Svengoolie
| Svengoolie | |
|---|---|
| File:SonOfSvengoolie.jpg Rich Koz as Svengoolie | |
| Genre | Horror / Science-fiction / Comedy |
| Created by |
|
| Developed by |
|
| Written by |
|
| Directed by | Chris M. Faulkner |
| Presented by | Rich Koz |
| Starring |
|
| Composer | Doug Scharf |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of seasons | 31 |
| No. of episodes | 680[1] |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Rich Koz |
| Producer | Chris M. Faulkner |
| Production locations | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Cinematography | Malcom Conyers |
| Editor | Chris M. Faulkner |
| Camera setup | Malcom Conyers |
| Running time | 120 minutes |
| Production company | U-City Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | |
| Release | September 18, 1970 – present |
Svengoolie is a hosted horror movie show.[4] The title is taken from the character host. The show is a long-running local program in the Chicago area and in recent years expanded nationally, airing Saturday nights on Me-TV.
Format
The shows air various (and often low-budget) horror and science-fiction movies, with horror host "Svengoolie" (a pun on the name Svengali + ghoul), played by Rich Koz, who wears odd face makeup, a wig, and top hat. Just before, and after commercial breaks, the character presents sketches, tells corny jokes, and does song parodies spoofing the film being aired.[2] Some shows were presented in what was later dubbed "Sven-surround" (a pun of "Sensurround", a brand name theater audio system) in which Svengoolie would joke as the film aired (similarly to MST3K); but, sound effects would play over the movie, as well.[2] This was discontinued for a short time, then brought back due to viewer request—though as a clip segment aired outside the film, not as the previously-done over-dub.
Movies
In August 2006, it was announced that WCIU obtained broadcast rights to the classic Universal Monsters films of the 1930s and 1940s.[3] These films had been requested since Svengoolie aired in the 1980s. By December 2006, the show featured four of the Abbott and Costello "Meet" series, with the Universal Studio Monsters, and several Hammer Film Productions, which were distributed by Universal-International. On May 5, 2007, Svengoolie presented Bela Lugosi's Dracula (1931), which he claimed was the first time the movie has been shown on local television in over a decade.
Themes
The show opens with a reference to early radio broadcasting: "Calling all stations, clear the air lanes, clear all air lanes for the big broadcast." A running gag throughout the series is a reference to "Berwyn", the name of a Chicago suburb.[3] (a nod to the way "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" and Johnny Carson would refer to "Beautiful Downtown Burbank.") Another recurring gag involves rubber chickens thrown at Svengoolie after an unusually weak joke—usually at the end of an episode's closing sketch.[3] Visitors assist the crew throwing rubber chickens during taping.[1]
Characters
Svengoolie, the titular character of the show, is the host that introduces the film, tells jokes and relates factoids about the movie. The character was originally portrayed by former WCFL-AM personality Jerry G. Bishop (1936 - 2013), from 1970 to 1973.[1] When the show returned in 1979, the role was taken up by Rich Koz, who plays the part today.[5]
Doug Graves plays the piano for Svengoolie's songs. The part of Graves is played by musician and crew member, Doug Scharf.[6]
Zallman T. Tombstone is a disembodied skull that does a humorous skit in each episode.[4]
Kerwyn, whose name rhymes with Berwyn, is a smart alec rubber chicken who helps Svengoolie read viewer mail.
Durwood the Dummy is a wooden ventriloquist's dummy from the original show of 1970.[7]
The above three characters, and many other incidental characters throughout the show's run, were voiced by Rich Koz.
