittsburgh radio stations WWSW and WIXZ.
Outside of broadcasting, Cardille owned and operated Chilly Billy Cardille Travel and Tours in Wexford for many years, which was managed by his son, Bill Jr.
Cardille today
Currently he can be heard on radio station WJASWJAS
WJAS is an adult standards radio station based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The station is owned by Renda Broadcasting, and broadcasts at 1320 kHz with a power level of 5,000 watts.- The History of 1320 WJAS-AM :...
AM 1320 in the mid-day slot. He resides in McCandless
McCandless, Pennsylvania
McCandless is a municipality in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 28,457 at the 2010 census. It was originally incorporated as a township; however, on January 1, 1975, McCandless Township adopted a new charter designating it a Home Rule Charter Municipality with the...
, in Pittsburgh's North Hills, with his wife Louise. He is also the father of actress Lori Cardille
Lori Cardille
Lori Cardille is an American actress, best known for her lead role in George A. Romero's Day of the Dead . Her father, Bill "Chilly Billy" Cardille, appeared as a reporter in the original Night of the Living Dead ....
who played the lead role in Romero's Day of the Dead.
Pittsburgh City Council, as well as officials from Mercer County and Sharon, PA, announced plans to honor Cardille with a proclamation to declare September 28, 2010 "Bill Cardille Day."