Svengoolie and that Wacky Wrestling Fundraiser!

Posted on by
b

Photo Jim Roche

It’s been over a month and I’m still not sure what to make of horror host, Svengoolie’s, first 2016 appearance. On the surface it sounded like it was tailor made for me; my favorite horror host showing up at a fundraiser revolving around my favorite animals – elephants. The goal was to raise enough cash to help a lucky young lady named Desire’ travel to the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand to work with them. I suppose I should’ve guessed that a unique experience such as this would result in an equally extraordinary send off and that was definitely the case as I stepped into the VFW Hall in Summit, Illinois. It was a large room with a crowd of people, someone dressed up as an elephant, Svengoolie and his producer (Jim Roche) at a signing area, the “King of Geeks” Elliott Serrano, and a big wrestling ring in the middle.

Continue reading →

The Roe Conn Halloween Show with Svengoolie!

Posted on by
Photo by Jim Roche

Photo by Jim Roche

During a recent Svengoolie appearance I covered at Pinball Life, I mentioned that one of the benefits of stalking the national commercial TV horror host was being introduced to new venues and activities I’d of never experienced otherwise. Attending the Roe Conn Halloween special on Thursday October 29th was a prime example! For those lucky enough to gain access, you’d be treated to a live taping of  WGN’s Roe Conn Show at a beautiful suburban venue. But first one had to apply for a ticket.

About a month before the big day I logged on to the WGN Radio site to apply for a pass. Although they were free, they were granted on a random and limited basis making it the luck of the draw. After a few weeks of silence I assumed it wasn’t meant to be until just days before the event when I finally received word I’d been chosen. Along with acceptance came instructions on where and when it would take place and what to do once I got there.

Continue reading →

Svengoolie & the Costume Contest of Nightmare on Chicago Street!

Posted on by
Photo courtesy of Jim Roche

Photo courtesy of Jim Roche

Svengoolie was given new headquarters at this year’s Nightmare on Chicago Street, and a classier one at that. Side Street Studio Arts is yet another reason to love the city of Elgin, Illinois; providing residents an opportunity to express their creative side and a venue to display their work. Consequently, the national TV horror host would find himself sitting amid sinister, yet beautiful, works of art; all part of their Something Wicked: A Dark Arts Exhibit. The line outside to see him started forming almost as soon as the event began and for good reason as he’d only be signing for an hour before hosting the annual costume contest

Continue reading →

Svengoolie Goes Full Tilt for “Pinball Life!”

Posted on by

1

So far as fall days go, you couldn’t ask for anything better than Friday October 16th in Illinois. The sun was shining with temps hovering in the ‘60s and it was one of those rare weekdays I was scheduled off. Best of all, it was on a day when national commercial TV horror host, Svengoolie, was making one of his Halloween season appearances! This one was about 90 minutes northwest from my place in the village of Huntley, Illinois.  I was familiar with the rural town as my sister used to teach school there several years back and this had been our favorite time of year to visit her. It meant postcard perfect fall leaves and a visit to one of the numerous apple orchards and pumpkin patches found in that region. Today would be a lot different.

Continue reading →

A Mad Monster Party with Svengoolie!

Posted on by

Mad-Monster-Party-Poster_v02

This year’s Flashback Weekend offered something different from previous years and specifically geared towards younger horror fans; a screening of the 1967 Rankin/Bass Mad Monster Party hosted by national commercial TV horror host, Svengoolie! Though not as popular as the animation team’s Christmas TV specials (Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town, The Year without a Santa Claus, etc.) this full-length film featured the voice work of the legendary Karlos Borloff as well as Phyllis Diller!

Continue reading →

Svengoolie at Flashback Weekend!

Posted on by

1

There’s a whole room reserved for national commercial TV horror host, Svengoolie, to his fans at Flashback Weekend. I was informed by my friend, Don Johnston that he and his crew arrived and headed straight there from the main ballroom. Don manages the event’s hotel, the Crown Plaza in Rosemont, and is a great guy who often grants me event and parking passes in exchange for helping out where needed. In this instance it was to direct fans into the room he was in while seeing to it the line stayed moving. Lucky for these folks, waiting in line involved sitting in chairs that wrapped around the room’s perimeter. After fans got up to meet him, the rest would simply move down the corresponding number of chairs until it was their turn. It may sound goofy but, trust me, as someone who has stood in line for hours to meet a convention guest before, being able to sit in a comfortable seat for the duration was worth its weight in gold!

Continue reading →