Interview with Svengoolie at Houby Day Parade
The name Svengoolie has a lot of history not just on television but also in the Chicagoland area.
Svengoolie – the title character and host of the show, who introduces the film, tells jokes and relates trivia about the movie. The character was originally portrayed by former WCFL personality Jerry G. Bishop, who held the role from 1970 to 1973.
When the show returned in 1979, Rich Koz took on the role of “Son of Svengoolie”, which he portrayed until 1986, when the show was canceled. In 1995, Koz was set to bring the show back and Bishop told him he was “all grown up” and could drop the “Son of” from his character name. Koz has been playing “Svengoolie” ever since.
Koz got his start in broadcasting at WMTH-FM, the high school radio station at Maine East in Park Ridge, Illinois. While Koz was at Northwestern University, he sent the original Svengoolie, Jerry G. Bishop, material for the horror-movie program. Bishop subsequently invited Koz on to the show.
When the show was canceled in 1973, Bishop and Koz worked together doing mornings on WMAQ radio in Chicago, and Koz worked with radio legend Dick Orkin on commercials and syndicated features, including “ChickenMan Returns for the Last Time Again.”
Bishop left for San Diego in 1978 and gave Koz permission to create a show known as Son of Svengoolie, now simply known as Svengoolie. (The character is often known simply as “Sven.”)
Here is writer and author Aaron Hanania doing a short interview with Svengoolie just before the start of the 50th Annual Golden Jubilee Houby Day Parade on Cermak Road in the Town of CIcero on Sunday Oct. 7, 2018.
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“I share music with my audience because music is a way for me to share my thoughts or views on a concept in a different form,” explains Aaron, who has been playing drums for more than 15 years.
"My writings take the readers to the ends of their imagination and document news and feature events in sports and everyday life."
His first album is titled "Deep Space" and was released in October of 2019.
Aaron is also a budding standup comedian who has performed several times to packed audiences around Chicagoland.
His writings include features, news and opinion commentary. His videos address issues that young students address everyday.
His website is www.Aaron411News.com and his Youtube channel is www.Aaron411.com.
Follow him on Twitter @AaronHanania