I love Halloween. It has always been my favorite holiday. It started in Detroit, like most things that are bad for you. The first year I was supposed to get to go trick or treating, I got sick and couldn't go outside. I was devastated. The next year, again I got sick and couldn't go out. Even my little sister, three and a half years younger than me, got to go trick or treating. NOT FAIR.
When I finally got to go, it was awesome. I went as a vampire. I almost always went as a vampire. Hobo vampire, sports vampire, regular vampire. It stemmed from my fascination with Detroit TV legend Sir Graves Ghastly. You could send your art in to his show and he would put it on the air. He was the first person to recognize my art talent and publish my work. I was 5 years old.
When I finally got to go, it was awesome. I went as a vampire. I almost always went as a vampire. Hobo vampire, sports vampire, regular vampire. It stemmed from my fascination with Detroit TV legend Sir Graves Ghastly. You could send your art in to his show and he would put it on the air. He was the first person to recognize my art talent and publish my work. I was 5 years old.
My Dad worked for a record company when I was a kid. One day he brought home a bunch of records and spread them out on the floor. My Sister and I could each pick one out to have. I remember there were records by the Mamas and Papas, Led Zeppelin, even the Herb Alpert album with the woman with the whipped cream! My Sister picked out the Monkee's greatest hits. I picked out Famous Monsters Speak. (Side one Frankenstein, side two Dracula). We used it for YEARS in all our haunted houses for ambiance.
One day my Mom was driving us home from the mall. I must have been about 11 years old. Suddenly i saw on top of a movie theatre two people, one dressed as Frankenstein and one dressed as Dracula.....right up on top of the theatre! They were beckoning people to come in, and in front of the theatre was a giant ambulance with its lights flashing, and attendants in official looking hospital garb. In other words it was heaven. I begged my Mom to stop. I begged her to let me go to see this double feature. She wouldn't let me do any of it. C'mon Mom!!!
I have to mention the Ghoul, Ron Swede. He was the funny/scary TV late night host in our area of Metro Detroit. He also ran his show on TV in Cleveland. He took over there from Ghoulardi, who was the famous ABC TV announcer Ernie Anderson.
The Ghoul rocked. He did sketches, he commented on the bad movies. And he blew stuff up. HE BLEW STUFF UP. With fireworks! On TV. Where we could see it! Oh did we love it. This character the Ghoul influenced my whole life.
The Ghoul rocked. He did sketches, he commented on the bad movies. And he blew stuff up. HE BLEW STUFF UP. With fireworks! On TV. Where we could see it! Oh did we love it. This character the Ghoul influenced my whole life.
I love Halloween so much, I have pretty much figured out how to live my life dressed up for Halloween. When you look at how life is these days, it's the way to go, I think.