Hobart co-founded the successful local children’s holiday charity Project Christmas Smiles with Linda Gabbard in the 1970s.
“His heart was bigger than most people knew, behind the makeup,” said Mike Schneider of Springboro. Schneider, also known as radio personality “Wild Walley” on The Rebel 105.9, worked with Hobart to promote Project Christmas Smiles.
Hobart helped one family in need in 1973, and the following year started collecting toys with Gabbard for other families who needed help at the holidays.
Project Christmas Smiles helped more than 93,000 area families over 33 years, said Jerry Gabbard of Dayton. He is the son of Linda Gabbard, who died in 2008.
Hobart, a Middletown native, introduced his Dr. Creep character in January 1972 while working as a master control operator at Channel 22. He hosted “Shock Theatre” from 1972-1985.
“He has been ranked as one of the Top 10 horror hosts in the country,” said Rick Martin, Hobart’s agent and friend.
As host of “Shock Theatre,” Hobart introduced many Dayton-area residents to classic Universal and Hammer horror films.
“He raised us on ‘Clubhouse 22’ in the afternoons back in the heyday of local children’s broadcasting,” Martin said.
Dayton filmmaker Andrew Copp credited Hobart for his own interest in media. “My first memories of media and TV were ‘Shock Theatre’ and Barry,” Copp said. “I do what I do because I grew up watching Dr. Creep,” he said.
Copp and Martin co-produced a revival of “Shock Theatre” for Dayton cable access television that started in 1999 and ran for several years. “Shock Theatre” has since found new fans on YouTube and DVD, Martin said.
Hobart had been hospitalized in a coma since December, when he suffered a series of massive strokes, Martin said.
Hobart had been at the Franklin Ridge Healthcare Center in Franklin since April 2010 due to leg and breathing issues.
Despite being in a wheelchair, Hobart made appearances as Dr. Creep in October at Foy’s Halloween Stores in Fairborn. In November, he appeared as a guest of honor at the HorrorHound Weekend event in Cincinnati.
“He always had a large base of fans,” said Mike Foy, owner of Foy’s Halloween Stores. “People would say, ‘Oh, that brings me back to my childhood.’ ”
Foy praised Hobart for signing autographs for free and always talking to his fans.
“He’s going to be hard to replace,” Foy said. “There are people out there that imitate him and kind of act like him, but there is no real Dr. Creep.”
Hobart leaves behind his mother and a son, according to Martin.
Martin said he would like to see Hobart inducted into the Dayton Area Broadcaster’s Hall of Fame.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2419 or dlarsen@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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