<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>

<rss version="2.0" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/">
	<channel>
		<title>Halloween Forum - Blogs</title>
		<link>http://www.halloweenforum.com/blog.php</link>
		<description>This is a discussion forum about Halloween, Haunts and Horror.</description>
		<language>en</language>
		<lastBuildDate>Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:04:04 GMT</lastBuildDate>
		<generator>vBulletin</generator>
		<ttl>60</ttl>
		<image>
			<url>http://halloweenforum.com/fusion/misc/rss.jpg</url>
			<title>Halloween Forum - Blogs</title>
			<link>http://www.halloweenforum.com/blog.php</link>
		</image>
		<item>
			<title>Halloween Murder Mystery Dinner in London, Ontario</title>
			<link>http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/murder-for-hire/194-halloween-murder-mystery-dinner-london-ontario.html</link>
			<pubDate>Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:29:02 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[MURDER FOR HIRE 
PRESENTS 
OUR ANNUALHALLOWE'EN MURDER MYSTERY DINNER 
A GHOULS NIGHT OUT! 
TICKETS ARE $65.00 PER PERSON and include the following: 
 Murder Mystery Dinner 
Tips, taxes & gratuities 
Prizes 
cash bar 
at Savvy Dining & Euro Bar
London, ON
for further information or to order tickets 
contact mailto:INFO@MURDERFORHIRE.CA   
or 519-495-1446
you can also buy tickets online at 
www.murderforhire.ca on the Upcoming Events page
tickets also available at Savvy Dining (219 Queens Ave.)]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>MURDER FOR HIRE <br />
PRESENTS <br />
OUR ANNUALHALLOWE'EN MURDER MYSTERY DINNER <br />
A GHOULS NIGHT OUT! <br />
TICKETS ARE $65.00 PER PERSON and include the following: <br />
 Murder Mystery Dinner <br />
Tips, taxes &amp; gratuities <br />
Prizes <br />
cash bar <br />
at Savvy Dining &amp; Euro Bar<br />
London, ON<br />
for further information or to order tickets <br />
contact mailto:INFO@MURDERFORHIRE.CA   <br />
or 519-495-1446<br />
you can also buy tickets online at <br />
<a href="http://www.murderforhire.ca" target="_blank">www.murderforhire.ca</a> on the Upcoming Events page<br />
tickets also available at Savvy Dining (219 Queens Ave.)</div>

]]></content:encoded>
			<dc:creator>Murder For Hire</dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/murder-for-hire/194-halloween-murder-mystery-dinner-london-ontario.html</guid>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Let the season begin</title>
			<link>http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/heathereve1234/193-let-season-begin.html</link>
			<pubDate>Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:00:51 GMT</pubDate>
			<description>It turned cold early this fall, which is just fine with me seeing as I much prefer a sweater to a tank top and fear the sun ever since my skin cancer diagnosis last year (just before Halloween, actually). So naturally my thoughts turn to my favorite time of year, and I managed to choose a theme, make a save the date, and email them out last week:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/heathereve1234/2836606801/</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>It turned cold early this fall, which is just fine with me seeing as I much prefer a sweater to a tank top and fear the sun ever since my skin cancer diagnosis last year (just before Halloween, actually). So naturally my thoughts turn to my favorite time of year, and I managed to choose a theme, make a save the date, and email them out last week:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/heathereve1234/2836606801/" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/heathereve1234/2836606801/</a></div>

]]></content:encoded>
			<dc:creator>HeatherEve1234</dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/heathereve1234/193-let-season-begin.html</guid>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Todays preparations</title>
			<link>http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/she-geek/192-todays-preparations.html</link>
			<pubDate>Sun, 07 Sep 2008 03:07:32 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[It was quite a shopping spree today. 

Stopped by Salvation Army and got more frames and jars.  I went ahead and framed up the last of my pictures.  Combined with my store bought pics from previous years I think I now have plenty for  static ambiance.  

Next stop was Dollar Tree.  Several threads here had mentioned some items that I might be interested in - and I was! Picked up 2 barbed wire, 1 skull doorhandle cover, 3 packs sticky eyeballs, 1 yucky ball, 4 2 pack LED candles, 3 small crows, 1 gargoyle, 2 packs miniature skulls, 1 pack miniature skeleton hands and 3 spooky bottle stickers. Psyche! I put the skulls and hands into jars.

Big Lots was right next store, so I went in. Nothing on the shelf caught my eye, but they had a pretty good price on the gardening weed block  at $4.50 per 50 ft. so I picked up 2.  The cashier said they had been reduced to $1.20 - had to get 3 more!   I'm jazzed - this year I'll be able to cover up the white awning in my entryway with this stuff.

Next was Walmart.  Had some household items to grab here, but threw in a 6 yard pack of cheesecloth and found my Halloween greeting cards. I then went over to the seasonal area and was crestfallen to discover the only thing there was candy.  Everything else was fall theme or USC paraphernalia.  *Sigh*

Once I came home and framed and jarred, it was time to head out to start my PVC flicker candles, which I found in this post (http://www.halloweenforum.com/tutorials-step-step/68856-pvc-flicker-candles.html).  This project is too easy to pass up  and explains my LED purchase at Dollar Tree.  The Great Stuff is setting up now; tomorrow I'll have at the drilling and hot glue.

