From Zombos' Closet

My Halloween: Know Joe Moe

Five questions asked over a glowing Jack o'Lantern, under an Autumn moon obscured by passing clouds...in between mouthfuls of candy corn...with Joe Moe...so you know...

Why is Halloween important to you?

Like our favorite Horror movies themselves, Halloween represents such a high degree of art, craft, and creativity. It's so theatrical, clever, and creepy. A great way for parents to encourage imagination and share their limited (or vast) knowledge of tradition, stagecraft and spooky mythology with their family. If all else fails, it's a nationally sanctioned day for kids to piss off uptight parents!

Halloween is also transformative. As a kid, you could be whoever you wanted for that one magical night. Or, at the very least, not be your regular self for a spell. All of this contributed to my aspiration to tell spooky stories as an adult. While I haven't accomplished all I have left to do yet, I have made movies, designed haunted rides for theme parks internationally, and lived with and took care of one of the pioneers of our genre, the late great Forrest J Ackerman. Thanks, Halloween! Pretty good trip so far!

Describe your ideal Halloween.

One that goes on for the entire month of October. It starts with planning the big, themed Halloween party for the actual day. This year it's Vampire Spaghetti Dinner with my fanatic Halloween pal, actress Carol Ann Susi (from the original Night Stalker series and now Mrs. Wolowitz on The Big Bang Theory). But long before the 31st, there's exploring Disneyland's family-friendly Halloweenification, Knott's Scary Farm's infamous, immersive, month-long Halloween Haunt. Universal Studio's Halloween Horror Nights is hit or miss, but I personally never miss it! There's even the fun of scoping out the mainstream department stores to see what innovations, decorations and novelties are offered this season. And no Halloween can go by without a visit to Del And Sue at Dark Delicacies in Burbank. Oddly, nowadays, I hardly ever wear a costume as part of my Halloween celebration?!

What Halloween collectibles do you cherish, or hate, or both?

I worship any Don Post Studios mask. Back in the 70s, having one of those deluxe, over-your-head treasures was like owning an actual piece of classic horror history. There was no better way to become your favorite monster than to squirm into one of those remarkable, detailed latex masks. I don't own any myself today, but I do have a copy of the mask I actually sculpted for Don Post Studios in the 80s (Schizoid, at left). I can't express what an incredible dream come true it was for this (then) 22-year-old kid from Hawaii to contribute a monster mask to the company that so affected my childhood dreams and ambitions. Seeing my mask on shelves at the Hollywood costume shops and theme parks was beyond exciting.

When was your very first Halloween, the one where you really knew it was Halloween, and how was it?

I was nine when Halloween coalesced into understanding of the tradition and fun of the holiday. It was the year my parents finally allowed me to read Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine. Now I could put all the creatures and movies I was drawn to into the context of the genre. I also got my first store-bought costume, Frankenstein's monster! It was one of those boxed costumes. A flimsy printed, shiny jumpsuit, tied in back like a hospital gown. And the vacu-formed mask printed with garish colors that smelled like plastic (and later, spit). I wore that costume days before Halloween. I shredded it. I won my first Halloween contest that year. Today I realize that I won, not because of my lousy commercial costume, but because I stood next to a kid in an identical costume and the judges thought we were cute twins. Luckily, I was handed the prize and not that other kid.

What's the one Halloween question you want to be asked and what's your answer?

Joe, will you please attend my:

a) Halloween Party

b) Haunted House

c) Seance

d) Homemade graveyard

e) Spooky movie screening

f) All of the above

My answer is...YES!

Joe and Werewolf under a full moon. (Joe's on the right)

 

Forry's Don Post Life Masks

Peck Halloween Paper Decorations

These 1978 paper decorations from Peck Inc. are stylishly designed with their day-glo green, red and black illustrations and retro-cartoony characters.  Each is around 15 inches in length and 6 to 7 inches wide.

My Halloween: Wicked Crochet

Five questions asked over a glowing Jack o'Lantern, under an Autumn moon obscured by passing clouds...in between mouthfuls of candy corn...with Kara of Wicked Crochet...

Why is Halloween important to you?

I look forward every year to Halloween's approach. What I really love is that for one night of the year you can be whatever or whoever you want with no judgement from society. From a beautiful princess to a rotting zombie corpse, anything goes. A night of whimsy, magic and imagination that takes me back to my childhood.

Halloween is also the one night of the year where the veil between the living and the dead is lifted. Ghosts, monsters and witches creep through the night. Carved jack-o-lanterns adorn every doorstep, the smell of the pumpkins burning flesh wafting through the crisp air. It's the lore and myth that fascinates me. Halloween is the night to scare and be scared and that is a total rush.

