Last post I mentioned Warner Todd Huston’s Svengoolie mobile display but he’s far from alone when it comes to creative ways to celebrate the host. One guy made an amazing Svengoolie jean jacket.

Another guy made a series of hanging tiles featuring various images of the Svengoolie show. One image was a photo I’d taken while visiting the studio ten years. The picture features Svengoolie holding his old puppet, Durwood and I believe this is the same image that will be on the cover of Michael Monahan’s next American Scary volume.

After the signing, we headed back through the Hyatt Regency’s catacombs to our private room on the 3rd floor.

Sven and crew sat back and took stock of the day before heading back down for his final official task…the costume contest. We waited outside with event organizer, Mike Kerz, before Svengoolie’s introduction.

Before the festivities began, however, Svengoolie was presented with an unexpected Lifetime Achievement Award. What a cool surprise!

As always, the contest starts with the kids.

The Adult competition kicked off with “King Tiki” who elicited unintended laughter from the audience. The costume was a large Tiki mask with a protruding tongue. Unfortunately, its position on the man wearing the costume reminded people much less of a tongue as it did a certain male appendage. So much so that the first thing Sven did when the contestant walked up was to tell the audience to get their minds out of the gutter. Too late!

The next contestants were far less provocative.

Warner Todd Huston entered the competition this year as a Svengoolie Frankenstein. He never gave his name on stage, and I wonder if Sven knew it was him?

Terrifier is popular at horror cons these days and there were quite a few “Art the Clowns” in this contest. One woman was drenched in gore while holding a disemboweled plush opossum. I’ve never seen these movies so I’m sure if this is something from the films but boy was it gross.

The funniest contestant dressed as Sven Squad’s “Nostalgiaferatoo” and had the mannerisms down pat. I believe this is the first time I’ve seen a one of Svengoolie’s costars show up as the subject in a costume contest.

One of the Killer Klowns from Outer Space made another Flashback Weekend appearance, this time wearing MARVEL’s Infinity Gauntlet. Fortunately, he didn’t appear able to “snap.”

The female contestants proved the goriest and most creative this year. This was never more evident that the winner of the contest, a burning zombie emitting real smoke.

There were a few more contestants but, at that point, it was clear who the winner would be.

The crew reassembled to go back upstairs but I decided this was a good time to leave. I bid my farewell before driving home. It was busy but fun weekend and hope to do it again in 2026.

Dave~