The best Halloween costume that either of my kids ever had was made by my friend who I’ll call “Jean.“ She lived across the street from me and had a baby girl six weeks after I gave birth to my son. We were both new mothers and formed a bond that should have lasted forever.
I have countless photos of my son as a baby and many of them include Jean’s daughter. There is a photo I keep in a scrapbook showing Jean and I bundled up in winter clothes standing behind our children, snug in their strollers going to the park. There is another photo of the two babies when they first learned to crawl. Many photos of our babies turning into little kids.
It was the third Halloween for the kids, the first being pretty non-existent as they were newborns and the second with the kids trick or treating to a few houses, my son with a store bought costume -he was a devil that year! No, really, he was dressed as a little devil, that was what they had in the store. But for the third Halloween, Jean offered to make his costume.
She outdid herself that year that the kids first started to grasp the notion of Halloween and the idea that this day is special and can be a lot of fun for kids. The costume she made for my son was that of Mickey Mouse and my mother still talks about it to this day. It was very well done, a professional quality costume. And to make it even cuter, she dressed her daughter up as Minnie. We had a ball taking the kids out trick or treating and the neighbors just loved them but it was the last year that I would be able to get my son into a costume like that.
We moved not too long after my son’s third Halloween. Jean and I both gave birth to new baby girls and life led us in different directions although the internet allows us to keep in touch. On my son’s fourth Halloween, he refused to wear a “baby” costume and wanted to be a turtle. So, without Jean, I tied some colored cloth around each of his arms and legs over his green sweatshirt and pants and he was that red Ninja Turtle whose name escapes me. And after that it was Dracula. Then just a mask. Then no Halloween costume at all unless you count a last year when he had to dress up for some party and simply put on a tie and went as that guy from “The Office.”
That Halloween is close to my heart as the last time my first baby was a baby and not a little boy. And thanks to Jean, it was complete with the greatest costume made by a master seamstress and the greatest friend a new mom ever had. Thanks, Jean, for being such a good friend and giving me that gift.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Svengoolie Greets Fans In Orland Park
Reprinted from the Orland Park Prairie
It was indeed Party City on October 14 when Svengoolie, beloved TV show host of classic horror movies greeted hundreds of fans who crowded in to meet him at the Orland Park Party City store. Fans began lining up two hours early to get in line to meet and take pictures with Svengoolie who hosts the popular program of the same name on Me-TV.
“He’s awesome,” said store manager Gina Vaitkus who went on to say that Svengoolie has visited the store for the past three years. She watched as fans lined up in the rows of the aisles and sold rubber chickens for Svengoolie to autograph. The Svengoolie show has a standing joke of the host being pelted with rubber chickens after a corny joke.
“This is really fun, I’m doing it in the spirit of Halloween,” said Eileen Jenkins of Tinley Park. She was with her friend, Ashley Berat. The two young women said that they were also going to purchase costumes for a Halloween party at the store.
The crowd was diverse with people coming not only from Orland Park but all over the local suburbs such as Frankfort, New Lenox and Tinley Park. Austin Yancy may have traveled the furthest for the event. He came all the way from Champaign. “I think he’s funny,” said the ten year old who said his favorite horror film on Svengoolie is “The Blob.” He was at the event with his great uncle who lives in Bradley and who gets the station which is not available in Champaign. Austin said he watches the program when he visits Bradley on the weekends.
New Lenox resident Frank Mavros, who said he is a “mad scientist” and has been watching Svengoolie for the past 20 years. “I have never seen him in person,” said Mavros who was in good humor with friends and said his favorite films on the program were “Frankenstein” and “Them.”
“I liked when he had Bernie Mac on,” said Yvonne Lally from Orland Hills. The engineer said she heard about the appearance on the radio and wanted to meet Svengoolie.
Svengoolie is played by Rich Koz, who began his horror hosting career in the Chicago area playing “Son of Svengoolie” after the original Svengoolie, Jerry G. Bishop, retired from the role. He has since moved around from different television stations and is currently seen on Me-TV where he is now known as “Svengoolie.” Koz has had a long broadcasting career in Chicago and has also been the host of “Stooge-A-Palooza” featuring The Three Stooges. He said he loves visiting Orland Park.
