HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2018

HORROR MOVIE MUSIC IPOD PLAYLIST

I'm going to start off this post by telling you something that the snobby "timeless love song/Great American Songbook" crowd doesn't want you to know. One of their favorite "standard" songs, that was a favorite of our grandparents and parents, was introduced in a HORROR FILM.

The song, "Stella By Starlight," first appeared in the 1944 film The Uninvited, about a woman named Stella, who is possessed by a ghost. In the movie, Ray Milland plays a composer, who tries to woo Stella by composing the song for her on a piano, while she stands by an open window.  The song has been recorded by many artist since it was first introduced, but most of those familiar with the song would probably never guess it was from a horror film. The Uninvited was also groundbreaking in that it portray ghost and the paranormal as serious, instead of a criminal gimmick or for comedy purposes.

I brought up ghost and comedy, because one of the biggest songs of the 80s, was from a comedy about ghost and demons. Of course, that was Ghostbusters. That song dominated radio in the summer of 1984, but some would say Ghostbusters is a comedy not a horror film.

That is why this is a Ipod playlist, because 1)) doing a really educational "countdown-of-the-greatest-ever" post would lead to hairsplitting and Internet bickering about what I should consider a "real" horror film or horror comedy or a mystery thriller or science fiction movie or an original composition for a horror film or using a previously recorded song. So, I'll just give a playlist with the movie the song was featured in and you can decide for yourself what category it belongs in, 2) I haven't done one in a while, and 3) it's quick and easy.

I have left out orchestral scores, in favor of pop & rock songs, featured in the film. Some were hits before the film came out or "oldies" used to memorable effect in the film. I tried to give the name of the original version or version in the film, if I use a substitute, I'll mention why.

Stella By Starlight - Andre Previn (This is a piano instrumental, as in the movie) - The Uninvited - 1944
The Blob - The Five Blobs - The Blob 1958
The Web - Abie Baker - The Brain That Wouldn't Die 1959
Bird Is the Word - The Rivingtons - The Crawling Hand 1963
Look For a Star - Gary Miles - Circus of Horror 1960
Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte - Al Martino - Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte 1964
My Son, The Vampire - Alan Sherman - Vampire Over London 1952/My Son The Vampire 1964
That's The Way It's Got To Be - The Poets - Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster 1966
That's All That I Need You For - The Birds - The Deadly Bees 1966
Shadows - The Electric Prunes - The Name of the Game Is Kill 1968
Green Slime - The Green Slime - The Green Slime 1968 (The title of the song, movie and the band are all Green Slime)
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack - Play Misty For Me 1971
Season of the Witch - Donovan - Season of the Witch 1972/Dark Shadows 2012
Ben - Michael Jackson - Ben 1972
Tubular Bells  - Mike Oldfield - The Exorcist 1973
Popcorn - Hot Butter - Shriek of the Mutilated 1974
Daybreak - Harry Nilsson - Son of Dracula 1974
Science Fiction/Double Feature - Richard O'Brien - Rocky Horror Picture Show - 1975
Time Warp - Richard O'Brien, Patricia Quinn & Cast - Rocky Horror Picture Show - 1975
Sweet Transvestite - Tim Curry - Rocky Horror Picture Show - 1975
Don't Fear The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult - Halloween 1978
I Love The Nightlife - Alicia Bridges - Love At First Bite - 1979
Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival - American Werewolf in London -1981
Moondance - Van Morrison - American Werewolf in London - 1981
Blue Moon - The Marcels - American Werewolf in London - 1981
Cat People (Putting Out the Fire) - David Bowie - Cat People - 1982
Bela Lugosi's Dead - Bauhaus - The Hunger - 1983
Ghostbusters - Ray Parker Junior - Ghostbusters - 1984
Weird Science - Oingo Boingo - Weird Science - 1985
Wanted Man - Ratt - Weird Science - 1985
Tesla Girls - Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark - Weird Science - 1985
Pretty Woman - Van Halen - Weird Science - 1985
Blue Kiss - Jane Wiedlin - Night of the Creeps - 1986
The Stroll - The Diamonds - Night of the Creeps - 1986
Teen Beat - Sandy Nelson - Night of the Creeps - 1986
Good Times - Inxs with Jimmy Barnes - Lost Boys - 1987
People Are Strange - Echo & The Bunnymen - Lost Boys - 1987
Who Made Who - AC/DC - Maximum Overdrive -1986
For Those About To Rock - AC/DC - Maximum Overdrive - 1986
Dream Warriors - Dokken - Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors - 1987
Into the Fire - Dokken - Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors - 1987
Youth of America - Birdbrain - Scream - 1996
Red Right Hand - Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Scream - 1996
Who's Gonna Mow Your Grass? - Buck Owens - House of 1000 Corpses - 2003
Turn Around, Look At Me - The Lettermen - Final Destination 3 - 2006
Nights In White Satin - Moody Blues - Dark Shadows - 2012
I'm Sick of You - Iggy & the Stooges - Dark Shadows - 2012
Ballad of Dwight Frye - Alice Cooper - Dark Shadows - 2012

