Dick Dyszel
Encyclopedia
Richard E. Dyszel, known professionally as Dick Dyszel (March 20, 1947-) is an American
television
personality, best known for Count Gore De Vol
, his television horror host
alter-ego.
The Chicago native attended Southern Illinois University
and graduated with a degree in radio-TV. He became the local Bozo the Clown
at WDXR-TV in Paducah
, Kentucky
before moving on to WDCA
in Washington in 1972. He was a jack of all trades at WDCA, functioning as the station's announcer, as kids' show host Captain 20
as well as Washington's second Bozo, after Willard Scott
had originated the local version of the character. The character of Count Gore De Vol (whose name was either a play on author Gore Vidal
or the name of a prominent Washington D.C. funeral home, "De Vol.") originated as a character called M.T. Graves on Bozo. He stayed on as the Count until 1987 and left for Chicago in 1995.
In 1998, Dyszel became the first horror host to present a weekly show on the Internet, featuring Count Gore hosting streaming video of movies and shorts.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
personality, best known for Count Gore De Vol
Count Gore de Vol
Count Gore De Vol is a television horror host who originally appeared on Washington, DC's WDCA from 1973 to 1987.Originally named M. T. Graves, the character was played by announcer Dick Dyszel, and originated on the WDCA's version of the Bozo the Clown program. When the character got a positive...
, his television horror host
Horror host
Horror hosts are a particular type of television presenter, often tasked with presenting low-grade films to television audiences. This tradition is primarily American, though there have been a few international hosts over the years.-Film Packages:...
alter-ego.
The Chicago native attended Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses...
and graduated with a degree in radio-TV. He became the local Bozo the Clown
Bozo the Clown
Bozo the Clown is a clown character very popular in the United States, peaking in the 1960s as a result of widespread franchising in early television.Originally created by Alan W...
at WDXR-TV in Paducah
Paducah, Kentucky
Paducah is the largest city in Kentucky's Jackson Purchase Region and the county seat of McCracken County, Kentucky, United States. It is located at the confluence of the Tennessee River and the Ohio River, halfway between the metropolitan areas of St. Louis, Missouri, to the west and Nashville,...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
before moving on to WDCA
WDCA
WDCA, virtual channel 20, is a television station in Washington, D.C.. Owned by Fox Television Stations, a division of the News Corporation, WDCA is a sister station to Fox network outlet WTTG , and is affiliated with the co-owned MyNetworkTV programming service...
in Washington in 1972. He was a jack of all trades at WDCA, functioning as the station's announcer, as kids' show host Captain 20
Captain 20
Captain 20 was a fictional character, an astronaut who hosted Washington, D.C.'s WDCA afternoon children's television block of cartoons and live action shorts like Ultraman. Captain 20 was portrayed by Dick Dyszel from 1972-1987, who also played monster movie host Count Gore De Vol, Bozo the...
as well as Washington's second Bozo, after Willard Scott
Willard Scott
Willard Herman Scott, Jr. is an American media personality and author best known for his television work on NBC's The Today Show and as the creator of the Ronald McDonald character.-Early years:...
had originated the local version of the character. The character of Count Gore De Vol (whose name was either a play on author Gore Vidal
Gore Vidal
Gore Vidal is an American author, playwright, essayist, screenwriter, and political activist. His third novel, The City and the Pillar , outraged mainstream critics as one of the first major American novels to feature unambiguous homosexuality...
or the name of a prominent Washington D.C. funeral home, "De Vol.") originated as a character called M.T. Graves on Bozo. He stayed on as the Count until 1987 and left for Chicago in 1995.
In 1998, Dyszel became the first horror host to present a weekly show on the Internet, featuring Count Gore hosting streaming video of movies and shorts.