Larry Vincent | |
|---|---|
 Vincent as Seymour in 1973 | |
| Born | Francis Fitzgerald Vincent (1924-06-14)June 14, 1924 Massachusetts, United States |
| Died | March 8, 1975(1975-03-08) (aged 50) Burbank, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Seymour, Captain Starr |
| Years active | 1960-1975 |
Francis Fitzgerald "Larry" Vincent (June 14, 1924—March 8, 1975) was an American televisionhorror host, famed for his characterSeymour, who presented—and heckled—low-budget horror and science fiction movies onFright Night onKHJ-TV andSeymour's Monster Rally onKTLA, both local stations inLos Angeles between 1969 and 1974. He was noted for his style of criticizing the movies he presented in an offbeat and funny manner, usually appearing in a small window which would pop up in the corner, tossing a quip, then vanishing again. Sometimes he would, using blue-screen, appear in the middle of the movie, apparently interacting with the characters in the movie.[1]
Born inMassachusetts as Francis Fitzgerald Vincent, Vincent was to star in several episodes ofThe New Three Stooges in 1965. He also had small roles onGet Smart,Mission: Impossible,The Flying Nun, andI Dream of Jeannie.[2]
But before moving toLos Angeles, California, he was "Captain Starr" onWFBM inIndianapolis in the 1960s, as one of a trio of hosts, along withHarlow Hickenlooper andCurley Myers for children's programing, which showed the oldThree Stooges shorts, as well as skits for an in-studio audience of children which usually ended up with pie-in-the face comedy and songs from the hosts. In 1968, he became staff director forKHJ-TV.
From 1969 to 1974 Vincent was the host for the horror showsFright Night on KHJ-TV andSeymour's Monster Rally on KTLA.[3]
In addition to his television duties, Vincent served asKnott's Berry Farm's inaugural "Ghost Host," in 1973 at Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt, and on at least one occasion, Vincent appeared at the University of California, Riverside campus for an all night sleep-in and science fiction movie festival.[4] Shortly after his shows ended, Vincent quickly succumbed tostomach cancer and died on March 9, 1975.[2] He left behind four daughters, Diane, Valerie, Beth, Kathryn, and one son, Daniel.[citation needed]
