Sidney Noel Rideau created the mad scientist, Dr. Momus Alexander Morgus, in 1959 and became a local sensation, when his show dominated on WWL-TV. His career as Dr. Morgus spanned 60 years.
As The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate reports, Rideau was born on Christmas Day 1929. He would graduate from Alcee Fortier High School, then attended Loyola University where he studied communications.
Rideau met his future wife Aldona Nalecz-Tyminska in New York City where she worked for the United Nations. They were married for 52 years until her death in 2015.
Rideau first made a name for himself hosting WWL Radio's Dawnbusters in the mid '50s. He later auditioned and landed the part as host of the show House of Shock on WWL-TV where it was later renamed Morgus Presents in the 1970s. Rideau presented his bizarre but comedic experiments and creations as Morgus every week in between segments of classic horror movies. The show would be revived as syndication in later years, airing on WDSU, WGNO, and as reruns on WVUE and Cox Cable.
Fans got one last show from Morgus last year when Rideau did a one-man-show live at the Orpheum Theatre. This was a really special broadcast where Rideau recounted his career in broadcasting.
Rideau is survived by his daughter Natalie and son Robin Rideau. The family plans to have a private funeral at a later date.
