Who: Dick Von Hoene, host of ICN 6's talk show, Northern Kentucky Magazine, and alter ego of Greater Cincinnati's most beloved bloodsucker, the Cool Ghoul.

        On display: A large, framed oil painting of the Cool Ghoul, given to Mr. Von Hoene in the late 1960's by one of his fans, the late Ralph Schwartz. (This was when the Cool Ghoul was hosting Scream-In program on WXIX-TV Channel 19.)

        Where: Hanging over the couch in Mr. Von Hoene's living room.

        “The best thing about this painting,” Mr. Von Hoene says, “is it was totally unsolicited. Mr. Schwartz just brought it to the station and gave it to the receptionist. Needless to say, everyone at the station was totally blown away by it.”

        From the heart: The handwritten message on the back of the canvas reads in part:

        “Dear Dick (If I may presume),

        “I hope you will accept this picture of yourself portraying the Cool Ghoul as a small token of my sincere affection as a fan and one of your thousands of admirers. I have been following your program since it's inception and there is no other personality that I can name that I enjoy as much.

        “I wish you always God speed. You are just great.

        “Most sincere admiration,

        Ralph Schwartz”

        Pathos: “What really got to me,” Mr. Von Hoene adds, “Is the tear he put in the corner of one of the Ghoul's eyes. Nobody else had caught that aspect of the character. The Cool Ghoul is a composite of a whole bunch of people, but some of it is Jackie Gleason's "The Poor Soul.' ”

        Digging deep: “Here's this monster,” he says, “who's been kicked out of Transylvania because he has dull fangs. He comes to the United States, and here he is with all of these humans. But he also realizes that he's not human.

        “I didn't suggest that,” he adds. “I never said a word about it. That's what knocked me out. That Mr. Schwartz had the perception to pick up on that aspect of the character.”

        Meeting of minds: Mr. Von Hoene never had the opportunity to meet or speak with Mr. Schwartz.

        “I'll always regret that,” he says. “When he passed away, his widow called me and said that it meant so much to him. Every time he watched the show there was his painting.”

        “That was very humbling and very gratifying,” Mr. Von Hoene admits. “Things like this show you the responsibility you have as an entertainer.”

        Share your prize possessions with Marsie Hall Newbold by mail: c/o The Cincinnati Enquirer, e-mail: marsolete@aol.com.

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