10/16/2006

We’re officially half-way through what we like to call the “Halloween Season”-which, of course, builds until the big day, the 31st. For many of the older fans of Halloween, when the actual day itself hits early or mid-week- the weekend before is the time for Halloween partying. It really is amazing how, in recent years, Halloween has become such a big event for adults, as well as kids. Elaborate lawn decorations used to be a mainstay of Christmas, but now, whole blocks will do themed decorations for Halloween. Some are really cool, some are really gross- who doesn’t love the perpetually-vomiting zombie, leaning over an old oil drum? Enough with the grown men running after kids with chainsaws… though, in Berwyn, there was a guy chasing trick-or-treaters with a lawn mower (non-motorized)… I’ve gotten a lot of e-mails asking me to continue with the Sven family history- so, let’s continue your history lesson. After Jerry G. Bishop, the original Sven, was cancelled in 1973- he moved on (and graciously brought me along) to WMAQ radio. As a special sales event, they did a funeral for Svengoolie-with a dummy of Sven lying in state in a coffin. Jerry always said seeing that seemed a little weird! As time passed, and the radio gig went away when WMAQ “was gonna make you rich” with a country music format- Jerry and I went on to different jobs. At one point, someone had kicked around the idea of him doing Sven again , just as a summer tv project. Jerry wasn’t sure he wanted to do it all again- plus, he was of the mind, at that time, that he might want to run for local office some day-and didn’t want some future opponent breaking out pics of him as Svengoolie! He did, however, feel I was able enough to be…say… a “SON of Svengoolie”-and he would produce the show.There were some false starts, and it didn’t happen- and then, Jerry got a great job offer to do tv in San Diego. Looked like the end of the Sven road… but, we all know it wasn’t- I’ll tell more tomorrow…

Whats’ our scary movie pic for today? Well, since we’re halfway through October, let’s go with a half-baked helping of half- and –half you’ve got to see to believe-1972’s “the Thing with Two Heads!” Yes, a creature who’s half football great-turned-actor Rosey Grier and half- (okay- just a head-) of once-celebrated actor Ray Milland. Milland is a white racist who is dying, and wants his head transplanted onto a new body. Unfortunately, he ends up on the body of a black man, whose own head hasn’t quite vacated the premises. Milland’s head tries to take control of the body, while spouting Archie Bunker-isms. It’s actually a very entertaining movie, NOT to be confused with the lower-grade “Incredible Two-Headed Transplant.”I’m not even going to spout some idiotic joke line like “two heads are better than one…” But, one blog is better than two- especially when the one is over for today! More blogging tomorrow…