| Svengoolie | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Also known as |
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| Genre | |
| Created by | Jerry G. Bishop |
| Developed by |
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| Written by |
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| Directed by | Chris M. Faulkner |
| Presented by |
|
| Composer | Doug Scharf |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producer | Chris M. Faulkner |
| Production locations | Chicago, Illinois, US |
| Cinematography | Malcom Conyers |
| Editor | Chris M. Faulkner |
| Camera setup | Malcom Conyers |
| Running time |
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| Production company | U-City Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | |
| Release | September 18, 1970 (1970-09-18) – present |
| Related | |
| Sventoonie (2022) | |
Svengoolie is an Americanhostedhorror movietelevision program.[3] The show features horror andscience fiction films and is hosted by the character Svengoolie, who was originally played byJerry G. Bishop from 1970 to 1973, beforeRich Koz succeeded him in the role in 1979. Before and after commercial breaks, Svengoolie presentssketches, tells jokes, and performsparody songs related to the films being aired. The show is a long-running local program in theChicago area and in recent years expanded nationally, airing Saturday nights onMeTV.
The show airs both low-budget and classic horror andscience-fiction movies, withhost "Svengoolie" – a portmanteau of the wordsSvengali andghoul – played byRich Koz[4] (pronounced "Koze"), who wears thick skull-like makeup around his eyes and cheekbones, a moustache, goatee, andlong wig, all black, and a blacktop hat with a tuxedo jacket over a bright-red, open-collared, pleated tuxedo shirt.
Just before and after commercial breaks, Svengoolie presents sketches, tells corny jokes, and performs songparody spoofs of the film being aired.[1] Some shows were presented in what was later dubbed "Sven-surround" – a pun on "Sensurround", a brand name theater audio system – in which Svengoolie would joke as the film aired sometimes with humorous sound effects.[1] This stunt was discontinued for a short time, then brought back due to viewer request, although as a clip segment aired outside the film.
One relatively recent addition to the show is the simultaneous use ofTwitter with thehashtag #svengoolie, allowing those watching to comment on the show.
In August 2006, it was reported thatWCIU had obtained broadcast rights to the classicUniversal Monsters films of the 1930s and 1940s.[2] These films had been requested since Svengoolie aired in the 1980s. By December 2006, the show featured four episodes of theAbbott and Costello "Meet" series, with Universal Studios Monsters and severalHammer Film Productions that were distributed by Universal-International. On May 5, 2007, Svengoolie presentedBela Lugosi'sDracula (1931), claiming that it was the first time the movie had been shown on local television in more than a decade.
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." This is a sound clip from the preview "trailer" of one of the four "Big Broadcast Of .... (1932, 1936, 1937, 1938)" movies. In arunning gag throughout the series, Svengoolie's mentions of the Chicago suburb ofBerwyn are met with an audio clip of several people groaning "BERWYN?!?"[2] Another recurring gag involvesrubber chickens thrown at Svengoolie after a weak joke, usually at the end of an episode's opening and closing sketches.[2] Visitors assist the crew in throwing rubber chickens during taping.[5] Frequently sound clips are used fromWarner Bros. cartoons ("Oh we're the boys of the Chorus,"...etc.), radio broadcasts ofThe Stan Freberg Show ("Thank you for all those cards and letters, you folks in television LAND.....", "Wun'erful, Wun'erful" and "Ow, OW,OW!!!" from "The HoneyEarthers"), and other sources.
Many other incidental characters throughout the show's run have been voiced by Rich Koz and – during his tenure – Jerry G. Bishop, as well as WFLD staff announcer Jim Barton (during the "Son of" years).
Rich Koz did most of the artwork for the show when he revived it asSon of Svengoolie at WFLD.[7] For every episode, Koz researches the film to find interesting facts, then writes each episode, spending about four hours doing so.[5]
The camera shots and audio effects are handled by director Chris Faulkner and Kevin Reisberg, the show's assistant director.[5]
In 2014, the original casket prop used by both Bishop and Koz on camera was retired and donated to theMuseum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago.[17] Segments showcasing the original casket continued to be rebroadcast on the MeTV schedule. Rebroadcasts often will use improved prints of the films if they have become available, while keeping the old comedy skits.
The show's original title wasScreaming Yellow Theater.[10] The title was derived fromScreaming Yellow Zonkers, a yellow, sugary glazed popcorn snack, first produced in the 1960s.
