To call Bill Cardille legendary would be a gross understatement here in Picksburgh. For more than sixty years he was the man of the airwaves. A yeoman figure in broadcasting both on the small screen, some flicks, and as a superb radio disc jockey.

Perhaps his name does not ring a bell to many here. Bill, known as "Chilly Billy" was the host of the local midnight horror show, "Chiller Theatre", for 20 years. You name the horror flick and he showed it at one point or another, dressing up in costume and having his own chilly skits between reels. As the program proved successful here in The Burgh, similar shows started to pop up across the country. So popular was Chiller Theatre with the local Burghers, station WIIC declined to run NBC's weekly show Saturday Night Live for years, because it would interrupt Chiller's time slot which had killer viewer ratings.

Then there was his other role (at the same time) hosting the local historical treasure known as Studio Wrestling, where the local professional wrestlers went at each other every Saturday night. Luminaries such as local hero Bruno Sammartino, and Domenic Denucci (with his signature "airplane spin" move) showed up to do battle, as well as Professor Tanaka, tag team The Sicilians, and their manager "Captain" Lou Albano, who years later was part of Cindy Lauper's crew. Gorilla Monsoon, George "the Animal" Steele, you name the old-school wrestler and there was Bill, calling the action. This was back when wrestlers were real men, with none of the hocum you see these days.

Bill's side man on Studio Wrestling was Pittsburgh Pirate great (and baseball hall of famer) third baseman, Pie Traynor, who shilled the services of a local contractor with his tag line "Who can? Ameri-can! American Plumbing and Heating!"

Still wondering who Bill was?  He also played himself as a news reporter in George Romero's classic horror flick, Night of the Living Dead which was filmed north of town. Bill made appearances in other Living Dead entries, as did his daughter Lori, who played lead in Day of the Dead.

R.I.P. Mr. Cardille, the Pittsburgh air just got a considerable chill.  :\'(

I don't know if I should feel bad for not knowing who this guy is.  :-[