Halloween Countdown, Day 28

[eldritchhobbit]

We're getting close to the big day, ladies and gentlemen!

First, a few links in the spirit of Halloween:
-- From io9: "Weirdest and Most Wonderful Halloween Comic Covers"
-- From Tor.com: "That Ghostly Appeal"
-- From Flashbacks.com: "Nostalgic Halloween Memories"
-- From nocturniquette1: "Vintage Halloween Postcards" (Thanks to dodger_winslow.)

Next, I return to an old favorite: a very spooky U.K. Public Information Film from 1973 meant to warn children about the dangers of playing near water. I think it is worthy of repeated viewings, especially during the Halloween season. The creepy narration by Donald Pleasence and the Grim Reaper-esque appearance of "The Spirit of Dark and Lonely Water" make this - to my mind at least - a horror classic in its own right. Remember: he'll be back...

And now, to cleanse the palate, a truly unique a capella and multi-track performance of the "Ghost Busters Theme":

Spooky Text of the Day: Today's poem is "Hallowe'en" by A.F. Murray (1909).

A gypsy flame in on the hearth,
Sign of this carnival of mirth.
Through the dun fields and from the glade
Flash merry folk in masquerade--
It is the witching Hallowe'en.

Pale tapers glimmer in the sky,
The dead and dying leaves go by;
Dimly across the faded green
Strange shadows, stranger shades, are seen,--
It is the mystic Hallowe'en.

Soft gusts of love and memory
Beat at the heart reproachfully;
The lights that burn for those who die
Were flickering low, let them flare high--
It is the haunting Hallowe'en.

Comments

[euclase.livejournal.com]

That Ghost Busters theme is one of a kind. LOL!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

It cracked me up!

[st-crispins.livejournal.com]

Dark and Lonely Water?

Man, the Brits are tough. What a scary PSA

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Seriously! That ad needed to come with a free therapy session, I think. ;)

[peadarog.livejournal.com]

I remember that add *shivers*

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Talk about scaring kids straight. Yikes!

[greenhoodloxley.livejournal.com]

Oo, lovely shivery poem. Thanks for posting!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

My pleasure! I'm so glad you liked it.

[(Anonymous)]

That U.K. public safety film is great. For even more comic punch see the series put out by the Canadian Gov't (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Evn5uft2hsg).

-The Fredösphere (http://fredosphere.com)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Good grief! You certainly couldn't forget those ads quickly, could you?

The poignant little personal touches - taking the family for a vacation, getting married - really add to the darkly comic vibe, I think. But yikes! I'm glad I didn't see one of those when I was five. LOL!

[vyrdolak.livejournal.com]

I once attended an Injury Prevention and Safety seminar where they showed a PSA of a kid on a bike getting teased about his helmet by a bully riding alongside, until the bully ran face-first into a stop sign. I couldn't help myself and burst out laughing, then had to trail off in silence like Krusty the Klown when I realized I was the only person in the entire auditorium who found it amusing.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

I couldn't help myself and burst out laughing, then had to trail off in silence like Krusty the Klown when I realized I was the only person in the entire auditorium who found it amusing.

OMG, you made my laugh so hard at this. That's totally something I would do. *headdesk*