Thursday, October 31, 2013
FRONT YARD READY FOR TRICK OR TREAT
IT'S WARM. IT'S OVERCAST. IT'S EVEN FOGGY. HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM THE FRONT YARD.
TODAY'S BOO TUBE: CHILDREN OF THE FULL MOON
SORRY IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE THE LAST HALLOWEENIE TELLY PROGRAMME. Life has a way of getting in the way . . . which is why it's so much more fun being undead! Today I thought I'd revisit that "last gasp" (until recently) of the studio that dripped blood: THE HAMMER HOUSE OF HORROR.
Today's episode features those fun and frolicking furry fiends: werewolves! I can remember around 1980 or 81 this series was syndicated on one of our local UHF channels probably at 11pm. I would sometimes be able to sneak a peek at it that late and I have memories of seeing particular episodes. Unfortunately I don't recall having seen this one until it was released on DVD about a decade ago but it's certainly very "Hammer Horror", all right!
Lovely married couple Tom and Sarah Martin are driving down an English country road when their car suddenly goes out of control as if by some supernatural means; the couple careen to a halt near a deserted stretch of woodland. Following a path and hearing the laughter of children, they come upon a great old house in the woods presided over by the matronly Mrs. Ardoy and her bevy of angelic-looking children -- who don't seem to be interested in eating dinner and are eagerly looking forward to nightfall.
The opening shot of the episode's pre-credit sequence surely grabs your attention when a sweet blond child hovering over a dead animal suddenly turns to camera with a blood-smeared grimace! The Martins are nicely played by Christopher Cazenove (known from my childhood as Lord Haselmere on THE DUCHESS OF DUKE STREET) and Celia Gregory and the legendary Diana Dors is splendid (as usual) in the role of the cryptic Mrs. Ardoy. There's werewolvery aplenty on view for your Halloween enjoyment!
Today's episode features those fun and frolicking furry fiends: werewolves! I can remember around 1980 or 81 this series was syndicated on one of our local UHF channels probably at 11pm. I would sometimes be able to sneak a peek at it that late and I have memories of seeing particular episodes. Unfortunately I don't recall having seen this one until it was released on DVD about a decade ago but it's certainly very "Hammer Horror", all right!
Lovely married couple Tom and Sarah Martin are driving down an English country road when their car suddenly goes out of control as if by some supernatural means; the couple careen to a halt near a deserted stretch of woodland. Following a path and hearing the laughter of children, they come upon a great old house in the woods presided over by the matronly Mrs. Ardoy and her bevy of angelic-looking children -- who don't seem to be interested in eating dinner and are eagerly looking forward to nightfall.
The opening shot of the episode's pre-credit sequence surely grabs your attention when a sweet blond child hovering over a dead animal suddenly turns to camera with a blood-smeared grimace! The Martins are nicely played by Christopher Cazenove (known from my childhood as Lord Haselmere on THE DUCHESS OF DUKE STREET) and Celia Gregory and the legendary Diana Dors is splendid (as usual) in the role of the cryptic Mrs. Ardoy. There's werewolvery aplenty on view for your Halloween enjoyment!
FINAL BATTY INDUCTEE NUMBER 31
WELL, WE'VE MADE IT AT LAST! The final inductee into the 2013 Batty Halloween Hall of Fame. And while there is no official ranking for the order in which I've inducted each song, this last one is surely one of the greatest. Again, it's from me childhood when I used to regularly get a copy of DYNAMITE MAGAZINE from my school's Scholastic Books catalog. One of my favourite features from that magazine once included an Evatone Soundsheet (love love LOVE them!) inside the mag which happens to be the 31st inductee into my Batty Halloween Hall of Fame . . .
COUNT MORBIDA'S CHAMBER OF HORRORS by DYNAMITE MAGAZINE
The insidious Count Morbida featured in the back of every issue of Dynamite in a two-page comic book spread of "puzzle pages"; he would attempt to trip up the young readers by providing them with brain teasers. This soundsheet was bound into one particular issue (I believe it was the Halloween issue, natch) and I've treasured it ever since. For those out of the know, an Evatone Soundsheet was the original "floppy disc", you might say: a thin, flexible sheet of plastic with grooves on it and you could play it on your record player (albeit usually with a coin or two placed on top so the soundsheet wouldn't slip because it was so light). Evatone was the company that made these "records" would be bound into a magazine; often they would be an advertisement (I have quite a few advertising various Time-Life record collections from "The Swing Era" to "Great Men of Music" featuring classical composers.
Here is what the soundsheet would look like in the magazine itself; you merely tore it out and placed it on your turntable - you had the option, if you wanted, to cut it into the round shape of a record. As a kid, I was fascinated with Evatone Soundsheets and had standing orders for everyone I knew to grab them for me if they ever came across them in a magazine; I didn't care what was on it - I just collected them! I have them all to this day and there are even several advertising Evatone's service itself as an advertising aid. The entire soundsheet you can hear in the box on the right hand column (along with every inductee). It features Count Morbida and his main squeeze Horribella trying once again to ensnare wayward kiddies with his puzzles and brain teasers. A perfect way to wrap up this Countdown to Halloween!
For those of you with short term memory loss (or your brain has been lifted from your skull by Ygor and spirited away in a sack), here's the complete list of the 31 inductees into the Batty Halloween Hall of Fame:
COUNT MORBIDA'S CHAMBER OF HORRORS by DYNAMITE MAGAZINE
The insidious Count Morbida featured in the back of every issue of Dynamite in a two-page comic book spread of "puzzle pages"; he would attempt to trip up the young readers by providing them with brain teasers. This soundsheet was bound into one particular issue (I believe it was the Halloween issue, natch) and I've treasured it ever since. For those out of the know, an Evatone Soundsheet was the original "floppy disc", you might say: a thin, flexible sheet of plastic with grooves on it and you could play it on your record player (albeit usually with a coin or two placed on top so the soundsheet wouldn't slip because it was so light). Evatone was the company that made these "records" would be bound into a magazine; often they would be an advertisement (I have quite a few advertising various Time-Life record collections from "The Swing Era" to "Great Men of Music" featuring classical composers.
Here is what the soundsheet would look like in the magazine itself; you merely tore it out and placed it on your turntable - you had the option, if you wanted, to cut it into the round shape of a record. As a kid, I was fascinated with Evatone Soundsheets and had standing orders for everyone I knew to grab them for me if they ever came across them in a magazine; I didn't care what was on it - I just collected them! I have them all to this day and there are even several advertising Evatone's service itself as an advertising aid. The entire soundsheet you can hear in the box on the right hand column (along with every inductee). It features Count Morbida and his main squeeze Horribella trying once again to ensnare wayward kiddies with his puzzles and brain teasers. A perfect way to wrap up this Countdown to Halloween!
