A jack-o'-lantern, one of the symbols of Halloween Photo Credit: Wikipedia |
Of course, all horror movies do not necessarily feed upon blood and some actually bring about laughter, rather than shrills and chills. Among the best is the good old-fashioned black and white classsic Young Frankenstein staring Gene Wilder and directed by comic genius Mel Brooks. Peter Boyle portrays The Monster whose heart is soft while his appearance is grotesque. Then, there is comedy legend Marty Feldman playing Igor, or is it Egor (?), who embraces movie lines that become as natural as speech itself.
The film is an affectionate parody of the classical horror film genre, in particular the various film adaptations of Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein produced by Universal in the 1930s (Wikipedia).
Black-and-white horror movies: Our parents and grandparents grew up on them, and now Tim Burton's gleefully gruesome Frankenweenie will ensure they resonate for another generation. Read MORE at Hollywood's Horror History — For Kids
A Step Back in Time
This is a typical carving always with a smoking candle inside. |
One story always at the top of the list is the Halloween Daddy hid behind the bushes. The kids and I were on the front porch. A mother approached with a small child, a little boy about 3-4 years old. Daddy stepped from the shadows into the glow of the streetlight and rattled the chain he was carrying. The little boy screamed, wet his pants and the mom proceeded to cuss Daddy out for being so mean. Duh! It was Halloween!
The second to the top is the time Daddy and Scott road around town in full Halloween gear getting ready for the night ahead. I was still teaching at the time so they decided to surprise me at school. It was the end of the school day. I was at my desk going through papers when suddenly appeared these two 'clowns', not in the sense of the circus clown mind you. However, their antics did remind me of someone right out of a circus. Daddy decided to stand at the door in case some students were still around. He heard someone coming down the hall so he steathily slipped back just inside the classroom. It was Tanisha stopping by for help with math homework. Needless to say, she never made it into the room. Daddy jumped out and met her square in the face! She screamed, wet her pants and ran like her life depended upon it! Reminds you of the little boy, doesn't it? Only this time it was a girl and she was in the 8th grade.
Awakening a few cobwebs from a night in the 80s. Oh, such a night! What a night it was, what a night it really was!
Daddy: The Monster Mama: The Vamp
Nicole |
Scott |
On the very left in Nicole's picture is a glimpse of April's hair. Don't know what happened to her picture nor that of Wendy. There was also one of us all together on the front porch but it was not to be found in the picture album. Back in that time we did not have a digital camera so all of the photos were Kodak prints.
A Bit of Nostalgia
What are your fondest memories of Halloween - laughter or shivers?
Who did you profess to be?
Daddy looks truly frightening!!! You look, then and now lovely (then, a bit scary).
ReplyDeleteYou are too funny! Even without the teasing, those were the days of the BIG-G-G hair!
DeleteMy mom dressed as a witch one time when I was little (about 4 or 5) and scared the Hell out of me when my Dad and I came back from trick or treating. Young Frankenstein is one of my favorite films.
ReplyDeleteOh, dear! You just made me laugh outloud! I can see that happening! Yep, can't beat Young Frankenstein:>)
DeleteYou mean, Sharla, you do go back to Johnny Ray?
ReplyDeleteAlthough he was born close to 20 years before my time, he was extremely popular for most of the 50s...My kinda' time:>)
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI must admit that the biggest part of Halloween for me was getting all the candy and goodies.
I didn't even think about witches and goblins. You see I was a ghetto kid and did not have any money for sweets. So, I looked forward to getting all the sweets I could. They usually lasted me two or three weeks because I cherished each sweet I received and ate it with joy, one at a time.
Ciao,
Patricia
You were more appreciative that most kids! I was always appalled with the kids that would come to the door and grab handfuls of candy. . .these were kids I knew were not from poor families.
DeleteWhat a fun post. I especially loved the photos of your family. My daughter has declared that she will not go "trick or treating" this year, but help give out candy.
ReplyDeleteIt's great that we can use our old photos to make joy for others. I love this time of year.
It does bring back some wonderful memories. I do miss all of the decorating for Halloween!
DeleteGREAT post that I thoroughly enjoyed. YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN is one of my favorite Mel Brooks movies. So many hilarious scenes, especially the acquisition of the brain from "Abby Normal." I love your Halloween photos too. Thanks for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed writing this post...brought back some wonderful memories! Thanks for visiting:>)
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