The Big Show

For us, it's the day of days. Some of us work all year for today. Those of us who don't, often at least think of it all year.

I built my haunt when I had more time, before ceramics came along and gave me a creative outlet I didn't realize I missed having. So it hasn't changed a whole lot over the years. This year was pretty busy, so honestly, I haven't even gotten my projections set up and those may just not happen. Whatever! No one knows but me, right? 

The point is to enjoy the day, the long shadows, the fog, the screams and the giggles of delight. The shouts of, "Trick or treat!" The compliments of the parents on the work you've done. The smell of the candles toasting the jack-o'-lanterns.

Enjoy the show. Don't worry that it's not what you envisioned. It's the tradition you're carrying on that's important!

Happy Hallowe'en, my dears!

Remember the Rules of Halloween!

If you need a refresher course on the rules of Halloween, click on the pic for a YouTube series on the subject. Hit, "Play All," and sit back to watch the fun!

Throwback Thursday: Spider Rider

It turns out I live a few short blocks away from Spider Rider. Looking forward to ambling over to his place to check out his evil works this year...

Hauntcast PM - Guy Fawker's Day

The latest Hauntcast is out, and will help get you in the mood for Saturday's Hallowe'en shenanigans!

HAUNTING GURU INTERVIEW: Haunters for life, August & Pandora Rose are a thorn in Chris’ side as the take over the dungeon. 

THEATER OF THE MIND: Everything’s a haunt! Rev gets ready for the annual sci-fi con and observes the universality of obsession, creativity, geekiness, and showmanship. 

GHOULIE GROOVES: Tau Cross burns up the airwaves and the bonfire. 

CHARMED POT: Our Mistress of Mayhem spins a tale of Horror. 

PROP SHOP: Denny adds some texture to your pops during last looks. 

SHOCKTAILS: JT and Chris chug pumpkin ales until the can barely review Editor and Lost after Dark.

Do You Have the Halloween Spirit? Personal Creations Guest Blog

According to Personal Creations' Halloween infographic, over 80% of of Americans stop trick or treating before they turn 14. Can you imagine that each year spending on this holiday reaches about $7 billion? This figure seems to be on the rise too! 

Halloween is a great time for families to get together and celebrate. Some keep it low-key and just hand out candy, while others deck their lawns out in decorations and carved pumpkins. It seems like most households participate on this day, but Personal Creations took a deeper look into the numbers behind it. They even ran their own survey for some of this data! Check out the findings below, or see more Halloween and seasonal posts on their blog.

The Haunted Mansion

Click on the pic for a nifty article about Disney's Haunted Mansion!

Bob Lizarraga Shares Halloween Musings

I'll turn this post over to my talented artist friend, Bob Lizarraga:

As a kid, I’d prepare at least a month in advance (now its 2 months)! Mr. Hyde and The Wolfman were always my favorite monsters, so it was a great excuse to drag my mother to “higher end” shops that offered the wool crepe hair and professional make-up.

Imagining myself a Junior Lon Chaney, I’d spend hours creeping up and down the aisles of the Hollywood Magic Store, or Buddy’s Fun Shop on Lankershim Blvd. Buddy was a kindly old proprietor with one leg shorter than the other, and he’d perform feats of magic for customers— he’d only show you how the trick was done if you made a purchase. Nothing like a dark and mysterious magic shop to fuel the imagination…

Which brings to mind a question I’m asked on occasion: “What scared you as a child?”

I’m pretty jaded as far as “scary stuff” in film, haunts, art, or whatever, but there are some childhood scares that will forever stick in my spine:


1. An episode of TV’s Alfred Hitchcock Presents entitled “The Magic Shop”, of course, about a very peculiar, gifted child. David Opatoshu is the CREEPY proprietor.

2. That FACE in the wall of 1963’s THE HAUNTING.

3. A little person (or child??), dressed as a murderous ventriloquist dummy, in a film called Devil Doll.

4. The guy with his eyes pecked out in Hitchcock’s THE BIRDS, and while we’re at it, Norman’s mother doing her rocking chair spin in PSYCHO.

5. Victor Buono.

6. And finally, a dream I once had of being chased out of my house by a malevolent washing machine, all the way to the local park, where it moved through the sandbox like a shark, its gaping maw lunging at me while my feet sank the more I struggled…

I used to be able to shake myself awake during a nightmare when I was young— I’ve since lost that ability. I’m very lucky I don’t have bad dreams anymore (well, at least hardly ever).

Bob Lizarraga

October, 2015

Les Frission Des Vampires

Beautiful design!

More great horror movie posters here.

And for what's wrong with today's movie posters, click here.

The Horror

If I saw this staring in my window, I'd be all, "Wow! Great makeup!"

Hat tip to Craig Hoffman!

Halloween Pin-Ups

Via Cool Chaser.

Via Rachael Storms.

Via Cult of Weird.