All in all it was a rewarding day.  For now, I'll go back to lurking about the forum.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>It was quite a shopping spree today. <br />
<br />
Stopped by Salvation Army and got more frames and jars.  I went ahead and framed up the last of my pictures.  Combined with my store bought pics from previous years I think I now have plenty for  static ambiance.  <br />
<br />
Next stop was Dollar Tree.  Several threads here had mentioned some items that I might be interested in - and I was! Picked up 2 barbed wire, 1 skull doorhandle cover, 3 packs sticky eyeballs, 1 yucky ball, 4 2 pack LED candles, 3 small crows, 1 gargoyle, 2 packs miniature skulls, 1 pack miniature skeleton hands and 3 spooky bottle stickers. Psyche! I put the skulls and hands into jars.<br />
<br />
Big Lots was right next store, so I went in. Nothing on the shelf caught my eye, but they had a pretty good price on the gardening weed block  at $4.50 per 50 ft. so I picked up 2.  The cashier said they had been reduced to $1.20 - had to get 3 more!   I'm jazzed - this year I'll be able to cover up the white awning in my entryway with this stuff.<br />
<br />
Next was Walmart.  Had some household items to grab here, but threw in a 6 yard pack of cheesecloth and found my Halloween greeting cards. I then went over to the seasonal area and was crestfallen to discover the only thing there was candy.  Everything else was fall theme or USC paraphernalia.  *Sigh*<br />
<br />
Once I came home and framed and jarred, it was time to head out to start my PVC flicker candles, which I found <a href="http://www.halloweenforum.com/tutorials-step-step/68856-pvc-flicker-candles.html" target="_blank">in this post</a>.  This project is too easy to pass up  and explains my LED purchase at Dollar Tree.  The Great Stuff is setting up now; tomorrow I'll have at the drilling and hot glue.<br />
<br />
All in all it was a rewarding day.  For now, I'll go back to lurking about the forum.</div>

]]></content:encoded>
			<dc:creator>she-geek</dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/she-geek/192-todays-preparations.html</guid>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Halloween prep today</title>
			<link>http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/she-geek/191-halloween-prep-today.html</link>
			<pubDate>Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:38:15 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Not as productive as I would like.  Ordered Possessed Paintings made by Twisted Ambience.  I ordered the DVD through Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/strong-Possessed-Paintings/dp/B000VPRHLE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1220668503&sr=8-2), since I have an account, but Pushin Daisies (http://www.pushindaisies.com/candypress/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=579) had a demo, which sold me.

Now I need to figure out how to mount and frame a TV sideways in the parlor.    I'll probably use the Big Scream TV Terror Eyes (http://store.bigscreamtv.info/bstv4.html) on a smaller TV in the embalming room.

I think I may just print out a few more creepy paper photos and call it a day.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>Not as productive as I would like.  Ordered Possessed Paintings made by Twisted Ambience.  I ordered the DVD through <a href="http://www.amazon.com/strong-Possessed-Paintings/dp/B000VPRHLE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;s=dvd&amp;qid=1220668503&amp;sr=8-2" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, since I have an account, but <a href="http://www.pushindaisies.com/candypress/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=579" target="_blank">Pushin Daisies</a> had a demo, which sold me.<br />
<br />
Now I need to figure out how to mount and frame a TV sideways in the parlor.    I'll probably use the <a href="http://store.bigscreamtv.info/bstv4.html" target="_blank">Big Scream TV Terror Eyes</a> on a smaller TV in the embalming room.<br />
<br />
I think I may just print out a few more creepy paper photos and call it a day.</div>

]]></content:encoded>
			<dc:creator>she-geek</dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/she-geek/191-halloween-prep-today.html</guid>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Halloween activities today</title>
			<link>http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/she-geek/190-halloween-activities-today.html</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Sep 2008 06:17:52 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Things are starting to ramp up in my household. Although I haven't pulled out items from storage, I did pick up a number of odds and ends in order to get a handle on all those details that inevitably dogpile at the last minute:

1. Got myself mailer boxes for the Halloween gifts I send out every year.  There are 5 families I send gift boxes with items I picked up earlier this month: a Spookytown figurine (battery powered "Evil Pumpkin" and "Illuminated Tombstones"), Peeps pumpkins and classic candies like Mary Janes, Peanut butter kisses and Necco wafers.  Used my paper shredder on a mess of black and orange construction paper for packing material.  Everyone else gets cards - couldn't find cards available in the stores yet.  I mail everything out October 1.

2.  I always have a cemetary, but my entryway theme this year will be a mortuary.  There will be two parts - a funeral parlor and an embalming room.  I hit up Salvation Army for a number of picture frames for my parlor.  I printed up pictures from a site with turn of the century post-mortem photographs (http://ame2.asu.edu/projects/haunted/ISA%20index/book%20of%20the%20dead/book%20of%20the%20dead%20photos.htm).  I also printed the pictures from this thread (http://www.halloweenforum.com/halloween-props/62427-really-creepy-pics.html).  Have a few others pictures I want to use but I ran out of frames - good thing there were plenty left at Salvation Army.

3.  Also scored a few jars for body parts in the embalming room section at Salvation Army as well as long mailer tubes (from the same place I got my mailer boxes) to use as dead flower holders in the parlor. 