Production
Rich Koz did most of the artwork for the show when he revived it as Son of Svengoolie at WFLD.[5] For every episode, Koz researches the film to find interesting facts, then writes each episode, spending about 4 hours writing.[1]
The camera shots and audio effects are handled by director, Chris Faulkner, and Kevin Reisberg, the assistant director.[1]
Broadcast
The show's original title was Screaming Yellow Theater with host Svengoolie.[7] The title was derived from Screaming Yellow Zonkers, a yellow, sugary glazed popcorn snack, first produced in the 1960s. It wasn't until the revival that the show title and host's name were one and the same. It debuted on September 18, 1970 on WFLD (Channel 32) and ran until late-summer 1973. Svengoolie was played then by Jerry G. Bishop.[3][2] In later seasons, Rich Koz—a fan who sent in sketch ideas—became a show writer. In 1973, Kaiser Broadcasting took over WFLD from Field Communications and Screaming Yellow Theater was cancelled and replaced with The Ghoul from Cleveland.[7] The Ghoul lasted until 1974 when it was taken off the air.[7] Field Communications took WFLD back from Kaiser Broadcasting in 1978, which led Jerry Bishop and Rich Koz to discuss the show's resurrection.[7]
On June 16, 1979, Son of Svengoolie debuted on WFLD, with Koz in the title role.[1][5] The show aired briefly on sister stations (i.e., Field Communications-controlled) in Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, and Detroit. This series ran until WFLD (then owned by Metromedia) was sold to Rupert Murdoch's Fox Television Stations Group in 1986 as part of the newly created Fox network.[5] The new management canceled the show, deciding it did not fit the new programming direction.[5] After 334 shows, the final episode aired January 25, 1986. Koz returned to WFLD in various capacities, mainly as the host of Fox Kids Club and The Koz Zone weekday afternoon children's programming, and appearing as an announcer on the Fox network's 1988 New Year's Eve broadcast.
Neal Sabin, executive vice president of Weigel Broadcasting, brought the show back on December 31, 1994 on WCIU[5][3] (Channel 26), using "Svengoolie" as the name;[2] Koz took the role of Svengoolie[3] when Bishop told Koz that he "believed he was grown up enough now to no longer be just the Son."[5] Koz hosts a weekly Three Stooges Stooge-a-palooza show on WCIU.[5]
The series airs on Chicago's WWME-CA ("ME-TV"), Milwaukee stations WBME-CD and WMLW-TV, and occasionally on WMYS-LP in South Bend, Indiana. These stations are owned by Weigel Broadcasting. Beginning on April 2, 2011, Svengoolie's show became available nationally on the Me-TV network through the efforts of Neal Sabin.[3]
Reception
Between 1979 and 1986, the Son of Svengoolie won three Chicago Emmys at station WFLD.[5][1] For its 25th anniversary in 2004, Svengoolie was presented with the Silver Circle Award by the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences[5] for "outstanding contributions to Chicago television."
Influence
Svengoolie is visible as an easter egg in the Justice League graphic novel JLA: Liberty and Justice, shown on a security monitor in Arkham Asylum as a patient alongside The Joker, Two-Face and The Riddler.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Serrano, Elliott (December 31, 2008). "Fun for all the boys and 'gools', 'Svengoolie' a staple for B-Grade horror movie fans". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois, USA: Tony W. Hunter. ISSN 1085-6706. OCLC 60639020. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e Johnson, Steve (February 1, 1997). ""Sventennial": Before there was Joe Bob Briggs, before..." Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois, USA: Tony W. Hunter. ISSN 1085-6706. OCLC 60639020. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h
Hageman, William (April 01, 2011). "Svengoolie scares up a national show". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois, USA: Tony W. Hunter. ISSN 1085-6706. OCLC 60639020. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b Watson, Elena M. (November 1, 2000). Television Horror Movie Hosts: 68 Vampires, Mad Scientists and Other Denizens of the Late-Night Airwaves Examined and Interviewed (reprint, illustrated ed.). Jefferson, North Carolina, USA: McFarland & Company. ISBN 9780786409402. OCLC 44693959. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Darnall, Steve (June 18, 2004). "25 years of Svengoolie's humor, Television academy honors Rich Koz with Silver Circle Award". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois, USA: Tony W. Hunter. ISSN 1085-6706. OCLC 60639020. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
- ^ Herguth, Bob (December 5, 1994). "Rich Koz". Chicago Sun-Times. Chicago, Illinois, USA: Tim Knight. p. 26. ISSN 1553-8478. OCLC 51500916. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e Stach, Chris (October 30, 2007). "Horror story, Love of classic flicks and comedy result in soon-to-be-published book about horror shows on Chicago TV". Riverside Brookfield Landmark. Oak Park, Illinois, USA: Wednesday Journal. OCLC 40109363. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
Bibliography
- Okuda, Ted; Yurkiw, Mark (December 4, 2007). Chicago TV Horror Movie Shows: From Shock Theatre to Svengoolie (illustrated ed.). Chicago, Illinois, USA: Lake Claremont Press. ISBN 9781893121133. OCLC 123378830. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
- Glut, Donald F. (July 24, 2012). Shock Theatre Chicago Style: WBKB-TV's Late Night Horror Showcase, 1957-1959. Jefferson, North Carolina, USA: McFarland & Company. p. 170. ISBN 9780786468058. OCLC 757462047. Retrieved March 16, 2013.