The Legend

An opening in the trees now cheered him with the hopes that the church bridge was at hand. The wavering reflection of a silver star in the bosom of the brook told him that he was not mistaken. He saw the walls of the church dimly glaring under the trees beyond. He recollected the place where Brom Bones’s ghostly competitor had disappeared. “If I can but reach that bridge,” thought Ichabod, “I am safe.” Just then he heard the black steed panting and blowing close behind him; he even fancied that he felt his hot breath. Another convulsive kick in the ribs, and old Gunpowder sprang upon the bridge; he thundered over the resounding planks; he gained the opposite side; and now Ichabod cast a look behind, to see if his pursuer should vanish, according to rule, in a flash of fire and brimstone.  Just then he saw the goblin rising in his stirrups, and in the very act of hurling his head at him. Ichabod endeavored to dodge the horrible missile, but too late. It encountered his cranium with a tremendous crash—he was tumbled headlong into the dust, and Gunpowder, the black steed, and the goblin rider, passed by like a whirlwind.

- Washington Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Image by LisaDiazPhotos.

Maximilian

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The Haunted Mansion On Homestead

Click below for a neat video...

Hocus Pocus

Eating crow is a colloquial idiom, used in some English-speaking countries, that means humiliation by admitting having been proven wrong after taking a strong position.

My good friend Wren was in town, and we squeezed in a bunch of fun pre-Autumn activities.  Turns out a viewing of Hocus Pocus was one of those activities.  I realize I've been pretty outspoken about my lack of fondness for Bette Midler over the years.  And I tried to figure out where it all went wrong.  Where SHE went wrong.  I never really saw her act in anything.  Never saw her interviewed anywhere.  Don't really know much about her personally.

Essentially (and I'm not proud of this), I'm pretty sure it has to do with that one song of hers.  You know the one.  Played at weddings and funerals (hopefully at my funeral):  Wind Beneath My Wings.  It is still my contention that this song's success is the result of a Faustian Bargain.  One where the fine print mentions me personally and specifically as being excluded from the charm spell affecting the millions of people who enjoy this song.  I, you see, hear the real song.  As mentioned in the fine print.

So, this song led to certain opinions.  About her acting.  About Hocus Pocus.  And it reminded me of an incident that occurred one Christmas season at work many years ago.  An older guy that worked in our department was talking about his holiday plans and I mentioned egg nog.  He commented that he hated egg nog.  I asked when was the last time he sipped this heavenly elixir, mentioning that a person's tastes can change over the decades.  He replied "Oh, I've never tried it."  This resulted in a five-minute theatrical tirade from yours truly about the absurdity of such an opinion in the absence of actually trying egg nog.  Luther did as he always did - he laughed at me.  We understood each other.

Chapter 2:  I Am Luther

Turns out Hocus Pocus (as most people reading this already know) is a fantastic movie.  A Halloween movie. I went in thinking that I'd just like the set design or the fact that it was filmed during the Autumn season.  But it's a solid movie all around.  Great performances (especially from Bette Midler).  An interesting and fun story.  Very likeable characters.  A super cute black cat.  And true villains - the Witches were actually sinister heartless Witches.  I found myself thinking that it reminded me of Halloween specials back in the early 80s.  

The movie was made in 1993.  Sometimes it takes me a while.  And sometimes it helps to have a push.

Thanks, Wren, for that.

Teaser Trailer: Hocus Pocus 2

I am officially teased.

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Thanks, Sara! (I think.)

Trailer: Willow - The Series

Using the James Horner theme was a classy move.

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The Black Hole: Disney's Horror Film

Click below for Exhibit A:

The Good Ol' Days

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That Year I Was A Mouse

Ugh.  It's important to note that I was technically a Wizard and NOT Mickey Mouse.  And this costume was more of a celebration of the film FANTASIA than a tribute to a Disney character.  A pretty mature thing to do, if I do say so myself.

Great framing, Mom.

Confessional: Captain EO

Back in May of 1993, fanny pack clinging to my waist, I walked through Disney World wondering why on earth they'd build such a place in the Vietnam climate of Florida.  It was hot and violently humid, and I marveled at the fact that the sun felt like it was only eight feet off the ground.  I can't recall being more miserable climate-wise.  I remember going back to the hotel every afternoon dripping wet, and it hadn't even rained (though it rained literally every single morning like in the Ray Bradbury story The Long Rain).  