For those of you with short term memory loss (or your brain has been lifted from your skull by Ygor and spirited away in a sack), here's the complete list of the 31 inductees into the Batty Halloween Hall of Fame:
- IT'S HALLOWEEN by The Shaggs
- PLEASE MR. GRAVEDIGGER by David Bowie
- TIMOTHY by The Buoys
- MONSTER MASH by Bobby "Boris" Pickett
- DINNER WITH DRAC PT. 1 by Zacherley
- BORIS THE SPIDER by The Who
- THE WOBBLIN' GOBLIN by Rosemary Clooney
- THE FLYING SAUCER PT. 1 & 2 by Buchanan and Goodman
- BLACK SABBATH by Black Sabbath
- THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN by Kay Starr
- HALLOWEEN by Heywood Banks
- MYSTERIOUS MOSE by Harry Reser & the Radio All-Stars
- GRIM GRINNING GHOSTS by Thurl Ravenscroft
- I WANT MY BABY BACK by Jimmy Cross
- SCIENCE FICTION/DOUBLE FEATURE by Richard O'Brien
- THE BLOB by The Five Blobs
- CHICKEN HEART by Bill Cosby
- WITH HER HEAD TUCKED UNDERNEATH HER ARM by Stanley Holloway
- SAMAIN NIGHT by Loreena McKennitt
- WHITE ZOMBIE by The Joel Shaw Orchestra
- SONG FROM SPIDER BABY by Lon Chaney Jr. and Ronald Stein
- THE CREATURE by Buchanan and Ancell
- HALLOWEEN by The Misfits
- THE SCARECROW by Mike Waterson
- GHOSTLY SOUNDS INTRO/NIGHT FALLS by Gershon Kingsley and Peter Waldron
- LAST NIGHT I HAD A DREAM by Randy Newman
- THE ROCKIN' GHOST by The Modernaires
- DIRTY CREATURE by Split Enz
- JUMBEE by Paul Roland
- TOCCATA & FUGUE FOR ORGAN IN D MINOR, BMV 565: I. TOCCATA by Johann Sebastian Bach
- COUNT MORBIDA'S CHAMBER OF HORRORS by Dynamite Magazine
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
BATTY INDUCTEE NUMBER 30
NOW IT'S TIME TO GO CLASSICAL UP IN HYAH! One of the old masters provides us with a piece of music whose first three notes evokes the spirit of Halloween and horror movies alike! The 30th inductee into my Batty Halloween Hall of Fame is . . .
TOCCATA AND FUGUE FOR ORGAN IN D MINOR, BMV 565: I. TOCCATA by JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
In my mind, this piece is absolutely linked with "THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA". After all, almost 100% of the time when a spooky organ is played in a Phantom movie or any other horror film or TV show, this is the music that is played. Of course it is! What other piece would a monster choose?!?!?
TOCCATA AND FUGUE FOR ORGAN IN D MINOR, BMV 565: I. TOCCATA by JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
In my mind, this piece is absolutely linked with "THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA". After all, almost 100% of the time when a spooky organ is played in a Phantom movie or any other horror film or TV show, this is the music that is played. Of course it is! What other piece would a monster choose?!?!?
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
HALLO-HOT WHEELS-WEEN
I'M A HAPPY BOY! Why? Because my best doddy got me a set of Universal Monsters Hot Wheels cars!
Now, who's gonna convince me NOT to open the boxes and play with 'em?!?!?!
Now, who's gonna convince me NOT to open the boxes and play with 'em?!?!?!
BATTY INDUCTEE NUMBER 29
IT'S VOODOO ZOMBIE FUN TIME! That's right, boils and ghouls! Step right up to hear from the spooky showman of song who seems to specialize in music about the macabre. My 29th inductee into the Batty Halloween Hall of Fame is . . .
JUMBEE by PAUL ROLAND
There are, (super)naturally a lot of songs which could've made it into the hall of fame because Paul Roland sings such an awful lot of songs about murderers and monsters. However, this song has got to be my favourite of his catalog because it's the spookiest-sounding of them. The slow, plodding sound of the music sounds to me like the slow, plodding zombies working in the fields at night. Super-evocative and I can picture the scene in my mind's eye!
JUMBEE by PAUL ROLAND
There are, (super)naturally a lot of songs which could've made it into the hall of fame because Paul Roland sings such an awful lot of songs about murderers and monsters. However, this song has got to be my favourite of his catalog because it's the spookiest-sounding of them. The slow, plodding sound of the music sounds to me like the slow, plodding zombies working in the fields at night. Super-evocative and I can picture the scene in my mind's eye!
Monday, October 28, 2013
BATTY INDUCTEE NUMBER 28
THIS NEXT SONG IS FROM ONE OF MY TOP 10 OR 20 ALBUMS OF ALL-TIME. It's by one of my favourite rock groups of all-time. And it's spooky, too! Fittingly for the 28th inductee into my Batty Halloween Hall of Fame . . .
DIRTY CREATURE by SPLIT ENZ
Great video (which should be available to watch on youtube) for a great song from a classic album: "TIME AND TIDE" from 1982. Here we have a scary underwater creature lurking beneath the waters of "a big black lake". Shades of "THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON"! But not only that. Around the same time period in the early-80's there was ANOTHER song about a creature lurking beneath the waters of a dark, Scottish loch which also became a hit song: The Police's "SYNCHRONICITY II". And I love both songs. But the Enz surely get pride of place here in the Hall of Fame this time. Listen to this song (and all the others) over on the box to the right.
DIRTY CREATURE by SPLIT ENZ
Great video (which should be available to watch on youtube) for a great song from a classic album: "TIME AND TIDE" from 1982. Here we have a scary underwater creature lurking beneath the waters of "a big black lake". Shades of "THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON"! But not only that. Around the same time period in the early-80's there was ANOTHER song about a creature lurking beneath the waters of a dark, Scottish loch which also became a hit song: The Police's "SYNCHRONICITY II". And I love both songs. But the Enz surely get pride of place here in the Hall of Fame this time. Listen to this song (and all the others) over on the box to the right.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
BATTY INDUCTEE NUMBER 27
MY NEXT HONOUREE IS A SONG I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT BY A GROUP I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT. Hey, mystery should be plentiful around Halloween, right? So here we go. The 27th inductee into my Batty Halloween Hall of Fame is . . .
THE ROCKIN' GHOST by THE MODERNAIRES
I've found this song scattered across many different Halloween compilations all over the interwebs - most prominently, perhaps, on the famous "GHOULS WITH ATTITUDE" collection which exists only in the mists of cyberspace. However, over the years I've come to find it indispensable for my Halloweenie listening experience. There's just something about the sound of the song which is so fifties - what with the flutes and the "Lettermen-like" male chorus which presumably is a group of collegiate guys from Transylvania U. That mid-20th century vibe of Halloween in the days of TV's Shock Theater and FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND magazine is irresistible!
