The Museum of Broadcast Communications & MeTV Network to Honor Rich Koz - Celebrating 35 Years as 'Svengoolie'

CHICAGO, Sept. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Museum of Broadcast Communications (MBC) and the MeTV Network are proud to honor award-winning television personality Rich Koz as he celebrates 35 years as 'Svengoolie'.  An event will be held in his honor on Friday, October 10 at 7PM at the museum, 360 N. State Street in Chicago.  The evening will include an exclusive interview with Rich Koz, the unveiling of a new 'Svengoolie' exhibit featuring his original coffin and artifacts from the original set, a Halloween Costume contest and a featured horror film with classic 'Svengoolie' bits.  Svengoolie will also be meeting and greeting all his fans during an autograph session.  Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at www.museum.tv. A private reception with Rich before the event is available for $100.  All proceeds benefit the museum.

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"Rich is a true Chicago television icon, who I proudly rank with the likes of local TV legends Bob Bell, Frazier Thomas and Ray Rayner," said David Plier, Executive Board Director of The Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago. "His 'Svengoolie' character has entertained us in Chicago since the late 70s, now nationally, and I am thrilled to have our museum honor him and enshrine his original set, coffin and a flock of rubber chickens into a permanent exhibit for all to enjoy."

"We are so proud to be Rich's TV home for the past twenty years, not only because he's Svengoolie, the best horror host ever, but because he's Rich Koz," said Neal Sabin, Vice Chairman of Weigel Broadcasting.

"Rich Koz is a television icon and Svengoolie has become one of the most beloved characters in Chicago TV history," said Bruce Dumont, MBC's Founder and President. "The MBC is pleased to add the Svengoolie set and coffin to our permanent collection for all to see. We also congratulate Rich Koz on his remarkable 35 year career of television creativity."

In the early 70s, Rich Koz found his calling and later while still a student at Northwestern University, sent comedy material to Jerry G. Bishop, a popular WCFL-AM personality who began the character as 'Svengoolie' at WFLD on "Screaming Yellow Theater." Bishop, impressed by Koz's work, hired him as a writer/voice-over talent. In 1979, with Bishop's blessings, Koz returned to WFLD as "Son Of Svengoolie" for nearly a decade. Over the years, Rich has also hosted shows on radio stations WCKG and WGN. In 1995, broadcast executive Neal Sabin invited Rich to return to the role at WCIU, The U.

Rich now portrays 'Svengoolie' each Saturday night seen across the country on the MeTV Network, with his cast of "Doug Graves" the laid back musical sidekick, Tombstone the talking skull and the beloved Kerwyn. He continues to popularize rubber chickens and bad movies, in addition to the popular musical numbers and commercial parodies. Select movies feature a segment of the movie produced in Svensurround with added sound effects, dubbed-in dialogue and visuals. He currently has received 8 Emmy Awards, and was inducted into the Chicago Television Academy's 2004 "Silver Circle" for outstanding contributions to Chicago television. An entire chapter devoted to Rich's career appears in the popular book- "Chicago TV Horror Movie Shows- from Shock Theatre to Svengoolie." Svengoolie has also won "Favorite Horror Host" 'Rondo Awards.' In May 2011, Svengoolie joined the national MeTV Network.

The event is sponsored by MeTV and Ankin Law Office.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF BROADCAST COMMUNICATIONS:
For over 27 years, The Museum of Broadcast Communications (MBC) collects, preserves, and presents historic and contemporary radio and television content as well as educate, inform, and entertain the public through its archives, public programs, screenings, exhibits, publications and online access to its resources.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140902/142201

SOURCE Museum of Broadcast Communications