Every time I saw a Disney character, my thoughts were instantly about the "actor" inside...suffering and questioning life itself (assumption).  If my t shirt, shorts, fanny pack (and goofy hat) were literally killing me from heat stroke, what on earth was that poor person feeling being the innards of a loveable Disney character?  I don't think I was ever more annoying on this earth, as I said all of the above over and over and over again.

So there we were, walking through the oven-hot park, when I was trying to muster the courage to suggest that we go and see CAPTAIN EO.  I am the world's biggest James Horner fan and this strange 3D Michael Jackson film was scored by James Horner.  This was back before the internet, so you couldn't watch this thing anywhere else on the earth (that sounds really pathetic).  Thankfully I was very convincing (and probably whining).  And then there we were, standing in a dark weird room, waiting for CAPTAIN EO to start.  I remember feeling ashamed, but also being aware that everyone else in the room felt ashamed.  Maybe I was just imagining this.

The movie starts and instantly James Horner's music grabs you as a small asteroid heads for the audience.  The music is building and building.  The asteroid is rolling closer and closer.  Then, thankfully, Captain EO blasts the asteroid.  And that's when the gravity of the situation becomes horribly clear.  Puppets start shouting, Michael Jackson starts shouting, and I just felt like the biggest dope for insisting that this weird horror of a film be watched (by anyone).  It was truly awful.  And confusing.  It was terrible.  And weird.  

But the room was icy cold thanks to the world's greatest invention:  air conditioning.

Click below for the trailer if you're not up for the full film...

And click here for the full film, and if you're up for some nightmare fuel...

Nailed It

 

Pumpkin Head

Remember that time I promised I'd post photos of me in a weird Pumpkin Head costume?  You probably don't, as it was way back in 2010 (that's an insane amount of time in Internet Years [and Dog Years]).

Well, the original post is below (italicized to show age):

Back when I was 17, with the help of a paper mache pumpkin, orange makeup, and hot knox gelatin to seal the seam, I dressed as a pumpkin-headed scarecrow to hand out candy on Halloween night. It was inspired by Jonathan Winters' pumpkin head on that famous Disney special. I made the face hole too low and the neck hole too far back and had to stuff the empty space between the back of my head and the back of the pumpkin with towels to keep the pumpkin pushed tightly against my face. Two giant beach towels. Imagine sitting with your head in a vulture position with a few pounds of towel behind your head. For five hours. Handing out candy to kids who kept asking "Where's Michael Myers?" (my usual costume for handing out candy). I pretty much looked like Jonathan Winters. I was in pain and miserable. 

One of these days I'll be brave enough to post those photos. I look completely hateful in every shot due to the pain. 

"Where's Michael Myers?" 

"He's dead. Shut up."

I honestly can't believe I did a post back then about the costume and never posted a photo.  Sorry about that.

So there I was, misunderstood and in excruciating pain.  And looking like Michael Jackson from THE WIZ:

I wish I could say that time has dulled the memories of that evening of pain, but I'd be lying.  And I wish I could tell a story of someone who came up and said it was the neatest costume they had ever seen, but I'd be lying again.  I suppose it was just a classic example of a Costume Fail, long before the internet existed.  

Here I am in all of my Pumpkin Headed glory.  Sorry I dumped you, Michael Myers [costume]!  Never again!

Pondering why I didn't have a date for the Prom.

The Tower Hotel

Very interesting post over at a favorite blog of mine... Vintage Seance.

Click below:

Haunted Graves

More images here.

Sloth Love Chunk

How can this be a real Disney Character? 
How?

Image source.

The Minnesota Iceman

Thanks, Mike.
Never heard of this before.

Haunted Mansion Tumblr

As seen on the awesome Halloween blog MyScaryBlog.com, here's something for anyone who loves Disney's Haunted Mansion.
Tons of behind-the-scenes photos.

Click below:

Remake Alert

Disney is making a new version of the classic thriller. The studio has set Seth Grahame-Smith to make his feature directorial debut on the project. He will begin work immediately writing a treatment, and the studio then will hire a writer to script the project. Grahame-Smith and David Katzenberg’s KatzSmith Productions will be the producing banner, and Katzenberg will produce the film.

Click Mr. Dark for more information:

Haunted Mansion Postcard

Image source.

Maleficent

Packed with CG, but the designs are amazing.
Like food to me.  Beautiful and organic.

Click here for the trailer.