NOSTALGIC TELEVISION

Step into a rare and unforgettable moment when The Ghoul, Cleveland’s most outrageous horror host, made a live appearance in 1996—filmed at the newly opened Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in downtown Cleveland. This rare footage, presented directly from VHS and completely unedited, captures The Ghoul in full chaotic glory—off the TV set and back among his fans where he truly belonged. Ron “The Ghoul” Sweed built his persona around manic energy, dark humor, and the unhinged spirit of late-night television. Inspired by Cleveland’s original horror host Ghoulardi (Ernie Anderson), The Ghoul took the formula and ran wild with it—blowing up model cars, smothering props in Cheez Whiz, and mocking B-movie monsters with improvised comedy and explosive antics. His loyal sidekick, the rubber frog Froggy, and his unforgettable catchphrases—“Stay sick, turn blue!” and “Plunk your magic twanger, Froggy!”—became local legend. By 1996, The Ghoul was enjoying what fans call his “second coming.” After his 1970s heyday on WKBF-TV in Cleveland and WKBD-TV in Detroit, he returned to television with a new season of The Ghoul Show—reviving his trademark blend of monster movies, comedy skits, and unpredictable mayhem for a new generation. This appearance at the Rock Hall captured him at the height of that revival, surrounded by music, mischief, and pure Midwest fandom. What makes this clip so special is seeing The Ghoul in person, filmed with his fans enjoying it live, laughing, cheering, and celebrating one of Cleveland’s wildest TV legends. It’s a time capsule of the city’s entertainment scene in the 1990s—where rock, nostalgia, and television chaos collided under one roof. This isn’t just a personal appearance—it’s a living piece of Cleveland pop culture history, straight from VHS tape to your screen.