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.”
Svengoolie is one of the nicest guys to meet if you are into the horror genre. Really cool he came to Party City!
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