Suspense, "Ghost Hunt" (June 23, 1949)

 

Today I have an especially fun treat. Today I present an episode of the classic radio drama Suspense.

Suspense was a top-notch radio drama with A-list writers and actors that ran on CBS radio from 1940 to 1962. Most episodes featured stories of crime and danger, with the occasional dive into the fantastic. This is one of those episodes.

"Ghost Hunt" features Ralph Edwards, most famous for being the host of This Is Your Life, as a disc jockey who enters a supposed haunted house as a stunt for his radio show. He of course doesn't believe in such things so he enters the house willingly with an expert in the paranormal.

Let's just say the jock shouldn't be so skeptical.

I loved this episode when I first heard it years ago, and I hope you enjoy it too. Thanks!

Looney Tunes, Happy Hare-lloween!

 

Today I feature a collection of clips from scary-themed cartoons from Looney Tunes. I've featured some of these before, but my links to those videos keep breaking. This collection should be OK though, as these are directly from the official WB Kids YouTube channel. And these are in great quality.

Enjoy, doc!

The Muppet Show Guest Starring Alice Cooper

 

Hello! We are now more than halfway through the Countdown to Halloween! Time to crank things up and get to the good stuff!

And today is definitely the good stuff! Today I feature an episode of The Muppet Show with guest star Alice Cooper. It wouldn't be Halloween without the father of goth rock, and why not throw the Muppets into the mix? Most Generation X kids like myself learned who Cooper was thanks to this episode.

Enjoy! And look below the episode for a clip with Cooper discussing the making of the episode!

An Evening With Edgar Allan Poe starring Vincent Price

 

It's Friday, which means a long form program, and this week, we are paid a visit from our old friend Vincent Price.

An Evening With Edgar Allan Poe features Price acting as Poe reading four of his classic tales: "The Tell-tale Heart," "The Sphinx," "The Cask of Amontillado," and "The Pit and the Pendulum." Price performs in front of a live audience, which gives the program a theater-like feel. A great way to spend an October weekend.

Enjoy!

Halloween Music Videos

 

Today I offer a few music videos with either a direct or indirect Halloween connection.

First up, indie rock band Wallows sings "Drunk on Halloween." I'm sure at least a couple of you have been there.

Next is "It's Almost Halloween" by Panic! At The Disco. They're not wrong!

Lastly is a piece that's not really related to Halloween or is technically a music video, but at the same time is also both of those things. Longtime readers will know that I am a devout Schoolhouse Rock fan, but this cartoon is a part of the series I hadn't seen until I was an adult.

"Little Twelve Toes" is Schoolhouse Rocks' installment designed to teach multiples of 12 with the help of a twelve-toed space alien. It's well meaning, but also weird and surreal at the same time, which I think makes it perfect for Halloween. Also, the alien looks like the late Tom Petty.

Thanks!

Every 90s Commercial Ever (Uncensored)

 

You know those commercials for kids' junk food that have been airing since the 90s where the kids eat the advertised food and they turn into weird, goofy things and everything looks so cool and fun?

Well, this is the dark side of that.

It's a parody and not an actual commercial of course, and the project is in good fun, but a word of warning, this is gross and disturbing, so please proceed with caution. There's a reason I'm including this in a Halloween countdown.

Afterwards, check out the making of the project. Enjoy!

The Elvira Show Unsold Pilot

 

Today's edition of the Countdown to Halloween is the unsold pilot for the CBS sitcom The Elvira Show.

Hot on the heels of the success of the movie Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, a sitcom was conceived for CBS starring Cassandra Peterson as her wisecracking alter ego and Who's The Boss's Katherine Helmond as her Aunt Minvera. CBS eventually passed on the series, but at least we have this pilot to enjoy. And being an Elvira project, it goes without saying that this is not for the kids.

Thanks!