Svengoolie
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Svengoolie is the name of a long-running locally produced television program in the Chicago, Illinois area.
The show features various (and often low-budget) horror and science fiction movies hosted by horror host "Svengoolie" (currently played by Rich Koz), a horror host who wears face makeup, a wig, and a top hat. In between film breaks, various sketches, song parodies related to the film being played, and corny jokes are performed.
The character of Svengoolie debuted on the locally produced show Screaming Yellow Theater, which aired on WFLD (channel 32) from September 18, 1970 until late summer, 1973. Svengoolie was played in this series by Jerry G. Bishop, and one of the writers was Rich Koz.
On June 16, 1979, a new series named Son of Svengoolie debuted on WFLD, with Koz in the role of the Son of Svengoolie. The show also aired for a brief period of time in Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco and Detroit. This series ran until WFLD joined the Fox television network and decided to cancel the show, feeling it was not an appropriate fit for their new network affiliate status. After 334 shows, the final episode aired January 25, 1986. Koz later returned to WFLD in various capacities, mainly as the host of its "Fox Kids Club" weekday afternoon children's programming.
The series returned to the air on December 31, 1994 on WCIU (channel 26), using just "Svengoolie" as its name; Koz once again resumed the role of Svengoolie when Bishop told him he "believed he was grown up enough now to no longer be just the Son." The show opens with a reference to early radio broadcasting--"Calling all stations, clear the air lanes, clear all air lanes for the big broadcast."
A running gag throughout the series is the repeated utterance of the word "Berwyn", the name of a Chicago suburb. Another recurring gag involves rubber chickens being thrown after a particularly corny joke is told, usually at the end of the closing sketch of each episode. The show, and Koz, have won numerous regional Emmy awards, including Koz being admitted to the Emmy "Silver Circle" in 2004 for "outstanding contributions to Chicago television." Svengoolie would appear to be the most "decorated" horror show host in the country due to these awards. (Koz has additional duties at WCIU, including hosting the weekly Three Stooges "Stooge-a-palooza" show.)
Besides WCIU, the series also airs on Chicago's WWME-CA ("ME-TV"), Milwaukee station WMLW-CA and occasionally on WMYS-LP in South Bend, Indiana. All of these stations are owned by Weigel Broadcasting.
[edit] Universal Studio Monsters
In August, 2006 it was announced that WCIU obtained broadcast rights to the classic Universal Studio Monster films of the 1930's and 40's. These films have been requested since Svengoolie aired in the 80's. By December of 2006, the show had featured four of the many Abbott and Costello "Meet" Series, with the Universal Studio Monsters, and several Hammer Film Productions, which had been distributed by Universal-International.