BTW, yesterday my LED spots arrived from LED-Mate that I ordered through Amazon on Tuesday.  I received them one day after I ordered them!  3 are 70 LED, and 3 are 20 LED.  Green, Blue and Red.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>Things are starting to ramp up in my household. Although I haven't pulled out items from storage, I did pick up a number of odds and ends in order to get a handle on all those details that inevitably dogpile at the last minute:<br />
<br />
1. Got myself mailer boxes for the Halloween gifts I send out every year.  There are 5 families I send gift boxes with items I picked up earlier this month: a Spookytown figurine (battery powered &quot;Evil Pumpkin&quot; and &quot;Illuminated Tombstones&quot;), Peeps pumpkins and classic candies like Mary Janes, Peanut butter kisses and Necco wafers.  Used my paper shredder on a mess of black and orange construction paper for packing material.  Everyone else gets cards - couldn't find cards available in the stores yet.  I mail everything out October 1.<br />
<br />
2.  I always have a cemetary, but my entryway theme this year will be a mortuary.  There will be two parts - a funeral parlor and an embalming room.  I hit up Salvation Army for a number of picture frames for my parlor.  I printed up pictures from a site with turn of the century <a href="http://ame2.asu.edu/projects/haunted/ISA%20index/book%20of%20the%20dead/book%20of%20the%20dead%20photos.htm" target="_blank">post-mortem photographs</a>.  I also printed the pictures from <a href="http://www.halloweenforum.com/halloween-props/62427-really-creepy-pics.html" target="_blank">this thread</a>.  Have a few others pictures I want to use but I ran out of frames - good thing there were plenty left at Salvation Army.<br />
<br />
3.  Also scored a few jars for body parts in the embalming room section at Salvation Army as well as long mailer tubes (from the same place I got my mailer boxes) to use as dead flower holders in the parlor. <br />
<br />
BTW, yesterday my LED spots arrived from LED-Mate that I ordered through Amazon on Tuesday.  I received them one day after I ordered them!  3 are 70 LED, and 3 are 20 LED.  Green, Blue and Red.</div>

]]></content:encoded>
			<dc:creator>she-geek</dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/she-geek/190-halloween-activities-today.html</guid>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Getting to work on 2008 projects</title>
			<link>http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/lhallow/189-getting-work-2008-projects.html</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:06:51 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Okay with the spooky tree out of the way, it's time to start working on the smaller projects for this years display.  After last years display, we retired our old cemetery fence, toe pincher and pumpkin head scarecrow......all had their share of years of weathering and abuse. 

The new fence is going to be my design.  I purchased these finials (http://www.central-steel.net/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=74) as I didn't want to go with the typical skulls.  I bought gargoyles for the posts and I'll be trying a heating method to "bend" some of the bars.

For the new toe pincher coffin I'll be using theScare FX (http://64.226.23.133/woodycarr/scarefx/project_coffin.html) plans and adding a cut out cross on the front.  I plan to distress the boards and space them a bit further apart.  The coffin is going to remain closed with just light shining from the inside.

Hubby is really on board this year and is always excited when he gets to build stuff.  Our plan is to start this weekend.....so we'll see!]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>Okay with the spooky tree out of the way, it's time to start working on the smaller projects for this years display.  After last years display, we retired our old cemetery fence, toe pincher and pumpkin head scarecrow......all had their share of years of weathering and abuse. <br />
<br />
The new fence is going to be my design.  I purchased <a href="http://www.central-steel.net/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&amp;ProdID=74" target="_blank">these finials</a> as I didn't want to go with the typical skulls.  I bought gargoyles for the posts and I'll be trying a heating method to &quot;bend&quot; some of the bars.<br />
<br />
For the new toe pincher coffin I'll be using the<a href="http://64.226.23.133/woodycarr/scarefx/project_coffin.html" target="_blank">Scare FX</a> plans and adding a cut out cross on the front.  I plan to distress the boards and space them a bit further apart.  The coffin is going to remain closed with just light shining from the inside.<br />
<br />
Hubby is really on board this year and is always excited when he gets to build stuff.  Our plan is to start this weekend.....so we'll see!</div>

]]></content:encoded>
			<dc:creator>LHALLOW</dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/lhallow/189-getting-work-2008-projects.html</guid>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Spooky Tree 2008</title>
			<link>http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/lhallow/188-spooky-tree-2008.html</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:38:25 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[This year’s big project was to create a big spooky tree for my cemetery.  I came across a great tutorial  (http://aranamuerta.com/2008/01/29/halloween-tree)on one of the threads and decided this method would be the cheapest way to go about making this prop.  It ended up costing me $13.00 to make.

Here is what I used:
Various bones and skulls (free, every good haunter owns tons of bones)
Aluminum Foil - not even half a roll ( $1.a roll at Dollar Tree)
¾ of a roll of chicken wire ($7. a roll at Menards)
Old newspapers donated by my mom ripped into various sizes(free)
1 can of Great Stuff (free, left over from last year)
1 can polyurethane spray paint (free, had a couple cans left over)
6 cups of flour (free, who doesn’t have flour?)
24 cups of water (free, from the rain barrel)
6 cans of black spray paint ($.96 a can at Walmart)
½ can of brown spray paint (free, left over from last year)
Various acrylic paints for accents (free, I always keep staple colors)
1 plastic Jack O Lantern (free, someone was throwing it out)
1 piece of PVC to use as a base (free, left over from last year)
1 piece of scrap wood to put under the PVC (free)

First I spent a day making replicas of my various bones.  I covered the parts I wanted to use in aluminum foil, making sure to get into all the indentations.  I then made a batch of Paper Mache (1 cup flour to 4 cups water, stir until smooth, boil for 2 minutes stirring constantly and then let cool completely.)  Coating one piece of paper at a time in the mache, I covered the aluminum foil with 2 layers of paper.  Once dry, the skulls are done.  Other bones may require cutting off the original and then another layer of mache to get them back together.  