The show debuted on September 18, 1970, onWFLD (channel 32) and ran on the station until September 7, 1973. Svengoolie was played then by Jerry G. Bishop.[1][2] In later seasons, Rich Koz – a fan who sent in sketch ideas – became a show writer. In 1973, Kaiser Broadcasting took over WFLD fromField Communications andScreaming Yellow Theater was cancelled and replaced withThe Ghoul from Cleveland.[10]The Ghoul lasted until 1974 when it was taken off the air.[10] Field Communications re-purchased WFLD back from Kaiser Broadcasting in 1978, which led Jerry Bishop and Rich Koz to discuss the show's resurrection.[10]
On June 16, 1979,Son of Svengoolie debuted on WFLD, with Koz in the title role.[5][7] The show also aired on Field Communications-controlled stations in Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, and Detroit. The series ran until WFLD, then owned byMetromedia, was sold toRupert Murdoch'sFox Television Stations Group in 1986 as part of the newly createdFox network.[7] New management canceled the show, deciding that it did not fit the new programming direction.[7] After 334 shows, the final episode aired January 25, 1986. Koz remained at WFLD in various capacities, mainly as the host ofFox Kids Club andThe Koz Zone weekday afternoon children's programming, and appearing as an announcer on WFLD's 1988 New Year's Eve broadcast.
Neal Sabin, executive vice president of locally basedWeigel Broadcasting, brought the show back on December 31, 1994, on independent stationWCIU (channel 26, later aCW affiliate),[2][7] which had switched from a multicultural programming format (mixing English- and various foreign-language programs) to a conventional general entertainment schedule on that date after losing its part-time rights toUnivision programming to newlyowned-and-operatedWGBO, using "Svengoolie" as the name;[1] Koz took the role of Svengoolie[2] when Bishop told Koz that he "believed he was grown up enough now to no longer be just the Son."[7] Koz also hosted a weeklyThree StoogesStooge-a-palooza show on WCIU.[7]
The series was aired on Chicago'sWWME-CA,Milwaukee stationsWBME-CD andWMLW-TV, and occasionally onWMYS-LD inSouth Bend, Indiana. These stations are owned byWeigel Broadcasting. Beginning on April 2, 2011, Svengoolie's show became available nationally on theMeTV network through the efforts of Neal Sabin.[2]
Starting January 7, 2023,Svengoolie expanded from two hours to two and a half hours, filling out a full three hour block withSventoonie.[18]
Aspin-off of bothSvengoolie and MeTV's morning cartoon blockToon In with Me, titledSventoonie, premiered on MeTV on March 26, 2022.Sventoonie was hosted byToon In with Me's Kevin Fleming as his puppet character Toony the Tuna, in character as "Sventoonie". In the series, Sventoonie reviewed classic horror films and took part in comedy sketches with his own cast, including occasional appearances by Svengoolie himself.[19]Sventoonie ended on February 25, 2023, with reruns of the classicBatman replacing it the following Saturday night.
Another spin-off titledHouse of Svengoolie starred the Sven Squad as they also show horror and sci-fi movies.
On October 1, 2022, it was announced that a nationwide talent search, called "Spawn of Svengoolie",[20] would be accepting auditions for fans to create a character and send in their audition video, in hopes of joining the production.[21] There was also an opportunity for fans to audition at the 2022New York Comic Con.[22] This led to a new time-filler segment during broadcasts, where select audition tapes were played back to back; eventually being referred to as "Spawn Stars".[23]
One year later, three new characters, "The Sven Squad", began to appear in short spots and segments during the broadcast.[24] (Gwengoolie, Ignatius Malvolio Prankenstein & Nostalgiaferatoo), although Nostalgiaferatoo began appearing much earlier than Gwen and Imp. Sven Squad merchandise[25] and promotional photos were added to the official MeTV website's Svengoolie page, beginning around October 22, 2023.[26]
Between 1979 and 1986,Son of Svengoolie won three Chicago Emmys at station WFLD.[5][7] For its 25th anniversary in 2004,Svengoolie was presented with the Silver Circle Award by the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of theAcademy of Television Arts & Sciences[7] for "outstanding contributions to Chicago television."
Svengoolie is also a consistent winner of the "Best Horror Host" award from theRondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards.[27]
Svengoolie appeared as a supporting character in a storyline in theDick Tracy comic strip that started in April 2017.[28]
A special four-part crossover story in two-page parts featuring Svengoolie with the variousDC Comics superheroes ran through the month of October 2019. DC Comics editorDan Didio said the idea for this was a "fun mash-up" featuring theJustice League alongside elements of theSvengoolie show.[29]
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