Wicked Art Wednesdays – Dienzo

This October, we celebrate the creepy cute visions of Rick Blanco a.k.a. Dienzo, an artist and designer from So Cal, who’s done work for Disney, Mattel, Cartoon Network and more.

Artist: Rick “Dienzo” Blanco
Company/Studio: The Art of Dienzo
Where to Purchase Goods: Online shop, comic book conventions, special events, specialty stores, i.e., Halloweentown Store, Hyaena Gallery, etc.
Website: http://www.dienzoart.com
Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/dienzoart/

Why we love them: Along with his stunning original art, Dienzo takes our favorite Disney and horror characters from movies and TV, and creates dark, intriguing, and sometimes sinister settings for them. This is pop culture turned upside down.

©DIENZOart

Halloween Playlists

The beauty of creating your own playlist vs. listening to someone else’s is that you’re guaranteed to LOVE every song. With the variety of hosts and methods available, it’s super easy to create your own playlists these days. The real problem lies in finding the time to research a good variety of songs. So, I thought I’d help out with a little playlist of my own Halloween faves.

30-40s-50s

The Ghost of Smokey Joe by Cab Calloway

Old Man Mose by Louis Jordan

That Old Black Magic by Frank Sinatra

I Want to be Evil by Eartha Kitt

Purple People Eater by Sheb Wooley

Poison Ivy by the Coasters

Witch Doctor – David Seville and the Chipmunks

60s

Monster Mash by Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers

Riboflavin-Flavored, Non-Carbonated, Polyunsaturated Blood by Don Hinson and The Rigamorticians

Martian Hop by the Randells

I Put a Spell on You by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins

Love Potion #9 by The Searchers

Little Red Riding Hood by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs

Devil in a Blue Dress by Mitch Ryder

Spooky by Classic IV

Ain’t Superstitious by Howlin’ Wolf

Sympathy for the Devil by The Rolling Stones

70s

Superstition by Stevie Wonder

Angie Baby by Helen Reddy

Devil Went Down to Georgia by Charlie Daniels Band

Devil Woman by Cliff Richard

Don’t Fear the Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult

Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon

Frankenstein by Edgar Winter Group

Swamp Witch by Jim Stafford

Witch Queen of New Orleans by Redbone

80s

Abracadabra by Steve Miller Band

Magic by The Cars

Thriller by Michael Jackson

Ghostbusters by Ray Parker, Jr.

Somebody’s Watching Me by Rockwell

A Nightmare on My Street by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince

Dead Man’s Party by Oingo Boingo

Ghost Town by The Specials

Devil Inside by INXS

Hammer Horror by Kate Bush

Psycho Killer by Talking Heads

Pet Semetery by The Ramones

90s

Sweet Dreams by Marilyn Manson

The Munsters Theme by Los Straitjackets

Werewolf by Southern Culture on the Skids

Dragula by Rob Zombie

Halloween (She’s so Mean) by Rob Zombie and the Ghastly Ones

This is in no way a comprehensive or ‘best of’ list. I’m just hoping to inspire people to put together their own awesome Halloween playlist and encourage younger music lovers to continue listening to the great music of years past.

Haiku of the week

thin veil lifted
halloween night brings magic
the world awakens

Artwork above: Halloween 2013 ©Unid Color
https://www.deviantart.com/unidcolor/gallery/

Happy Caturday!

halloween cat apofissx — http://www.facebook.com/apofissx

To buy prints or calendars from Apofissx, please go here: https://www.deviantart.com/apofiss

If you would like to support Apofissx through Patreon, please go here: https://www.patreon.com/apofiss

Friday Fright Nightcaps – Monster Martini

The Monster Martini is how you keep it classy and spooky on Halloween night.

Below is a simple recipe, but I’ve seen different variations, and in particular, different garnishes, that can really bring out theme you’re trying to convey. Don’t be afraid to get creative and experiment a little. Dr. Frankenstein would approve.

monster martini

Ingredients:

3/4 oz. MIDORI
2 oz. SKYY Citrus
Splash of white cranberry Juice

midori sm

Get the mixer recipe and many other Halloween drink recipes here:
https://sandiegostyleweddings.blogspot.com/2012/10/ghoulish-halloween-cocktail-ideas.html

Drop in a tiny piece of dry ice for a spookier presentation, but, be careful. Dry ice bites!

Ten Fun Halloween Classic Movies

Halloween is a spooky time but it’s also a time of fun. Here are ten classic comedies that will send a chill up your spine and tickle your funny bone at the same.