For the tree, I pretty much followed the tutorial mentioned above with only a few changes:

-I didn’t use Great Stuff inside the tree at all, I made a base out of PVC and plywood to give some support
-I attached my paper mache bones as I went along and used mache to hold them in place
-I used Great Stuff to create all the veining 
-I sprayed the whole tree black first, then lightly went over the bark of the tree with the brown spray paint. I then went back and dry brushed the acrylic paint on all the veining, bones and the pumpkin
-I didn’t want any leaves on my tree and used moss and spider web to decorate it

Here it is about half finished:  
Image: http://www.halloweenforum.com/picture.php?albumid=335&amp;pictureid=4415 

Close up of one of my paper mache bones:
Image: http://www.halloweenforum.com/picture.php?albumid=335&amp;pictureid=4593 

And...done:
Image: http://www.halloweenforum.com/picture.php?albumid=335&amp;pictureid=4592 ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>This year’s big project was to create a big spooky tree for my cemetery.  I came across a <a href="http://aranamuerta.com/2008/01/29/halloween-tree" target="_blank">great tutorial </a>on one of the threads and decided this method would be the cheapest way to go about making this prop.  It ended up costing me $13.00 to make.<br />
<br />
Here is what I used:<br />
Various bones and skulls (free, every good haunter owns tons of bones)<br />
Aluminum Foil - not even half a roll ( $1.a roll at Dollar Tree)<br />
¾ of a roll of chicken wire ($7. a roll at Menards)<br />
Old newspapers donated by my mom ripped into various sizes(free)<br />
1 can of Great Stuff (free, left over from last year)<br />
1 can polyurethane spray paint (free, had a couple cans left over)<br />
6 cups of flour (free, who doesn’t have flour?)<br />
24 cups of water (free, from the rain barrel)<br />
6 cans of black spray paint ($.96 a can at Walmart)<br />
½ can of brown spray paint (free, left over from last year)<br />
Various acrylic paints for accents (free, I always keep staple colors)<br />
1 plastic Jack O Lantern (free, someone was throwing it out)<br />
1 piece of PVC to use as a base (free, left over from last year)<br />
1 piece of scrap wood to put under the PVC (free)<br />
<br />
First I spent a day making replicas of my various bones.  I covered the parts I wanted to use in aluminum foil, making sure to get into all the indentations.  I then made a batch of Paper Mache (1 cup flour to 4 cups water, stir until smooth, boil for 2 minutes stirring constantly and then let cool completely.)  Coating one piece of paper at a time in the mache, I covered the aluminum foil with 2 layers of paper.  Once dry, the skulls are done.  Other bones may require cutting off the original and then another layer of mache to get them back together.  <br />
<br />
For the tree, I pretty much followed the tutorial mentioned above with only a few changes:<br />
<br />
-I didn’t use Great Stuff inside the tree at all, I made a base out of PVC and plywood to give some support<br />
-I attached my paper mache bones as I went along and used mache to hold them in place<br />
-I used Great Stuff to create all the veining <br />
-I sprayed the whole tree black first, then lightly went over the bark of the tree with the brown spray paint. I then went back and dry brushed the acrylic paint on all the veining, bones and the pumpkin<br />
-I didn’t want any leaves on my tree and used moss and spider web to decorate it<br />
<br />
Here it is about half finished:  <br />
<img src="http://www.halloweenforum.com/picture.php?albumid=335&amp;pictureid=4415" border="0" alt="" /><br />
<br />
Close up of one of my paper mache bones:<br />
<img src="http://www.halloweenforum.com/picture.php?albumid=335&amp;pictureid=4593" border="0" alt="" /><br />
<br />
And...done:<br />
<img src="http://www.halloweenforum.com/picture.php?albumid=335&amp;pictureid=4592" border="0" alt="" /></div>

]]></content:encoded>
			<dc:creator>LHALLOW</dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/lhallow/188-spooky-tree-2008.html</guid>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>60 days to go .....</title>
			<link>http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/herman-secret/187-60-days-go.html</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Sep 2008 04:56:14 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Where is the time going :eek: ? The days seem to be flying past and the project list doesn't get any smaller !!

So where am I at with projects...?

I have built my columns, now working on the tops and then need to paint them. Hope to have these completed by the end of this week.

Finally came up with a motor to use for my witch stirring the cauldron. It's a rotisserie motor, completely encased so hopefully will be weather proof. Cost $1.50 at Value Village :D - so now need to get that underway

I have completed the skeleton for my scarecrow and slowly working on corpsing him. 

Other projects on the go are ... 

New Coffin dweller, have the head almost finished then need to make some hands.

Candles - using the battery tealights and PVC pipe technique

Gargoyles - have one head finished and the next one on the go ...

Projects that I havent started yet 

Boarded up windows... may use styrofoam made to look like lumber. (or just find a couple of pallets :rolleyes:)

Would like to add another witch this year 

May have to make some extra fence panels  

Need to work out how to decorate the garage as we are adding this to our haunt this year.