THE ROCKIN' GHOST by THE MODERNAIRES
I've found this song scattered across many different Halloween compilations all over the interwebs - most prominently, perhaps, on the famous "GHOULS WITH ATTITUDE" collection which exists only in the mists of cyberspace. However, over the years I've come to find it indispensable for my Halloweenie listening experience. There's just something about the sound of the song which is so fifties - what with the flutes and the "Lettermen-like" male chorus which presumably is a group of collegiate guys from Transylvania U. That mid-20th century vibe of Halloween in the days of TV's Shock Theater and FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND magazine is irresistible!
Saturday, October 26, 2013
BATTY INDUCTEE NUMBER 26
ONCE AGAIN WE HAVE ANOTHER SONG I FIRST HEARD ON THAT EPOCH-MAKING DR. DEMENTO HALLOWEEN SHOW IN 1978. This one is by a famous member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame who is also a Grammy and Oscar winner! Now he can add one more honour to his credit as the 26th inductee into my Batty Halloween Hall of Fame is . . .
LAST NIGHT I HAD A DREAM by RANDY NEWMAN
We venture into the land of nightmares with this song that begins with Randy's mysterioso piano chords as he describes a disturbing yet comical (with Randy Newman would you expect anything ELSE?!?!?) dream he had the night before. My favourite line of the song, of course, is this one: "I saw a vampire/I saw a ghost/everybody scared me/you scared me the most!"
LAST NIGHT I HAD A DREAM by RANDY NEWMAN
We venture into the land of nightmares with this song that begins with Randy's mysterioso piano chords as he describes a disturbing yet comical (with Randy Newman would you expect anything ELSE?!?!?) dream he had the night before. My favourite line of the song, of course, is this one: "I saw a vampire/I saw a ghost/everybody scared me/you scared me the most!"
Friday, October 25, 2013
VINCENT PRICE ON A DESERT ISLAND
ON MONDAY, THE 14TH OF JULY 1969, VINCENT PRICE WAS THE GUEST ON THE VENERABLE BBC RADIO PROGRAMME "DESERT ISLAND DISCS".
Sadly . . . criminally . . . the episode no longer exists other than a four-and-a-half minute clip. As part of our ongoing Countdown to Halloween (and because Vinnie has been absent for most of it), I thought I'd let you know what records Vinnie would take with him when the BBC marooned him on a desert island. If you're not familiar with the 70+ year old BBC Radio programme, DESERT ISLAND DISCS is an institution which invites a guest on the show to talk about their life as well as to choose 8 discs which they would choose to have with them if they were marooned on a desert island with a hand-cranked record player. In 1969, Vincent Price chose the following 8 discs:
Sadly . . . criminally . . . the episode no longer exists other than a four-and-a-half minute clip. As part of our ongoing Countdown to Halloween (and because Vinnie has been absent for most of it), I thought I'd let you know what records Vinnie would take with him when the BBC marooned him on a desert island. If you're not familiar with the 70+ year old BBC Radio programme, DESERT ISLAND DISCS is an institution which invites a guest on the show to talk about their life as well as to choose 8 discs which they would choose to have with them if they were marooned on a desert island with a hand-cranked record player. In 1969, Vincent Price chose the following 8 discs:
- Claude Debussy: L'isle Joyeuse. Soloist: Walter Gieseking
- Robert Schumann: Frauenliebe und -Leben. Soloists: Kathleen Ferrier, John Newmark
- Ludwig van Beethoven: Zärtliche Liebe (Tender Love) (Ich liebe dich). Soloists: Kirsten Flagstad, Edwin Macarthur
- Franklin D. Roosevelt: Human Rights (Speech)
- William Shakespeare: Fear No More the Heat O' the Sun (from Cymbeline). Artist: Sir John Gielgud
- America the Beautiful. Artist: Vincent Price.
- Nature Boy. Artist: Nat King Cole.
- T.S. Eliot: The Cocktail Party. Artist: Sir Alec Guinness
BATTY INDUCTEE NUMBER 25
"NIGHT FALLS". That's how this inductee begins. And certainly that's the perfect way to start something Halloweenie! I've had this record since I was a kid and it features the legendary 70's children's record artwork of the aforementioned George Peed on the cover. You may recognize it. For the 25th inductee into my Batty Halloween Hall of Fame is . . .
GHOSTLY SOUNDS INTRO/NIGHT FALLS by GERSHON KINGSLEY & PETER WALDRON.
The album "GHOSTLY SOUNDS" featured one long story on each side of the LP: the eponymous track on side one and "The Ghosts from Outer Space" on side two. This track is the introduction to the first side of the record and has always been required Halloween listening to get me into the spirit of things. The album starts with the spooky electronic noodling of Gershon Kingsley and then the authoritative voice of Peter Waldron begins to speak; immediately promising that this Halloween stuff is serious business, kids! Now the funny thing is that Kingsley, I later learned during my infatuation with space-age bachelor pad lounge music, is rather famous in that genre as a pioneer in electronic music and the moog synthesizer in particular. Kingsley famously partnered with Jean Jacques Perrey for the classic album "THE IN SOUND FROM WAY OUT" and also scored a major hit with the single "POPCORN" and the album "MUSIC TO MOOG BY". How on earth Peter Pan Records managed to get Gershon Kingsley on their kiddie Halloween record is beyond me. I have no idea who Peter Waldron was but his voice makes the perfect narrator to the spooky goings-on; and somehow the October season never really began for me until I heard him announce on this record "It's Halloween".
GHOSTLY SOUNDS INTRO/NIGHT FALLS by GERSHON KINGSLEY & PETER WALDRON.
The album "GHOSTLY SOUNDS" featured one long story on each side of the LP: the eponymous track on side one and "The Ghosts from Outer Space" on side two. This track is the introduction to the first side of the record and has always been required Halloween listening to get me into the spirit of things. The album starts with the spooky electronic noodling of Gershon Kingsley and then the authoritative voice of Peter Waldron begins to speak; immediately promising that this Halloween stuff is serious business, kids! Now the funny thing is that Kingsley, I later learned during my infatuation with space-age bachelor pad lounge music, is rather famous in that genre as a pioneer in electronic music and the moog synthesizer in particular. Kingsley famously partnered with Jean Jacques Perrey for the classic album "THE IN SOUND FROM WAY OUT" and also scored a major hit with the single "POPCORN" and the album "MUSIC TO MOOG BY". How on earth Peter Pan Records managed to get Gershon Kingsley on their kiddie Halloween record is beyond me. I have no idea who Peter Waldron was but his voice makes the perfect narrator to the spooky goings-on; and somehow the October season never really began for me until I heard him announce on this record "It's Halloween".
TODAY'S BOO TUBE: KORN'S GROOVY PIRATE GHOST MYSTERY
SPEAKING OF SCOOBY-DOO. . . Next we have the third season Halloween episode of SOUTH PARK from 1999 guest-starring the band Korn.
