Sven- Back in Joliet (No, Not the Prison…)

First, I got a few e-mails pointing out the odd fact that, in our show last night, "Ghost Breakers", at the start of the movie, the power is out- yet, when stoolie Raspy Kelly comes to Bob Hope's apartment- he still manages to use the buzzer and speaker system to call up to the apartment, not to mention using the door buzzer when he comes upstairs-all without the benefit of electrical power?Maybe ghost breakers meant supernatural fuseboxes, and that's why it worked... In spite of the movie having comedic elements, most viewers enjoyed it- especially the fact that it wasn't a "Scooby Doo" type story where the ghosts and zombies weren't real, and the fact that there really were lots of scary moments and suspense.As I stated previously, Bob Hope was at the top of his game in the film as well...I do wish we could get the Martin and Lewis remake "Scared Stiff" for our show as well. Yesterday marked our return to Joliet- we had been there almost two months ago for the Joliet Slammers game, and had a great reception.We were welcomed just as warmly when we showed up at Bill Jacobs Auto for our latest visit! People started lining up over an hour before our start time, under a huge tent with lots of spiffy cars under it.Another similarity to our last visit- the weather was really hot! With the thermometer hovering near 92 degrees,we arrived and found plenty of fans waiting, regardless of the heat.We had one really big fan- no, not a person who likes the show- an electric fan to help in attempting to keep me from melting. I am so grateful and flattered that these nice people stood and waited to see me, despite the heat.As usual, we had a wide range of visitors- from tiny little kids to grandparents, young couples, entire families,and individuals.Some brought pictures they had taken at previous appearances that they wanted signed, others brought a wide variety of rubber chickens to be signed- including one man who brought one of those screaming chickens that he said his dad kept his his truck and,instead of displaying a certain finger to motorists who incurred his wrath- he would display the chicken! (Hey- that might be a new- and safer- trend to dissipate road rage!)It felt like the Svengoolie Book Club at times, as people brought their Sven-related tomes to be autographed- including the "Chicago TV Horror Movie Shows: from Shock Theatre to Svengoolie" book, and the old Elena M. Watson MacFarland book "TV Horror Movie Hosts"- which winds up after I had been cancelled as Son of Svengoolie (I didn't know it was available in a paperback version!) I always like to meet the little Sven fans- some of whom can't wait to give Uncle Sven a hug, and some who edge warily up to me, not sure if they should be scared or happy to meet me! We were all impressed by a young woman who had in striking contact lenses that gave her reddish cats eyes...uh- at least we THINK that they were contact lenses.We also saw (and signed ) a wide range of t-shirts- our current model and some of our past designs.. along with other cool shirts (a "Creature from the Black Lagoon" model was a specific favorite!) It was a fun event, and we certainly want to thank Max Jacobs and the staff of Bill Jacobs for their hospitality and help in keeping everybody in line happy, though humid.I look forward to the next time we come back to Joliet- maybe next time, it will be slightly cooler in temperature!