And with all that also need to keep an eye on the forum. :eek:

I think I need to find an assistant !!!!!]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>Where is the time going :eek: ? The days seem to be flying past and the project list doesn't get any smaller !!<br />
<br />
So where am I at with projects...?<br />
<br />
I have built my columns, now working on the tops and then need to paint them. Hope to have these completed by the end of this week.<br />
<br />
Finally came up with a motor to use for my witch stirring the cauldron. It's a rotisserie motor, completely encased so hopefully will be weather proof. Cost $1.50 at Value Village :D - so now need to get that underway<br />
<br />
I have completed the skeleton for my scarecrow and slowly working on corpsing him. <br />
<br />
Other projects on the go are ... <br />
<br />
New Coffin dweller, have the head almost finished then need to make some hands.<br />
<br />
Candles - using the battery tealights and PVC pipe technique<br />
<br />
Gargoyles - have one head finished and the next one on the go ...<br />
<br />
Projects that I havent started yet <br />
<br />
Boarded up windows... may use styrofoam made to look like lumber. (or just find a couple of pallets :rolleyes:)<br />
<br />
Would like to add another witch this year <br />
<br />
May have to make some extra fence panels  <br />
<br />
Need to work out how to decorate the garage as we are adding this to our haunt this year.<br />
<br />
And with all that also need to keep an eye on the forum. :eek:<br />
<br />
I think I need to find an assistant !!!!!</div>

]]></content:encoded>
			<dc:creator>Herman Secret</dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/herman-secret/187-60-days-go.html</guid>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Troll Records – Weird Tales of the Unknown – 1973</title>
			<link>http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/dinosaur1972/186-troll-records-weird-tales-unknown-1973.html</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:37:08 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Image: http://bp0.blogger.com/_EQXPQvxgn9A/RtJFadwrj9I/AAAAAAAABEY/N_LWoWfzVaI/s320/WeirdTalesOfTheUnknownFront.jpg 
*Troll Records – Weird Tales of the Unknown – 1973
GHOST STORIES*
I finally got to the last of the Troll Records 1973 set of ghost story albums, and I’m glad I made it. These albums just don’t see to do much for me.

This one opens with Poe’s “The Black Cat”, another staple of weird-tale albums. “A Diagnosis of Death” and “John Bartine’s Watch”, both by Ambrose Bierce, follow. Last is “The Cat that Didn’t Purr”.

The first three are classic stories written in the 19th century … the language is therefore very old-fashioned. Reading these stories is a pleasure … listening to them is a bit of a chore. I can’t find the origin of the last story, but the only weirdness of the tale is talking cats. It has been years since I read any of Bierce’s short stories, and listening to this gave me an excuse to revisit them, and that’s about all this album did for me.

Yeah, it's still good. Get it (http://davesworld56.blogspot.com/2007/08/cool-kooky-hip-and-groovy-mini-scar.html).]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_EQXPQvxgn9A/RtJFadwrj9I/AAAAAAAABEY/N_LWoWfzVaI/s320/WeirdTalesOfTheUnknownFront.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><br />
<b>Troll Records – Weird Tales of the Unknown – 1973<br />
GHOST STORIES</b><br />
I finally got to the last of the Troll Records 1973 set of ghost story albums, and I’m glad I made it. These albums just don’t see to do much for me.<br />
<br />
This one opens with Poe’s “The Black Cat”, another staple of weird-tale albums. “A Diagnosis of Death” and “John Bartine’s Watch”, both by Ambrose Bierce, follow. Last is “The Cat that Didn’t Purr”.<br />
<br />
The first three are classic stories written in the 19th century … the language is therefore very old-fashioned. Reading these stories is a pleasure … listening to them is a bit of a chore. I can’t find the origin of the last story, but the only weirdness of the tale is talking cats. It has been years since I read any of Bierce’s short stories, and listening to this gave me an excuse to revisit them, and that’s about all this album did for me.<br />
<br />
Yeah, it's still good. <a href="http://davesworld56.blogspot.com/2007/08/cool-kooky-hip-and-groovy-mini-scar.html" target="_blank">Get it</a>.</div>

]]></content:encoded>
			<dc:creator>Dinosaur1972</dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/dinosaur1972/186-troll-records-weird-tales-unknown-1973.html</guid>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Troll Records – Great Ghost Stories – 1973</title>
			<link>http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/dinosaur1972/185-troll-records-great-ghost-stories-1973.html</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:35:12 GMT</pubDate>
			<description>Image: http://bp1.blogger.com/_EQXPQvxgn9A/Rk1GDU_54bI/AAAAAAAAANE/zc2Y9dlYzAw/s320/GreatGhostStoriesLPFront.jpg 
*Troll Records – Great Ghost Stories – 1973
GHOST STORIES*

Figured I may as well complete the cycle here. “Great Ghost Stories” is the 3rd Troll Records ghost story releases from 1973 … at least the 3rd that I’m reviewing.

“The Mysterious Shipwreck” is a bit long, and I doubt many young children could follow it. “The Golden Arm” is, of course, similar to “The Leg of Gold” featured on Vincent Price’s “A Graveyard of Ghost Tales” as well as the folk tale “The Hairy Toe”. “The Guitar Player” isn’t all that scary. “Here We Go!” is even less scary, but maybe kids would enjoy it.

The same narrators, the same cheesy music, and the same sound effects are featured here as on the other Troll ghost story albums. But this time, the stories just don’t measure up.

