Monthly Archives: October 2011

The Walking Dead Season 2 Premiere Sunday Night!

Television, Uncategorized,

I am eagerly awaiting Season 2 of what was my favorite show last year, The Walking Dead. The season premiere is on Sunday night so don’t forget to check your local listing for programming. Here in SoCal its on at 9pm on AMC. Need a recap of what happened last season? Go to AMC’s The Walking Dead Webisodes for that and much more, even some sneak-peek content. I know there has been worry about the quality of the show this season after Frank Darabont was fired from the production, but hopefully the studio execs will stay out of the creative process as much as possible and we’ll get what we deserve. Quality storytelling and terrifying zombies.

Step Right Up…Carnivals And Freak Shows

Events

What is it about those nostalgic traveling circuses and carnivals of the mid 19th to mid 20th centuries that spark my curiosity and imagination. Perhaps it is the man at the booth that draws attention from the crowd by promising to show the most bizarre biological rarities ever seen. Yes, I’m talking about the freak show. These shows would put a group of people or animals on display that had bizarre and very rare physical conditions. If you want to see for yourself, check out Tod Browning’s iconic horror film from 1928, “Freaks”. Of course in today’s world, it’s offensive to label someone a “freak”. And so as public opinion changed on the topic, these sideshows became an element of the past. However, the freak show has become popular once again. Not with the mainstream, but with a new subculture of people who are carrying on the tradition. For example, in California you can visit the Venice Beach Freakshow. The place is small, but it’s packed with cool stuff to look at. It mostly features animals with more than the usual number of body parts… like lizards with two tales, or a turtle with two heads. There is a guy who can swallow swords, balloons, and I don’t want to know what else. There are also a few traveling sideshows such as The FreakShow Deluxe a carnival style sideshow. These guys have it all…magicians, sword swallowers, knife-throwers, fire-dancers, burlesque performers, and of course human anomalies! The FreakShow Deluxe will be performing at 10am October 30th at the OC Marketplace in California.

Run For Your Lives, The Zombie Infested Obstacle Race

Events, Games, Uncategorized

Here’s a new twist on the obstacle course race for charity events. The Zombie 5K Run For Your Lives race is coming to Los Angeles October 20, 2011. Technically it’s coming to Temecula, but close enough. The idea for this race is very cool. Do you think you would run faster if you were being chased by a horde of infected zombies? Well, by registering as a survivor, you will be given a head start in the race from those who registered as a zombie. Anyone who registers as a zombie will be encouraged to dress the part and act the part! The bad news is the last day to register for the race was September 28th, but you can still register to be a spectator. And if you live in Austin, TX then you still have time to register for the event there. Just check the website for details.

Don Knotts in “The Ghost and Mr. Chicken”

Movies,

October television programming in the 80’s was always fun. The few TV networks that existed (pre-cable of course) would bring out all their Halloween and Horror movie programming and play them round the clock it seemed. I could flip on the tube on a pleasant Sunday afternoon and catch a Vincent Price film, a bizarre oldie from Elvira’s Movie Macabre, or other movie that seemed perfect for the season. One that brings back fond memories is The Ghost and Mr. Chicken starring Don Knotts. This movie came out in 1966, but the networks played it religiously every October in the 80’s…and I watched it every time. Don Knotts stars as Luther Heggs, a newspaper typesetter who is challenged to spend a night in the Simmons mansion, a supposedly haunted house. No one respects him and thinks him a goof. However, Luther demands to be paid attention to, and when he reports strange organ music coming from the old house, he gets laughed at by the local townsfolk. In order to prove what he saw and heard, Luther decides to spend the night in the mansion. But he’s not alone. Will Luther last the night and gain the respect of his town? This movie is great. It is a lighthearted comedy, with enough mystery and creaking doors to get you in a really good mood. And Don Knotts has enough scare scenes to bring out the best of his…what I call Mr. Furley face. Definitely a kid friendly movie that should not be forgotten!