Cardille and WIIC publicist Robert Willis wrote the skits , followed by staff director/producer Michael Styer and sometimes Channel 11 staffers were enlisted to play bit parts.
Finally giving in to pressure from NBC, Chiller Theatre was forced to follow SNL at 1:00 a.m. where it was reduced to a single feature movie program.
[2] The show was remembered for several unique features, one being its theme song, "Experiment In Terror" performed by Al Caiola, written by Henry Mancini.
During breaks in the movie, Cardille would perform several sketches, like reciting horoscopes, trivia, and telling a series of corny jokes to a giggling skull.
The show featured many guests over the years, including: George A. Romero who appeared in 1968, discussing the famous Pittsburgh set horror film Night of the Living Dead (which Cardille himself had appeared in, playing himself as a channel 11 news reporter) and his love of the show; Rod McKuen; Phyllis Diller as a monster Chilly Billy creates; Barbara Feldon as "Agent 99" from Get Smart; Lorne Greene; Albie And Friends performing their 1974 NIK single "Hexorcist World Premiere"; Vincent Price; Jerry Lewis, promoting the Muscular Dystrophy telethon; and Bruno Sammartino.
Precipitating its demise was a decision by WPXI management to air the hour-long weekend edition of Entertainment Tonight immediately after Saturday Night Live, pushing Chiller Theater's start time to 2:00 a.m. -- too late for even the most devoted fans to fight off sleep.
The show also inspired SCTV's Joe Flaherty, a Pittsburgh native, to create the series of "Monster Chiller Horror Theater" sketches on the program.