The Big BOO-Nanza Double Feature Finale Tonight: the ORIGINAL "Invaders from Mars" and the Sven Squad with "Dark Crystal"!

Tonight on MeTV- we wind up our slate of Halloween BOO-Nanza double features with a real one-two punch- beginning with a truly creepy science fiction classic from the ‘50s- followed by more fantasy from the great Jim Henson- it’s the 1953 “Invaders from Mars” paired with 1982‘s “Dark Crystal”!

Our first feature begins with a young boy, David, being tucked into bed by his loving parents- only to be awakened by a thunderstorm. As he looks out his window, he sees a strange glowing flying saucer land in the sand pit behind his house. He wakes his parents, who think he just had a nightmare- but the nightmare proves to be real when his scientist father heads back to the sand pit- and disappears!

The police are summoned, and they go back to look around the sand pit- with chilling results. David’s dad finally reappears-but with an odd wound on the back of his neck- and he seems to be a changed man- cold, unfeeling, and belligerent.

David is worried and things get worse when he notices more people acting like his father- including a young classmate. When he goes to the police, the cop in charge seems to be similarly afflicted- and locks David up. Fortunately, a sympathetic officer calls in a child psychologist, Dr. Blake- who believes his story, and gets in touch with astronomer Dr. Kelston- who also feels that David is telling the truth.

David, Kelston, and Dr. Blake work to get the authorities to believe them and take action- while more people become brain-washed slaves of the aliens-and David and company face the dangers of falling into the sandpit- and the hands of the Martians-along with their bizarre leader!

We’ll run down the “Invaders from Mars” cast- including one actor who was in both this version and the 1986 version of this story; as well as a couple familiar faces from MeTV. We’ll give background on the production and effects, Boddy Sorrell will reveal his plans to turn the movie into modern TV programming, we get a visit from our Sven Squad, a new song, and some vintage Sven space shtick.

Then, stay tuned for Jim Henson’s Dark Crystal” -hosted by Nostalgiaferatoo, Gwengoolie, and Ignatius Malvolio Prankenstein, alas the Imp! It’s another Henson masterpiece of fantasy- as Jen and Kira-two Gelflings of the Mystic race- must try to restore order to their world, and defeat the evil ruling race known as the Skeksis by restoring a powerful crystal which originally cracked and created the two races. He puppetry and animatronics were groundbreaking at the time, including the need for four puppeteers to make a single Gelfling come to life! The Sven Squad will again add their own personal fun and info to “Dark Crystal” to cap off our double-feature fun!

The double feature begins on MeTV at 8 pm eastern/pacific, 7 central time. You will have double the chance to live-Tweet during the movies on Twitter/X – just make sure to add the hashtag #svengoolie to your Tweets. Chicago area viewers will have one more chance to experience the Vincent Price classic “House of Wax” at 11 am on our sister station- WCIU, the U (yes, it WILL be there this week- no high school basketball!)

We’ve been told that a big feature article about us will be in this Sunday’s Chicago Tribune- be looking for it! And- the special Sven 45th Anniversary Box is now available in our store! Among the items included: a Svengoolie travel water bottle with the stopper for the straw being a Sven top hat; one of a kind Svengoolie Stomp socks; the collector’ set of the Shrunken Sven Squad figures; a limited edition Svengoolie anniversary trading card in a glow-in-the-dark case- and even more! There are 2,000 available- let’s see how fast they sell!

We had an amazing time last week at the Nightmare on Chicago Street event in Elgin, IL- where we got help from the vast crowd in preparation for a new Svengoolie song by Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon, as a follow-up to his “Svengoolie Stomp”! Right now, you can hear the new song on Sirus XM- with a full music video coming soon- including a roster of special appearances by celebrity Sven fans! More public appearances will be coming up next month- watch the “appearances” tab here on our website for more info as they get nearer.

Tonight- we invite you to join us for our final double feature of this year’s BOO-Nanza on MeTV!