Black Cats Prowl on Halloween

Greetings everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Halloween is represented by many different icons that we've come to know and love. Some of these icons include witches, ghosts, pumpkins, and black cats. The black cat is mostly noted for being a bringer of bad luck. It is also known for being rather adorable.

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Because of their stigma, people tend to treat these cats differently. For starters, they aren’t adopted as much. In movies like Hocus Pocus and horror films, there are black cats everywhere. When people see them interacting with the villains, they automatically associate the creature as evil. This way of thinking is entitled ‘Black Cat Syndrome’. To help black cats find a new home, shelters offer some days where people can adopt them at a cheaper rate, or make it a two for one deal.  

Speaking of adoption, there is a new trend surrounding these particular felines. Around this time of the year, black cats are adopted tremendously. For the cats being taken to a home with a loving family, it’s fantastic.  They’re finally out of the shelter and are able to begin a new life  - or so it seems. No sooner Halloween is over, they are returned to the shelter with the reason of “it didn't work out.” Not only does it diminish the cat’s hope for a new life, it gives them trust issues for the future. People have taken up this horrible habit because they believe having a real black cat for Halloween would be the cat's pajamas. Instead of buying black cat décor, they opt for one at an animal shelter. They take the creature home to fit the Halloween scene and return it no sooner the holiday is finished.

However, there are those who go to the extremes when it comes to black cats. Due to their negative connotation of evil, people will go out of their way to torture these poor animals. Some are sacrificed while others are just tormented because of their stigma. To avoid this and adopting black cats for Halloween, shelters have created various methods for protecting them. They will scrutinize the family, inform them of how to keep their black cat safe around this time of the year, and even postpone adopting black cats for the month of October, if not earlier.

It’s a shame, honestly. In the past these beautiful animals were seen as royalty to the Egyptians, luck to the Scottish, and protection to the sailors. While some are lucky to belong to a loving family, others face the torment of man.  Why anyone would want to harm these adorable creatures is beyond me.

At one point in my life, I was fortunate to own a black cat named Kitty. She came crawling to our door on Halloween and we couldn’t turn her down, not with the possible idea of her being tortured. She lived for a long time as a happy, healthy feline who loved her cat treats. 

May everyone enjoy this Halloween, including your pets. Keep them safe and give them a few suitable treats. 

The Devil's in Jersey

Welcome everyone to another Friday entry at the Magical Mystery Blog.

Halloween is filled with candy, frights, and of course, scary stories. Around this time, tales of ghostly hands on the back of car windows, headless horsemen, and other chilling legends come to light. As mentioned before, I’m a Jersey girl who happens to live not too far from the Pine Barrens. Around here, we have an urban myth of our own entitled The Jersey Devil.

Years ago in the county of Batsto, there was a woman who had nothing but daughters. On her final pregnancy she cursed her child to be a boy and when she delivered, she had a son. Regretting her words, she loved for the boy dearly and treated him like a little prince. However, the hex she placed upon the child surfaced as he sprouted demonic horns, cloven hooves, leathery wings, and other features that mortified his family. Without hesitation, he bared his glistening fangs, and proceeded to devour each member of his family. When he was finished his feast, he took off into the Pine Barrens to search for more victims. To this day, he still roams the forest.  

Throughout the years, people have claimed to have witnessed this devilish beast. Tons of shows like Ghost Hunters, Destination Truth, and Paranormal State would set off into the Pine Barrens, take footage, and analyze it to see if they captured the myth. Even locals and Jersey natives would search the Pine Barrens for this fabled beast; they still do so to this day. Others have based short independent films around this Jersey legend while others have written stories about it.

There are different ideas based on what the Jersey Devil looks like.  This is based on what people supposedly see, the legend itself, people’s imaginations, and their take on a classic beast. While I have not seen the Jersey Devil myself, I have seen various interpretations of the monster.

The most common image of the Jersey Devil is the illustration below.

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Here he is trying out for the Pegasus sequence in Fantasia

The image was also used for an evolving item on the RPG web site, Gaia Online. Comparing this idea of the Jersey Devil to the legend, leads me to one unyielding question:  what the Hell?

This particular image makes the Jersey Devil look like a reject Pegasus with a goofy smile. It’s not scary, non-threatening, and makes Bigfoot look terrifying. Based upon the legend and what have people reported seeing of the Jersey Devil, it should be depicted as something that menacing, carnivorous, and horrifying.

Below are my top five fear inducing representations of the Jersey Devil.

5) It’s a Fall evening and boredom has consumed you. You decide to walk through the Pine Barrens, which so happens to be your backyard. You’ve lived here almost all your life and not once have you ever seen the Jersey Devil. At most you’ve heard falling trees and rustlings in the woods but brushed them off as nothing more than wildlife. You’ve taken walks through the forest as long as you remember and never before have you seen anything abnormal. Just as you start to head back to your house, you hear branches snapping like bones over your head. Tilting your gaze upward, the moonlight illuminates a horrific figure.

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You wonder how long that’s been in the Pine Barrens.

4) There’s a rumor that if you chant ‘Jersey Devil’ three times, he’ll appear; much like the Bloody Mary legend. On Halloween, you decide to put this myth to test. The Pine Barrens isn't too far from you, so you decide to take a ride. Driving out there seems much more different than normal. The wind propels your vehicle forward, encouraging you to execute your idea.  Within ten minutes you arrive at your destination and enter the forest until you’re completely surrounded by nature.  Leaves throw themselves at you, pressing you to chant. Jersey Devil. Jersey Devil. Jersey Devil. Silence hangs in the air before it’s interrupted by a howl of blood lust just over your head.

