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From: "Adam H. Kerman" <ahk@chinet.com>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv
Subject: Anniversary of premiere of Son of Svengoolie character
Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2025 18:01:20 -0000 (UTC)
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In 1979, Rich Koz first played Son of Svengoolie on Chicago television.
It was a cheaply produced local tv show and looked it and the host did
everything he could to milk gags for quick laughs. The Svengoolie
character was created by Jerry G. Bishop, the original host whom Koz had
started writing for. Bishop's show ended in 1973 when the station was
sold and they went an even cheaper route with a similar, nationally
syndicated show. Koz's makeup was different that Bishop's. After a
suitable amount of years, Koz dropped "Son of".

This is the anniversary of Koz first being pelted with a rubber chicken.

The "Beeeerrrwwwynnnn!" gag was created by Bishop when he was a radio
host doing funny traffic reports. I used to have a sample audio
recording of it but no longer do. Koz really never did the whole gag.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/16/chicago-history-june-16/
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/10/31/vintage-chicago-tribune-how-svengoolie-has-evolved-as-the-citys-iconic-ghost-host/

Koz is still around, performing the character. Bishop died in 2013,
having moved to San Diego.