Oh and I almost forgot....The Candy.

Describe your ideal Halloween.

A walk through a corn maze, a visit to a haunted house, a little trick or treating, and, to top the evening off, a midnight stroll through an old cemetery.

What Halloween collectibles do you cherish, or hate, or both?

I have an adorable little jack-o-lantern trophy that I display proudly every year. In 1978, when I was seven, I won a pumpkin carving contest. Just that it has survived all these years amazes me.

When was your very first Halloween, the one where you knew it was Halloween and how was it?

I remember it well. I know the year was 1977 because every kid out trick-or-treating that night was dressed in a store bought Star Wars costume, except of course for me: my mom always made my costumes. I was dressed as Dracula's bride. I had a fabulous dress, high collared cape, and my awesome plastic vampire teeth with fake blood dripping out of the corners of my mouth. I can remember thinking how funny it was that the other kids weren't scary at all. What fun is that?

There was one house we went to trick-or-treat at that night that was decorated amazingly. There was a huge spider web made of rope that covered the front of the garage.The man on the other side was dressed as a creepy old wizard. The garage was full of fog from dry ice and had a black light going. I was so scared but I walked up to that creepy guy, reached my hand through that spider web, and got my candy!

Whats the one Halloween question you want to be asked and what's your answer?

Q: What is the strangest thing you have done for the love of Halloween?

A: Three years ago I had a jack-o-lantern tattooed on my leg. That's how much I love Halloween.

Movie Pressbook: Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)

Halloween 2011: Halloween Totem Pole

I picked this Halloween Totem Pole up at a local old-fashioned hardware store last week. It was out front with the shiny garbage cans, new rakes, clean brooms, and other summer to fall utensils, along with a pumpkin-holding ghost and a somber witch. This one appealed to me most because it has the essential elements for a super Halloween: pumpkin, skull, black cat, and ghost. It's 32 inches high and a small light brightens up the skull for foggy Autumn evenings. Genfoam Plastics in Virginia makes this one, along with other Halloween blow molds including a modish Frankie and Dracula.

Yes, I'm old fashioned. I still like blow molds. I had a pumpkin man plastic lamp glowing orange on my nightstand every Halloween night as I grew up. Now I get to light up the whole house.  

Halloween 2011 Sighted: Target's Glow in the Dark Skeleton

They almost had to get the mop out at Target when I saw this 5 foot glow in the dark skeleton last night. Every year Target manages to bring some of the coolest  decorations a Halloween-lover can drool or wet themselves over. And what does a glow in the dark skeleton need? Why, glow in the dark spiders, skulls, and rats, of course. Can you say life-size Forgotten Prisoner of Castle-mare tableau? Add a motion-controlled cobra that strikes and a few hanging bats and bammmm!

My Halloween: Penny Dreadful

Five questions asked over a glowing Jack o'Lantern, under an Autumn moon obscured by passing clouds...in between mouthfuls of candy corn...with horror hostess Penny Dreadful...

Why is Halloween important to you?

Halloween is a very special time of year for me. There's something magical, otherworldly and a little scary about it. All Hallows Eve evokes such delightful thoughts of dead branches swaying in the breeze and the smell of burning leaves coming from people's backyards. It brings to mind thoughts of bag-fulls of candy (chocolate was always the best!) and creepy costumed beings running through the crisp Autumn night. Truly, I love Hallowe'en.

Describe your ideal Halloween.

Mere words cannot describe the unspeakable horrors which make up MY ideal Halloween! However, I will describe a very GOOD Halloween. A very good Halloween is one in which I play numerous monster novelty and rock 'n' roll tunes through the use of one of those compact disc machines. Garou and I then don mysterious costumes to protect ourselves from the roaming revenants and head out for a festive Halloween gathering with its assorted games and revelry. Pumpkins are required and hot cider is a nice bonus.

What Halloween collectibles do you cherish, or hate, or both?

One I always liked was a plastic pumpkin my mother used to hang on the front door. It had strange silvery eyes. Alas, it is long gone.

When was your very first Halloween, the one where you really knew it was Halloween, and how was it?

Too many centuries have elapsed dear Zombos. However, my most memorable Halloween involved getting together with my sisters and cousins, getting into our greasepaint and flowing costumes and running out into the cold New England night with the intermingled scents of candy and rotting leaves in the air.

What's the one Halloween question you want to be asked and what's your answer?

Q: Should Halloween be declared a national holiday?

A: Of corpse it shouldn't be a national holiday. It should be an INTERNATIONAL HOWLIDAY! On Halloween, no cool ghoul should be in school! On All Hallows Eve, those who lurk should not work! If I ever run for political office, this will be my (gallows) platform!

