Capsicum Annuum

Or, rather, Wicked Ornamental Peppers.

We put these devil-horned guys in the ground this weekend.  They remind me of Tim Curry's demon creature 'Darkness' from the film LEGEND.

Trailer: The Manhattan Alien Abduction

Click below...

Now Playing: Tubular Bells

By Book of Love.  

It's not every day Tubular Bells can be sassed up with a fresh beat, but this actually works really well.  

Click the sweet girl below...

Memories Of Halloweens Past

The next submission for this fun blog series comes from author Karen Joan Kohoutek.  It's a special memory as it demonstrates those rare moments when we were young that helped form our love for this strange holiday.  

She shared "I wrote an entire book about my Halloween memories, but in fact, one of my earliest memories is of trick-or-treating. The other is going to a small-town carnival, so obviously I had a Bradbury-esque childhood! I couldn’t have been more than four years old, and we lived in a very small town, on a short street with maybe four houses on each side. My mom made me an Underdog mask, drawing it on a paper bag and cutting it out, and I carried another paper bag with Halloween pictures drawn on it.

One of my older sisters took me to the houses on the block, and I was absolutely dazzled to be outside after dark, walking in the mysterious night air. I don’t remember any other kids, just the two of us in a nearly silent world. Just the trees, and the neighbor houses that all seemed unlike themselves, like we were in a new dimension where nothing was normal. I assume there were lit jack-o-lanterns on the steps and fallen leaves on the sidewalk, because I don’t remember that, but when I see them at night, or certain images of them, I feel a jolt from this memory.

It probably took less than a half hour to go to all the houses and get me back home with my candy, but in some ways I’ve never gotten over that night. The experience somehow imprinted on me, and everything Halloween still fills me with a poignant joy."

Image source (Figured it was appropriate for this story).

Click here for her book.

and click here to see all the Memories of Halloweens Past!

And thanks again, Mr. Macabre, for suggesting this series.  It's the gift that keeps on giving.

For anyone interested in submitting, you can email me at pumpkinrot @ gmail . com (remove the spaces, of course!)

The Living Dead Museum

After taking some photos of the zombie on the outside of the Monroeville Mall, we ventured inside to The Living Dead Museum.  Walking through the same spaces where Dawn of the Dead was shot was a very neat experience.  I tried to imagine Romero filming in those giant empty spaces.  And tried to picture motorcycles driving through there at some point back in 1977-78.  And of course - the zombies.

The museum is at the far end of the mall, right above Romero Square.  Tickets were reasonably priced and the items within were fantastic.  Loads of historical facts and artifacts relating to Romero's films, and other zombie-centric movies.  And a wall of autographs (and bloody handprints from their signers) - the Maul of Fame.

If you're ever in Pittsburgh, this museum is definitely worth the trip.  

Click here for the Museum's IG.

And click here to see some more photos that Jenna took over at her IG.

Harold

So Thomas and Alfred went back to their old ways. Each morning they put Harold out in the garden, and each night they brought him back into the hut. When they felt playful, they joked with him. When they felt mean, they treated him as badly as ever.

Then one night Alfred noticed something that frightened him. "Harold is growing," he said.

- Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

Wonderful prop by wendigo_oddities.

Harvest Chews

You know what's amazing?  These guys:  Caramel Apple, Candy Corn, Pumpkin Spice, and Cinnamon.

The Rose Of Jericho

A perfectly seasonal-appropriate plant.  Found over at the awesome The Skeleton Key blog.

Click below to learn about this odd little thing...

When There's No More Room In Hell

They're after the place. They don't know why; they just remember. Remember that they want to be in here.

- DAWN OF THE DEAD

We couldn't visit Pittsburgh without taking a zombie along to the shooting location of George Romero's 1978 Dawn of the Dead - the Monroeville Mall.  

Now Playing: Ehoes

By Eternal Dystopia.

Click below...

Grim Glen Cemetery

Such a beautiful Haunt.

More images here.

Now Playing: The Locust Accord

From the new album by Espectrostatic.

Click below...

And click here for youtube.

Haunt Photography

Some beautiful shots by Wim Dekens.

Click below...

ScarePros Halloween World

Turns out this store is within an hour from here and it's open all year long.  Definitely planning a visit.

Click below for a tour.

Legend Of The Tall Man

Image source.

Middle School Halloween

I wanted to make a blog post out of a neat blog comment that was left tonight. 

A comment from someone in the Halloween community who is keeping the torch burning and helping to create nostalgia in the classroom.

The old post is here and it featured the below photo.

VenomStorm commented:

You will be happy to know that I have the smaller version of that skeleton and that exact witch hanging in my 6th grade classroom on the 1st of October. That witch is part of a nice package that Beistle sells. I love using the retro decorations combined with modern LEDs in my classroom. The kids get a kick out of them. Certainly helps with building up the hype to Halloween. I want to start playing the Silver Shamrock countdown this year. As much as I need to be home setting up the house, there is something really fun and magical about being in a middle school on Halloween. Even these modern kids who grew up too fast because of the internet can still experience the wonder and excitement of that day and night, at least in my corner of the world.

Now Playing: Sleep Now

By Hughes Hall.

Click below...

Porch Decorations

Started the first phase of the porch decor yesterday after work.  We drank pumpkin beer and listened to spooky tunes.  And a neighborhood Halloween cat even stopped by to check it all out.

Night After Night

Critically acclaimed film director, producer, and screenwriter M. Night Shyamalan will host an evening to celebrate one of the most successful collaborations between a contemporary film director and a composer—Shyamalan and the Emmy® and GRAMMY®–winner, James Newton Howard. This performance highlights Howard’s haunting scores that became part of the identity of eight of Shyamalan’s eerie, mind-bending thrillers—The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Signs, The Village, The Last Airbender, and more. Howard will lead Your Philadelphia Orchestra with special appearances by pianist Jean Yves Thibaudet, violinist Gil Shaham, and cellist Maya Beiser in this incredible one-night-only event!

Click below for tickets...

The Dark Ride At Wonderland Pier

Closing its doors permanently in October, Gillian's Wonderland Pier has been operating by the sea since 1929.  When we heard about this, we made an impromptu trip to Ocean City, NJ to make sure we filmed their Dark Ride. 

Not sure if anyone will swoop in at the last minute to save this historic destination, but just in case they don't, click below to enjoy a ride...

Westend Manor

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

More images from Westend Manor here.

Now Playing: Galactic Ghosts

Some Sunday music.

By MC Ralampago 498.

Click below...

31 Books Of Halloween

A really neat feature over at Jenna's IG account:  Thirty-one of her favorite Halloween-centric books of all varietals.  She'll be posting for the rest of September and October.  

Some images from her recent postings are below.

Click here for her IG.