Horror host ‘Svengoolie’ on having Elvira’s respect: ‘Badge of honor’
18.10.2023 - 22:57
/ nypost.com
Svengoolie,” who, in the spirit of Halloween, spoke to The Post about the part he’s played for the past 44 years.“I used to use a fake mustache that I would have to stick on with spirit gum [adhesive], and under the hot [TV] lights it would come off so I would add more spirit gum,” said Koz (pronounced “Koze”).“I remember going to my dentist and he said, ‘Something is wrong with your mouth.’ It turned out I used so much spirit gum that it leaked into my mouth and affected my gums.“I was always a big fan of Groucho [Marx],” Koz said, “so now I paint on the mustache.” Koz, 71, inherited the Svengoolie role from creator Jerry G. Bishop and hasn’t looked back (he was originally known as “Son of Svengoolie”).
He’s one of the last authentic horror TV hosts, upholding a tradition that, over the years, produced local personalities past and present including Zacherle (“Chiller Theatre” in New York City), Dr. Paul Bearer (Florida), Elvira and Vampira (LA), Sir Graves Ghastly (Detroit), Dr.
Gangrene (Tennessee) and Ghoulardi (Cleveland), to name just a few.On MeTV’s “Svengoolie,” which airs Saturdays at 8 p.m., Koz and his crew (Chris Faulkner, Jim Roche and audio guy Credo) screen different horror movies each week; Svengoolie comments on the action with lighthearted banter and trivia on that week’s film(s).Svengoolie is currently in the thick of his “Halloween BOOnanza” showcasing horror-movie double features. (The Oct.
21 double-feature is “Kolchak: Night Stalker” followed by “Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” starring Raymond Burr, at 10:30 p.m.)“I think one of the most important things is to be entertaining and not necessarily detract from the movies we show,” Koz said. “It’s about being there to connect with the viewers.