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You regret chanting his name.


3) Camping out in the Pine Barrens seemed like a fantastic idea. Alone with the wilderness on a chilly, Autumnal evening; what could be better? You’ve heard the stories of the Jersey Devil around the camp fire and disbelieved every one. You’ve seen the programs and thought they were nothing more than entertainment. As you douse the fire, a shadow speeds by a cluster of trees in front of you. Disregarding it as a deer, you turn in for the night.

Snuggling into your sleeping bag, you stare at the pointed roof above you. A darkened being as tall as the trees looms over your shelter. From what appears to be its head, two antlers branch out into the night sky. A pair of lengthy bat wings protrudes from its back. Terrified, you grab your knife from your backpack and prepare for the worse as it tears into your tent.

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You instantly wonder if those television programs were onto something.


2) So your friends dared you to go searching for the Jersey Devil and you accepted their challenge. It’s nine by now and you’re scouring the forest with nothing more than a backpack full of essentials, a flashlight, and a camera recording every sight you see. You’ve been marching through the woods for at least two hours and already you’re bored with this mission. There’s no such thing as the Jersey Devil you tell yourself, and trudge onward.

A half hour passes and by now you’re wishing you could call the whole thing off. As you start to text your friends, a branch snaps behind you. The noise sends tremors through the Earth and shivers beneath your sneakers. It boggles your mind as you quickly flash some light on the area. Your shadow dissolves as a large, fallen limb appears beneath a pair of ivory eyes and an icy wisp of breath.

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You suddenly believe in the Jersey Devil.


1) As you walk through the shadow cloaked Pine Barrens, the Fall leaves crunch beneath your feet.  However, something seems off. In the distance, there’s another crunching that makes your hair stand on end, and piques your curiosity. CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH. As you near the destination of the sound, the crunching gets louder. CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH. Through the decaying trees, you see this monstrosity crunching on the bones of some unlucky victim.

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It’s the Jersey Devil, finishing off his dinner but he’s not completely satisfied. Before the rotting cadaver, the beast unleashes a ghastly shriek that pierces your ears. Whipping its head around, its crimson eyes lock with yours. Its gaping maw exposes fangs covered in gore from its previous victim.

You better run.

What the Hell, Halloween?

Greetings everyone and welcome to yet another start of the week.

Halloween is just around the corner which means that costumes are quickly running out. Every year, stores like Spirit and Party City are packed with outfits for that one night of tricks and treats. However, among those creepy and cute costumes there are some that are just as confusing as a rubix cube. Below are my top five what the Hell Halloween costumes.


5) Babe-a-licious Beaver

Quick name the sexiest thing about a beaver! You couldn't think of anything? Congratulations, neither could I and yet there’s a sexy costume of it. There are multiple costumes conveying the ‘sexy beaver’ idea, one being a slip on dress while others resort to undergarments. 

For some reason, costume designers believe that everything can be sexy, and I mean everything. Sexy ghosts, sexy cows, and even sexy corpses for all those necromancers and mad scientists out there. 

I can understand some sexified costumes like occupations (fire fighters, police officials, etc.), Halloween folklore, and some others. But there's a broad line that separates the sexy from the sweet, based on what people’s imaginations. For example, police officers are sexy; beavers are not.
 

4) Sexy Sesame Street

Growing up, nearly everyone watched Sesame Street. It was a famous program on PBS and WHYY that educated children on numbers, the alphabet, life lessons, manners, and songs with celebrity cameos; such as Tom Hiddleston and Whoopi Goldberg. Throughout the years, the show has been made fun of and has changed with the times. Even Cookie Monster has changed from a cookie loving fanatic to a helpful friend who reminds us vegetables are good for us.

Around Halloween, characters from this famous program from our childhood undergo drastic and strange transformations. Elmo is now Sexy Elmo, Big Bird is now Sassy Big Bird, and Bert and Ernie are Saucy Ernie and Sexy Bert. These costumes just show that sometimes two great things should not merge together. The idea of sexiness is forced upon icons from our youth, warping their innocence into something more dark, and unexplored. When you happen to see someone dressed as these sexified puppet celebrities, it’s like stabbing your childhood with a sword of injustice. It’s warping something you grew up with into an idea that should not be imagined. It’s like combining caviar and wasabi – it just doesn't work.

3) Twerkalicious

For those who remember Miley Cyrus’ outrageous display of the female sexuality at the VMAs and fell  in love with it, there’s a costume for that. If you thought her teddy bear corset was so gosh darned fashionable you’d love to wear it, there’s a costume for that. And if you thought Robin Thicke couldn't rip off Beetlejuice anymore, guess what? There’s a costume for that. Miley’s sexually drugged teddy bear corset is at Spirit Halloween, along with Robin Thicke’s attempt at reviving Beetlejuice for the same price. Foam fingers are also sold at that store to add the to the overall "sexiness" of these outfits.

To be honest, I don’t know what’s scarier: the fact that they’re completely sold out online or that there are costumes of that horrific evening.

Also, Beetlejuice!....darn it, nothing happened.

2)  Body Parts

Regardless of gender, it’s great that people embrace and accept themselves biologically, mentally, and physically. Sometimes, people like to show their self love by dressing up as what physically defines their gender. Some people like to become the embodiment as to what lies below the belt. Others like to cover themselves in specific physical attributes. Whether it’s for laughs or a personal expression of self love, people find ways to dress as their favorite body part, and it’s no exception on Halloween.