While never one of my favourite SOUTH PARK Halloween episodes, there is some funny stuff here. Notably, the SCOOBY-DOO parody is done by people who obviously have a great deal of affection for the classic cartoon. South Park's local radio station KOZY is sponsoring a "Halloween Haunt" where Korn will make a live appearance. Unfortunately, the local priest wages a one-man war against the "satanic" holiday and "satanic" band. On the way into town, Korn drives their "Mystery Machine-like" van off the road after seeing some pirate ghosts. Meanwhile, the boys decide to get revenge on the fifth graders who've scared them by digging up Kyle's recently-deceased grandmother and using her corpse to frighten them. Unfortunately, when the boys hide the corpse behind some boxes on a pier, a stray dog eats the corpse and they cannot find it the next day: Halloween. All is made right again when Korn unmasks the culprit behind the pirate ghost mystery, the dog barfs up the corpse and Cartman discovers a blow-up Antonio Banderas doll he thinks is his Christmas present! Awww, Niblet!
While never one of my favourite SOUTH PARK Halloween episodes, there is some funny stuff here. Notably, the SCOOBY-DOO parody is done by people who obviously have a great deal of affection for the classic cartoon. South Park's local radio station KOZY is sponsoring a "Halloween Haunt" where Korn will make a live appearance. Unfortunately, the local priest wages a one-man war against the "satanic" holiday and "satanic" band. On the way into town, Korn drives their "Mystery Machine-like" van off the road after seeing some pirate ghosts. Meanwhile, the boys decide to get revenge on the fifth graders who've scared them by digging up Kyle's recently-deceased grandmother and using her corpse to frighten them. Unfortunately, when the boys hide the corpse behind some boxes on a pier, a stray dog eats the corpse and they cannot find it the next day: Halloween. All is made right again when Korn unmasks the culprit behind the pirate ghost mystery, the dog barfs up the corpse and Cartman discovers a blow-up Antonio Banderas doll he thinks is his Christmas present! Awww, Niblet!
Thursday, October 24, 2013
LOVE THOSE "YOU'LL DIE LAUGHING" CARDS
IT'S 1973 AND I'M STAYING WITH MY GRANDPARENTS FOR THE WEEKEND. I'm coming home from a walk with my grandmother all the way down Westfield Avenue in Pennsauken to Thor's Drugstore where I picked up a Charles M. Shultz PEANUTS paperback, my beloved Black Jack gum, the new issue of THE OCCULT FILES OF DR. SPEKTOR and RICHIE RICH AND JACKIE JOKERS comic books and a couple packs of YOU'LL DIE LAUGHING trading cards!
Oh . . .and did I mention that "THE EXORCIST" is playing at the Walt Whitman as we walk by on Westfield Avenue and I'm much too little to go see it?!! Grrrrrrrr. Well, at least when I get back to my grandparents' house I'll have my new goodies as well as a couple issues of Marvel's black-and-white horror mags VAMPIRE TALES and DRACULA LIVES still to read.
BATTY INDUCTEE NUMBER 24
"HIS COAT WAS BLACK AND HIS HEAD WAS BARE AND AS THE WIND SHOOK HIM THE CROWS TOOK INTO THE AIR." Like the Loreena McKennitt song, this next inductee really conjures that "old religion" feeling of Halloween or Samhain, I should say. In fact, although the song was not featured in the classic "Citizen Kane of horror films" THE WICKER MAN, it would've fit right in and certainly conjures up the atmosphere of that movie. There is nothing overtly spooky or scary about this song about a scarecrow but nonetheless there is something quietly and subtly spooky and scary about it. We venture into English folk music with the 24th inductee into my Batty Halloween Hall of Fame . . .
THE SCARECROW by MIKE WATERSON
I first heard this song on Gene Shay's venerable folk music radio show on whatever station it was airing on in 1985; in fact, the very recording you can hear in the box over on the right is from the tape recording of the show I made at the time. That's because the famous album from which it's from -- Lal & Mike Waterson's 1972 "BRIGHT PHOEBUS" remains stubbornly unavailable! Even though there have been quite a few versions of this song by June Tabor (who says this about the song: "The strength of visual image is worthy of Ingmar Bergman, as is the story; the Earth Mother is all-powerful here."), Dick Gaughan, Fatima Mansions and the Witches of Elswick. The latter group makes this comment about the song in the liner notes of their 2003 album "OUT OF BED":
"Becky thinks this song deals with the changing of the seasons and the passing of time, the others think it's about sex—with a scarecrow. Fay's not allowed to do harmonies very often because it scares us. This is what she came out with. Don't be afraid to be afraid."
THE SCARECROW by MIKE WATERSON
I first heard this song on Gene Shay's venerable folk music radio show on whatever station it was airing on in 1985; in fact, the very recording you can hear in the box over on the right is from the tape recording of the show I made at the time. That's because the famous album from which it's from -- Lal & Mike Waterson's 1972 "BRIGHT PHOEBUS" remains stubbornly unavailable! Even though there have been quite a few versions of this song by June Tabor (who says this about the song: "The strength of visual image is worthy of Ingmar Bergman, as is the story; the Earth Mother is all-powerful here."), Dick Gaughan, Fatima Mansions and the Witches of Elswick. The latter group makes this comment about the song in the liner notes of their 2003 album "OUT OF BED":
TODAY'S BOO TUBE: THE HOLLOW WATCHER
I'M SURE I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE BUT BORIS KARLOFF'S THRILLER IS ONE OF THE BEST HORROR TV SHOWS EVER MADE. Despite the fact that half of them are crime/mystery dramas. I couldn't possibly have a Halloween Countdown TV viewing without THRILLER. And the episode I've chosen today is one I don't tend to re-watch an awful lot: "THE HOLLOW WATCHER" broadcast February 12, 1962.
This episode has some problems; amongst them a certain degree of padding and a degree of patience is required from the viewer while waiting for the "monster" to appear on screen. As you can know doubt tell by the picture above, the "monster" is a scarecrow. Yes, I'm watching another "walking stalking scarecrow" episode in addition to SUPERNATURAL. So sue me. As you may also deduce from the picture above, the scarecrow's appearance is not quite as formidable as the one in the SUPERNATURAL episode. However, patience will be slightly rewarded by the last ten minutes of the programme. The rural North Carolina village of Black Hollow is haunted by "the Hollow Watcher"; a kind of ghostly vengeful spirit which apparently likes to take the form of a scarecrow and is always watching the townsfolk to punish them when they go astray. Such happens when Hugo Wheeler (Warren Oates) and his mail-order bride Meg (Audrey Dalton) are oppressed by Hugo's overbearing father Ortho (Denver Pyle). During a confrontation between father and son in which Hugo is beated senseless, Meg kills her father-in-law and stuffs his corpse inside a scarecrow in the nearby field. When Hugo awakens, she tells him Ortho ran off in shame after Hugo beat him up. Hugo, not too bright, accepts this story. Soon, Meg's brother Sean (Sean McClory) arrives for a visit. However, Sean and Meg are not siblings but lovers who have a racket going in which they marry someone and then murder them for their money. Will Hugo be killed by the conspiring lovers -- or will Meg be stalked to death by the "Hollow Watcher"?