Halloweiner knows you want it anyway. (http://davesworld56.blogspot.com/2007/05/jason-posted-info-on-these-2-lps-here.html)</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_EQXPQvxgn9A/Rk1GDU_54bI/AAAAAAAAANE/zc2Y9dlYzAw/s320/GreatGhostStoriesLPFront.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><br />
<b>Troll Records – Great Ghost Stories – 1973<br />
GHOST STORIES</b><br />
<br />
Figured I may as well complete the cycle here. “Great Ghost Stories” is the 3rd Troll Records ghost story releases from 1973 … at least the 3rd that I’m reviewing.<br />
<br />
“The Mysterious Shipwreck” is a bit long, and I doubt many young children could follow it. “The Golden Arm” is, of course, similar to “The Leg of Gold” featured on Vincent Price’s “A Graveyard of Ghost Tales” as well as the folk tale “The Hairy Toe”. “The Guitar Player” isn’t all that scary. “Here We Go!” is even less scary, but maybe kids would enjoy it.<br />
<br />
The same narrators, the same cheesy music, and the same sound effects are featured here as on the other Troll ghost story albums. But this time, the stories just don’t measure up.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://davesworld56.blogspot.com/2007/05/jason-posted-info-on-these-2-lps-here.html" target="_blank">Halloweiner knows you want it anyway.</a></div>

]]></content:encoded>
			<dc:creator>Dinosaur1972</dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/dinosaur1972/185-troll-records-great-ghost-stories-1973.html</guid>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Troll Records – Thrillers and Chillers – 1973</title>
			<link>http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/dinosaur1972/184-troll-records-thrillers-chillers-1973.html</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:27:41 GMT</pubDate>
			<description>Image: http://bp1.blogger.com/_EQXPQvxgn9A/RtJFttwrj-I/AAAAAAAABEg/mxsU7euFPC0/s320/ThrillersAndChillersFront.jpg 
*Troll Records – Thrillers and Chillers – 1973
GHOST STORIES*
Another of Troll Records four-album Halloween releases from 1973. This one is maybe not geared towards children as much as the first one I reviewed, “Scary Spooky Stories”, but the ghost stories are classics.

The first is a “The Tell-Tale Heart” … a staple of ghost story albums. “The Monkey’s Paw” might actually be my favorite ghost story (though this is not my favorite rendition … Christopher Lee reads one that is absolutely chilling). I’d never heard “The Boy Who Drew Cats” before - it is a fairy tale from Japan. “The Open Window”, an old ghost story by Saki, is the last track. It’s terrific.

The music is a little cheesy but probably appropriate 1973. There are just a few sound effects to enhance the stories. But the narrator bears the lion’s share of keeping the story interesting, and he does well. If you’re into classic ghost stories, this album does alright.

Halloweiner doth provide (http://davesworld56.blogspot.com/2007/08/cool-kooky-hip-and-groovy-mini-scar.html).</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_EQXPQvxgn9A/RtJFttwrj-I/AAAAAAAABEg/mxsU7euFPC0/s320/ThrillersAndChillersFront.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><br />
<b>Troll Records – Thrillers and Chillers – 1973<br />
GHOST STORIES</b><br />
Another of Troll Records four-album Halloween releases from 1973. This one is maybe not geared towards children as much as the first one I reviewed, “Scary Spooky Stories”, but the ghost stories are classics.<br />
<br />
The first is a “The Tell-Tale Heart” … a staple of ghost story albums. “The Monkey’s Paw” might actually be my favorite ghost story (though this is not my favorite rendition … Christopher Lee reads one that is absolutely chilling). I’d never heard “The Boy Who Drew Cats” before - it is a fairy tale from Japan. “The Open Window”, an old ghost story by Saki, is the last track. It’s terrific.<br />
<br />
The music is a little cheesy but probably appropriate 1973. There are just a few sound effects to enhance the stories. But the narrator bears the lion’s share of keeping the story interesting, and he does well. If you’re into classic ghost stories, this album does alright.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://davesworld56.blogspot.com/2007/08/cool-kooky-hip-and-groovy-mini-scar.html" target="_blank">Halloweiner doth provide</a>.</div>

]]></content:encoded>
			<dc:creator>Dinosaur1972</dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/dinosaur1972/184-troll-records-thrillers-chillers-1973.html</guid>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Al Zanino - The Vampire Speaks (1957)</title>
			<link>http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/dinosaur1972/183-al-zanino-vampire-speaks-1957.html</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 Aug 2008 01:23:10 GMT</pubDate>
			<description>Image: http://bp3.blogger.com/_EQXPQvxgn9A/Rk4PFk_54fI/AAAAAAAAANk/OrTQKF7zeJY/s320/AlZaninoTheVampireSpeaksLPFront.jpg 
*Al Zanino - The Vampire Speaks (1957)*

I wish I could find more information on Al Zanino … there isn’t much out there. This single was recorded by Zanino and Cliff Juranis in 1957. It looks like they collaborated on a Christmas single in 1950 as well … A Message From Santa … but that’s about all I can find. This single features some dialogue between Dracula and his Dwight Frye-ish lackey begging for blood, followed by a little speech by Dracula himself, and the flip-side has a lovely rendition of “All of a Sudden, My Hearts Sings” with lyrics re-written by Dracula (Zanino). I heard the side 1 – “The Vampire Speaks” - for the first time in the Ghouls With Attitude compilation from 2004, and came across side 2 – “In the Vampire’s Lair” – at Scar Stuff.