1)  Toiletries

Sometimes, people dress as strange objects to raise a laugh or uplift an eyebrow. A couple may go as a toothbrush and mouth wash or floss, which is cute and a bit funny. But dressing up as objects used for a certain time of the month or even a hot adult activity can be viewed as weird, disgusting, and above all: what the Hell.

Have you ever seen any costumes you’ve deemed ‘what the Hell’? What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever dressed up as for Halloween? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below and as always, feedback and followers are welcome.

Toy Story...of Terror!

Hello everyone and welcome to another Halloween themed entry of The Magical Mystery Blog.

This past Wednesday, viewers turned in to Pixar’s first holiday special entitled Toy Story of Terror. It was on ABC at eight o clock and paid tribute to the classic scary movies and horror movie character stereotypes (Ex.: The damsel in distress, the skeptic, the know-it-all, the mentor, and the mysterious thing in the shadows). The narrator was none other than Mr.Pricklepants who predicted the next action of the special. By foreseeing the upcoming scene, he was breaking the fourth wall – a feature I enjoy, if done properly. 

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If my deductions are correct, you are probably reading this blog and anticipating the splendors of Halloween.     

The story begins on a car ride with Bonnie and her mother, while the toys (Woody, Buzz, Jesse, Trixie, Rex, Mr.Pricklepants, and Mr.Potato Head) watch old black and white vampire film in the trunk. During the drive, one of their tires blows out, causing the toys, Bonnie, and her mother to take shelter at a Sleep Well hotel.  As Bonnie and her mother rest, the toys decide to explore the hotel where they encounter the mysterious thing in the shadows. The horrible shady being follows them, stealing them one by one, to a place they are completely unfamiliar with.

At last, the damsel in distress is the only one left who hasn't been taken by the monster. From there on, the story progresses quite swiftly, like a serial killer moving from house to house. The damsel is reunited with her friends and only then, does she discover the true evil of the Sleep Well hotel.

For their very first television special, Pixar did an excellent job encompassing the spirit of Halloween, and the ambiance of horror movies. Using these influences, they created quite a treat for families and children.  I hope this is a special they will continue to air for many Octobers to come because this is just as great as It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Toy Story of Terror special gets a ten out of ten in my book for great characters, tribute to Halloween, and capturing the essence of horror movies.

What do you think? Did Pixar make a spooktacular television special? Leave your thoughts below and as always, followers and feedback are welcome. 

I SPY With my Little Eye

Greetings, fellow readers and welcome to yet another Monday here at The Magical Mystery Blog.

As children, we were introduced to Halloween by way of urban myths, television specials, and our parents dolling us up in costume. Some of us were eased into the holiday by way of books such as the Goosebumps series and I SPY: Spooky Night.

I SPY is a hidden object book where the reader is given riddles to find all the items on the pages. Some of the books tell stories while locating the objects. For example, I SPY: Treasure Hunt tells the tale of you, the reader, finding all the items that will lead to Captain Kidd’s treasure.  Not only do you sharpen your brain with these books but you go on an adventure as well.

Over the years, there have been many variations of the books ranging from computer games to miniature books. But now is the age of technology, where children learn through Leapfrogs, and kid friendly Wii games. To keep up with its young audience, I SPY began to aim its riddle filled fun to game consoles such as the Wii and DS systems. A while back, I SPY took one of its classic books, and adjusted it to fit the Wii. This book is none other than I SPY: Spooky Night.

I picked up the I SPY: Spooky Mansion (same theme, different title from the book) game during the summer time and due to my work schedule, I just finished it. Originally I bought the game for the sake of nostalgia and my inner child insisting that I buy it. I was also curious to see how they took my old childhood favorite and spun it to meet the modern day needs of a fun video game. With a price tag of twenty dollars, the game was practically a steal.

The game itself is extremely enjoyable and quickly gobbles up time. Skelly the Skeleton, the owner of the mansion, decides to play a little game with you no sooner you enter the house. You cannot go out the way you came in. To exit the estate, you must solve thirty two riddles. Only then will you escape from Skelly’s mansion.

The ambiance of the game is spooky but not so frightening that it will give children nightmares. It’s a gentle play on Halloween based concepts like snakes, spiders, and other mildly creepy aspects. As for myself, I find the light humored concepts to be comical and cheesy. Details are found throughout the game, especially in the board game riddle. With nearly every riddle, there are mini games to be played such as feeding a spider, sending bats to sleep, and other fun games.

One of the downsides to the game is the visuals. Since everything is supposed to be spooky, it’s shaded in dark tones of brown, black, and other eerie colors. However, this can easily be remedied by going into the game’s menu, and changing the contrast. By doing this, the dark shades will fade away, allowing for the player to see more of the details the game has to offer; as well as the objects they’re looking for.

The visuals in this game feel more cartoony, which suits nicely for children. Yet for those who play the game for nostalgia, it’s different from the original PC game and book. Growing up, I played the PC game constantly and I remember the realistic graphics that made the game more entertaining and believable. It felt as though Skelly was right there in front of me, taunting me with another piece of the mysterious message. Even the ghost machine labs in both games are styled differently. As to where the PC game looked as though everything could be physically experimented with, the Wii version looked like a bunch of wires that could lead to quite a shock.

I’m glad that kids today will be able to experience the fun and learning aspects of I SPY by way of a Wiimote and a great game. I give this game an eight out of ten, with its endless fun and its modern take on a classic. While I’m not too fond of the graphics, the game was designed for children, and probably not nostalgic people like myself.

