Monster of the Day #1685

Updated on December 29, 2017 By Ken Begg 13 Comments

Call me a Homer, but Rich Koz’s Son of Svengoolie (later, with Jerry G Bishop’s permission, just Svengoolie) has consistently been the funniest horror host the nation has offered up.

A (like so many of us back then) very young and svelte Koz assumed the role in 1979–a perfect time, as I was a sophomore in high school–and is still playing the role today. Soon he’ll hit that 40 year anniversary, and it’s a testament to his program that it’s changed very little over the decades. The man knows his business. Hell, his pal Doug Graves is still on the show (as far as I know, I don’t get MeTV sadly).

Best Moment Ever:

Svengoolie: “Hey, Tombstone, are you a blood donor?”
Norman Z. Tombstone Jr. (A floating skull with a bit plastic cigar): “Blood donor? I’m not even a blooood own-er.”

It helps if you know the voices.

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  • I have to say that we have loved being able to watch these with the kids thanks to MeTV. Jamie and I both grew up on our own homegrown horror hosts and thought that would be something they’d never get to have. Also has been a pretty painless way to introduce them to some fantastic movies that they probably would have dismissed as boring in other contexts. Now I have third generation Monster Kids.

  • Richmond actually has a new(ish) Horror Host these days on our local PBS once month, Armistead Spotteswood. Unfortunately he is absolutely terrible, unfunny jokes and fake “movie trivia” is about the extent of his shtick. I keep getting tempted to write to them and offer some better material, ugh! But they do let him film host segments in our local 1920’s movie palace, which is something, I suppose. All public domain stuff also, which can be done well, but in this case are so poorly curated as to seem entirely a random collection of junk.

  • bgbear_rnh

    A gag worthy of Jack Benny and Fred Allen.

  • Man, did I love his show back as a kid. Through Svengoolie I saw Horror of Dracula, Bride of Frankenstein, Revenge of the Creature (in 3-d!), and countless others. It’s so good to have him still going.

  • Rock Baker

    What’s wonderful is that he continues what seems to be a tradition of Chicago hosts in being expertly versed in Vaudeville traditions and timeless brands of humor. He reminds a lot of the guy who replaced Bob Bell as Bozo, who against all odds understood the same traditions as the men who originated the show he was hosting.

  • Rodford Smith

    This has to be the most horrific thing you’ve ever posted here. :-^)

    I get MeTV and have a DVR set to record this show every Saturday night. I love the background info he gives more than the movies.

  • Eric Hinkle

    Svengoolie is great. Until I stumbled across him I thought I’d never see half the movies he shows on TV ever again. That alone makes him the best thing on the tube to me right now.

  • Gamera977

    Just let me say HAPPY NEW YEARS folks!!!

    And it’s 18F / -8C here. And I’ve got to work, WOO HOO!!!!

  • HAPPY NEW YEAR! In my neck of the woods it’s about the same, but feels much, much, much colder. Coming home from work last night was mighty unpleasant. Still, it could have been worse. Christmas Eve I was stuck outside waiting for a ride; had it been this cold then I would have been one miserable unit…

  • Yeah, I gotta say this is not acceptable Virginia weather this year. Hit 11F in Bon Air this AM and tonight is supposed to be worse. Going to the gym *hurt*, and not just because I am fat and haven’t worked out in 2 months.

  • The Rev.

    It hasn’t gotten above zero since I arrived in Iowa. Snowed most of Friday and a good chunk of Saturday night. We set a record last night of -23, if I remember correctly, and right now (11:30 p.m. Monday) it’s -19. The crazy thing is, living in Texas so long, I’ve missed actual winters and am enjoying this more than I should.

    Oh, and a belated Happy New Year to everyone.

  • KeithB

    Ken:
    Do you have an antenna? METV’s website says they are on 23.1 and 26.3 for Chicago.

  • Jamie B.

    It has been so great to have Sven in our house every Saturday evening.