Svengoolie’s 2nd trip to “The Squared Circle” a total Zoo!

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On Saturday, September 20th, I picked up John (a Brookfield Zoo keeper pal of mine) and headed up to The Squared Circle in Lincoln Park. Local fans of national horror host, Svengoolie, know this Chicago restaurant is not only owned by the beautiful pro wrestler, Lisa Marie Varon, but also home to the official “Svengoolie burger.” I think I’ve pretty much made it clear that his last visit there was the BEST Svengoolie public appearance EVER and folks, I oughta know. Even as far as a month before the big day was slated, I found myself smiling just thinking about it.

Tragedy, however, has no sense of timing.

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Horrorhound Weekend: The Macabre Secrets of MASK-FEST!

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It was a last minute decision going to The Indianapolis Horrorhound Weekend this past September. Not for lack of interest, mind you, but for practicality. I’d already resolved the fact that I was going to have to skip this one as I’d stretched myself too thin over the summer and was facing another week long conference in North Carolina with my Brookfield Zoo AAZK Chapter two weeks later. There was one aspect of this show, however, that gave me pause. While there are two Horrorhound Weekends taking place each year here in the Midwest, only one boasts the addition of MASK-FEST.  This event is a convention in and of itself and boasts the talented creations of those who forge the very things the holiday embraces – scary masks and props!

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Jack O’ Lantern Spectacular sets New England aglow this Halloween Season!

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Each year, Terror Dave Albaugh’s Roger Williams Park Zoo in Rhode Island, puts on their premiere Halloween fundraiser ala’ Jack O’ Lantern Spectacular! I first saw this event two years ago and would go on to cover it both on this site (along with my Brookfield Zoo’s Creatures of the Night that year HERE) as well as in an issue of Scary Monsters Magazine. I would return the following year and find myself equally mesmerized.

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Flashback Weekend: The Costume Contest!

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Coverage of the 2013 Flashback Weekend concludes…

Don and Bunny Urban and I found ourselves some seats in the room designated for Flashback Weekend’s annual costume contest. Per the custom at Flashback, it would be hosted by Svengoolie who always adds his own brand of humor to enhance the entire event. Soon we were rejoined by Bill and Joan Yingst and sat together in a row that could have been marked, “Reserved for Sven’s Goolies.”

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Flashback Weekend: The Rise of Svengoolie!

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Flashback Weekend Continues. NOTE: This post written before the events of Friday September 20th, 2013…

Joined by my friends, Bill and Joan Yingst, we walked around the convention hall of Flashback Weekend commenting on the various dealers and their home-made horror products. In lieu of my recent (and numerous) summer convention visits, I thought I’d pretty much seen everything but Flashback did manage to surprise me none the less. Items such as customized Boba Fett/Evel Kinievel figures are things you definitely don’t see every day…but should at least once in your lifetime!

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It’s Clear…THE FOG Blu Ray is a WINNER!

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It has been mentioned many times on this site that John Carpenter’s THE FOG is a favorite movie of both Daves. Unfortunately, up until recently, good quality versions of this film have been non-existent. Even the blu-ray that was available as an import on Amazon for so long was just a blu-ray version of the MGM Special edition that came out many years ago (in other words, it was less than perfect). Once again Shout! Factory has gone to great lengths to provide us with a great release in its best form to date! These guys know what they are doing and know what the fans want!

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