What are your memories of I SPY? Have you played any of the games yet? If so what ones and did you enjoy them? Feel free to leave a comment and as always, followers are welcome. 

The Ghost Host Has Arrived

Welcome foolish mortals to The Magical Mystery Blog; I am your host, your Ghost Host.

Today we’ll be looking at the ghoulishly glorious Haunted Mansions throughout the world. The Haunted Mansion is a classic Disney World attraction, tracing back to the first days of Disney. Walt Disney, Rolly Crump, and Marc Davis constructed the art, concepts, and ride. Each Mansion is different, having its own theme, musical score, and story.

There are five Haunted Mansions in the world in each Disney park. First there’s the original Haunted Mansion located in Disneyland, Anaheim California. Every September to January, they give this mansion a nightmarish makeover, combining Halloween and Christmas. This brief renovation is called the Haunted Mansion Holiday and I will be covering this one to showcase one of the Haunted Mansion Holidays.  Next, in the heart of Orlando, Florida is the Haunted Mansion of Walt Disney World. After that is Phantom Manor, found in EuroDisney in Paris, France. Then just across the sea, we have the Tokyo Haunted Mansion. Lastly, there’s Mystic Manor located in Hong Kong’s Disneyland.

I’ll be doing ten facts from every mansion, encompassing the most interesting, the extreme unknown, and the spooky secrets. 

10) The Mariner’s Two Stories (Haunted Mansion)

Just like the other characters throughout the mansion, nearly everyone has more than one story. The stories are created by fans and cast members of Walt Disney World. However, I’m focusing on the Mariner because he has an original story that’s taken over by something less spooky but more whimsical.

Not too long ago, the Florida Haunted Mansion finished its new queue where everyone could interact with the tombstones. The graves had tributes to some of the attraction’s creators and old art concepts. One crypt in particular was that of the Mariner’s, claiming he drowned in a bubble bath.  This is the one everyone knows because it’s his epitaph.

Before the new interactive line was even created, the Haunted Mansion already had fan stories buzzing around about this particular character. In one story, the Mariner was a sea faring individual who died during a terrible storm aboard his ship. In another tale, the Mariner was a captain of the ship who owned the mansion, and had seven brides (whose names can be seen on an epitaph when leaving the mansion). The seventh bride’s spirit haunted his ship, leading it into a violent storm, which killed him, and his crew.

9) The Travelling Hell Hound (Phantom Manor)

In Phantom Manor, just before you fall into a tunnel of corpses, there is a hell hound. He leaps to your face, attempting to devour your flesh, while snarling, and growling at your very existence. Sometimes he enjoys leaving the manor and roaming around the other mansions. He can easily be seen in the Disney World Haunted Mansion to your left after you pass by the Caretaker and his hound.

8) Lonesome Ghost (Tokyo Haunted Mansion)

In all of the Haunted Mansions, there is the famous seance room.  Within this room is a head in a crystal ball who chants for spirits to come join her in the mansion’s revelry of mystery, mayhem, and macabre. There are various takes on the room, some having the head floating, others having tarot cards or instruments dancing around her. However, there are no spirits whatsoever in the room.

Take a look at the 3:49 mark in this video. Notice anything levitating in the background? That would be a ghost and Tokyo’s Haunted Mansion is the only one to have a spirit flying around the seance room. If you want to see a closer look of this specter, it pops up at the 3:23 mark. Perhaps, this particular ghost has heard Madam Leota’s incantations and is responding to them.

7) It’s Dead in Here! (Mystic Manor)

Mystic Manor was built unlike the other mansions. As to where they focused on ghosts and the otherworldly, this estate decided to take a different road.  The Hong Kong Disneyland is located in China, where the Chinese view death as a negative concept and is regarded as an end to one’s life. Death is also a taboo subject which is ultimately avoided in conversation. Even those on their death beds in China refuse to speak of death in fear they may jinx their fate.

When it came to building Mystic Manor, the Imagineers understood they had a cultural conflict on their hands. If they built the Haunted Mansion of tombstones and spirits, it would be considered unpopular, and completely dishonorable. Yet if they constructed a new version of the Haunted Mansion, one with a lightheartedness aimed towards humor and adventure, then there would be a different outcome. So the Imagineers set forth to create a new brand of Haunted Mansion that abandoned its grim grinning ghosts and took up a comedic monkey in a fez.

6) A New Story (Haunted Mansion)

The Walt Disney World Haunted Mansion has received a new addition in the past. They have created another queue line which leads to a pathway of interactive tombs, tribute graves, and other oddities. Before you can walk by these crypts and creeps, there is a series of busts bearing a family with epitaphs on how they died.

These busts are supposedly the new owners of the mansion and it’s your job to find out who killed out and why. This has angered some fans (much like myself) because it takes over the fan stories and cast member tales we heard about through rumors, like forbidden secrets. It’s bad enough Constance did this when she became a part of the mansion, making her the focus of the attraction, and centering on her story as a gold digger bride who wanted everything for herself; including the mansion. 

Not only does this new story of who killed who ruffle the fans’ feathers, it’s also the style of the busts. Look at the new busts and compare them to some of the busts you’d find in the mansion. The new busts are more cartoony, drawing away from the realism Walt had intended when creating the attraction. 

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5) “Upstairs? I didn’t know we had an upstairs!”  (Haunted Mansion Holiday)

Years ago, there was a rumor that circulated around the Internet claiming that Emily, our beloved Corpse Bride, would be taking part in the Haunted Mansion Holiday. As seeing she was a bride, it only seemed fitting that she would roam around the attic portion. Even a store in Disneyland started to sell Corpse Bride items.