Halloween 2011: Walgreens Dracula and Witch Animated Figures

So far it looks like the stores are going light on Halloween decorations and heavy on the candy. But I did find these delightfully cheery newlyweds at Walgreens. Don't Dracula and his blushing Witch bride make a charming dark couple? And how can you pass up this Jack-in-the-Box Evil Clown? You know, I wonder if there's a subliminal message going on here with those bright, toothy smiles? I mean, with all that candy piled up around them, you'd think they'd have fillings galore, not gleaming Colgate smiles.

 

Movie Review: Lenore The Cute Little Dead Girl Vols 2, 3

Zombos Says: Excellent

Little? Yes. Dead? Without a doubt. Cute? That's stretching it, buddy.

In her latest escapade, Where Pooty At? Lenore goes off on a few tangents, remembers a forgotten thing or two, and plants her friends in the dirt because she's bored and wants to sprout more friends.

Let me explain.

Before I explain, though, I should mention we find out where Pooty's been at, well into the story. He's a bit annnoyed by not being found until then, but you'll see what I mean when you read this issue...Lenore can be a little scatter-brained at times, which is most of the time.

The dancing, prancing, and singing flower opening turns into a nightmare when an insistent, pollinating-minded bee wants to buzz around Ragamuffin's petals--

--Shoot, I suppose I should tell you up front that the dancing flower is Ragamuffin, the 400 year old vampire who fed on living flesh until he became a wormy, polyester rag doll and Lenore's fast friend, although she occasionally treats him pretty mean and insensitively, which is most of the time--

--Until Lenore insists on planting Ragamuffin up to his neck in dirt, producing some unexpected results, or really I should say unexpected for us because she's giddy with the results, as they turn out exactly as she hoped for, which doesn't happen most of the time--her expectations producing the desired results I mean.

Which leads to the Pooty part of the story when he's eventually found, though he's pissed it took so long to find him. Now Pooty's not a vampire or rag doll, he's just a minion of Hell who took a fancy to Lenore and decided to stick around after he was sent to bring her back after she got bored and left. He does have an odd head, or rather it's a bucket for a head, or maybe his head is just bucket-shaped. Either way he's not happy Lenore didn't find him sooner, so he sticks his trident in Ragamuffin's brains--though it wasn't Ragamuffin's fault at all--which look and taste a lot like cotton candy by the way, and so Lenore and Pooty can't help but munch on them. Reluctantly realizing it's not a very good thing to chew on Ragamuffin's brains, they stuff what's left back in.

They spend more time beating up on Ragamuffin by telling him all about the mean things they did to him while he slept--Lenore and Pooty kept scrapbooks--until Lenore buries Pooty bucket-neck deep in the dirt because she just can't have enough friends. He, of course, is now not so sure being found was a good thing.

There's more, but you should be able to get the gist of this issue by now. And it's in full color! 

Foreign Horror Movie Posters With Bela Lugosi

My Halloween: JG Faherty

Five questions asked over a glowing Jack o'Lantern, under an Autumn moon obscured by passing clouds...in between mouthfuls of candy corn...and coffie with author JG Faherty... 

 

Why is Halloween important to you?

Well, I don't know if important is exactly the right word. It's my favorite holiday, and I look forward to dressing up and going to costume parties. I always have, ever since I was a little kid. Historically it is important, both as a modern holiday and ancient celebration of life. But it's not like I sit around all year and think about it.

Describe your ideal Halloween.

Well, it would have to fall on a weekend so you could celebrate for 3 days. I'd do a book reading or appearance, maybe have a book premiering. There'd be a party to go to where everyone dressed up in wild costumes. I'd make some Halloween-themed drinks or snacks. That'd be a good Halloween if I stayed local. You could add a photo trip to local cemetery as well. However, if I could plan the ultimate Halloween vacation, it would be to a haunted mansion or castle, where a group of us would spend the night.

What Halloween collectibles do you cherish, or hate, or both?

What do you mean by collectibles? I have some statuettes and decorations that I like, and some Halloween-themed art and books. But they aren't 'collectibles' per say; I certainly couldn't retire (or even go away for the weekend!) if I sold them.

When was your very first Halloween, the one whereyou really knew it was Halloween, and how was it?

Probably somewhere around kindergarten or first grade. Back then just wearing a costume and getting candy was all that mattered. It wasn't until my teenage years that I understood the history of Halloween.

What's the one Halloween question you want to be asked and what's your answer?

Q: What is your best Halloween memory?

A: Probably a couple of years ago when my wife and I spent the weekend in Salem, MA. I'd wanted to go there for years.

Foreign Horror Movie Posters With Boris Karloff