Mister Movie

"Annnnd...welcome aboard". These are the words which drifted over the air waves every weekend on the longest running movie talk show anywhere. The host Steve Friedman was a Philadelphia area movie critic known as Mister Movie. He talked about just about any movie ever made, including classic films to obscure fare on Philadelphia radio starting in 1982. He was always careful to point out at the beginning of every show that the nickname of Mister Movie was given to him by a local news personality named Wally Kennnedy. He said "I'm a movie maniac not an ego maniac."

Steve was surely one of the nicest hosts to ever grace the airwaves. Always gracious to his callers, he encouraged people to be their own critic, and was never one to put down a caller because he didn't agree with their opinion.

I first heard his movie talk show the night that Cary Grant died in November of 1986. I was going through the AM dial on that Saturday night and came across WCAU in Philly where people were talking about films and about the just deceased Hollywood star. I became enthralled and hence I listened every week.

Few people were able to stump Mister Movie with a question that couldn't be answered. His vast knowledge of classic films and recent releases was stored in his incredible memory. He estimated that he had seen about 40,000 films, and his favorite was the sci-fi classic movie Forbidden Planet, which he saw about 500 times. His hyper active and fast talking manner served him well. He was never at a loss for words. If it happened to be a slow night with the callers he would threaten to recite the entire script of his favorite film, and no doubt he could do it.

He developed a loyal following at WCAU where he did a radio marathon every Saturday night into the wee hours of the morning. He didn't always agree with the popular view of a classic movie or new release. When WCAU changed to an oldies music format he moved to another local talk station on Sunday night, then to a station in New Jersey for a short while, and he finally ended up on Philadelphia talk radio station WPHT. This station broadcasts to 38 states and Canada. Some of his regular callers were Bob in Wisconsin, Bill in Ohio, Joe in Bryn Mawr and Murray in Northeast Philly.

Not long after the start of the new century he had a stroke and was off the air for a spell. He later explained that his speech had been affected, and that he had to teach himself to talk again. A couple of years later he had kidney failure and had to go on dialysis. Some callers offered him a much needed kidney, but he continued twice weekly on the life saving process.

On September 20, 2009 he did his usual Saturday night show and ended with words familar to all of his regular listeners: "Go out and hug someone because you never know when they won't be around anymore". Mr. Movie went home and died in his sleep that same Sunday morning at the age of 62. One of the most revered hosts by his fans, his show is dearly missed. Rest in peace Mr. Movie.