Happy Halloween 2021!

"This is Halloween, This is Halloween, Halloween, Halloween, Halloween, Halloween..."

It's that time of year again.  A great cold day for Trick or Treating, for carnivals, and spook houses.  To dress up.  To feel young again.  To eat all the candy you shouldn't and not regret it (at least until tomorrow).

So, why not enjoy it?

Turn on the lights and pass out candy instead of acting like you are not home.  Go trick or treating yourself.  If nothing else, go pass out candy to cashiers at grocery stores and fast food windows; make someone's day who has to work.

Why not go to mass and light candles for those that have passed on before, a recognition of the commencement of Allhallowtide?

How ever you celebrate, please, let everybody else enjoy the fun too.

If you are passing out candy, give candy to the teenagers who come to your door.  Don't ask if "they are too old to be trick or treating."  They could be doing so many other worse things than being a little childish.  If it keeps them safe and legal, why not.  You don't know if they're just hungry, or if they don't want to go home to whatever awaits them there.  Further, don't equate size with mental state.  You don't know what level they are able to interact with you on.  It shouldn't matter.  If they come to your door, let them have a little fun tonight, too.

Please don't refuse to give candy to kids who aren't dressed up or who barely have a costume on.   The child might have sensory issues or autism that makes dressing up impossible.   Don't berate anyone who doesn't say thank you.   They may be non-verbal.

If they are not from "your" neighborhood, good.  More's the better.  Make sure they feel safe in your neighborhood too.

Halloween has gotten a bad rap in many circles, particularly Evangelical, stemming from a complete misunderstanding of the holiday and its history.  There should be something for everyone to enjoy and reflect on tonight.

So, in the spirit of the season, I wish you a great All Hallows' Eve.  May you have a blessed and safe evening.  May you get full sized candy bars.  And may you enter this season of remembrance looking toward the Thanksgiving to come.

Happy Halloween, everybody!

"Anyone could see that the wind was a special wind this night, and the darkness took on a special feel because it was All Hallows' Eve.  Everything seemed cut from soft black velvet or gold or orange velvet.  Smoke panted up out of a thousand chimneys like the plumes of funeral parades.  From kitchen windows drifted two pumpkin smells:  gourds being cut, pies being baked."

Ray Bradbury, The Halloween Tree

Happy Halloween!

"This is Halloween, This is Halloween, Halloween, Halloween, Halloween, Halloween..."

It's that time of year again.  A great cold day for Trick or Treating, for carnivals, and spook houses.  To dress up.  To feel young again.  To eat all the candy you shouldn't and not regret it (at least until tomorrow).

So, why not enjoy it?

Turn on the lights and pass out candy instead of acting like you are not home.  Go trick or treating yourself.  If nothing else, go pass out candy to cashiers at grocery stores and fast food windows; make someone's day who has to work.

Why not go to mass and light candles for those that have passed on before, a recognition of the commencement of Allhallowtide?

How ever you celebrate, please, let everybody else enjoy the fun too.

If you are passing out candy, give candy to the teenagers who come to your door.  Don't ask if "they are too old to be trick or treating."  They could be doing so many other worse things than being a little childish.  If it keeps them safe and legal, why not.  You don't know if they're just hungry, or if they don't want to go home to whatever awaits them there.  Further, don't equate size with mental state.  You don't know what level they are able to interact with you on.  It shouldn't matter.  If they come to your door, let them have a little fun tonight, too.

Please don't refuse to give candy to kids who aren't dressed up or who barely have a costume on.   The child might have sensory issues or autism that makes dressing up impossible.   Don't berate anyone who doesn't say thank you.   They may be non-verbal.

If they are not from "your" neighborhood, good.  More's the better.  Make sure they feel safe in your neighborhood too.

Halloween has gotten a bad rap in many circles, particularly Evangelical, stemming from a complete misunderstanding of the holiday and its history.  There should be something for everyone to enjoy and reflect on tonight.

So, in the spirit of the season, I wish you a great All Hallows' Eve.  May you have a blessed and safe evening.  May you get full sized candy bars.  And may you enter this season of remembrance looking toward the Thanksgiving to come.

Happy Halloween, everybody!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween, everyone!

I hope today is filled with fun and candy and your favorite parts of the holiday.  It's a time to feel like a kid again.  Enjoy trick or treating and the fun of the day. Enjoy the magic of dressing up as someone else and getting lost in a part.  I hope you all have a wonderful evening with family and friends enjoying this All Hallows' Eve.

"Anyone could see that the wind was a special wind this night, and the darkness took on a special feel because it was All Hallows' Eve.  Everything seemed cut from soft black velvet or gold or orange velvet.  Smoke panted up out of a thousand chimneys like the plumes of funeral parades.  From kitchen windows drifted two pumpkin smells:  gourds being cut, pies being baked."

