Celebrate The Legacy of The Ghoul at the Redford Theatre

This Thursday, April 18, Detroit musicians and more will remember the legendary TV host.

Click the audio player above to hear the conversation. 

Redford Theatre

A beloved regional horror movie host passed away this month

Ron Sweed, better known as The Ghoul, began his show in 1971 in Cleveland, before quickly being picked up in other nearby television markets, including on WKBD in Detroit, where he enjoyed massive popularity. 

The Ghoul screened low-budget horror films while wearing a lab coat and performing chaotic skits which often involved blowing up various items with firecrackers.

Many Detroiters consider him to be an early proponent of alternative comedy and music, including Wendy Case, a longtime local artist and music journalist.

Listen at the audio link above to hear Case tell CultureShift’s Amanda LeClaire about the influence Sweed had on her and many other Detroit artists. 

Case and her band, The Paybacks, will perform at a tribute to The Ghoul on Thursday, April 18 at the Redford Theatre.

Find info about the event here

Listen to CultureShift weekdays from noon to 2 p.m. on 101.9 WDETFM, Detroit’s NPR Station.

 

Author

  • Amanda LeClaire is an award-winning host and producer of CultureShift on 101.9 WDET-FM Detroit’s NPR station. She’s a founding producer of WDET’s flagship news talk show Detroit Today, and a former host/reporter for Arizona Public Media. Amanda is also an artist, certified intuitive and energy healer, and professional tarot reader.