Saturdays at 9 PM, WCIU, Channel 26 Chicago
Sundays at 1 AM, WWME, Channel 23, Chicago
Sundays at 2 PM, WWME, Channel 49 Milwauke

To explain Svengoolie, one must try to explain Rich Koz, the man in the hat since 1979. Rich Koz cut his teeth in broadcasting at WMTH, a small low-powered non-commercial FM station operated by the students of Maine High School (now Maine East) in Park Ridge. Broadcasting at 88.5MHz since 1959, the school district owned station gave aspiring disc jockeys, writers, producers, and future station managers a chance to learn in a real environment.

Rich found his calling and later, while still a student at Northwestern University in Evanston, a school known for its extensive performing arts/broadcast facilities and curriculum, he sent comedy material to Jerry G. Bishop at WFLD. Bishop, a popular WCFL radio personality had been doing voice-overs during the commercial breaks of "Screaming Yellow Theater." Bishop, impressed by Koz's work, hired him when the show advanced to short comedy sketches from just simple slides between breaks. In 1973, when Kaiser Broadcasting decided to use their own horror movie host "The Ghoul," Bishop and Koz moved to WMAQ Radio where Koz worked as writer, producer, and on air talent on Bishop's morning show.

Rich also had the chance to work with the great Dick Orkin, who created the well known "Chickenman" and "Tooth Fairy" radio serials. Koz co-wrote with Orkin 65 episodes of the serial "Chickenman Returns For The Last Time Again." In 1979, with Bishop's blessings, Koz returned to WFLD as "Son Of Svengoolie" and stayed for over 9 years. However ownership changes would force Rich off the air again as Fox purchased the station and found the award winning local program beneath them. However a little over a year later Koz would find himself back at WFLD, this time as himself and again hosting movies. Rich appeared as a pirate broadcaster breaking in on WFLD signal so he can do his stuff. The show was so well done that it prompted inquiries by the FCC. Koz won a Chicago Emmy award for Best Entertainment Series.

Well respected by his peers in the industry and admired by his legion of fans, not just in Chicago but across the country, Rich Koz, like the pioneers of Chicago television, has continued the tradition offering quality and original programming from a local station.

Email Svengoolie at svengoolie@wciu.com.