American Scary Volume 2 – A Must Read for Fans of Horror Hosts (Including Svengoolie)!

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In the summer of 2025, horror host aficionado Michael Monahan released the first volume of his updated/expanded American Scary: Conversations with the Kings, Queens, and Jesters of Late Night Horror, a collection of interviews with numerous local television personalities. Many of these men and women are no longer with us, making these discussions invaluable and a glimpse of a bygone era when many of us, myself included, would anxiously camp in front of our television set, ready to battle its antennae for the best picture our UHF station could offer to see them. Those who didn’t have the honor of growing up with a local, commercial television host can’t grasp the deep devotion these individuals inspired. They were more than mere celebrities; they were our “friends,” who not only understood us monster fans but also presented them to us every week with their own unique brand of humor. For my part, that faithfulness led me to help start this blog in 2010 and to become one of the luckiest horror host fanboys alive, befriending and helping my childhood host well into my ‘50s. So you can imagine my excitement that this host, Rich Koz, the Son of Svengoolie turned Svengoolie, is not only featured in American Scary: Conversations with the Kings, Queens, and Jesters of Late Night Horror Volume 2 but also gracing its cover.

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Music to Die For: “The Halloween Album” by The Goldstars!

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If one thing really helps me get into the Halloween spirit, it’s festive novelty music. Over the years I’ve amassed quite a collection of physical copies which I keep in an overstuffed binder. Now, of course, we’re in the age of streaming, and a local Chicago band called The Goldstars aims to give listeners that vintage Halloween feeling on a modern platform. I listened to their album three times while working from home last week, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I spent this past weekend putting up decorations and taking a family trip to an apple orchard/pumpkin patch. If you’re looking for the audio equivalent of pumpkin spice, then I’m happy to report that as of TODAY, this music is available to everyone.

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Scott Snyder and the ‘Absolute” terror of missing Kurt Russell!

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Sunday morning, I ate some of my leftover pizza for breakfast and hurried over to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center for the last day of the Chicago Fan Expo. When attending weekend events, it’s unusual for me to stay long on Sundays, as I’ve usually accomplished all of my objectives. Today, however, was a full day, which was more challenging after checking out of the hotel and without my usual sanctuary. Unlike yesterday, I took advantage of my Ultimate pass’ early access in the hopes of getting the Scott Snyder ticket that eluded me then.

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Fan Expo and the Kurt Russell Hustle!

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Chicago Fan Expo coverage continues…

Saturday morning, I woke up early and had the buffet breakfast at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare. After spending most of the previous day standing in line, today was no exception, and a full breakfast of champions was in order. The Hyatt features an overpass tunnel I could use to get to my car in the parking garage across the street or to Fan Expo at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. A staff member stood inside, making sure anyone heading to the Expo had their appropriate passes. With all the running back and forth I did in those tunnels throughout the weekend, it’s a wonder we didn’t end up on a first-name basis. I had a couple of hours before my scheduled photo op with Kurt Russell, and I wanted to see some comic creators, specifically Scott Snyder, who created the comic world’s latest hit sensation, “Absolute Batman.” 

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An Unplanned Visit to the Flight 93 National Memorial

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I’m interrupting my coverage of the 2026 Chicago Fan Expo for something I’d already had scheduled for posting on this special day – the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. The original plan was to wrap up my convention coverage last week, but that was before two tornadoes hit my town in the south suburbs of Chicago fifteen days apart. Thankfully, they weren’t very strong, but the first knocked out my power for nearly a week, and the second my internet for several days after. Needless to say, my writing goals were delayed. My apologies for the disjointed coverage, which will continue next week.

On Sunday, June 31st of this year, I left the New Jersey Horror Con and embarked on a five-and-a-half-hour drive to Pittsburgh. The original plan was to spend the day at New Jersey’s Cape May Zoo with my friend, Jason Schoolcraft, but he canceled. I decided to drive to Pittsburgh earlier than planned and look for things to do before my prepaid hotel check-in time at 3. The stay was intended for sleep only, as I’d drive straight home to Illinois early the next day. I always travel with a specific agenda, but after this day, I’ve come to believe fate sometimes guides us to places despite our plans. So, about an hour before reaching my intended destination, I saw the sign for the Flight 93 National Monument and, without hesitation, steered my car toward its exit. Somehow, I’d managed to slip out of a horror movie convention only to get a glimpse of the real thing.

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Chicago Fan Expo Friday: Comic Creators and John Carpenter & Company!

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Just over a week after returning from my New Jersey trip, I learned of a startling convention announcement. The incomparable Kurt Russell was coming to Chicago and appearing at Fan Expo in my home city. This would be the actor’s first and, according to him, last such appearance. For a genre fan like me, it seemed inconceivable (as did the prices) while setting off every FOMO alarm in my nervous system. For the next 42 hours before his limited (another FOMO-triggering word) tickets went up for sale, I argued with myself about whether I should bite the bullet. Paying $400 for a signature made no logical sense, and the angel on my shoulder argued how stupid it was even to consider it. However, the devil on the other side proved the most influential. This wasn’t just some MARVEL actor or newly minted celebrity but one of my favorite actors of all time. The great McCreedy in The THING (1982), Snake Plisken in Escape from New York (1981), Stuntman Mike from Death Proof (2007), the wisecracking Jack Burton in Big Trouble in Little China (1986), Wyatt Earp in one of my favorite Westerns, Tombstone (1993), and Dean Proffitt from one of only a handful of comedies I’ll rewatch, Overboard (1987). At the end of the day, it wasn’t really a question of whether I would see him, but how to swing it financially. And nearly a month after this event, I’m still swinging!

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