Bill Jackson Goes By the Book; Sven on Radio and In Person; Etc.

Just wanted to wish everybody a great Thanksgiving- hopefully you will all be enjoying it with those you care about! I also have a few things  you might be interested in...

One that I KNOW many of you will be happy to hear- is that the wonderful Bill Jackson- a TV icon in the Chicago area and far beyond- has written another book, and  it's exactly what  fans of his various creative productions have always hoped for- Bill takes us through his career in broadcasting, including his clown shows on the local CBS station, and then- onto the legendary television adventures of BJ and Dirty Dragon, and all their friends! If you ever wanted a real insight into how television productions came together- and the many aspects and pitfalls that one talented and creative man had to handle- you'll have that story right here in Bill's book "Kid Show: My World of Imagination"!

His book shows you a kind of television that pretty much no longer exists-  when local television was still putting effort into providing entertainment for kids and adults alike, and didn't just consist  of news, sports and public affairs.

He takes you through his journey that had a major stop in Chicago, and spins a terrific story of how he got his shows off the ground- I was especially captivated by the story of how he pitched "Cartoon Town" to the big guys at WFLD- and he lets us ride along as he becomes  a beloved part of Chicago TV history. There's a lot of behind the scenes stories- some will have you laughing out loud- and some will have you stunned at what Bill went through at times. You'll be there as he opens the "Gigglesnort Hotel" on WLS in Chicago- and when the powers that be sadly close it down. You see the higher and lower points in the life of a guy who only wanted to  do children's programming the right way- with quality and great imagination!

I've known  Bill for a long time, and , before I knew him personally, I was a fan of his work and marveled at his versatility and inventiveness. When I was first hanging around with my mentor, the original Svengoolie, Jerry G Bishop at WFLD- it was always a thrill to peek into the  studio where Bill did his show- and see the "buildings" of Cartoon Town, and even the malleable mirth-maker the Blob, sitting on a pedestal in whatever form Bill had made him into  for a previous program. Over the years, I've been so honored to become friends with him- and have made no bones about the fact that he is one of the true "old school" broadcasters that I have always admired and  tried to be like.  He has always been very kind to me, and has dubbed me "the last man standing" in Chicago! He is a versatile talent and a truly nice guy- with a fascinating story for us all! You can get all the details about ordering  "Kid Show: My World of Imagination" at- where else?- dirtydragon.com   !!! Let Bill entertain you once again!

On Thanksgiving morning, you can  get an early helping of a little turkey- yours truly- when my longtime pals, WGN radio legends Steve and Johnnie do some fill-in broadcasting on their old home, WGN (720 AM)! They've asked me to chat with them at just after 9:30 central time- since both they and I will be doing an appearance this upcoming weekend at the same place...

...and that place is : the Chicago Pop Culture Con- at the Pheasant Run Mega Center in St Charles, Il.  This event -which runs both November 26^th  and 27^{th -}features many varieties of pop culture - from TV, films, sports, comics, and more-with lots of special guests like Fred Williamson, Deep Roy, Steve "Mongo" McMichael, and Hacksaw Jim Duggan - and plenty of vendors, with comics , collectibles- you name it!  Steve and Johnnie will be there, and so will I - BUT- I will only be there on Sunday the 27^th   - from 10 am to noon!  Get there early and visit with me- this may be the last time to do so in 2016! Pheasant Run, a popular area entertainment venue, is located at 4051 E. Main Street in St. Charles, IL . You can find all the info you'll need at : http://chicagopopculturecon.com/

Have a fun Thanksgiving- and know that I give thanks for all your loyal support! Come back on the weekend  for a preview of this week's funny but frightening film!