4/22/2007

Head out to wherever you pick up your favorite magazines- book store, newsstand, comics store, wherever- and look for the current issue of “Scary Monsters” magazine. It shouldn’t be too hard for you to spot- because you’ll see ME staring out from the cover at you! It’s actually called the “Sixty-second Scary Svengoolie issue” of the magazine, and I couldn’t be more flattered. Dennis Druktenis, a long-time horror fan, has been publishing this locally produced/nationally and internationally distributed magazine since the mid ‘90s- and he has always wanted it to have the look and feel of the monster magazines that many of us grew up with- and, he has certainly succeeded! Dennis first covered us here at “the U” back in his eighth issue, when we had just started here at WCIU- in fact, we were back in the original WCIU studio up in the Board of trade building. That was back when we didn’t have the stone wall set, or the door- just black drapes!!! He did a nice article back then in 1995, and with our acquisition of some of the fright films from the Universal library, decided this would be a great time to re-visit the show in his magazine. Not only that- but he decided to let YOU- the loyal fans and viewers have your say regarding the show! The end result is this latest issue, with a beautiful cover painted by “Scary Terry” Beatty ( I especially like the fact that, on the wrap-around painted cover, the Frankenstein monster is holding a rubber chicken!) I wrote an article for the issue, and donated some pictures, drawings, and a few rare artifacts- like a “bio” page from a fan club packet done at WFLD that hasn’t been seen in over twenty years! In addition, there’s a LOT more Sven content- the nicest being the Sven memories sent in by many fans of the program. Many of you even sent in pictures from your visits with me! Plus- there are several pictures Dennis and his son Dylan took of our current studio – with a couple pictures from our old Board of Trade building studio set for contrast! As I said, I’m very flattered and honored by this great issue… and hope that you’ll seek out a copy! And, yes, you can feel free to bring it along to any public appearance I make for me to autograph! To think, this whole things started when , a while back in this very blog, and in one of our webisodes- I told you guys that Dennis wanted you to send in your Sven memories!!! According to Dennis, you responded SO well- he couldn’t fit them all into the issue ! A special thanks to everybody who took the time to contribute! (Watch for a Sven webisode where we’ll give you a peek at the magazine!)