The Phantom

While digging through some old things, I found an old art project that I had done back in my college days (which for anyone wondering was roughly 25 years ago... sheesh!). I have been a fan of classic horror for a LONG time and this piece proves it.

It was a linocut print done for one of my great Printmaking classes, and it features none other than the Man of a Thousand Faces, Lon Chaney, and his iconic portrayal of The Phantom of the Opera...

Now I will be the first to admit that the art itself isn't very good, but this was early in my college life and I was just learning my craft. But upon rediscovering it, I was immediately brought back to those truly crazy days and all of those memories gave me a warm fuzzy inside.

Here's to those early steps. The necessary steps upon which to build upon and continue to master your craft.

Go out and make something cool today.

 

"Creature From The Black Lagoon" Poster by Jason Edmiston

GAH!! Incredible new limited-edition posters of everyone's favorite fish man, illustrated by Jason Edmiston. These super-limited posters will be available today over at Mondo, but you'll have to be quick because like all things at Mondo, both the regular and the variant versions will sell out in literal seconds...

Edgar Allan Poe - The Tell Tale Heart

The film that you are about to see is based on a story told a hundred years ago by America's greatest master of drama and suspense...

This story is told through the eyes of a madman... who, like all of us, believed that he was sane.

Here is surely the most bizarre, incredible version of Poe's infamous tale of madness. A disturbing animated short film created in 1953 by UPA, featuring a wonderful narration by James Mason. The nightmarish illustration and discordant music combine to create an effective creepiness that gives this short film a thorough sense of dread and makes it a very enjoyable watch.

TCM Halloween 2019 Classic Horror Schedule

I have a confession to make. Do you know the traditional Halloween classic, Hocus Pocus? Of course you do. Everyone knows it. It's a Halloween staple.

I cannot stand that movie. I HATE IT. Everything about it. Bette Midler's absurd buck teeth and Kathy Najimy's ridiculous and annoying crooked smile. I LOATHE IT. From start to finish. It makes me want to scratch my eyes out any time it's on.

So when FreeForm announced their "31 Nights of Halloween" schedule, I just knew that bad things were coming.

And sure enough, as I glanced down the schedule, there it was. Literally every single night, ending with a damn marathon. Of Hocus Pocus. Why!? Why!? That movie SUCKS! Every year, they play that damn movie every single day. Can't get the rights to play ANYTHING else!?

And this is why FreeForm will not be played in October at THIS house...


But luckily for me and other fans of something a little more spooky and a little more classic, Turner Classic Movies comes to the rescue again!

They just announced their October Classic Horror schedule and it looks amazing! 31 days of solid, classic horror, cult and monster movies. AND NO HOCUS POCUS.

I could literally fill my DVR with their schedule. So many great titles to get you through the Halloween season!!

But what REALLY caught my attention this year (and it should catch yours, too), is an absolute stunner of a double feature on the morning of Saturday, October 19th. Get your DVRs ready!!

Back-to-back 70s blaxsploitation horror classics, starting at 2:30 am with Sugar Hill. The stunning Marki Bey seeks revenge on the mob for killin' her man, all with the help of a powerful voodoo priestess and her army of undead zombies. This movie is so damn good!! If you haven't seen this one yet, it needs to be at the top of your list!!

And after a sweet spoonful of Sugar Hill, make sure your DVR is set to record at 4:15 am when TCM follows it up with the baddest blood sucker around, Blacula! Deadlier than Dracula! William Marshall (and those amazing eyebrows and sideburns) eats up every scene he's in, playing Mamuwalde, the black vampire. So much class and he really plays the hell out of his character! "You, sir, must be ill."

As we continue down the schedule, there are classics being played every day, ending with a Halloween marathon of some of the biggest names in classic horror. I could seriously lock the doors, pop up a bucket of butter-slathered popcorn, lay on the couch and watch movies all day. If only I didn't have something else going on that day...

So check out the full schedule, fill up that DVR, and enjoy some creepy, classic horror as we roll through October.

Because this just ain't gonna cut it...