OCTOBER IS HERE...LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN! COUNTDOWN TO HALLOWEEN, DAY 1!

Hell-o Boils and Ghouls, welcome to the Countdown To Halloween! Thanks to the gang over at Countdown To Halloween for organizing a spooky list for your trick or treat delights! Everything you'll need for your Halloween season can be found over at the Countdown To Halloween blog! Just click the badge below and all your Halloween nightmares will come true!

In the meantime, here's my little treat for all the kiddies on this, the first day of the Countdown To Halloween! A neat little video featuring the Groovie Goolies, set to the music of Bobby "Boris" Pickett's classic Halloween tune, The Monster Mash! Enjoy!

SPOOKY EMPIRE'S ULTIMATE HORROR WEEKEND!

Howdy folks, do you like blood, violence, monsters, horror and TONS of fun? Well then, you CANNOT miss SPOOKY EMPIRE'S ULTIMATE HORROR WEEKEND, October 7-9, 2011, at the Wyndham Resort in Orlando, FL.!



This year brings some amazing guests and events, too many for me to list, so just stop by and visit their website for all the details!! DO NOT MISS THIS EVENT!

COUNTDOWN TO HALLOWEEN!

That's right kiddies, it's that time again! I know I haven't had much time to focus on my blog, but how can I neglect Halloween! Thanks to John for organizing his yearly Countdown To Halloween! Here is the official link!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZACHERLE!

ZACHERLE, Born John Zacherle on September 26, 1918 (also known as Zacherley), is probably one of the best known Horror Hosts in television history, right next to Vampira and Elvira. His horror host career started in 1957, when he created the character of "Roland" for Philadelphia's SHOCK THEATER. He eventually became "Zacherle" in 1959, then started hosting CHILLER THEATRE in New York a few years later. With the release of several horror novelty records, his hosting of several horror movie shows and even an American Bandstand-style dance music show called Disc-o-Teen, Zacherle remains one of the most recognized figures in the horror host community, and will always be the Godfather of Horror Hosts! Happy Birthday to the Coolest Ghoul ever!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELVIRA!

Elvira, Mistress Of The Dark (born Cassandra Peterson on September 17, 1951) is undoubtedly the undisputed Queen of Halloween, ever since rising to fame in the early 80's while hosting Elvira's Movie Macabre. Since then, Elvira has gone on to become one of contemporary horror's most famous icons, starring on TV, motion pictures and even music videos. We look forward to seeing, ahem, more of Elvira! Happy Birthday to the Mistress Of The Dark!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FREDRIC MARCH!

Fredric March, born August 31, 1897, may not have had a career in horror, but he does have the distinction of winning the very first Academy Award for Best Actor in a horror role, that of the title character in MGM's 1931 classic, DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE, an honor that wouldn't come to another actor for another 60 years, when Anthony Hopkins won his Oscar for THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. Fredric did manage to win yet another Oscar for Leading Male Actor in 1946 for THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES. Fredric's roles were mostly always in dramatic films, but he did manage to play "Death" in DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY in 1934. fredric had a very long and successful career in films, spanning 6 decades. Happy Birthday Fredric!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVELYN ANKERS!

(pictured with Lon Chaney Jr. and Bela Lugosi)

Evelyn Ankers, born August 17, 1918, is definitely a familiar face to the classic horror fans. Known as "the Queen of Screamers", Evelyn starred in many classiC horror films throughout the 1930s-40s, such as THE WOLFMAN, THE MAD GHOUL, THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN, SON OF DRACULA and many others. Usually playing the love interest/damsel in distress, Evelyn had a very long career in film and television, starring in horror classics, as well as dramas and comedies. Evelyn sadly passed away on August 29, 1985, from ovarian cancer, but her roles will never be forgotten. Happy Birthday to one of Hollywood's original Scream Queens!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GLENN STRANGE!

(pictured here with Lenore Aubert and Bela Lugosi)



Glenn Strange, born August 16, 1899, was one of Hollywood's hardest working character actors, yet many people will always remember him as the man who filled the Frankenstein monster's shoes after Boris Karloff. Although Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney Jr. both had their opportunities at portraying the Frankenstein monster after Boris Karloff originated the role, no other actor had the success or recognition than Glenn Strange, who went on to portray the monster in HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, HOUSE OF DRACULA, and the wildly popular and hysterical ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN. The bulk of Glenn's career consisted of roles in many Hollywood westerns, always portraying henchmen, gun-slingers and thugs. He mostly played ominous characters, due to his lumbering height of 6'5". He eventually went on to achieve television success on the popluar TV western GUNSMOKE, which starred another Hollywood horror alumni, James Arness. Glenn unfortunately passed away from lung cancer on September 20th, 1973. Of his many roles in Hollywood, Glenn will always be loved by horror fans as the Frankenstein Monster! Happy Birthday Glenn!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALFRED HITCHCOCK!

Born on August 13, 1899, Alfred Hitchcock went on to become one of Hollywood's greatest directors, earning the title of "Master of Suspense". With such classics as "NORTH BY NORTHWEST", "The BIRDS", "STRANGERS ON A TRAIN" and of course my all-time favorite Hitchcock film "PSYCHO", his films went on to become some of Hollywood's best-loved and highly regarded films. Check out Hitchcock's filmography, as well as his very popular "Alfred Hitchcock Presents..." TV show (all available on DVD). Hitchcock sadly passed away April 29th, 1980, but his film legacy will live on forever! Happy Birthday to the Master Of Suspense!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN LANDIS!

JOHN LANDIS, born August 3, 1950, may be well-known as a director of famous Hollywood comedies such as ANIMAL HOUSE and TRADING PLACES, but to me he will always be the director of my all-time favorite werewolf movie, AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON. John has had his share of horror in his career, starting with the low-budget horror satire SCHLOCK, then of course with An American Werewolf In London. John also delved into the music video business by creating possibly one of the best music videos in history, Michael Jackson's THRILLER! John Landis later went on to direct the horror/comedy INNOCENT BLOOD, and let's not forget his entries into the Masters Of Horror series, DEER WOMAN and FAMILY. John is currently filming BURKE AND HARE, a film about the 2 most famous body snatchers in history. John has an incredible knack for mixing horror with comedy, something many have attempted but have failed miserably at. I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with John Landis last year and Spooky Empire's Weekend Of Horror in Orlando, Florida. He was an absolute riot! He was incredibly friendly and funny, and was definitely a high point for me. In fact, he saw my son Zachary and absolutely fell in love with him, snatched him from me and wouldn't give him back! (check out the pics below, also pictured with Paul Davis, director of the amazing AWIL documentary BEWARE THE MOON). Happy Birthday to one of Hollywood's best, John Landis!


(here I am pictured with John Landis and Paul Davis)


(Here's John threatening to keep Zachary)


(John cooing over Zachary)


(John finally hands Zachary back over to me!)