However, this myth was debunked by a few facts: 1) Burton made Corpse Bride with Warner Bros. Disney did not offer to make the movie with him or vice versa. (2) Even if Disney did ask, it’s a matter if Burton would go with them to make it. Burton has worked with Disney before and isn’t too fond of their “selling out” method.

Fans speculated that Emily would be appearing in the Haunted Mansion Holiday because she is a product of Burton. To this day, they still dream of entering the attic and a whispered,”You may kiss the bride” echoing through the darkness as they stumble upon the doe eyed bride of death.

4) Melanie Ravenswood was Inspired by a Charles Dickens’ Creation (Phantom Manor)

If you’ve ever read the book Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, you may recall a character named Miss Haveshim. In this piece of literature, she was a forlorn bride who waited in her wedding gown for her beloved to return. On her dining room table was a rotting wedding cake, complete with table settings, and spiders crawling about. Miss Haveshim not only inspired the character of Melanie Ravenswood but the ballroom scene as well. As you pass the ballroom sequence of the ride, you’ll notice a decaying wedding cake, ruined table settings, and other details of a wedding that never occurred.

3) In with the Old (Tokyo Haunted Mansion)

Japan’s Tokyo Haunted Mansion is the only mansion that has not received an upgrade. Unlike the other mansions, it has kept the old charm of walking books, and staring portraits that follow your every move. When people step through the threshold and witness the old technology, they feel as though they’re going through an abandoned, haunted mansion. It’s also why Phantom Manor has very few upgrades and they do nothing more than touch ups. Mystic Manor, the Florida Haunted Mansion, and the Haunted Mansion Holiday are all about up-to-date technology which widens eyes and stuns souls. Yet Japan and Paris choose to keep their old, antique quality to warm the spirits of many who enter.

2) 13 Surprises  (Haunted Mansion Holiday)

Since this is the Haunted Mansion Holiday’s 13^th anniversary of scaring up screams, Jack decided to scatter thirteen surprises throughout the attraction.  What these thirteen items were no one knew. However, on some sites, it’s been briefly noted as to what these thirteen objects are. It seems like the thirteen surprises are different décor to match the Haunted Mansion Holiday. Most of them you would never take notice of during the ride.

In the attic, there are thirteen bows, some imprinted with the number thirteen on them. When Zero welcomes you to the mansion, there are thirteen bones in his dish.  But what really has fans boggled is the towering gingerbread piece in the center of the ballroom.

Since it’s started, the Haunted Mansion Holiday has had a different gingerbread house on the ballroom’s dining table. At first, the gingerbread pieces were stagnant and merely stood to impress guests.  As the years rolled on, Imagineers decided to let their creative spirit loose, and give life to the gingerbread pieces. One year, the gingerbread masterpiece was a spinning carousel. Another year, Jack himself popped out of a gingerbread version of the attraction, complete with miniature pumpkins modeled after the singing busts. But this year, the 2013 gingerbread house has not moved an inch.

Not yet, anyway.

What makes this year’s gingerbread piece so special is that it’s an advent calendar. An advent calendar is used in December to count down the days to Christmas. Every day an advent calendar door is opened, there is a treat or present waiting for those who looked inside. This gingerbread house works in the same function but instead of a gift, there is a different expression of the Pumpkin King himself. Every face and number is supposed to represent each year the Haunted Mansion Holiday has been running. Since the gingerbread advent calendar is only marked with thirteen numbers, the doors may start to open thirteen days before Halloween and/or Christmas.

1) Look Ma! No Tracks! (Mystic Manor)

Mystic Manor opened in Hong Kong Disneyland with an alternative look and feel to a scary house. As opposed to terrifying its guests with ghosts and ghouls, it took on the story of a wealthy adventurer showing you his house with his monkey as a tour guide. This attraction is aimed more towards the funny bone with a whimsical design from audio to vehicle. The car you ride in is not your average Doom Buggy and is entitled the Magneto-Electric Carriage.

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Because of this updated carriage, Mystic Manor is the first Disney ride built without a track. Instead of having a guided railway to follow, its carriages are lead by radio frequency identification (RFI).  The cars receive direct instructions from the RDI technology within the floor and Wi-fi. It is also the first vehicle of the mansions to be able to spin as opposed to only turning left, right, and straight.

So what mansion is your favorite and why? Feel free to leave a comment below and as always, followers are welcomed.

Ten Books to Tingle Your Spine

Greetings fellow readers and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

In the spirit of Halloween, I will be listing my top ten reads perfect for this season of foliage and frights. I've often found that reading beneath a tree slowly losing its leaves is often peaceful for reading, especially during the Fall. Even the air gets colder which adds more suspense to whatever story you have at hand. Throughout October, ghosts stories are usually read to heighten the Halloween mood. But my list is a compilation of the haunted, the beautiful, the imaginative, and the damned.

10) Paul is Undead by Alan Goldsher

The title is a play on the famous Beatles hoax of ‘Paul is Dead’ and tells the story of the Liverpool Lads through various Q & A sessions by those who knew them.  Keeping in tune with the past year’s zombie craze, all The Beatles are turned into zombies except for Ringo Starr who is the only ninja in the group.  The book touches on major and minor events this band experienced from the banned image where babies (organs in this case) are draped all over their bodies for an album cover to the Ed Sullivan Show.  It also shows how the band met and how one by one they created a group that would climb to the toppermost of the poppermost.

