Galloping Hessian Of The Hollow

Photos from the Annual Tarrytown Halloween Parade.  It's not often that a headless horseman costume looks so believable.  You can usually see the proportions are a little off due to the raised shoulders attempting to hide the human head of the wearer.  But, man, this looks really REALLY good.  And that gorgeous horse seals the deal.

Images by K_Marsh.

Barebones Halloween Extravaganza

We present the popular "Halloween Show" each year as an alternative Halloween community arts event, appropriate for all ages and without a commercial focus, that takes place in a Twin Cities urban neighborhood park.  Over 250 artists, puppeteers, musicians, performers, builders, technicians, ushers, and helpers of all kinds are involved in the creation of each performance. During the past 29 years, the Show has grown from one performance to five, and our combined audience has mushroomed from around 100 to around 8,000. 

Images by schwerdf.

Barebones site here.

This Way To Dark Ride

Image by bartgrubbs2000.

Dodging, Disappearing,...

Goblins on the doorstep,

     Phantoms in the air,

Owls on witches’ gate posts,

     Giving stare for stare.

 

Cats on flying broomsticks,

     Bats against the moon,

Stirring round of fate-cakes,

     With a solemn spoon.

 

Whirling apple parings,

     Figures draped in sheets,

Dodging, disappearing,

     Up and down the streets.

 

Jack-o’-lanterns grinning,

     Shadows on a screen,

Shrieks and starts and laughter -

     This is Halloween!

 

- Dorothy Brown Thompson

Image source.

Grimsby Family Cemetery

A short video here.

More images here.

Dark Effigy

Image by MurfsView.

B&W Halloween

Images by stevespurtyrpitchers.

It's Coming

Images by ChrisTChampagne.

Equal Treatment For All

Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, a French physician, proposed a more humane method of execution, advocating for a machine that would ensure equal treatment for all, regardless of social status. While he didn't design the machine itself, his name became synonymous with it. A German engineer named Tobias Schmidt is credited with building the prototype based on the design by Antoine Louis, a French surgeon. The first execution using the guillotine took place in 1792. 

Image by Pixel Packing Mama.

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.

Night Smile

Image by firehouse.ie.

No Trespassing

But had they lived very, very long lives, they could not have expected nor would they have wished to see as much of the mad and macabre as they were to see that day. For them an idyllic summer afternoon drive became a nightmare. The events of that day were to lead to the discovery of one of the most bizarre crimes in the annals of American history, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

Image by Meridith Jill.

Day Of The Dead

You want to put some kind of explanation down here before you leave? Here's one as good as any you're likely to find. We're bein' punished by the Creator. He visited a curse on us. So that man could look at... what Hell was like. Maybe He didn't want to see us blow ourselves up, put a big hole in the sky. Maybe He just wanted to show us He's still the Boss Man.

Image by lisa.

Witchy

Yes kids, you too can own one of the big Halloween three. 
That's right, THREE horrific masks to chose from. 
They're fun.
They're frightening,
and they GLOW in the dark.

Image by Nikita Mikhailov.

Suburban Horror Show

Man, this photo really captures the oddity that is home haunting...  A small dark wonderful world surrounded by a big world of boring life stuff.

Image by Mike Procario.

City Reaper

A 16-year-old boy worked on his grandfather's horse farm. One morning he drove a pickup truck into town on an errand. While he was walking along the main street, he saw Death. Death beckoned to him.
The boy drove back to the farm as fast as he could and told his grandfather what had happened. "Give me the truck," he begged. "I'll go to the city. He'll never find me there."
His grand father gave him the truck, and the boy sped away. After he left, his grandfather went into town looking for Death. When he found him, he asked, "Why did you frighten my grandson that way? He is only 16. He is too young to die."
"I am sorry about that," said Death. "I did not mean to beckon to him. But I was surprised to see him here. You see, I have an appointment with him this afternoon - in the city."

Image by cameraupoint.

Square Teeth And Angry Eyes

Image by haoa192.

The Fear Of Clowns, A Study To Find The Origins

Our next step was to explore the origins of people’s fear of clowns. A follow-up questionnaire was given to the 53.5% who had reported at least some degree of clown fear. This new set of questions related to eight plausible explanations for the origins of this fear, as follows:

An eerie or unsettling feeling due to clowns’ makeup making them look not-quite-human. A similar response is sometimes seen with dolls or mannequins.

Clowns’ exaggerated facial features convey a direct sense of threat.

Clown makeup hides emotional signals and creates uncertainty.

The colour of clown makeup reminds us of death, infection or blood injury, and evokes disgust or avoidance.

Clowns’ unpredictable behaviour makes us uncomfortable.

Fear of clowns has been learned from family members.

Negative portrayals of clowns in popular culture.

A frightening experience with a clown.

Image by Danny Casillas.

Text source.

Smiling Fire

Image by Brian Raicich.

House Of A Thousand Spirits

Image source.