Robert Englund Toasts Svengoolie at Flashback Weekend!

Posted on by

(Continued  from my last post) 

Don Johnston and I greeted the crew as they pulled into the hotel’s private parking lot. Accompanying Svengoolie were his Executive Producer, Jim Roche; Associate Producer, Ella Larschield; camera person, Korey McElligot; and social media specialist, Jennifer Vlad. After being stuck in near-standstill traffic for 90 minutes (due to the Lollapalooza Festival taking place in Chicago’s Grant Park),  they looked as if they were ready to kiss the ground upon exiting their cars.

1 2

Assisting Svengoolie & Waiting for Chip Zdarsky at C2E2!

Posted on by

My anticipation for C2E2 (Chicago Comics & Entertainment Expo) was elevated this year thanks to my renewed interest in comic books. Last year’s hunt for the “Svengoolie: Lost in Time” variant covers led to excavating my old collection and now taking regular trips to the local comic book shop. Instead of being brand loyal to MARVEL (as I was back in the ’80s and ’90s) I’ve now started dabbling with other publishers such as Image Comics, IDW Publishing, BOOM! Studios, to name a few. But more on that later. The main draw for C2E2, for me, was Svengoolie whom I’d been brought on to assist. Continue reading →

What it’s like being Svengoolie’s “Hand at the Door!”

Posted on by

I’ve held off on this story as long as I could but wanted to share a fantastic experience I had late last year. It started back in October after I’d finished assisting the Svengoolie crew at their annual Volo Auto Museum appearance. Svengoolie’s alter ego, Rich Koz, thanked me for my assistance (as if I hadn’t enjoyed every minute of it) before asking if there was anything he could do for me in return. On several occasions, his producer, Jim Roche, has offered to pay me for my services but I’ve always refused on the grounds of it being a labor of love. I told Sven it wasn’t necessary but did put out there that if the station had lifted its tight COVID restrictions, I’d love to attend another taping – casually throwing in my desire to be his “hand at the door.” Seasoned Svengoolie fans know this refers to the show’s final skit which finds our frustrated host trying to share information about next week’s show only to be interrupted by his doorbell. After begrudgingly leaving his coffin to answer the door, he is then greeted by an expressive hand/arm that comes into view before telling a bad joke or two. I’m told this type of gag originated from an old comedian named “Soupy Sales” but he was before my time and I’ve only ever seen it performed by Svengoolie and the horror host, Zomboo, in Nevada. Sven told me he’d make it happen and, before the year was out, made good on his promise.

Continue reading →

2023 Flashback Weekend Friday: Svengoolie with Joe Bob Briggs! (and MUCH more)!

Posted on by

For the second time in about as many weeks, I headed up to the Hyatt Regency in Rosemont, Illinois for a convention. Whereas the previously covered G-FEST was a family affair, however, Flashback Weekend for me is all about friends and celebrating our mutual love of horror films and/or MeTV’s national horror host (and Flashback Weekend regular), Svengoolie. This year was even more momentous as it would feature my other favorite host, Shudder TV’s Joe Bob Briggs from The Last Drive-in show. This team-up alone sent my anticipation levels soaring while making the protracted journey to Flashback (courtesy of Illinois road construction) akin to torture.

Continue reading →

Svengoolie at Flashback Weekend 2021!

Posted on by

I hadn’t seen Svengoolie in person since December 2019 when he was dressed as his holiday alter ego, Sventa Claus, at the Mystic Market in Lyons. It was a fun occasion and, in the spirit of giving, I brought him an animatronic Creature from the Black Lagoon figure I’d purchased from Days of the Dead. I recall it ending with my friends and I toasting another successful year of Sven-chasing since, for us, attending his appearances was not unlike following a favorite band on tour. In this regard, the Mystic Market was something of a finale’ – though we could never have known at the time just how final that would be. We took for granted the tradition would continue on into the coming year not knowing a Pandemic was lurking just around the corner. So, with 2020 a wash, we looked at the summer of 2021 as a bastion of hope.

By July, Chicago had lifted its indoor mask mandate and, further cementing a feeling of normalcy, Svengoolie signed on for his first public appearance in over a year. Unfortunately, the closer Flashback Weekend loomed, the more news of the virus’ Delta variant started making headlines. Suddenly, what should have been a joyous occasion had a giant black cloud hanging over it. I was excited to join the Svengoolie crew and see my favorite horror host again but with a fair share of trepidation.

Continue reading →

Sventa Claus Makes Merry at the Mystic Market!

Posted on by

On Saturday, December 7th, I pulled into Saint John’s Church in Lyons, Illinois to see Sventa Claus. The holiday version of MeTV’s horror host, Svengoolie, has become a tradition here in Chicago and one aspect of our local-gone-national celebrity we can still claim for ourselves. I was looking forward to seeing him while also supporting my friend, Lozen Brownbear. Lozen’s an animal-lover like myself and I’d attended her “Mystic Market” fundraiser up in Elmhurst last year. It’s a great way to pick up some unique, hand-crafted gifts for the holidays while sending much-needed funds to her furry friends at the Sacred Space Animal Sanctuary and Rescue.

Continue reading →