This book did its job by living up to the zombie hype and even customized the zombies by means of region and bodily functions. Here zombies weren't just walking moaning remains. Instead, they had the power to hypnotize for a specific amount of time and had many other abilities. The images at best were unnerving a bit while the writing was all right. If anything, the zombies were designed more for comedic humor and gross effects. It wasn't that scary but it was good for laughs.

9) Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Jane Austen and Ben H Winters

It’s a monster mash when the classic tale of Sense and Sensibility meets the minions of Lord Cthulu. Set in a Bioshock-esque setting of hidden secrets and untamed sea monsters, the Dashwood sisters set out on a quest to find true love. Following the original Sense and Sensibility plot, the only difference is the setting and the half human/half beasts.

This story lived up to the hype of combining a classic with something new and unique. It’s a common form of literature nowadays. This book is a bit unnerving, imagining beautiful girls dating savage unsavory sea beasts. The imagery paints a nautical romantic picture, sure to give your imagination quite a treat. It’s an okay read, perfect for  the chilly months to come.

8) Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz 

To be honest, there’s really nothing horrifying about the writing of this book. The stories are average at best and don’t really pack much fear factors behind them. The only story I can remember that confused me for the longest time until my college years was a witch turning a woman into a horse and riding her. Seriously, I do not see how that’s scary. If anything, it sounds like some lesbian porn gone wrong.

However, I will admit the pictures of this book still haunt me to this day. I have no idea what sort of drug the illustrator, Stephen Gammel, was on or what traumatic event occurred throughout his life to make them draw the things in this book. But good Lord, I have never seen anything so terrifying.

Some people are able to withstand the illustrations and to them I give my utmost respect. But for those like me who can’t, welcome to the club. If you want to know what I am talking about then Google the book yourself. I would post the illustrations here but I’m too mortified to do so.

7) Gill’s All Fright Diner by A Lee Martinez

Duke is your average werewolf and Earl is your every day vampire. While passing through Rockwood, they come across a diner, and decide to grab something to eat. However, no sooner they bite into their meals the trouble begins. With zombies on their heels, a ghost looking for love in their heads, and so many other otherworldly oddities, the duo are bound to one dynamic adventure.

This book is just like a cat: quirky and fun, even while it scratches up your arms. It has humor like that of Paul is Undead but with better writing and a goulash of fantastic concepts. While there are no illustrations scattered throughout the pages, none are needed. This book provides enough ghoulishly glorious imagery to satisfy your imagination.

6) Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

It’s a beautiful Fall day in a Midwestern town and it just so happens that the carnival is in town. But this isn't your typical carnival of shimmering lights and specialty foods. It’s a carnival from the other side where the owner bears tattoos of his victims, a carousel has the ability to progress your age or decrease it, and unusual beings roam the grounds.

Two boys, Jim Nightshade and William Halloway, are drawn to this mysterious carnival. With every visit to the fairground they find themselves more attracted to the strange, the beautiful, and the dangerous. Not only does this story boggle the mind and raise some goosebumps with its terrifying imagery and unique characters, it also tells the coming of age story between two youths.  With every chapter, they struggle with the changes which are ultimately resolved in the end. If you want to know how, go pick up this book.

5) Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

It’s the classic horrifying story of a scientist creating something from out of a crypt. With the brain of a deceased citizen and a lifeless body, man plays God, and gives this monstrosity life. Bored of his days in the lab, the beast escapes to discover life, to find himself, and to understand the ways of man.

When written in 1817, it was originally started as a horror story. The technology and even the idea of giving life to something dead was terrifying to people in the past. Nowadays, we just see it as something awesome. Today, some people may see this story as the cornucopia of creeps. I’ll admit that it does send shivers down the spine at times but often I find it interesting as a struggle for one to find himself in the world. Frankenstein still lives to this day as an inspiration for zombie tales and satisfies those who love a good read. 

4) Interview With a Vampire by Anne Rice

Before the Meyerpires hit the bookshelves, Anne Rice gave a whole new meaning to the term ‘vampire’.  Taking the old fashioned ideals of a vampire, this famous writer morphed them into her own breed of creatures who were not always evil, and who didn’t always enjoy draining a victim of their blood. She wrote an entire series surrounding the lives of vampires, making them more human than what they are.

Interview With a Vampire begins on a quiet night in New Orleans, where a vampire decides to tell his life story to a journalist. The result is a lavish book filled to the brim with what a vampire’s life consists of. It is more than just running around, drinking unsuspecting victims’ blood. It is a life of death, love, fortune, and danger.  Written to tingle the spine and chill the senses, this story oozed with horror but dripped with details, and strong character personalities. 

3)  Pet Sematary by Stephen King

When the Creeds purchase a new house, they have no idea what they’re in for. Just behind their house lies a cemetery that has magical reviving powers. However, there’s a side effect to this seemingly wonderful idea. Those who return from this graveyard may not be the same person or creature as they were before.

Other than the cemetery’s ability, this book shows the creepy transformation of the characters. The scares really don’t come towards the midway point of the literary piece. But the scares are weaved in wonderfully with the plot of a family living with a terribly mystifying cemetery in their backyard.  

2)  The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaimen

A popular author of modern times, Neil Gaimen wrote this book with moreso plot than scares. The plot revolves around a boy who was placed in a graveyard and raised by local ghosts. He was left there to avoid suffering his parents’ fate of being murdered by a serial killer. The rest of the book consists of him growing up into a very strange but enchanted boy who sees many things.

This book is beautifully written and extremely interesting. It gives a new life to spirits, showing their lifestyles, abilities, and even customs. Gaimen shapes the typical ghosts we've come to know through urban myths and legends. He gives them personalities with touches of their past life. He creates his own specters that are memorable and unique.

