Post-Halloween 2019 - The Bowery Boys

Sunday, November 10, 2019

I listened to the Bowery Boys annual ghost story Halloween episode today. This installment from 2017 is titled Ghosts of Greenwich Village. According to the blurb on the website: "We cautiously approach the dark secrets of Greenwich Village, best know for Bohemians, shady and winding streets, and a deeply unexplained history. You will never look at its parks and townhouses again after this show! Featuring the hidden history of Washington Square Park; the Brittany Residence Hall for New York University students; James Walker Park with its secrets underfoot; and an old Bank Street townhouse with a surprise in its ceiling."

There are a number of other ghost story episodes that I'll have to check out. Maybe I'll listen to one on Christmas Eve...

Well, it's snowing today and it's accumulating so probably a good time to quit writing for the season. I started the blog early this year and also went a little later than usual. All in all it's been pretty festive. So until next year...

We'll just have to let the Halloween spirit be with us all year long.

Buh-bye...

Post-Halloween 2019 - Walks and Ghost Stories

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Cold today but I still enjoyed my walks to and from school. Just a small number of trees are hanging on to their leaves. Skies of grey are prevalent. 

Recently picked up another collection of ghost stories from Barnes & Noble. Started from the beginning of the book and have already come across a couple of wonderful stories that seemed vaguely familiar. I discovered I'd encountered them in another anthology I have.

The first is The Phantom Coach sometimes known as The Night Mail by Amelia B. Edwards. In it a sportsman on foot finds himself  in a desolate area much farther from home than he anticipated traveling. An unexpected snowstorm hits and his safety is threatened. His only option is to depend on the kindness of strangers.  

The second, The Old Nurse's Tale involves an orphaned girl and her nursemaid going to live with distant relatives of said girl in an isolated old English manor. Spookiness ensues. 

Looks like this one will be released soon in a version illustrated by Seth. I have all the previously published stories in this series which is an attempt to revive the old Victorian tradition of telling ghost stories around Christmastime. 

Post-Halloween 2019 - It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Soundtrack

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

I didn't realize It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown had a soundtrack. I just discovered it on Apple Music. After a little research I discovered it was only last year that it was first released. I'm a fan of The Great Pumpkin Waltz which I'm listening to as I write this.

Post-Halloween 2019 - Irish Cream

Monday, October 4, 2019

I love drinking Irish cream during the fall and winter seasons. 

Post-Halloween 2019 - It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Monday, November 4, 2019

I watched It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown tonight. It's a wonderful pairing of animation and music. The score was performed by the Vince Guaraldi Sextet. 

According to Wikipedia, while the kids were trick-or-treating Charles "Schultz wanted Charlie Brown to get a rock at one house. [producer Bill] Melendez suggested it happen three times and while executive producer Lee Melendez said no, he was overruled."

"According to Schultz, after the program first aired, bags and boxes of candy came in from all over the world 'just for Charlie Brown.'" [Wikipedia]

P.S. Don't trust her. 

Post-Halloween 2019 - Tchotchkes

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Although I had every intention of setting up big this Halloween it didn't play out that way. It often  doesn't and it's usually related to being over-busy for school. The end of the quarter always falls the week of Halloween which adds to the general busy-ness so I never seem get as far along as I want to. Sadly, this seems to be the case for other holidays and events. Life often gets put on hold due to work. This year has been particularly challenging due to my being conscious of wanting to make some big changes in regard to work due to the fatigue being more unbearable in a way I don't remember as being this intense. Not sure how it's all going to play out but I'm open to some kind of job change in a way I never have been before. Maybe other jobs are as all consuming as teaching, but, maybe not. Maybe it's no different than any other year or with any other holiday. Maybe I'm just sick of it at a level I never have been before. 

Post-Halloween 2019 - Spooky Disney Cartoons

Sunday, November 3, 2019

The Haunted House (1929)

Slow Sunday morning. Looked for some Disney Halloween-themed cartoon shorts on YouTube. I found some, all of which I've seen before, some more recently than others. First was The Haunted House from 1929 - WOW, 90 years ago. Walt Disney himself voiced Mickey. 

According to Wikipedia, "Disney had some trouble with the state censors on this cartoon, because of the gags involving a chamber pot and and outhouse. "

Can't imagine that being an issue today. 

The Mad Doctor (1933)

The second animated short was The Mad Doctor. In this one a mad scientist captures Pluto and carries him back to his laboratory. 

This one is actually rather gruesome in concept because of what the mad doctor wants to do to Pluto.

For this very reason, according to Wikipedia, "Some theaters refused to show it, believing it to be too scary for kids."

Wikipedia continues, "At one time for this reason, it was banned entirely in the United Kingdom, as well as Nazi Germany." 

Lonesome Ghosts (1937)

Lonesome Ghosts an old favorite of mine and the one I've been familiar with the longest. 

The reason being, "An edited (and silent) version of the cartoon was released as a cartridge for the Fisher-Price Movie Viewer, a small crank-operated toy." (Wikipedia) 

I had that toy and I LOVED it. I had the cartridge for Lonesome Ghost and pre-home-video days this was the closest you could get to owning media PLUS you could play the films in reverse.

Also according to Wikipedia, "Many people believe this cartoon was the inspiration for Ghostbusters. Also, the catchphrase 'I ain't afraid of no ghost' occurs both in this cartoon and in the Ghostbusters theme song written by Ray Parker Jr."


Trick or Treat (1952)

Featuring Donald Duck, this animated shorts has Donald playing a trick on Huey, Duey, and Louie instead of giving them candy when they knock on his door for Halloween. The triplets get in cahoots with Witch Hazel, who witnessed the whole thing, to get back at Uncle Donald. Mayhem and great fun ensue. 


Ghoul Friend (2013)

I can't get enough of this one. Mickey's car breaks down and he encounters a zombified Goofy in the forest. Mickey's terrified, but should he be?

Post-Halloween 2019 - The Day After

Friday, November 1, 2019

Still regretting not passing out candy last night but it is what it is. Hopefully next year. 

Lots of jack-o-lanterns are still out but that's certainly not unusual for the day after Halloween. The one pictured above is a neighbor's. I didn't carve one this year. Another regret.

Dale tells me November is the cloudiest month and that's certainly the case today. Most of the trees have lost their leaves but a few, like the one above, have retained them. The color looks nice against the gray sky.