Beware...

... of Hitchhiking Ghosts:

These three fellows were a big hit. Situated in front of the blacked-in Treat Room, by nightfall they looked like they were simply floating in front of the porch; blacklight is truly a marvelous thing.

There is more video of Phineas, Ezra and Gus flying around the neighborhood. Well, not video of them literally flying around the neighborhood, but... nevermind. I'll post any when I get any.


Oh, and another thing:

It's impossible to get shots of things like this because it only works in the dark, you know?

But this looked beautiful just off the 'Boo Corner' end of the porch. Sadly, the power supply for the motor burned halfway through the night, but it still looked very cool so what the heck!

By the way, the Haunted Mansion rules. You heard me.


Shpoonk-

Lights out for the Great Pumpkin!

But he is very sincere!

BY THE WAY, before playing this video, be sure to click the 'Great Pumpkin Waltz' on the Hallowe'en Jukebox to the right. Click the volume (green triangle bar) down to about 30%, and you've got a nice melange of All Hallow's media in yo' face. (If you do it right, the muted trumpet and flute of the bridge will play right as he says 'Halloweeeen!' Very cool)...

I only say 'lights out' because I forgot to rekindle his inner candlelight with a 9v battery before I had V take this video and didn't notice it until editing it this evening. I'm getting so very old...

Still, you can hear some of his patter for the night.

It suddenly occurs to me that I neglected to have him explain Uncle Forry on the porch. Oh well, I'll have both of them next year so he can do it then!

That's part of the great magic of Hallowe'en... we always get one next year.

I will be adding more pics and video when I get them from friends and family. Video of the Pirates/Lean Bros. & Ghoul routines especially.

Until then, don't forget: Hallowe'en is a feeling, and wherever folks meet to discuss or even silently enjoy each others' crazy company in conventions, yard haunts, movies, and yes, little ol' online pubs, there Hallowe'en lives, and lives well.

We who gather here at the S&P know it very well.

A toast to all of you for a rousing, wondrous Hallowe'en for 2009. No, not 'cheers!', not 'salute!', not even 'hear-hear!'.

The proper Hallowe'en toast is, of course...

DUMDUMSHREKPOP!

Medium resolution.

For only the second time since I've been haunting this house, the Treat Room didn't have a 'scare'; 2009 saw the misty, ethereal supplications* of Madame Leota in her crystal ball.

Now, Hallowe'en video being what it is, this is underlit. In this video, it's very difficult to see the hanging/floating trumpet, tambourine and skull above her head... but the effect was very atmospheric when you were standing in that dark little room.

The video also exaggerates the reflection of the projector and UV LEDs for her hair in the crystal ball. It was not nearly as noticeable live.

Some of the kids who had been used to/were expecting a scare were a little put out, but everyone else seemed to really like it. Those who were already fans of the Mansion were in awe.

I had a few friends who just stood in the room and watched this over and over.

It is kinda hypnotizing...


(*- Thurl Ravenscroft's memorable term from the original Haunted Mansion LP from 1969)

A Final Fling For Forry?

He sat relaxed on the blanketed porch swing, a lit ceramic jack o'lantern and a bowl of candy beside him, a framed set of pictures from our visit to the Ackermansion in 2000 at his breast, a copy of Famous Monsters on his lap.

An 'aloha' shirt, beige slacks. A 'Baker Street' coat similar to the Dracula cape from Plan Nine was over his shoulders, and a hastily painted facsimile of his beloved Dracula ring adorned the ring finger of his left hand.


Just above and behind his head were mounted a few perma-plaque'd lobby cards from The Phantom of the Opera and Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde.

He spent a brisk and chilly Hallowe'en evening watching and enjoying, and occasionally informing the visitors of a few of his accomplishments, and even a bit of philosophy:

I had a lot of visitors just standing around him on the porch, and asking me about our beloved 4SJ. I found myself educating a lot of folks about Mr. Ackerman's impact and significance in the realm of sci-fi, horror and fantasy.

