Clap For The Wolfman

Wolfman Mac Photo Via Flickr

One aspect of Chicago life that I absolutely love...is watching Svengoolie. Yes, there is the slightly nostalgic aspect to it, but there's also the fact that Sven is proof that local pop culture can be just as influential - and enjoyable - as its more corporate, global cousins.

Thankfully, a random Google search some time ago led me to discover another practitioner in the art of horror hosts....I'm talking, of course, about Wolfman Mac, host of Chiller Drive-In out of Novi, Michigan (about 30 minutes from Detroit). Much like Sven, Chiller Drive-In (thankfully available via online streaming video as well as a fledgling digital channel) shows classic/vintage horror/science fiction movies (mostly B-movies) interspersed with comedic sketches and interludes.

And much like Sven, the humor is very much in a tongue-in-cheek loving tone. Although Wolfman Mac and his co-stars (including a cheeky skeleton) create a more 1950s/hipster vibe, they serve to complement the movie that they're showing. (Thankfully, the show never stoops to mocking its films openly, carefully balancing irreverence with a love of lesser-known material). It's also very family friendly, and quite honestly - if you're going to procrastinate, I can't think of any better way to do so.

For the longest time, I felt fortunate enough to have my own local classically-inspired horror host. Now, I'm fortunate enough to have two of them.