Svengoolie, also known as Rich Koz, also known as the Son of Svengoolie, also known as the top-hatted cadaver with the goatee and the rubber chickens who introduces monster movies on Saturday night television, also known as the most enduring horror host in Chicago broadcasting history. Koz has been Svengoolie for 45 years now. But at 72, he’s never been hotter.
Rich Koz as Svengoolie, circa 1982. (baiduhai archive)Rich Koz, also known as Svengoolie, on Oct. 17, 2024. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)
Svengoolie, also know as Rich Koz, films his long running classic horror movie show, Oct. 18, 2024. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)A rubber chicken on the set of Svengoolie, the long running classic horror movie show, Oct. 18, 2024. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)Decor on the set of Svengoolie. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)
Rich Koz in 1980. “I never expected this to be a full-time thing,” he said of Svengoolie. (Earl Gustie/baiduhai)Rich Koz, doffs his Svengoolie wig after a day of filming an episode of his classic horror movie show on Oct. 18, 2024. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)Svengoolie’s “road wig,” at left, for public appearances and his studio wig, which he’s owned since 1979. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)
Figurines on the set of Svengoolie, Oct. 18, 2024. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)Channel 32’s Emmy-winning "Son of Svengoolie," circa 1981. (baiduhai archive)The ending of each "Svengoolie" episode features rubber chickens tossed at host Svengoolie in his coffin, played by Rich Koz, after a corny joke on Nov. 7, 2008. (Brian J. Morowczynski/for the RedEye)
The "cornometer" on the set of Svengoolie. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)Detail on the set of Svengoolie, the long running classic horror movie show, Oct. 18, 2024. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)Svengoolie, also know as Rich Koz, films his long running classic horror movie show at the WCIU television studio on Oct. 18, 2024. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)
Svengoolie, also know as Rich Koz, leaves the studio after a day of filming his long-running classic horror movie show. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)