It’s a quick 6 minutes of weirdness. The Dracula impersonation is good, especially the diabolical laughter. A few sound effects, some piano (low notes and high notes only, it’s like the middle 3rd of the piano was broken) … good old-fashioned spookiness. I like it.

Get it from El Wiener de Halloween (http://davesworld56.blogspot.com/2007/05/al-zanino-vampire-speaks-in-vampires.html).</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_EQXPQvxgn9A/Rk4PFk_54fI/AAAAAAAAANk/OrTQKF7zeJY/s320/AlZaninoTheVampireSpeaksLPFront.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><br />
<b>Al Zanino - The Vampire Speaks (1957)</b><br />
<br />
I wish I could find more information on Al Zanino … there isn’t much out there. This single was recorded by Zanino and Cliff Juranis in 1957. It looks like they collaborated on a Christmas single in 1950 as well … A Message From Santa … but that’s about all I can find. This single features some dialogue between Dracula and his Dwight Frye-ish lackey begging for blood, followed by a little speech by Dracula himself, and the flip-side has a lovely rendition of “All of a Sudden, My Hearts Sings” with lyrics re-written by Dracula (Zanino). I heard the side 1 – “The Vampire Speaks” - for the first time in the Ghouls With Attitude compilation from 2004, and came across side 2 – “In the Vampire’s Lair” – at Scar Stuff.<br />
<br />
It’s a quick 6 minutes of weirdness. The Dracula impersonation is good, especially the diabolical laughter. A few sound effects, some piano (low notes and high notes only, it’s like the middle 3rd of the piano was broken) … good old-fashioned spookiness. I like it.<br />
<br />
Get it from <a href="http://davesworld56.blogspot.com/2007/05/al-zanino-vampire-speaks-in-vampires.html" target="_blank">El Wiener de Halloween</a>.</div>

]]></content:encoded>
			<dc:creator>Dinosaur1972</dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/dinosaur1972/183-al-zanino-vampire-speaks-1957.html</guid>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Back To LA</title>
			<link>http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/pinupvampire/182-back-la.html</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 26 Aug 2008 04:30:26 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[So , I am back in LA for only afew days to do a benefit show called Cha Ching F or Cha Cha. It is for animals that have extremely high vet bills and their owners are unable to pay them. It is a very good cause I am honoured to have been asked, along with my partner to host  and perform at this event. We will be there as the Flairowitz Sisters, Irene and Eileen Flairowitz. I went shopping today for some clothes for 'Irene'. I am so excited!! I am so excited that i am actually going to get up early tomorrow and gor shipping for the finishing touches for my costume for the event, which includes crystals and butterflies and matching gloves. :D So tomorrow will be a very busy day with the shopping, doing some practicing and them the show at night. I know I am new here, but I do hope if anyone reads this they will check out the event and attend. It is for a very good cause and I encourage everyone to go see the show. It should be a good one.
Cheers!!!]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>So , I am back in LA for only afew days to do a benefit show called Cha Ching F or Cha Cha. It is for animals that have extremely high vet bills and their owners are unable to pay them. It is a very good cause I am honoured to have been asked, along with my partner to host  and perform at this event. We will be there as the Flairowitz Sisters, Irene and Eileen Flairowitz. I went shopping today for some clothes for 'Irene'. I am so excited!! I am so excited that i am actually going to get up early tomorrow and gor shipping for the finishing touches for my costume for the event, which includes crystals and butterflies and matching gloves. :D So tomorrow will be a very busy day with the shopping, doing some practicing and them the show at night. I know I am new here, but I do hope if anyone reads this they will check out the event and attend. It is for a very good cause and I encourage everyone to go see the show. It should be a good one.<br />
Cheers!!!</div>

]]></content:encoded>
			<dc:creator>pinupvampire</dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/pinupvampire/182-back-la.html</guid>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Sounds of Terror! (1974)</title>
			<link>http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/dinosaur1972/181-sounds-terror-1974.html</link>
			<pubDate>Sat, 23 Aug 2008 17:09:41 GMT</pubDate>
			<description>Image: http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5883/1181/320/Sounds%20of%20Terror1.jpg 
*Pickwick Records - Sounds of Terror! (1974)
Sound Effects*

I’m not sure I remember this one from my childhood – it might have been too scary for our local small-town library. It opens with an out-of-place and Picket-less re-recording of “The Monster Mash”. I suppose they were hoping it would help sell the record. (It doesn’t.)

The rest of the album is a nice little set of “situational” sound effects. Like the William Castle album, each track starts with a narrator of sorts describing what’s about to happen (“In his thirst for knowledge, Dr. Jekyll experimented with his own body by swallowing a diabolical chemical mixture …”), and then you are treated to what it might have sounded like (mixing the chemicals, drinking, transformation, plenty of diabolical laughter, screaming innocent woman, screaming ends, and more diabolical laughter).

For a 1974 album, this manages to keep the level of corniness pretty low. Tracks such as “Burned at the Stake”, “The Exorcist”, and “Jack the Ripper” are pretty effective and plenty scary. Then again, “The Incredible Giant Crab” (two minutes of clicking, screaming, and celery-munching) and “The Blob” are pretty corny. You get about 20 tracks, and each track runs only about 2 minutes, so it’s a quick listen. Skip the bad “Monster Mash” remake, and listen to the rest – it has its moments.

