Elwy Yost passed away this July, at age 86.  In my youth, Yost was the host of “Magic Shadows” and “Saturday Night at the Movies,” on TVOntario, a Canadian public broadcaster.

Before Turner Classic Movies, before deluxe DVD re-releases — before VHS! — there was Elwy Yost, with his selections of classic films.  His presentation style was warm, passionate and in cahoots with his viewers — “uncool” in the way that Fred Rogers was uncool but awesome.  Yost would pair his film selections with excellent interviews with major and minor players from back in the day (e.g., Rouben Mamoulian telling a story about daring to ask the great Eugene O’Neill for cuts to the screenplay for Golden Boy).  “Isn’t that marvelous!” was a frequent and infectious Yost-ism when interviewees revealed a gem about how a film got made.

He was a major influence on me and many other Torontonian showbizistas of a certain age.  Here’s a nice appreciation that offers more detail.