Ray Bradbury, The Halloween Tree

Next If I Were Disney CEO series post tomorrow.

My Favorite Scary Story

One of my favorite things about the month of October is when Jezebel solicits scary stories from their readers. Generally, the stories are supposed to be about the scariest things that have ever happened to them, but some are recognized to be well circulated pieces of horror fiction, like the stories of stairs in the woods leading to nowhere.  The following story is a repost of my favorite story from all of Jezebel's annual submissions.  It is presented as a true story that happened to the writer and is one of the creepiest things that I can imagine.  You've been warned.

--------------------

Look at Me, by thatredguy, originally on Jezebel

This happened in my junior year of high school.

One evening, my mother and stepfather had gone out to some event, maybe it was an extended dinner or a concert, it's hard to remember. I had stayed at home to work on a paper that was due the next day (I was one of those kids who procrastinated until the last minute) and spent the whole night working at the desk in my room. To give you a picture of the room, my desk faces a wall and sits next to a small window that's on the same wall, and from where I sit, my back faces my doorway. While I was working, I was wearing these great headphones that I had gotten for my birthday — the kind that are noise canceling.

My parents left the house around 6:00 PM, and the whole time they were gone, I sat at my desk, blasting music through my headphones and writing my essay. Occasionally, I would take breaks and watch the rain and lightning outside my window (we lived in Houston at the time and there was a big storm that night). I never left my desk.

My parents returned around 11:00 PM. At some point late late in the evening, I had removed my headphones, so when my parents came home (coincidentally just a few minutes after I had taken off my headphones), I clearly heard the garage door open and my parents open the door to the house. Seconds after I hear them enter, I hear my mother shout my name. "Adrian!" she screams, "what on earth happened in here!?" Confused, I get out of my chair and start walking through the house to them. There's only a small hallway that separates my room from the living room. Due to my rush to figure out why my mother was yelling, I paid little attention to the hall and the house. After a few moments, I get to my parents. My mom looks livid. She's pointing at the carpet floor yelling, "Was this you!? Did you have friends over!?" I look down. The carpet is ruined. It's covered in muddy footprints.

I frantically explain to her that I have no idea how those got there, that I spent the whole night at my desk working on my paper. I watch as her face goes from anger, to confusion, to fear. We realize that someone else must have entered the house. Quickly we scan the footprints, trying to make sense of the situation. It only takes us a few moments to figure out where they start: our back door, which we usually left unlocked. Then we noticed something else. The footprints started at the backdoor, but there were no footprints exiting the back door.

We hear something pounding through our house. We hear the front door get torn open, then slammed shut with a sharp WHAM!

We all run into the garage and lock the door. My mom starts shouting at the police through the phone, "Please come quickly! Someone's broken into our house!" After what seems like hours, the police arrive. An officer stays with us in the garage as his partner goes through the house room by room. His partner tells us that it's safe to go back in, that there's no one in the house. Then she asks us a question. She asks us whose room is down the hall to the left. My parents look at me and I tell the officer that it's mine. She asks us to follow her down the hall.

As we go, it's easy to see that the footprints weave through my house from the back door. They go through the living room, through the small hallway, into my parents room (which is down the hall to the right) and then turn around towards my room. They stop in my doorway.

Then the officer points at my door, which I had left open the whole night. On it, in black sharpie, was written the following:

My Log

8:47: I see you

8:53: You forgot to lock the back door

8:59: You seem focused

9:24: Turn around

9:47: Look at me

10:15: Look at me

10:37: Look at me

10:49: Look at me

For nearly two hours, someone stood in my doorway watching me. To this day, I shutter to think about what would have happened if I had ever turned around and looked at them.

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What's your favorite scary story?

Top 10 Halloween Swings

Something a little different today in the Halloween Top 10 lists - a playlist of Top 10 swinging Halloween songs.  All cultivated to fit in the singer/standard/swing feel.  On my iPod, this is my Halloween Cocktail Music playlist.  So, go ahead and take a listen.  The hyperlinks will take you to youtube versions of the specific song version.