#THROWBACK THURSDAY: 70s & 80s HALLOWEEN COMMERCIALS

Just for the record, I don't remember seeing the Diet Coke commercial with Madeline Kahn & Peter Cook.

FOUND PHOTOS OF HALLOWEEN PARTIES

I found several photos from Halloween parties of the past on Tumblr. Enjoy!

Okay, I know the last one isn't real, but I couldn't resist.

BACK TO POSTING HALLOWEEN STUFF

I apologize for not post enough for the Countdown to Halloween. I'll just say I had some minor surgery about two weeks ago and I have been required to dress the incision. Add to that a jump drive that had some Halloween stuff on it was left at my parents house. Since I didn't do a post about the passing of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, how about a photo of him with horror movie TV hostess Elvira.

DON'T WORRY, I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE

I wanted to let everyone who reads this blog to know that I plan to continue blogging. My time this spring and summer has been taken up by several activities.

INTERNET PROVIDER:  I also found out recently that I would have to switch Internet providers. I have had the same Internet provider since the 20th century (1999), but I was told they could no longer provide service to my area.

HEALTH: There have also been some problems with my health, namely as bad back and hip. I was taking physical therapy two times a day for most of the spring and early summer. Add to that some other problems (which are of a TMI nature), I have spent most of the summer in doctor's waiting rooms.

SCUMMY CLICKBAIT SITES STEALING FROM ME: It has come to my attention that some scummy clickbait sites are swiping some of my post, sometimes word for word, for their nasty little websites. I've tried to contact these website, but to no avail. Most click bait is sleezy as a used condom.

THE POLITICIZING OF "RETRO" & "NOSTALGIA": This bothers me more than anything. I switched from being a blog that talked about news & politics to a retro pop culture blog, because the writing a news & politics blog was leading to death threats and causing problems with my job. I was mocked on the Internet when I mentioned the threats of violence. It is why I have tried not to "reveal my true identity." This has been a controversy in the Springfield and Ozarks area, but I now have proof that it was a good idea.  Randy Turner, whose blogger I had a link to on the old blog, was attacked earlier this week by some who didn't like what he had posted.

I was seeing the nature of discussing politics becoming volatile and dangerous, so I became a retro blogger. Now, I'm seeing the discussion of retro pop culture becoming to political too. I recently saw an article on the ME-TV website about Highlights Magazine and most of the comments were from idiots bashing gays, African Americans and Millennials. These comments had nothing to do with Highlights Magazine. ME-TV should remove them, but I've said the same thing about the disgusting stuff people post on videos on YouTube of old TV shows and music. I'm tired of seeing comments like, "This was back in the good old days when there were a bunch of n***ers and qu**rs on TV" or "This is what the J**s use to brainwash our children."

My reason for creating a retro blog was to give younger people information on music, movies and TV of the past. When I was younger, information on this stuff was hard to come by or in expensive books. Other adults were useless, because they wanted to get on a soapbox and lecture me about how I shouldn't be interested in pop culture. That is why I don't bash young people or Millennials. I've found, thanks to Tumblr, that Millennials are VERY interested in the older pop culture and how it connects to the current pop culture.

Now for some good news:

I'M ON TUMBLR: Tumblr is my new addiction. What I do over there is not earthshaking, I basically reblog pictures and add funny captions. If you like my sarcastic humor, then follow me on Tumblr.