As I've said, there's a lot of padding in this hour episode but the performances of all the actors makes it an enjoyable episode nonetheless. Audrey Dalton is a veteran of THRILLER and here gives a much MUCH better performance than her awful showing in William Castle's film MR. SARDONICUS. Likewise, Warren Oates gives his usual stellar performance. I'm not familiar with Sean McClory but his portrayal of the ultra-charming, beefy brawler from Old Ireland is quite convincing. And then there's the small cameo role provided by Denver Pyle (who you'll remember as Uncle Jessie from THE DUKES OF HAZARD, no doubt). The scarecrow himself is a little underwhelming at first with his smiling sack face not to scary in full close-up; however as the episode chugs along the scarecrow manages to become a little creepier until the final firey climax which ends up being genuinely creepy. Not the best of the THRILLERs but not the worst, either.
This episode has some problems; amongst them a certain degree of padding and a degree of patience is required from the viewer while waiting for the "monster" to appear on screen. As you can know doubt tell by the picture above, the "monster" is a scarecrow. Yes, I'm watching another "walking stalking scarecrow" episode in addition to SUPERNATURAL. So sue me. As you may also deduce from the picture above, the scarecrow's appearance is not quite as formidable as the one in the SUPERNATURAL episode. However, patience will be slightly rewarded by the last ten minutes of the programme. The rural North Carolina village of Black Hollow is haunted by "the Hollow Watcher"; a kind of ghostly vengeful spirit which apparently likes to take the form of a scarecrow and is always watching the townsfolk to punish them when they go astray. Such happens when Hugo Wheeler (Warren Oates) and his mail-order bride Meg (Audrey Dalton) are oppressed by Hugo's overbearing father Ortho (Denver Pyle). During a confrontation between father and son in which Hugo is beated senseless, Meg kills her father-in-law and stuffs his corpse inside a scarecrow in the nearby field. When Hugo awakens, she tells him Ortho ran off in shame after Hugo beat him up. Hugo, not too bright, accepts this story. Soon, Meg's brother Sean (Sean McClory) arrives for a visit. However, Sean and Meg are not siblings but lovers who have a racket going in which they marry someone and then murder them for their money. Will Hugo be killed by the conspiring lovers -- or will Meg be stalked to death by the "Hollow Watcher"?
As I've said, there's a lot of padding in this hour episode but the performances of all the actors makes it an enjoyable episode nonetheless. Audrey Dalton is a veteran of THRILLER and here gives a much MUCH better performance than her awful showing in William Castle's film MR. SARDONICUS. Likewise, Warren Oates gives his usual stellar performance. I'm not familiar with Sean McClory but his portrayal of the ultra-charming, beefy brawler from Old Ireland is quite convincing. And then there's the small cameo role provided by Denver Pyle (who you'll remember as Uncle Jessie from THE DUKES OF HAZARD, no doubt). The scarecrow himself is a little underwhelming at first with his smiling sack face not to scary in full close-up; however as the episode chugs along the scarecrow manages to become a little creepier until the final firey climax which ends up being genuinely creepy. Not the best of the THRILLERs but not the worst, either.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
BATTY INDUCTEE NUMBER 23
AN ANTHEM TO THE HOLIDAY ITSELF. What more is there to say? The 23rd inductee into my Batty Halloween Hall of Fame is . . .
HALLOWEEN by THE MISFITS
We're talking Glenn Danzig here. Originally recorded in 1980, the song was released on October 31, 1981 as the band's fifth single and it's the last single to feature Bobby Steele on guitar. The song perfectly encapsulates what we love about Halloween with a tinge of nostalgia for Halloween's past which is eluded to in the line "I remember Halloween". A no-brainer (sorry, braineaters) for inclusion in the Batty Halloween Hall of Fame!
HALLOWEEN by THE MISFITS
We're talking Glenn Danzig here. Originally recorded in 1980, the song was released on October 31, 1981 as the band's fifth single and it's the last single to feature Bobby Steele on guitar. The song perfectly encapsulates what we love about Halloween with a tinge of nostalgia for Halloween's past which is eluded to in the line "I remember Halloween". A no-brainer (sorry, braineaters) for inclusion in the Batty Halloween Hall of Fame!
TODAY'S BOO TUBE: IN SEARCH OF JACK THE RIPPER
SEVERAL DAYS AGO I MENTIONED THAT I HAD A "JACK THE RIPPER" DAY ON A PREVIOUS HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN. However, there was one thing I didn't watch that day because I didn't own it . . . then. But I do now.
Happily, the complete series of that classic 70's show IN SEARCH OF starring Leonard Nimoy has been released in a DVD box set earlier this year. And now I can pop in the Jack the Ripper episode for today's Halloweenie viewing. I remember that waaaaaaaaaaaay back in the late 70's, before VCRs, I plopped my Radio Shack tape recorder in front of the TV speaker and recorded the audio for this episode -- so watching it today gives a strange sense of nostalgia because I basically know every line by heart! I listened to that audio tape countless times over the years and it's wonderful to have the entire series on DVD at long last. The episode is exactly what you'd expect it to be: re-enactments of the murders, experts (including Donald Rumbelow) being interviewed on camera and the then-popular theory on the solution to the Ripper's identity which, in the intervening years, has pretty much been discredited (provided by the late Stephen Knight, also interviewed on camera). But IN SEARCH OF is just so seventies and is always a highly entertaining watch. And there are plenty of Halloweenie episodes to choose from -- especially when Saucy Jack is involved!
Happily, the complete series of that classic 70's show IN SEARCH OF starring Leonard Nimoy has been released in a DVD box set earlier this year. And now I can pop in the Jack the Ripper episode for today's Halloweenie viewing. I remember that waaaaaaaaaaaay back in the late 70's, before VCRs, I plopped my Radio Shack tape recorder in front of the TV speaker and recorded the audio for this episode -- so watching it today gives a strange sense of nostalgia because I basically know every line by heart! I listened to that audio tape countless times over the years and it's wonderful to have the entire series on DVD at long last. The episode is exactly what you'd expect it to be: re-enactments of the murders, experts (including Donald Rumbelow) being interviewed on camera and the then-popular theory on the solution to the Ripper's identity which, in the intervening years, has pretty much been discredited (provided by the late Stephen Knight, also interviewed on camera). But IN SEARCH OF is just so seventies and is always a highly entertaining watch. And there are plenty of Halloweenie episodes to choose from -- especially when Saucy Jack is involved!
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
ANOTHER GREAT HALLOWEEN RECOMMENDATION!
HERE'S ANOTHER FINE DVD I JUST FOUND THAT FITS IN WELL WITH THE HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN: THE SHADOW KNOWS.