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The Ghost Train (1941) Arthur Askey, Richard Murdoch

After scheduling mishap, a group of travelers are stranded at an isolated station, fearing the arrival of legendary phantom train.

For whatever reasons, British director Walter Forde remade his own quirky supernatural comedy, based on a theater play, just ten years later. It was mostly a vehicle to showcase the talents of comedian Arthur Askey, whose Chaplin-like antics are definitely the highlight of the movie.

ghost train

Spooks Run Wild (1941) Leo Gorcey, Bela Lugosi

The East Side Kids (The Bowery Boys) are stranded in a small rural town camp for boys with a “monster killer” roaming the countryside.

If you’ve never seen any of the 40 plus movies starring the East Side Kids a.k.a the Bowery Boys, expect goofiness, hijinks and a bunch of laughs. Horror star Bela Lugosi joins the mayhem, playing a mysterious magician caught up in case of mistaken identity.

spooks run wild

Continue reading “Ten Fun Halloween Classic Movies” →

Wicked Art Wednesdays – Rhode Montijo

This October, we celebrate Rhode Montijo, children’s book author & illustrator and creator of curious oddities from Southern California.

Artist: Rhode Montijo
Company/Studio: The Fantasmical World of Rhode Montijo
Where to Purchase Goods: Online shop, comic book conventions, special events, etc.
Website: http://www.rhodemontijo.com/
Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/rhodemontijo/

Why we love them: Rhode Montijo specializes in that vintage Halloween look, where his works truly capture the whimsical innocence of Halloween. When browsing through prints, be prepared for a flood of childhood memories to engulf you and remind you why you fell in love with Halloween in the first place.

©RhodeMontijo

Happy Caturday!

halloween cat old poster

Friday Fright Nightcaps – Raspberry Peach Margarita

For the next four Fridays, I’ll be posting my favorite Halloween drink recipes. These are adult beverages because grown-ups need to have a little Halloween fun too.

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If you don’t think you need a blood-red Halloween cocktail at the end of the long week, then, you probably don’t live with any little monsters, and that’s okay…. always drink because you want to, not because you need to! The good folks over at Cooks With Cocktails found the perfect recipe to fulfill your need Halloween nightcap needs, er, wants.

Trust me, you put this drink in your hand and no one will mess with you.

RASPBERRY PEACH MARGARITA AND CASA NOBLE TEQUILA — Photo by Cooks with Cocktails

Continue reading “Friday Fright Nightcaps – Raspberry Peach Margarita” →

15 Scariest Black/White Horror Classics

Decades after their release, we still enjoy watching scary classic horror films. Some movies on my list are considered to be pillars of the horror genre, created sub-genres of their own and set the bar for generations of filmmakers to come.

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15. House on Haunted Hill (1959) Vincent Price, Carol Ohmart

An eccentric millionaire offers five strangers $10,000 if they can spend one whole night with him and his estranged 4^th wife in a haunted house.

Some actually consider this film comical or fun, but taking into account that audiences were not as knowledgeable about horror films gimmicks, as they are today, this movie was quite scary for its time. Director Williams Castle used camera tricks, shadows, ugly witches and skeletons to create the quintessential haunted house movie.

14. The Body Snatcher (1945) Boris Karloff, Henry Daniell

A ruthless doctor and his young student get into trouble with their murderous supplier of illegal cadavers.

Based on the short story of Robert Louis Stevenson, a fictional account of the real life surgeon Robert Knox and the murderous exploits of his corpse suppliers, Burke & Hare, this film was dark, disturbing and featured some fine acting from Boris Karloff. Some people even consider Karloff’s role as the Cabman and grave robber John Gray better than his turn as Frankenstein’s monster. This was the last movie that Karloff and Lugosi would appear in together.

13. Nosferatu (1922) Max Schrek, Greta Schroder

An ancient vampire named Count Orlock leaves his home in Carpathian mountains by ship, terrorizes the crew, and eventually settles in the little town of Wisborg, where he sets his sights on the beautiful wife of his real estate agent.

Unlike Dracula, Max Schrek’s vampire wasn’t suave or sexy. No, this creature was more like animal that prowled around in the dark before pouncing on victims. Like other German Expressionist films, this is a silent film, however, not original, as the filmmakers were almost sued out of existence by the Stoker estate for ripping off the Dracula story.

Continue reading “15 Scariest Black/White Horror Classics” →