Watson Davis(1912-2005)
- Actor
Watson Davis, born William Davis, was an actor, television horror host and an entertainer.
From "Find a Grave" memorial "Davis was an advertising director for the Memphis, Tennessee, based Malco Theatre chain in 1963 where he first came up with the character of "Sivad" (Davis spelled backwards). He donned a cape, cane, top hat and false vampire teeth to become the local "Monster of Ceremonies" for the WHBQ-TV weekly horror program "Fantastic Features." The Saturday evening show debuted September 1962 and showed old horror and science fiction movies.
The show began with "Sivad" driving a horse-drawn hearse (in a foggy Overton Park near the Brooks Art Gallery in Memphis, Tennessee), pulling a coffin from the back of the hearse and then opening it all to the strains of Leigh Stevens' score from the 1950 science fiction film "Destination Moon."
Savid made many personal appearances around the Mid-South in the 1960s and 1970s drawing an estimated 30,000 fans at an appearance at the Mid-South Fairgrounds in 1963. At these appearances he would play several musical instruments including the "ghoulaphone" and the "coffinola," both instruments Davis concocted. He made several novelty records including "Sivad buries Rock & Roll" which features "Dickey Drakeller" on it's flip side".
He was married to Kathryn Irene Crabtree who passed away in 1970.
From "Find a Grave" memorial "Davis was an advertising director for the Memphis, Tennessee, based Malco Theatre chain in 1963 where he first came up with the character of "Sivad" (Davis spelled backwards). He donned a cape, cane, top hat and false vampire teeth to become the local "Monster of Ceremonies" for the WHBQ-TV weekly horror program "Fantastic Features." The Saturday evening show debuted September 1962 and showed old horror and science fiction movies.
The show began with "Sivad" driving a horse-drawn hearse (in a foggy Overton Park near the Brooks Art Gallery in Memphis, Tennessee), pulling a coffin from the back of the hearse and then opening it all to the strains of Leigh Stevens' score from the 1950 science fiction film "Destination Moon."
Savid made many personal appearances around the Mid-South in the 1960s and 1970s drawing an estimated 30,000 fans at an appearance at the Mid-South Fairgrounds in 1963. At these appearances he would play several musical instruments including the "ghoulaphone" and the "coffinola," both instruments Davis concocted. He made several novelty records including "Sivad buries Rock & Roll" which features "Dickey Drakeller" on it's flip side".
He was married to Kathryn Irene Crabtree who passed away in 1970.