Remembering Tom Perry (Hank Rotten, Jr.)

In the early days of Channel 16 in Joplin, back when it was KUHI, the station began showing a package of horror movies late Friday night under the name Dimension 16.

I watched it every week, no matter how cheesy the films were.

Some of the movies were the great 1930s horror classics like Dracula and Frankenstein, others were the terrible early science fiction movies of the 1950s.

Eventually, Dimension 16 left the air, though I'm guessing many of you who are reading these words have fond memories of it.

In the early 2000s, Channel 16, which had since gone through its years at KTVJ and became KSNF, tried a Friday night movie format once again with the clever, original title of Friday NIght at the Movies.

Over the years I watched dozens of those Friday night (actually early Saturday morning) movies and while the movies of Dimension 16 remain fresh in my mind, I can tell you without a doubt I don't remember any of the movies I watched on KSN's weekly program.

The movies didn't matter. What mattered was the host of the show Hank Rotten Jr. He wasn't your typical TV host and that was his charm. The program always featured guests talking about area music programs or fundraisers and best of all Hank (that was his professional name, his real name was Tom Perry), asked the questions that normal people like you and I would ask. And despite the late hour, there was no doubt people were tuning in. The program turned out to be one of KSN's best community services for more than 20 years and more than 1,000 movies.

The TV phase of Hank Rotten Jr.'s career lasted 20 years but wasn't even half of the time he was reaching the public. Beginning as a musician and continuing through the years when he was a top disc jockey in the Joplin market and was involved in bringing concerts to the Joplin area, he was always at the forefront of this area's entertainment.

Tom Perry's ability to stay on top for a half century can be attributed to two things- he never changed and he was constantly changing.

The personality that endeared Hank Rotten, Jr., to one generation after another remained constant, but he was always ready to tackle the next adventure.

Even during the final phase of his career- as a KSN television personality, he showed a willingness to try something new. For the last 10 years of his time at KSN, in addition to Friday Night at the Movies, he was a co-host on the morning show. He was different from anyone who had ever been on an area morning show and it was a perfect fit.

When he was on the air, a friend was talking to us.

Hank Rotten, Jr. was a one-of-a-kind talent, the kind we're unlikely to see again.