So... no, this was not a final fling for 4E.

I will redesign and replace certain elements of the Uncle Forry animatron, and build in more durability and balance, because I'll need to have him displayed every Hallowe'en from now on... he was that big a hit.


Pumpkins and disembodied mediums to follow...

Let's pass around the pictures...

Oh, it is good to be back at the old Skull & Pumpkin after this incredible Hallowe'en weekend!

Everything came off beautifully, and we had one of the busiest, most visited and enjoyable Hallowe'en nights ever. Yes it is very gratifying to see the long, hard work find such appreciation, but mostly I just dig watching the kids have so much fun!

I am looking forward to showing off pictures and video, and as soon as I get copies of images from friends and family, I'll have it all here.

This time around, I am showing some of the better pics from my own meager photographic attempts.

See, on Hallowe'en night, I tend to let others get the pics because I'm too busy being host, repairman and 'come say hi to' guy all night long. I absolutely love it and thrive on it, but it does mean I don't get time to properly chronicle the moment.

But this year I had extra help setting up and so found a few minutes every so often to snap a few images.

Such as they are.

Eh, blurry but it gives you the idea. The power supply for the motor burned out halfway through the night but the coffin was a big hit!

The graveyard, and some decently readable epitaphs (click to see larger image). The Lean Bros. & Ghoul 'dressed' as the Singing Busts from the Haunted Mansion; they were a hit, as ever.

The Pirates, Capt. Jack Lantern and First Mate Ficketts, had visitors laughing all night.

The ghostly 'Attic Bride' from the Haunted Mansion haunts our house from my upstairs bedroom window.

My hastily done, hand-painted 'Dracula Ring' for Uncle Forry (I'd forgotten until late Friday night that he needed something to look like the famous Dracula ring; foam, paint and tired eyes got this far... I kinda like it!).

The Hitchhiking Ghosts from the Haunted Mansion. Phineas has his valise, Gus his ball n' chain. There are good pictures and video of them in blacklight/no flash, and I'll get them up here soon.

The Uncle Forry Livingroom Set. It was intimate, warmly lit, and a perfect companion to the kid-friendly 'Boo Corner' just to the right. V took some great video of Uncle Forry, and as soon as I can turn VOB into WMV and get it cut down to a size Blogger can handle, I'll post it all!

The Great Pumpkin. As always, a big hit, constantly running, introducing folks to the spirit and theme of the night. Probably the best known and most enjoyed tradition of my haunts.

It was a very beautiful display on a very beautiful night. This pic cuts off the Great Pumpkin and the coffin between the GP and the porch, but you can see the city below our hill, the graveyard, the driveway, strolling guests, the Attic Bride, the HHG's below her in front of the porch (if you squint a little) and some of Boo Corner.

Oh, and something very cool happened which hasn't happened before (that I recall).

Someone made treats for US.

Twice.

The Bride of Frankenstein cake was made by our very sweet neighbor and the cinnamon rolls by a family friend who brought them to the door with 'It's time YOU got a treat!'

So cool. I love people.

This was a truly blessed Hallowe'en, because I had some family in town who had not been able to see a Mike C. Hallowe'en in a long time... in fact, my nieces and nephew never had. It was simply superb to have the Riddles(eseses) and especially my godson Will with us for a few whirlwind late October days... the best Hallowe'en treat one could want.

More pictures and video to come.

For now, I'm heading out to catch up on sleep after a long clean-up day... but that doesn't mean you need to go.

Just be sure to light out, lock up, and don't burn the place down.


God, I love Hallowe'en.

Clean up.

Yep.

The price of glory. Clean up.



I will have video, pictures, reviews, comments, comicalities, witticisiums, and everything to do with this incredible Hallowe'en '09 weekend very soon.

Must clean the home, then myself, then sleep some of it off.


Hang in there!

exhaustion.