1) The Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk

This book is not for the weak of stomach or faint of heart. Since I qualify as both of those, I could not handle this piece of literature for too long. It begins with some strangers getting on a bus and each chapter is their back story. The first few chapters analyzing each character were gut wrenching at best and triggered the gag reflex a bit, but nothing serious. The fourth chapter is when everything goes downhill.

Even my classmates warned me about the dreaded tortures of chapter four but I ignored them. That was a complete mistake. For men, chapter four will make you cringe the most and ladies, although you’re not a man, you just may vomit at this chapter. The wording is intricately detailed throughout the book, adding more scariness to your stomach sinking into your toes. The details put more thoughts into your head, which add to the fear building up in your bones, and boggling your brain.

After nearly tossing my lunch at the fourth chapter, I put my book down, and admitted to my fellow peers that I couldn't bring myself to read past it. This was a defeat on my end because I was on the last page of chapter four before crossing the threshold into chapter five.

So what do you think? Any books you enjoy reading during the Fall? Feel free to comment and as always, followers and feedback are welcome. 

Boys and Girls of Every Age....

Welcome to another Friday entry at The Magical Mystery Blog.

Today is a Friday of a very special month. It’s a month that people have waited for since the end of summer and the start of school. It is the month of October, which can only mean one thing: Halloween! Originally started as a day to ward off spirits and demons, it has transformed throughout the years into a day where you run around in costume, asking strangers for candy.

Throughout the month of October, various television stations showcase a ton of Halloween movies. Some are Hocus Pocus, Corpse Bride, and Nightmare on Elm Street. But there’s one movie that has trumped these and risen to the pinnacle of nostalgic, Halloween movies. This classic film is none other than Tim Burton’s the Nightmare Before Christmas. Originally inspired by a poem Burton wrote and directed by Henry Selick, it was unlike any other Disney movie. As opposed to being a hand drawn or CGI constructed feature, it was all done with stop motion animation. This is where they use clay figures, pose them for one shot, take a picture of  their position, and repeat the process.

The story of this time honored film is that Jack Skellington, the King of Halloween, grows bored of Halloween Town. He comes across Christmas Town and is immediately inspired to create his own Christmas. This movie embodies the spirit of Halloween and delves into the nature of Christmas. Below are some secrets you might not have known about Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas.

      10) Oogie Boogie is Based off of Cab Calloway

If anyone remembers the famous 80s flick, The Blues Brothers, Cab Calloway plays the role of Jake and Elwood's father like persona. Cab Calloway was a famous blues artist known for his big hit "Minnie the Moocher" as performed in The Blues Brothers. He was also known for his specific movements and dance during a live performance.

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Cab Calloway’s dancing, songs, and even personality inspired clay makers, Danny Elfman, and Burton to base Oogie Boogie off of him. In fact there’s a deleted scene which was supposed to be included during the Oogie Boogie Song where Oogie dances much like how Cab would (2:40-2:54).

     9) Jack Has Eyes….Er…Eye Sockets…

When Jack lands in Christmas Town, he is in such disbelief of how different and beautiful the place is, he grows a pair of eyes; rather, eye sockets. It’s only for a brief moment that they are shown to the audience before and after "What’s This."

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      8) Two Heads Are Better Than One

During the reprise of  "This is Halloween/What’s This" the vampire clan is seen playing a game of ice hockey. They use a pumpkin for a puck. Instead of the gourd, it was supposed to be Burton’s head. However, they changed it because the movie was aimed towards children, and it was deemed too dark. Another head in this movie that wasn't censored was Danny Elfmans’.  The street band that appears throughout the movie consists of a cellist, saxophonist, and accordionist. There’s a miniature man in the cello whose head is based off of Danny Elfman’s, the movie’s composer.

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      7) Lock, Shock, and Barrel are a Gun

Burton got the names for Lock, Shock, and Barrel after the movie Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. This movie title features the main parts of a gun: the locking device, the stock to insert the bullets, and the barrel where the bullet is shot out of.

    6) Santa Was Supposed to be Someone Else

The voice actor of Santa Claus was supposed to go to Vincent Price. However, his wife had passed away, causing his health to spiral downwards. Price’s voice was frail and weak on the recordings, which were deemed unusable.

    5)  The Original

In the original poem, only Jack, Santa, Oogie, and Zero were the only characters. Sally, Devil, Harlequin Demon, Dr. Finkelstein, etc. were not given names in the piece and only referred to as Jack's peers. Lock, Shock, and Barrel were only noted as strange creatures in disguise who were ugly but rather petite. When the movie was in production, Burton created the other characters.

The verse where Jack asks Zero to guide is sleigh is specifically worded to fit the song "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer" where Santa asks Rudolph to lead his sleigh. This along with How the Grinch Stole Christmas, other holiday specials, "Twas the Night Before Christmas," and Halloween decorations being replaced with Christmas creations inspired Burton to write this poem.

    4) Black and White

Apparently the NAACP was upset because they felt as though Oogie was created to use “blackspeak.” Heroes like Jack, Sally, the Mayor, and others were made to use “whitespeak.” This is complete and utter elephant dung. As stated before, Oogie Boogie was based off the style and tone quality of Cab Calloway who heavily influenced Danny Elfman in his Oingo Boingo days. There was nothing racially involved with the production of the movie. 