“Every time I’ve been here we have had a great turnout. The people are always nice,” said Svengoolie/Koz. He appeared happy to see the crowd, pose for pictures and give autographs, many on which were written on the rubber chickens, although no purchase was required to meet Koz, take a photo with him or get an autograph.
One of the most excited fans was Ethan Jankowski, 4, who was first in line with his mother, Melissa and father, Jeff. Melissa Jankowski, of Orland Park, said her son loves Svengoolie and told Koz that he and his father make it a habit to watch the program every Saturday night together. Koz said “that is just the thing I like to hear” and posed with the youngster and his father. When asked who played “Dracula” by Jeff Jankowski, young Ethan replied without missing a beat, “Bela Lugosi.” Ethan went on to say that his favorite Svengoolie movie was “The Creature From The Black Lagoon.”
District Manager of Party City, Mike Baker, said that the Svengoolie appearance is always welcome in the store and that the customers and staff are great. “We have had a good partnership between Party City and Svengoolie for the past three years,” he said. “It wouldn’t be Party City without a party.”
“He’s awesome,” said store manager Gina Vaitkus who went on to say that Svengoolie has visited the store for the past three years. She watched as fans lined up in the rows of the aisles and sold rubber chickens for Svengoolie to autograph. The Svengoolie show has a standing joke of the host being pelted with rubber chickens after a corny joke.
“This is really fun, I’m doing it in the spirit of Halloween,” said Eileen Jenkins of Tinley Park. She was with her friend, Ashley Berat. The two young women said that they were also going to purchase costumes for a Halloween party at the store.
The crowd was diverse with people coming not only from Orland Park but all over the local suburbs such as Frankfort, New Lenox and Tinley Park. Austin Yancy may have traveled the furthest for the event. He came all the way from Champaign. “I think he’s funny,” said the ten year old who said his favorite horror film on Svengoolie is “The Blob.” He was at the event with his great uncle who lives in Bradley and who gets the station which is not available in Champaign. Austin said he watches the program when he visits Bradley on the weekends.
New Lenox resident Frank Mavros, who said he is a “mad scientist” and has been watching Svengoolie for the past 20 years. “I have never seen him in person,” said Mavros who was in good humor with friends and said his favorite films on the program were “Frankenstein” and “Them.”
“I liked when he had Bernie Mac on,” said Yvonne Lally from Orland Hills. The engineer said she heard about the appearance on the radio and wanted to meet Svengoolie.
Svengoolie is played by Rich Koz, who began his horror hosting career in the Chicago area playing “Son of Svengoolie” after the original Svengoolie, Jerry G. Bishop, retired from the role. He has since moved around from different television stations and is currently seen on Me-TV where he is now known as “Svengoolie.” Koz has had a long broadcasting career in Chicago and has also been the host of “Stooge-A-Palooza” featuring The Three Stooges. He said he loves visiting Orland Park.
“Every time I’ve been here we have had a great turnout. The people are always nice,” said Svengoolie/Koz. He appeared happy to see the crowd, pose for pictures and give autographs, many on which were written on the rubber chickens, although no purchase was required to meet Koz, take a photo with him or get an autograph.
One of the most excited fans was Ethan Jankowski, 4, who was first in line with his mother, Melissa and father, Jeff. Melissa Jankowski, of Orland Park, said her son loves Svengoolie and told Koz that he and his father make it a habit to watch the program every Saturday night together. Koz said “that is just the thing I like to hear” and posed with the youngster and his father. When asked who played “Dracula” by Jeff Jankowski, young Ethan replied without missing a beat, “Bela Lugosi.” Ethan went on to say that his favorite Svengoolie movie was “The Creature From The Black Lagoon.”
District Manager of Party City, Mike Baker, said that the Svengoolie appearance is always welcome in the store and that the customers and staff are great. “We have had a good partnership between Party City and Svengoolie for the past three years,” he said. “It wouldn’t be Party City without a party.”
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