• Grim, Grinning Ghosts by Lee Presson and the Nails - A fun instrumental arrangement of a great attraction song.
• Monster Mash by Janice Hagan - A nice singer/standard arrangement of the Monster Mash.  Something that fits in with the rest of the playlist
• I Put A Spell On You by Nina Simone -  While I like Screamin' Jay Hawkins and CCR, Nina Simone takes this song and makes it haunting.  Someone whose heart has been broken.
• Spooky by The Puppini Sisters - I love arrangements by the Puppini Sisters.  As if the Andrews Sisters covered Spooky.  Just fun.
• Witchcraft by Frank Sinatra - A great light classic by Sinatra.  
• Old Devil Moon by Mel Torme - The Velvet Fog taking a song from Finian's Rainbow and showcasing the best of his voice.
• Jeepers Creepers by Louis Armstrong - It's hard not to hear Louis Armstrong's voice and not be happy. Not the most Halloween song on the list, but the turn of phrase Jeepers Creepers fits right in.
• That Old Black Magic by Sammy Davis, Jr. - Sammy Davis, Jr.  The best vocalist of the Rat Pack.  And here with an fast moving version of That Old Black Magic.  He makes it look easy.
• Mack the Knife by Bobby Darin - I think everyone forgets that Mack the Knife is written about a very dark and sinister person.  Its a very upbeat song about a lot of death.  A good fit for Halloween.  
• The Munsters Theme - A great swinging theme song.  Perfect instrumental.

What's on your Halloween playlist?

The Scariest Two Words in the English Language

What if

Every fear, every anxiety can be traced to these two words.  The fear of possibility.  And while they can be the words of dreams (what if I get the job, win the lottery, etc.) they are just as intrinsically tied to nightmares.

• What if I fail?
• What if I embarrass myself? others embarrass me?
• What if no one likes me?
• What if I'm hurt? my kids are hurt? my family is hurt?
• What if I die? someone close to me dies?

Even the more outlandish and childhood nightmares can be started with these two words.

• What if monsters are real?
• What if there are monsters under the bed? in my closet?
• What if there is something in the dark?
• What if I'm abandoned?

And the heart of probably the most existential fear of all: what if I'm wrong?

In this season of fears and nightmares, remember these two words.  They have the power that you give them.  And remember that each question has at least two opposing answers.  For "what if it does" can be just as probable as "what if it does not."  A  myriad of open possibilities.

What if?

Top 10 Favorite Monsters

In the spirit of this spooky season, a top 10 list of my favorite creeps, spooks, ghouls, ghosts, spectres, haunts, haints, bogeys, and monsters.  Be fair warned.  These are the things that go bump in the night.

• The Phantom of the Opera (Weber) - I have always had a soft spot for this musical and I love the role of the Phantom.  Music of the Night is a great signature tenor solo and Past the Point of No Return is one of the most menacing and sensual songs in musical theater.  That iconic mask has always fascinated me.
• Dracula (Christopher Lee) - While Bela Lugosi will always be associated with the role, my favorite has to be Christopher Lee in the Hammer film series. Lee brought a gravitas and menace to the role that became so much more visceral in color.  
• Werewolf by Night - Marvel perfected the werewolf curse with its character Werewolf by Night.  Jacob Russoff, aka Jack Russell, carried a family curse of lyncanthropy, started from the Darkhold, the Book of Sin.  Sometimes a hero, always an interesting protagonist, my favorite Marvel Comic monster.  Plus a werewolf named Jack Russell is just one of the coolest comic book names.
• Frankenstein's Monster (Karloff) - No one tapped into the character of the Frankenstein Monster better than Karloff.  Karloff tapped into all facets of the character including the broken and damaged soul longing for the love of his maker, human connection, and friendship.  A master at work.
• The Ghost Host (The Haunted Mansion) - This all comes down to that signature voice.  Paul Frees was a master voice actor and the Ghost Host is a prime example.  Equally menacing and humorous, our Host provides the perfect narration for the mixed tones of the attraction.
• Xenomorph Queen (Alien) - One of the best creature designs ever.  H.R. Gieger created such a horrific creature that preyed on our natural fear of parasites and insects.  One of the most terrifying creatures ever created for the screen.
• The Headless Horseman (The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad) - Such a great, simple design.  The use of negative black to create the form and the laugh by Billy Bletcher help make this segment of the movie a truly suspenseful cartoon.
• Oogie Boogie (Ken Page) - A delightfully creepy creature of burlap and insects, this boogie man provides such a great contrast to the Pumpkin King.  A Cab Calloway type song and a great vocalist in Ken Page. 
• Audrey II (Michael-Leon Wooley) - This is a specific voice.  While others may have a specific affection for Ron Taylor or Levi Stubbs, my Audrey II will always be Michael-Leon Wooley.  There's a specific timber to his voice that I have a great affinity for.  To here him sing Feed Me (Get It) is just excellent.  A great bass voice.
• The Sanderson Sisters (Hocus Pocus) - My favorite witches.  The humor that Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker bring to the roles is so enjoyable.  The Sanderson Sisters have been brought back as entertainment at the Magic Kingdom for Halloween to great affect.  Plus, they perform one of my favorite versions of I Put A Spell On You. 

