KCRA in Sacramento
Wilkins started his on-camera television career in 1963 at KCRA Channel 3 in Sacramento. He was writing and producing commercials for the station when he was tapped to be a fill in host for an afternoon movie show in 1964. On September 10, 1966, Bob Wilkins got his own time slot, hosting horror films on Seven Arts Theater which followed the station's 11 p.m. newscast. After several successful years, he was courted by former KCRA manager Tom Breen (who was now at KTVU) to bring his show to the Bay Area. Breen was one of Wilkins' best supporters at KCRA, who had always encouraged the then-young host to try novel and new things, and to never be afraid of going for it. Bob left KCRA on his own terms and his last show there was on March 14, 1970. Bob returned to Sacramento Television, this time on KTXL Channel 40 on May 9, 1970. On a Saturday evening, January 9, 1971, after weeks of teasers, "Creature Features" debuted on KTVU with The Horror of Party Beach, and immediately became a ratings winner. Soon after, "Creature Features" had the world television premiere of the already infamous 1968 horror film, Night of the Living Dead. The show eventually expanded to a Double Feature format, and during its height of popularity, KTVU added a single-feature show on Friday nights. So popular were Bob Wilkins and "Creature Features", that it would often (and incredibly) beat network programming, such as Saturday Night Live in the local Nielsen ratings.
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