Monster Shindig (http://monster-shindig.blogspot.com/2006/02/sounds-of-terror.html) has it.</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5883/1181/320/Sounds%20of%20Terror1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><br />
<b>Pickwick Records - Sounds of Terror! (1974)<br />
Sound Effects</b><br />
<br />
I’m not sure I remember this one from my childhood – it might have been too scary for our local small-town library. It opens with an out-of-place and Picket-less re-recording of “The Monster Mash”. I suppose they were hoping it would help sell the record. (It doesn’t.)<br />
<br />
The rest of the album is a nice little set of “situational” sound effects. Like the William Castle album, each track starts with a narrator of sorts describing what’s about to happen (“In his thirst for knowledge, Dr. Jekyll experimented with his own body by swallowing a diabolical chemical mixture …”), and then you are treated to what it might have sounded like (mixing the chemicals, drinking, transformation, plenty of diabolical laughter, screaming innocent woman, screaming ends, and more diabolical laughter).<br />
<br />
For a 1974 album, this manages to keep the level of corniness pretty low. Tracks such as “Burned at the Stake”, “The Exorcist”, and “Jack the Ripper” are pretty effective and plenty scary. Then again, “The Incredible Giant Crab” (two minutes of clicking, screaming, and celery-munching) and “The Blob” are pretty corny. You get about 20 tracks, and each track runs only about 2 minutes, so it’s a quick listen. Skip the bad “Monster Mash” remake, and listen to the rest – it has its moments.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://monster-shindig.blogspot.com/2006/02/sounds-of-terror.html" target="_blank">Monster Shindig</a> has it.</div>

]]></content:encoded>
			<dc:creator>Dinosaur1972</dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/dinosaur1972/181-sounds-terror-1974.html</guid>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Ruth White – Flowers of Evil (1969)</title>
			<link>http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/dinosaur1972/180-ruth-white-flowers-evil-1969.html</link>
			<pubDate>Sat, 23 Aug 2008 15:10:15 GMT</pubDate>
			<description>Image: http://bp1.blogger.com/_7St4jD20p0o/Ring6PSKR0I/AAAAAAAADcQ/C4poT0EBkQE/s400/cover.jpg 
*Ruth White – Flowers of Evil (1969)
Weirdness*

I find this one hard to describe. I was introduced to it by my favorite Halloween internet radio station, Never Ending Wonder radio. It is an odd recording of Ms. White’s readings of the collection of poems “Flowers of Evil” by Charles Baudelaire, set to sparse and unusual electronic music. Ms. White’s voice is often twisted and distorted by reverb and other audio effects (making her sometimes difficult to understand). Then again, when she’s reading words like

“An angel – rash wanderer – tempted by the love of ugliness – lashing out like a swimmer in the depths of a huge nightmare – and struggling, o fierce anguish, against the gigantic undertow which grows seemingly like a horde of madmen …”

… this is twisted and distorted stuff anyway. She doesn’t get to use her happy voice reading stuff like that. And the electronic effects bleakly enhance the mood. The eeriest tracks are “The Irremediable”, “Spleen” (with its backward-chanting effects), and the witch’s dance-like feel of “The Litanies of Satan”. Yeah … that sounds like a cheerful little ditty.

If you have an ear for early electronic music (like Morton Subotnick or Mort Garson), you might find this a interesting listen. I encourage everybody to give it a listen – it’s a very unusual recording for its time.

You can find it here (http://mutant-sounds.blogspot.com/2007/04/ruth-white-flowers-of-evil-1969seven.html), along with another of her albums which is just as electronic, but not nearly as spooky.</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_7St4jD20p0o/Ring6PSKR0I/AAAAAAAADcQ/C4poT0EBkQE/s400/cover.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><br />
<b>Ruth White – Flowers of Evil (1969)<br />
Weirdness</b><br />
<br />
I find this one hard to describe. I was introduced to it by my favorite Halloween internet radio station, Never Ending Wonder radio. It is an odd recording of Ms. White’s readings of the collection of poems “Flowers of Evil” by Charles Baudelaire, set to sparse and unusual electronic music. Ms. White’s voice is often twisted and distorted by reverb and other audio effects (making her sometimes difficult to understand). Then again, when she’s reading words like<br />
<br />
“An angel – rash wanderer – tempted by the love of ugliness – lashing out like a swimmer in the depths of a huge nightmare – and struggling, o fierce anguish, against the gigantic undertow which grows seemingly like a horde of madmen …”<br />
<br />
… this is twisted and distorted stuff anyway. She doesn’t get to use her happy voice reading stuff like that. And the electronic effects bleakly enhance the mood. The eeriest tracks are “The Irremediable”, “Spleen” (with its backward-chanting effects), and the witch’s dance-like feel of “The Litanies of Satan”. Yeah … that sounds like a cheerful little ditty.<br />
<br />
If you have an ear for early electronic music (like Morton Subotnick or Mort Garson), you might find this a interesting listen. I encourage everybody to give it a listen – it’s a very unusual recording for its time.<br />
<br />
You can find it <a href="http://mutant-sounds.blogspot.com/2007/04/ruth-white-flowers-of-evil-1969seven.html" target="_blank">here</a>, along with another of her albums which is just as electronic, but not nearly as spooky.</div>

]]></content:encoded>
			<dc:creator>Dinosaur1972</dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/dinosaur1972/180-ruth-white-flowers-evil-1969.html</guid>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>