CONSIDERING A DIFFERENT FORMAT TO THE PODCAST: I'm considering creating a podcast that is a discussion with a colleague/family member. We just need to right equipment.

GETTING READY FOR COUNTDOWN TO HALLOWEEN: My favorite time of the year. There have been several times I have had ideas for a post and then thought, "No, I'll save that for Countdown To Halloween."

Trust me, I have tons of stuff, I've been wanting to post, but haven't had the time. Hopefully, I can share some of the fun stuff from the past that is cluttering up my apartment right now.



 

I DECIDED TO BE A CLOWN FOR HALLOWEEN

Growing up my mom and my sister complained that I only wanted to be either a superhero or a monster. They would say, "Why don't you be something cute and funny, like a clown?" Since people now claim to be scared of clowns, I decided "Okay, I'll be a clown." As you know, I think the whole fear of clowns is stupid. Of course, my opinions are why I'm considered the Super-Villain of the Ozarks!!! Mwu-HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

MY THEORY ON WHY RETRO HALLOWEEN PHOTOS ARE CUTE AND VINTAGE HALLOWEEN PHOTOS ARE CREEPY

You have probably seen several article (usually of the evil, scum-sucking click bait nature) on how found photos of vintage Halloween costumes seem to be "scary" and "creepy." On the other hand, retro Halloween photos seem to warm the heart and gather positive response. Why?

Here are some theories I have on this subject.

1.   VINTAGE HALLOWEEN PHOTOS ARE IN BLACK & WHITE OR SEPIA TONE, WHILE RETRO HALLOWEEN PHOTOS ARE IN COLOR.

Scientist have claimed that a large number of the population dreams (and had nightmares) in black & white. Most of the classic horror films are in black & white. There you go.

2. WE KNOW WHAT THE CHILDREN IN THE RETRO HALLOWEEN PHOTOS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE. 

Some would holler about commercialism and lack of creativity, but that is why many of us look at those photos lovingly. We remember going trick or treating dressed as Snoopy, Mickey Mouse, Batman, Strawberry Shortcake, Chewbacca, a Smurf, Frankenstein, or another popular pop culture character.

We usually look at the kids in vintage Halloween photos and say "What on Earth is that kid supposed to be?" Many of these kids look like faceless creatures, hooded vigilantes or giant animals in clothing.

3. RETRO HALLOWEEN PHOTOS ARE USUALLY TAKEN IN HOMES OR SCHOOLS. VINTAGE HALLOWEEN PHOTOS SEEM TO BE TAKEN OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. 

Once again, familiarity helps. The retro Halloween photos look like they were taken at our school Halloween party or at our house.

 The vintage Halloween photos always seem to be taken in a barren field or in front of old deserted house.

4. ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER...

These articles you see are usually written by a Generation X or Baby Boomer writer with an affection for that era of Halloween. We dressed in store bought costumes, then went home with a plastic Jack O'Lantern filled with Snickers, Kit Kats, Sweet Tarts and Mary Jane peanut butter kisses to watch It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown or Mad Monster Party. Many of them, now have children and grandchildren that they will take trick or treating or to a trunk or treat event. The kids in the vintage photos were probably given turnips and stale biscuits, which caused them to burn down barns and topple outhouses.

Those kids in those vintage Halloween photos (like the group above) are all dead now, but THEY WILL BE COMING BACK THIS HALLOWEEN TO DRAG YOU TO HELL! Mwu-HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Pleasant dreams.     

MONSTER PHOTO FUN 2016 PART 2

More ghoulish goofiness. As always, click on the photo to enlarge it.

MONSTER PHOTO FUN 2016

You knew it was coming. More Monster Photo Fun. The spawn of the old Cracked Magazine monster issues and the Topps You'll Die Laughing Cards. As always, click on the photo to enlarge.

Only a true monster movie fan will get that joke.

Here are links to the previous post featuring Monster Photo Fun.

Monster Photo Fun 1
Monster Photo Fun 2
Monster Photo Fun 3
Monster Photo Fun 4
Monster Photo Fun 5
Monster Photo Fun 6
Monster Photo Fun 2015

BTW, you will notice an improved quality, thanks to my new computer. Enjoy!