   3) The Gatekeeper

In This is Halloween, the citizens of Halloween Town march through the entry gate of their land. There is someone there that we only see briefly throughout the movie. The only other time we see this person is when Jack returns from Christmas Town, riding a festive scooter. This being is none other than the Gatekeeper. There have been many speculations as to who or what this Gatekeeper looks like, but if you pause the movie at the right time you’ll see him.

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Quote the Raven,"Gate's open! Come on in!"

The Gatekeeper is none other than a raven wearing a bowler hat. His wings are probably hidden within his trench coat but his black beak and face are enough to tell us it’s a raven. It also makes sense for it to be a raven because they are birds often associated with death.

    2) “Tender Lumplings”

Towards the end of  "This is Halloween", the verse “tender lumplings everywhere, life’s no fun without a good scare” is sung. “Tender lumplings” is a reference to a song written by Danny Elfman during his time with the band, Oingo Boingo.

  1) Same Song, Different Movie

Before Jack created a clash of the holidays, Burton was working on another masterpiece. Most of you may know this work of excellence as Edward Scissorhands. It was released in 1990, with a beautiful score written by Danny Elfman. This is a sample of what Elfman did and is the opening track to the movie;  listen especially to the melody from 1:44 - 1:55. Flash forward to 1993, with Burton’s release of The Nightmare Before Christmas  listen to the music around :58 - 1:15. Notice anything familiar between those two specific sections? It’s the same music but with a different movie.

Any Nightmare Before Christmas secrets you know of and want to share? Feel free to post them in the comments below and as always, feedback and followers are welcomed.

It's Time to Face Off

Greetings everyone and welcome to another entry of The Magical Mystery Blog.

This year, Face Off started its new season on the Syfy Channel. Face Off is a prosthetic competition show which started back in 2011 and is currently on its fifth season. In this season, contestants who have been on the show before (veterans) compete against newcomers.

Throughout the years, the audience has been treated to concepts based on various themes from Alice in Wonderland to zombie apocalypse. As an avid watcher of the show, I've fallen in love and been disgusted with what competitors have created. Below are my top twelve favorite Face Off creations, three from each season so far of Face Off. I will have the season, episode number, theme, and artist (or artists) for each concept.

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12) Season 4, Ep. 9 – Mummy Mayhem – Kris -  this mummy is enough to lead an army of the undead.  With multiple horns protruding from its head, the detail work on this is horrifying but beautiful.  Crawling through Egypt’s mysterious pyramids, this creature rose to the challenge to fit the mummy theme.

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11) Season 1, Ep. 3 – Out of this World – Conor & Jo – as opposed to going with the stereotypical green alien with big black eyes look, these two artists created something unique. The result was a creature with a sense of royalty and beauty. She is definitely a part of the cosmos in her own way with her head held high and an all knowing smile.

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10) Season 1, Ep. 6 – The Dancing Dead – Tate – this creation has received quite the mouthful with a gaping, gory jaw and a tongue spewing out of it. With a stretched face dotted with blood and exposed intestines, this was one creature you would not want to meet down a dark road.

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9) Season 2, Ep. 4 – Night Terror - Teisha –  Imagine walking down a street late at night and you stumble upon this thing scoping you out from the alley way. A few things pop into your head, mainly ‘good Lord what is that’ and ‘RUN’. This creation definitely lives up to being a ‘night terror’; it’s horrific, it’s beautifully detailed, and it will keep you up for hours to come.

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8) Season 4, Ep 4 – Eye Candy - Anthony– this piece definitely catches the eye. Decked out to be the sergeant of sweets, this morph is neat, colorful, and beautiful.  It captures the sugary sweetness of candy and the overall clean look of a professional make up work.

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7)  Season 2, Ep. 7 – Alien Interpreters – Rayce – while the other aliens kept their eyes, Rayce decided to be a little different. Showing off excellent detail and work, the result was a crimson creature from beyond the stars. 

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6) Season 1, Ep. 2  - Naked Ambition – Tom – there is a ton of detail to be admired and examined on this particular piece. Tom even sculpted hair for this creation and added traces of moss in between the rocky curves. The final design blended in with the theme.

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5) Season 3, Ep. 9 – Junkyard Cyborg – Nicole – The concept is beautiful and not only does it meet the idea of a junkyard cyborg, but it can also be seen as a futuristic super heroine. This character is daunting but sexy, different but daring, and gorgeous. The eye piece especially is beautifully done.

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4) Season 4, Ep. 5 – Two Heads Are Better than One – Kris and Eric F – this giant loomed over the other contestants with its two bulky heads and massive fingers, holding the model hostage. These two artists did something different than the other contestants who molded a head onto their models' bodies. Instead of doing just that, they went over the heads to do something unique.

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3) Season 3, Ep. 2 – Pirate Treasure – Laura – this creation appeared as though it walked off the ship of Davey Jones and straight into the room. Its intricate detail combined the traditional scallywag of a pirate with the beauty of ocean life.  This concept fulfilled the challenge of the Pirates of the Caribbean theme given to the contestants.

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2) Season 2, Ep. 8 – Burtonesque – RJ –The concept is beautiful but what makes it for me is that the actor got into character. Not only did he make the finished product come to life but he made it believable. This character feels and acts like he stepped right out of a Tim Burton movie; maybe a Burtonized version of The Tower of Terror?

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1)  Season 3, Ep. 1 Star Wars Cantina – Roy – This was a gargantuan makeup job to do, especially on the first task. For it to be successfully executed was not only a victory for the artist but a treat for the audience and judges.  This creation was unlike the others in which the main focus was the person surrounded by immense details.

So what do you think? What creations from Face Off are your favorites? Leave your comments below and as always feedback and followers are welcome.