I've enjoyed "Dial B For Blog" for years now and the blog's maestro "Robby Reed" has produced this fine documentary about the classic pulp magazine/radio show/movie hero "THE SHADOW" tracing the history of the character from conception to the present day. The documentary tracks seemingly every angle of the Shadow and features scads of audio clips from the radio shows and interviews with almost everyone involved (many taken from that superb Radiola Records audio documentary "THE STORY OF THE SHADOW") as well as movie clips and zillions of images from the pulp magazines. We hear audio from all the Shadows including, of course, Orson Welles, Bill Johnstone and Bret Morison as well as original "Margot Lane" Agnes Moorehead, SHADOW creator Walter Gibson, radio announcer Ken Roberts, 90's movie Shadow Alec Baldwin, Shadow scholar Anthony Tollin and many more. This is a DVD I highly recommend and, like HORRIBLE HORROR with Zacherley, makes perfect October viewing.
I've enjoyed "Dial B For Blog" for years now and the blog's maestro "Robby Reed" has produced this fine documentary about the classic pulp magazine/radio show/movie hero "THE SHADOW" tracing the history of the character from conception to the present day. The documentary tracks seemingly every angle of the Shadow and features scads of audio clips from the radio shows and interviews with almost everyone involved (many taken from that superb Radiola Records audio documentary "THE STORY OF THE SHADOW") as well as movie clips and zillions of images from the pulp magazines. We hear audio from all the Shadows including, of course, Orson Welles, Bill Johnstone and Bret Morison as well as original "Margot Lane" Agnes Moorehead, SHADOW creator Walter Gibson, radio announcer Ken Roberts, 90's movie Shadow Alec Baldwin, Shadow scholar Anthony Tollin and many more. This is a DVD I highly recommend and, like HORRIBLE HORROR with Zacherley, makes perfect October viewing.
ONLY NAUGHTY CHILDREN SEE SPOOKS ON HALLOWEEN
by Winifred Sackville Stoner Jr.
|
Witches and goblins, spooks and elves, With sprites and gnomes from elf-land delves, Tonight are flying here and there, Yes, up and down and everywhere. For this one night in all the year They rule the earth and bring great fear To all the naughty little boys Who tease good girls and break their toys. These spooks they also make girls sad When they are selfish, cross and bad; So when it's dark, bad boys and maids, They see these awful fearsome shades, And that is why with covered heads, They trembling lie in their warm beds. But even there they goblins see, Spooks and gnomes, and all that be Abroad upon weird Halloween When all the wizards may be seen By naughty kids and grown-up folks Who like to play most wicked jokes. But good young girls and gentle boys, The kids who are their mothers' joys They like the dark just as the light, For spooks never come within their sight, And in their dreams they lovely elves Show them bright scenes from fairy delves. So, if tonight you are afraid Of any spook or any shade, We'll know you are a naughty child, So cross and wilful, rude and wild. |
BATTY INDUCTEE NUMBER 22
TODAY'S INDUCTEE IS A SEQUEL OF SORTS TO A PREVIOUS INDUCTEE. Although there were many, many sequels. This is another "break-in" record which was created by the pioneering hit single "THE FLYING SAUCER" by Buchanan & Goodman. The 22nd inductee into the Batty Halloween Hall of Fame is . . .
THE CREATURE by BUCHANAN AND ANCELL
I'm still not clear whether or not Dickie Goodman was involved with this record. I believe the story is that "creative differences" broke up the team of Bill Buchanan and Dickie Goodman and this two-part 45 single is the teaming of Buchanan with Bob Ancell. Regardless, the record appeared on the "Flying Saucer" label and is identical in style to the earlier monster hit. This time, we are in a horror movie called "The Creature from the Black Slacks Lagoon" featuring a "50 foot glob of goo" named "Peanuts" who is alternately described as looking like a giant grasshopper with a big beak on it originating from the ocean floor! No matter. I had this 45 as long as I can remember - just like "THE FLYING SAUCER" 45 which had been in my mother's record collection when she was a teenager. However much I love "THE FLYING SAUCER" record, I love "THE CREATURE" at least as much. A classic which deserves its place in the Batty Halloween Hall of Fame!
THE CREATURE by BUCHANAN AND ANCELL
I'm still not clear whether or not Dickie Goodman was involved with this record. I believe the story is that "creative differences" broke up the team of Bill Buchanan and Dickie Goodman and this two-part 45 single is the teaming of Buchanan with Bob Ancell. Regardless, the record appeared on the "Flying Saucer" label and is identical in style to the earlier monster hit. This time, we are in a horror movie called "The Creature from the Black Slacks Lagoon" featuring a "50 foot glob of goo" named "Peanuts" who is alternately described as looking like a giant grasshopper with a big beak on it originating from the ocean floor! No matter. I had this 45 as long as I can remember - just like "THE FLYING SAUCER" 45 which had been in my mother's record collection when she was a teenager. However much I love "THE FLYING SAUCER" record, I love "THE CREATURE" at least as much. A classic which deserves its place in the Batty Halloween Hall of Fame!
MONSTERS FROM THE DEEP
AS SORT OF A COMPANION PIECE TO THE WATERY GHOST WE SAW IN "A CLUE FOR SCOOBY DOO", HERE WE HAVE A PAGE OF SEA MONSTERS.
From the first issue of SEA DEVILS (as it appears in the black and white reprint edition of DC SHOWCASE PRESENTS, we have a rather nice grouping of monsters from the ocean floor from the story entitled "THE SEA DEVILS VS. OCTOPUS MAN" published in 1961. The story was written by Robert Kanigher and the glorious artwork is by the legendary Russ Heath. I've just recently picked up this absolutely wonderful reprint collection and have been loving it as much as I did the DC SHOWCASE PRESENTS BLACKHAWK book a year or so ago! The undersea adventures of Dane, Judy, Biff and Nicky are fantastic entertainment and the superb artwork of Russ Heath is stunningly gorgeous! So here are five panels from the Sea Devils' first issue (after a trio of appearances in DC's tryout book SHOWCASE) which fit in with my monstery October agenda: a bevy of sea monsters for your Halloween!
From the first issue of SEA DEVILS (as it appears in the black and white reprint edition of DC SHOWCASE PRESENTS, we have a rather nice grouping of monsters from the ocean floor from the story entitled "THE SEA DEVILS VS. OCTOPUS MAN" published in 1961. The story was written by Robert Kanigher and the glorious artwork is by the legendary Russ Heath. I've just recently picked up this absolutely wonderful reprint collection and have been loving it as much as I did the DC SHOWCASE PRESENTS BLACKHAWK book a year or so ago! The undersea adventures of Dane, Judy, Biff and Nicky are fantastic entertainment and the superb artwork of Russ Heath is stunningly gorgeous! So here are five panels from the Sea Devils' first issue (after a trio of appearances in DC's tryout book SHOWCASE) which fit in with my monstery October agenda: a bevy of sea monsters for your Halloween!
