Autographed photos signed at Ford City Mall. Chicago, IL

Jerry in Svengoolie persona.

Jerry and wife Liz on Opening Day of their restaurant - Greek Islands Cafe in 1980.

Mr. Jerry G. Bishop.

Before Jerry G. Bishop came to San Diego in 1978 to co-host KFMB-TV's morning talk show, "Sun Up San Diego," he was a radio and TV fixture in Chicago who toured with the Beatles and created something of a cult following with his comedic, coffin-sleeping hippie named Svengoolie. Mr. Bishop, in his character, was inducted into the Horror Host Hall of Fame in 2011.

Here, Mr. Bishop won two Emmys in his 12 years as "Sun Up" host, served as grand marshal for a string of parades, and was an in-demand roastmaster and emcee for numerous charity functions. As he was in Chicago, he remained very active with the Easter Seal Society, hosting the annual telethon.

"Jerry G. Bishop was a consummate performer, with an infectious love of life," said Kathi Diamant, his "Sun Up" co-host for nearly eight years. "It was an adventure working beside him.

"Whether he was conducting a serious interview, chatting up the studio audience, or playing with a rubber chicken, he was always uniquely himself. I was lucky to sit next to him."

Mr. Bishop died after a lengthy battle with cancer Sept. 15. The Poway resident was 77.

He was born Jerry Ghan on Aug. 3, 1936, in Chicago, the only child of Maurice Ghan and Clara Rosenberg. He graduated from Wright City College, the University of Illinois and Columbia College.

His career began in 1962 on an Evanston, Ill., classical music station. A year later, he became night disc jockey at KYW in Cleveland. In 1965 and 1966, he was one of a dozen radio types traveling with the Beatles as they toured the U.S., his reports going out on the NBC radio network.

"It was history, and in the course of it, my job was to get as many interviews as possible," Mr. Bishop said in a 2001 interview with The San Diego Union-Tribune. "I was their age, and we really got along."

Returning to Chicago in 1967, he worked as a radio personality at WCFL, then as a news anchor, afternoon movie host and late night talk show host for WFLD-TV. It was there he created the green bewigged and bearded Svengoolie.

"A lot of that schtick was improvised, and I know he was really proud of that," his daughter, Melissa Moore, told the Chicago Tribune. "He had a natural silliness that made it work. I watch it today, and it still makes me laugh."

When he first arrived in San Diego, Mr. Bishop did an afternoon drive show for a year on KCBQ-AM in addition to co-hosting "Sun Up." He gave up the radio gig when his days grew too long, but stayed with "Sun Up" until it went off the air in August 1990.

"Jerry G. was very smart, very funny, and an excellent interviewer who really connected with the audience," said KFMB-TV news director Dean Elwood, who was an intern for "Sun Up San Diego" in 1978. "He was proud of his Chicago roots but truly loved being a San Diegan."

Along the way, Mr. Bishop became a restaurateur, opening the Greek Island Cafe and the Asaggio Pizzeria, both in Seaport Village. Both will continue under the management of his children.

In 1991, Mr. Bishop moved over to KPOP-AM to be a morning drive-time show host. In retirement, he hosted "Real Oldies," a weekend radio show on KPOP's Clear Channel sister station, WRLL, in Chicago. Thanks to technology, he was able to do it without flying to the Windy City.

"On the day ‘Sun Up' went off the air, Jerry ended the show by playing his three-string guitar and singing ‘Yesterday,'" Diamant said. "And now that's the way I remember him."

Mr. Bishop is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Elizabeth Ghan of Poway; son Christopher Ghan of Mission Hills; daughter Melissa Moore of San Diego; and one grandchild.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Ohr Shalom Synagogue, 2512 Third Ave., San Diego. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Mr. Bishop's memory to a charity of your choice.
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The San Diego Union-Tribune, LLC. An MLIM LLC Company. By Caroline Dipping 10:14 a.m. Sept. 23, 2013