And a special Honorable Mention:

• Fin Fang Foom - had to include a great giant monster and to do so I turn to one of my favorite classic 1950s Marvel Monsters.  Besides a great alliterative name, Fing Fang Foom has a great look as a giant green dragon in purple pants and a great presence.  Plus, I'l never forget "Fing Fang Foom put you in his pants" from Nextwave.

Top 10 Horror Comedies

So, with yesterday's post, it's clear my Halloween tastes likely run a little lighter than most in terms of favorite films for Halloween.  So I thought I would start with a narrower list: my favorite horror comedies.  The films on this list mostly have minimal gore and scares, but instead rely on humor within typical scary movie settings.  These films run the gamut from classic to cult, from the 1940s to the 2010s, and range from slapstick to satire. Just a few favorite not-so-scary classics.

In order of release:

• Arsenic & Old Lace (1944) - a classic comedy with light horror touches and a Halloween backdrop.  Truly one of the funniest premises ever written.  Raymond Massey doing a great Karloff.  Peter Lorre.  And Cary Grant at his best one of my favorite comedies.
• Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) - Peanut butter and chocolate.  The horror icons Bela Lugosi, Glenn Strange, and Lon Chaney, Jr. combined with the excellent comedy Bud Abbott and Lou Costello.  The slapstick you expect, but with some great quick lines as well.  Always a favorite.
• Young Frankenstein (1974) - There is such a loving devotion to the classic Frankenstein films present in this satire that is amazing.  These are the best comedians at the top of their game.  And Peter Boyle has to be the second greatest Frankentsein's monster behind Karloff.  My second favorite Mel Brooks film.  I loved seeing this with Mel Brooks introducing it at the TCM Film Festival.
• The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) - The cult classic that is just as much fun to interact with.  This is THE Tim Curry performance.  The music is put together better than the film itself, but its still so much fun to watch.  Let's do the time warp, indeed. One year - the goal is to see this at a midnight show, in costume.
• Ghostbusters (1984) - Another group of amazingly talented comedians at the top of their game.  Such an iconic song, such a great movie.  
• Little Shop of Horrors (1986) - The music makes this.  Levi Stubbs as Audrey II.  That's classic.  A great cast and another great premise.
• Beetlejuice (1988) - One of the best Tim Burton films.  From the Handbook for the Recently Deceased to The Banana Boat Song at the dinner table.  Delightfully whimsical and such great performances.
• Bubba Ho-tep (2002) - I never knew I needed an elderly Elvis fighting a reanimated mummy.  Add the fact that Elvis is played by the always great Bruce Campbell.  And then add Ossie Davis as someone convinced he is JFK. A great B-movie with several fun quotes.
• Shaun of the Dead (2004) - I adore the Cornetto Trilogy and while I might have a slight preference for Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead is just as excellent.  I love that it spells out the plot in the first few minutes.  I love the way Edgar Wright works and this is such a great ensemble.  
• Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010) - This is the most violent and gory film on the list, but it is so hilarious.  I love Alan Tudyk and Tyler Levine in general and they are on in this film.  Two good natured hillbillies who are mistaken for crazy killers.  This premise is mined for such comedy gold.

What are your favorite genre mixtures?

This is Halloween, This is Halloween

It's October and that means it's Halloween.  The apartment is decorated, the movies are out and ready.  It's Halloween time!

I love this season, but I have a confession to make.  And for those of you who know me, it should not come as a surprise.

I'm a chicken.

You will not get me to go through a haunted house.  I will not watch most scary movies, so there are definite gaps in my movie appreciation.  There are even specific topics in scary movies that are just non-starters in any form.  I've always had an overactive imagination and images like that stick with me for far too long.

But I become fascinated around this time.  I read Wikipedia entries on monster lore and various horror topics.  I select a couple of classic books to read for the season (last year Something Wicked This Way Comes and The Halloween Tree, this year The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and other tales by Washington Irving, and likely Dracula).  I watch movies that Jamie wants to see (because she loves scary movies).  And I work through some of my favorites.

I love classic, gothic horror and love the versions in the early Universal and Hammer films.  I love suspense and the Alfred Hitchcock filmography.  I like when horror touches sci-fi or vice versa.  And I love the macabre, the dark.  A particularly fun part for me as well is the mixture of horror and comedy, from the Haunted Mansion ride, to the Munsters and the Addams Family, from great movies in that genre, to Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  And especially Treehouse of Horror.

So, for the coming month, there will be several posts with the Halloween label, touching on various components of the season or of horror that are favorites.

Beware.