TODAY'S BOO TUBE: A CLUE FOR SCOOBY-DOO
"YEAH, MAN! I CAN ALREADY TASTE THOSE CHOCOLATE-COVERED HOT DOGS!" Nothing beats the first couple seasons of SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU?" for Halloweenie viewing. I'm pretty sure I add an episode or two of Scoob each Halloween Countdown I do.
So this year I'm taking you down to Rocky Point Beach for the grooviest, spookiest beach party in the third episode of Season One: "A CLUE FOR SCOOBY-DOO" which features that great, ghostly, glowing ghost in the deep-sea diver suit covered in seaweed. Boats are disappearing and the ghost of Captain Cutler is getting the blame. The legend goes that as Captain Cutler sank down to the "graveyard of ships", he swore revenge and is now returning from his watery grave. This episode is drenched in sea-fog to give it one of the best, spooky atmospheres the cartoon ever had. There's plentiful foghorns on the soundtrack, the accoutrements of witchcraft and even a nice, spooky old lighthouse. Shaggy himself even sends the point home when he says as they snoop around the lighthouse: "Wow! Like, this place is furnished in early Halloween!" You can't argue with that!
So this year I'm taking you down to Rocky Point Beach for the grooviest, spookiest beach party in the third episode of Season One: "A CLUE FOR SCOOBY-DOO" which features that great, ghostly, glowing ghost in the deep-sea diver suit covered in seaweed. Boats are disappearing and the ghost of Captain Cutler is getting the blame. The legend goes that as Captain Cutler sank down to the "graveyard of ships", he swore revenge and is now returning from his watery grave. This episode is drenched in sea-fog to give it one of the best, spooky atmospheres the cartoon ever had. There's plentiful foghorns on the soundtrack, the accoutrements of witchcraft and even a nice, spooky old lighthouse. Shaggy himself even sends the point home when he says as they snoop around the lighthouse: "Wow! Like, this place is furnished in early Halloween!" You can't argue with that!
Monday, October 21, 2013
A NIGHTMARE COME TRUE!
A HAPPY COINCIDENCE OF THIS COUNTDOWN TO HALLOWEEN WAS MY DISCOVERY OF THE NEW 2-DVD SPECIAL EDITION OF THE GREATEST PARTY VIDEO EVER: HORRIBLE HORROR STARRING ZACHERLEY!
I randomly stumbled across it without having any knowledge that this 1986 gem had FINALLY been released on DVD. One of my greatest Halloween wishes and the Great Pumpkin must've granted it! I'm not going to go into any depth as to what this fantastic video is all about; I've written about it before and you can read my review by clicking on this link. However, I will say that there is no better entertainment on the planet than having Zacherley the Cool Ghoul personally escort you through a bunch of horror movie trailers and clips. And here's the best part: the new DVD special edition has been vastly expanded to over TWO AND A HALF HOURS of added material including some new Zacherley footage. And there's also the second disc which features Zacherley's early 60's appearance on "WHAT'S MY LINE?", an episode of the 50's horror TV programme LIGHTS OUT entitled "CURTAIN CALL" starring Otto (DRACULA'S DAUGHTER) Kruger, and the entire film "FRANKENSTEIN'S DAUGHTER" as an added bonus. I cannot urge you strongly enough to pick up this DVD for the perfect Halloween viewing. You'll love it! It's more fun than a barrel of giant amoebas!
I randomly stumbled across it without having any knowledge that this 1986 gem had FINALLY been released on DVD. One of my greatest Halloween wishes and the Great Pumpkin must've granted it! I'm not going to go into any depth as to what this fantastic video is all about; I've written about it before and you can read my review by clicking on this link. However, I will say that there is no better entertainment on the planet than having Zacherley the Cool Ghoul personally escort you through a bunch of horror movie trailers and clips. And here's the best part: the new DVD special edition has been vastly expanded to over TWO AND A HALF HOURS of added material including some new Zacherley footage. And there's also the second disc which features Zacherley's early 60's appearance on "WHAT'S MY LINE?", an episode of the 50's horror TV programme LIGHTS OUT entitled "CURTAIN CALL" starring Otto (DRACULA'S DAUGHTER) Kruger, and the entire film "FRANKENSTEIN'S DAUGHTER" as an added bonus. I cannot urge you strongly enough to pick up this DVD for the perfect Halloween viewing. You'll love it! It's more fun than a barrel of giant amoebas!
BATTY INDUCTEE NUMBER 21
HEY! THE BATTY HALLOWEEN HALL OF FAME IS FINALLY LEGAL NOW THAT WE'RE AT 21! This time we have another song featured in a cult horror movie; but this time it's sung by an iconic horror actor! The 21st inductee into my Batty Halloween Hall of Fame is . . .
SONG FROM SPIDER BABY by LON CHANEY JR. & RONALD STEIN
Stein demented instrumental main title theme to Jack Hill's equally demented film SPIDER BABY would have lyrics added and the movie's star Lon Chaney Jr. (who plays Bruno in the film) would sing/croak his way through an incredibly fun tune. If you get the chance to hear the studio outtakes of the recording session, they are probably even more hilarious! SPIDER BABY, of course, concerns the mental Merrye family who have a thing for homicide! Surely you've seen it. If not, you'd better watch it quick . . . before I send Virginia Merrye to sting you! By the way, that masterful artwork of Lon is by the talented artist Steve Ring whose blog SPOOKY LABORATORY is participating in this very Countdown to Halloween. Check him out. He does absolutely stunning work!
SONG FROM SPIDER BABY by LON CHANEY JR. & RONALD STEIN
Stein demented instrumental main title theme to Jack Hill's equally demented film SPIDER BABY would have lyrics added and the movie's star Lon Chaney Jr. (who plays Bruno in the film) would sing/croak his way through an incredibly fun tune. If you get the chance to hear the studio outtakes of the recording session, they are probably even more hilarious! SPIDER BABY, of course, concerns the mental Merrye family who have a thing for homicide! Surely you've seen it. If not, you'd better watch it quick . . . before I send Virginia Merrye to sting you! By the way, that masterful artwork of Lon is by the talented artist Steve Ring whose blog SPOOKY LABORATORY is participating in this very Countdown to Halloween. Check him out. He does absolutely stunning work!
TODAY'S BOO TUBE: THE THIRTY FATHOM GRAVE
I'VE CHOSEN ONE OF THE HOUR TWILIGHT ZONES FOR TODAY'S VIEWING. This is an episode I've always loved since I first saw it sometime in the early 80s. We didn't see much of the hour-length TWILIGHT ZONES back in the day; syndication always played the half hour shows. However, this has always been my favourite of that single hour-long season: "THE THIRTY-FATHOM GRAVE".
