A Mummy By Any Other Name Still Stalks- It's "The Mummy's Hand"- Tonight!

 Our month with mummies continues tonight on MeTV- as the first sequel to the original "Mummy" unwinds-  when a couple down-on-their luck archeologists stumble on a clue to the whereabouts of the tomb of ancient Egyptian Princess of Ananka- not realizing that it is protected by an evil high priest and the living mummy who loved the Princess in her lifetime! Danger and death will be dealt to all infidels by “The Mummy’s Hand”!

The story starts on the Hill of the Seven Jackals- where Andoheb,an Egyptian loyal to the ancient sect, meets with the dying high priest of Karnak. The old one relates the story of Kharis ( no longer called Imhotep, as in the first film) and reveals why the  poor fellow was entombed alive. Andoheb is told how to use the tana leaves to revive the Mummy of Kharis to ward of any intruders to Ananka’s tomb.

Meanwhile, in an Egyptian bazaar, two failed archeologists, Steve Banning and goofy sidekick Babe Jensen, are about to pull up stakes and find a way back to the States when Steve finds a vase for sale –that appears to have hieroglyphics that could reveal the site of the Princess Ananka’s tomb! Encouraged by this, the boys go to the Cairo Museum and enlist the help of one Dr. Petrie- much to the dismay of his co-worker, who just so happens to be- Andoheb! Steve just needs to find funding for his expedition- and when he and Babe stop at a local bar, they bump into a stage magician named Solvani, whom they convince to bankroll their quest.

At the same time, Andoheb visits the magician’s assistant- his daughter Marta- and plants the seeds  of doubt with her, claiming the boys are shysters and frauds! There’s a confrontation, but Steve finally wins her over, and the group sets out to find the tomb.

Find a tomb they do- but- it isn’t Ananka’s- it’s the one containing Kharis, complete with a supply of tana leaves! When Dr. Petrie is alone in the tomb, Andoheb appears- gives the Mummy the tana leaf solution- and Kharis is again alive, and gets rid of Petrie!

Kharis continues to attack all intruders, invading their camp, in efforts to protect the location of Ananka’s resting place. Andoheb decides that Marta should be his- and soon she and her friends are set to be victims of the living Mummy!

This 1940 follow-up to Karloff's "Mummy" features Tom Tyler as Kharis. You will see some footage of the original movie, augmented by new shots inserted to substitute Tyler for Karloff-and this film sets up the next few sequels in the Mummy franchise. We'll run down the cast, including Dick Foran, Wallace Ford, George Zucco,and Cecil Kellaway; point out some interesting trivia, and bring you a new song. Plus- last week, we showed you the kids costume contest from this year’s Flashback Weekend convention - so, this week, we’ll take a look at the adults contest!

"The Mummy's Hand" runs tonight on Me-TV- at 8 pm eastern/pacific,7 central, or check local listings and/or visit www.metv.com for time and channel where you are. MeTV invites you to join the many fans who live -Tweet during the show on Twitter- using the hashtag #svengoolie  , Chicago area fans can catch up on the first part of the Mummy legend, with Karloff’s “The Mummy” on the U ( at its new channel location) at 11 am!

Last Wednesday, all the major DC comic featured the special Sven backstory bio- which will be repeated in all books out next Wednesday. On Wednesday the 30^th- the first chapter of “Svengoolie Meets the DC Universe” will appear in all the major DC titles and proceed for 4 weeks, in the books that come out every Wednesday.

If you’re in the area, you should join us tonight for the huge Halloween street party known as “Nightmare on Chicago Street” in downtown Elgin, IL. Come in costume and enjoy vendors, food, entertainment, and more in the “Safe Zone” of a zombie apocalypse! I’ll do an hour’s signing, and then be onstage for what is always an amazing costume contest! You’ll find info under the “appearances” tab here on our site.

Listen tonight –over night- to WGN radio ( 720 AM), after 2:30 am, when I guest with Dave Plier to talk about many things, including the big “40 Years as Svengoolie” event taking place next Saturday night the 26^th at Chicago’s Museum of Broadcast Communications.

Join us on MeTV tonight, when the Mummy gives us all a hand!!