Son of Svengoolie - "The First Episode!" (1979) 💀

[remastered - see below] Here's where it all began, in a galaxy far, far away . . . no, not really, but rather in the city of which Berwyn ("Berwyn?!") was and is a major suburb (not to mention a long-standing running gag): the debut of Son of Svengoolie on Chicago's own WFLD Channel 32, with Rich Koz in the title role, picking up where the original "Sven" (and Mr. Koz' main mentor), Jerry G. Bishop, left off some six years before.
This maiden edition featured the 1969 made-for-TV film "In the Year 2889," (marked down from $29.95. narf-narf-narf...) (weird to think that the movie was only 10 years old at this point!)
As this is from a master tape, we only see the show opening and the very first between-movie-scenes "break" sketch - and sadly no station ID's, promos or commercials, nor the film itself.
Includes:
WFLD Sheet slate indicating title, number ("Open"), director ("Oher" - Joe Oher), recording and designated air date, accompanied by less than brief 400 Hz tone heard every second. Interesting that these clips were actually recorded on May 24th 1979 and held until the broadcast date on June 16th, with the director being the late Joe Oher (who was a friend and sadly passed away in 2019).
Panoramic shot of set, starting with "The following pre-scribe is transcrammed" audio, followed by the voice of Jerry G. Bishop describing "the famed split-level dungeon studio where, many years ago, the legendary Svengoolie burst into television prominence," and putting him in the same league as shows like Hello, Larry and My Mother, the Car, before "dropping from sight," rumors circulating about him (among them that he dyed his hair and became Phil Donahue), and conjuring "Son of . . . " scenarios, after which the second-generation Sven emerges from his crypt for the first time and, in his own inimitable fashion (as Link Wray's "Rumble" is played in the background), describes and introduces the movie coming up
Another WFLD sheet slate indicating "Brk 1" with low tone beeps
First break sketch, "Rots" - er, "Roots (sorry)," in which SoS, after a fact-finding mission in Sheboygan and Berwyn, tells a convoluted story about his ancestors (one of whom, from Transylvania was an indentured servant "and we still have his dentures here to prove it" of Kunta Kinte's American cousin, another being Rubber Chicken George), and in the end traces the Svengoolie family history to Gong Show host Chuck Barris, with various pictures including Superman, Khigh Dhiegh, and a film photo still; after his tale is finished, Sven signals for a return to the movie
"His mother was a medium, and his father was an extra large."
This aired on local Chicago TV on Saturday, June 16th 1979 during the 8:00pm to 10:00pm timeframe. (Recorded on Thursday, May 24th 1979.)
(Note: This is a remastered posting of a previous old clip of ours that has come down with the KZbin "We're processing this video. Check back later." disease - meaning it inexplicitly stops working, so this clip replaces the original one here, now unlisted: • Son of Svengoolie - "T... . If you know of any other clips of ours that do not play and only display this message, please let us know so it can be eventually replaced - e-mail: [e-mail] Thanks!)
About The Museum of Classic Chicago Television:
The MCCTv (FuzzyMemoriesTV) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose primary mission is the preservation and display of off-air, early home videotape recordings (70s to early 80s, mostly) recorded off of TV (in Chicago or other cities now too); things which would likely be lost if not sought out and preserved digitally. If you have any old 1970s videotapes recorded off of TV please email: [e-mail] Even though (mostly) short clips are displayed here, we preserve the entire broadcasts in our archives - the complete programs with breaks (or however much is present on the tape), for historical preservation. For information on how to help in our mission, to donate or lend tapes to be converted to digital, please e-mail [e-mail] Thank you for your help!

[@williamcrowe2576]

And so it all began.

[@MarkBrantner]

no, continued.

[@unclesporkums]

Happy 45th anniversary Rich! Thanks for keeping the legacy alive!

[@kimpaff5443]

Love this. Watch him every sat.nite

[@djtwiztid77]

It's been Rich this whole time?! How cool!

[@chrisw6164]

Berwyn

[@johnvrabec9747]

I used to watch the original Sven on Friday nights on channel 32 and Creature Features an Sat night on channel 9. Been watching Son of Sven for years. Never saw this episode, so nice to see the beginning.

[@noprivacy2003]

I'd love to see Son of Svengoolie with Elvira doing some kind of Old Horrorcom-type thing. That would be AWESOME!!!

[@fishjones4618]

Well Trace Beleau and And Frank Connif (MST3K’s Dr Forrester TV’s Frank) did visit Sven’s dungeon. That was cool.

[@fishjones4618]

Besides, who needs Elvira when we have Gwengoolie?? 😍

[@redmanr5522]

happy 45th anniversary Rich Koz's Svengoolie!

[@jimringomartin]

Rich looks like The Interupter on Conan. When he kept the accent going...love this

[@Mark.G475]

Great local Chicago TV!!! Great memories living in Lagrange and Hinsdale in the 1970s. My Blue Schwinn typhoon and Orange plastic skateboard I was king of the 🌍.

[@SuperTony1968]

Thank You Rich Koz. You’re A Chicago Legend By Far. I’m Going To Miss You Very Much When You Retire.

[@trevortuominen8233]

@Xanad00699He isn't, but he's 72 now, and there will come a time when he hangs up the top hat and red tux.

[@ChrisConnolly-Mr.C-Dives-In]

I would like to thank the museum for the priceless, and highly valued service that it provides. Being able to revisit dood memories from years gone by is important. And the Sven library here is amazing.

[@ivyrivera8081]

I was 7 years old in 1979 this still scares the beejesus outta me!

[@jerryjohanan1940]

Hi from Indiana. We watching you every Saturday night

[@ambulocetusnatans]

My ex has a rubber chicken signed by Son Of Svengoolie.

[@peachesj4748]

I remember Jerry G. Bishop (RIP) in San Diego, CA.

[@Rgoid]

The Son of Svengoolie is now Svengoolie

[@ChicagoAstronomer]

I anticipated this when it was announced in '79. Sven read my letter on screen in the 2nd or 3rd show.

[@FuzzyMemoriesTV]

Joe! I’d still like to get some of your old audio recordings from Channel 32

[@elizabethsloan5537]

Tell Em Steve Dave brought me here ❤

[@MightyGreedo]

He reminds me of a young Howard Stern.

[@ambulocetusnatans]

Wikipedia has the movie "In the Year 2889" for free. Sadly, no Sven though.

[@funkyflashman]

I wonder if the museum takes personal checks

[@FuzzyMemoriesTV]

What do you think? 😄

[@tubesocksbrigade3031]

NO. PERSONAL. CHECKS. lol

[@michellejackson8973]

🖤❤🖤

[@dogerecords5312]

Any plans to reupload "Boogie Woogie Boogieman From Berwyn" or any of svengoolies other song parodies?

[@fishjones4618]

He needs to do the accent again.

[@sweetjoey2]

to me the accent sounds weird but nice to see how he got going

[@pamczech5984]

Love it

[@redmanr5522]

by the way, next month, July, will be the 45th anniversary of Steve Dahl's Disco Demolition!

[@Pixie_Moss]

Well, actually Transylvania is in southeastern Europe🤓

[@chunkylover469]

The way he talks reminds me of Father Guido Sarducci from snl

[@KLEARSKITHEKREEPER]

Soo good

[@kellymccartney659]

heh heh..tooey

[@FuzzyMemoriesTV]

Nowadays, it would be heh heh hawk tuah