It's a particularly creepy episode in which a U.S. Navy destroyer in 1963 sailing off Guadalcanal picks up the sound of metallic hammering on sonar. They soon discover the sound is coming from a sunken submarine. Investigation proves that no sub has gone down in the recent past and that, in fact, the wreck occurred 21 years earlier at the Battle of the Eastern Solomons. Divers from the Navy destroyer go down and listen at the hull and hear a definite hammering from inside the sunken sub. No one could possibly be alive inside so is it the ghosts of the dead crew? It's soon discovered that the nervous Chief Bell, who has been feeling ill for days, once served on that very submarine and due to an accidental screw-up caused the Japanese to detect and sink the sub resulting in the death of the entire crew EXCEPT Chief Bell. Are the ghosts of the sunken submarine seeking vengeance from beyond their watery grave? A typically fine cast headed by Simon Oakland and Bill Bixby as well as a suitably jittery performance by Mike Kellin as Chief Bell amps up the feeling of unease. There's nothing like watery ghosts for optimal Halloween viewing!
It's a particularly creepy episode in which a U.S. Navy destroyer in 1963 sailing off Guadalcanal picks up the sound of metallic hammering on sonar. They soon discover the sound is coming from a sunken submarine. Investigation proves that no sub has gone down in the recent past and that, in fact, the wreck occurred 21 years earlier at the Battle of the Eastern Solomons. Divers from the Navy destroyer go down and listen at the hull and hear a definite hammering from inside the sunken sub. No one could possibly be alive inside so is it the ghosts of the dead crew? It's soon discovered that the nervous Chief Bell, who has been feeling ill for days, once served on that very submarine and due to an accidental screw-up caused the Japanese to detect and sink the sub resulting in the death of the entire crew EXCEPT Chief Bell. Are the ghosts of the sunken submarine seeking vengeance from beyond their watery grave? A typically fine cast headed by Simon Oakland and Bill Bixby as well as a suitably jittery performance by Mike Kellin as Chief Bell amps up the feeling of unease. There's nothing like watery ghosts for optimal Halloween viewing!
Sunday, October 20, 2013
TODAY'S BOO TUBE: MYSTERY OF PIRATE'S COVE
I REMEMBER WATCHING "THE HARDY BOYS/NANCY DREW MYSTERIES" AS A KID RIGHT AFTER MOVING INTO OUR NEW HOUSE.
Each week would alternate between a Hardy Boys episode and then a Nancy Drew episode. And as a boy, I was much more interested in the Hardy Boys episodes and dismissive of the Nancy Drew ones; I mean, c'mon, who wants to see a show about a dumb old girl. However, recently I got myself season one and discovered something of a sea change. While I still enjoy the Hardy Boys episodes (although some, especially the first episode, are kinda dumb), I found the Nancy Drew episodes to be superior. Case in point: the first Nancy Drew episode "THE MYSTERY OF PIRATE'S COVE". I mean, just read that title again. What could be more typically representative of the original books than that title?!?
Of course, we have an old, abandoned lighthouse in which lights are seen at night and the rumour goes around that it's haunted. And equally "of course", our intrepid amateur sleuth Nancy Drew insists on poking around with her friends George (female) and Ned (male). There are lots of "ghostly doings" as well as patented peril for our teen investigators. A really nice Halloweenie-type viewing starring Pamela Sue Martin and William Schallert as the father of yet another famous TV daughter.
Each week would alternate between a Hardy Boys episode and then a Nancy Drew episode. And as a boy, I was much more interested in the Hardy Boys episodes and dismissive of the Nancy Drew ones; I mean, c'mon, who wants to see a show about a dumb old girl. However, recently I got myself season one and discovered something of a sea change. While I still enjoy the Hardy Boys episodes (although some, especially the first episode, are kinda dumb), I found the Nancy Drew episodes to be superior. Case in point: the first Nancy Drew episode "THE MYSTERY OF PIRATE'S COVE". I mean, just read that title again. What could be more typically representative of the original books than that title?!?
Of course, we have an old, abandoned lighthouse in which lights are seen at night and the rumour goes around that it's haunted. And equally "of course", our intrepid amateur sleuth Nancy Drew insists on poking around with her friends George (female) and Ned (male). There are lots of "ghostly doings" as well as patented peril for our teen investigators. A really nice Halloweenie-type viewing starring Pamela Sue Martin and William Schallert as the father of yet another famous TV daughter.
BATTY INDUCTEE NUMBER 20
NOT MUCH IS KNOWN ABOUT THIS NEXT SONG. It's a pretty rare one. And it's also an instrumental. Oh yeah, and it's apparently a tribute to a then-current horror movie. Without any further ado, I induct the 20th song into the Batty Halloween Hall of Fame . . .
WHITE ZOMBIE by THE JOEL SHAW ORCHESTRA
Unearthed and restored for the soundtrack to the wonderful documentary "LUGOSI: HOLLYWOOD'S DRACULA", this recording hadn't been heard for 65 years (according to the liner notes by Gary Don Rhodes). The success of the 1932 film "WHITE ZOMBIE" prompted a little-remembered big band leader Joel Shaw to record this jazzy record in the film's honour. There is actually another version of this song called simply "Zombie" which appears on one of my all-time favourite cd's "HALLOWEEN STOMP" from Jass Records; that version by Gene Kardos and his Orchestra is good but it cannot match the energy and driving tempo of the Joel Shaw version. In the liner notes, Rhodes also speculates that the demonic laughter heard on Shaw's recording may well be by his then-vocalist Dick Robertson; whom you may recall did vocal duties on Harry Reser's "MYSTERIOUS MOSE" - an earlier inductee into this very Batty Hall of Fame!
WHITE ZOMBIE by THE JOEL SHAW ORCHESTRA
Unearthed and restored for the soundtrack to the wonderful documentary "LUGOSI: HOLLYWOOD'S DRACULA", this recording hadn't been heard for 65 years (according to the liner notes by Gary Don Rhodes). The success of the 1932 film "WHITE ZOMBIE" prompted a little-remembered big band leader Joel Shaw to record this jazzy record in the film's honour. There is actually another version of this song called simply "Zombie" which appears on one of my all-time favourite cd's "HALLOWEEN STOMP" from Jass Records; that version by Gene Kardos and his Orchestra is good but it cannot match the energy and driving tempo of the Joel Shaw version. In the liner notes, Rhodes also speculates that the demonic laughter heard on Shaw's recording may well be by his then-vocalist Dick Robertson; whom you may recall did vocal duties on Harry Reser's "MYSTERIOUS MOSE" - an earlier inductee into this very Batty Hall of Fame!
Saturday, October 19, 2013
AROUND THE CAULDRON
LAST YEAR ON THE HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN I POSTED A GALLERY OF COMIC BOOK COVERS FEATURING TOMBSTONES. Well, this year I thought I'd post a selection of that most iconic of Halloween icons: the witch. Just a few choice morsels. . .
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