It Came From The Man Cave!

Countdown To Halloween Day 11! Cricket Magazine

Every year when I was younger around Halloween I could not wait to receive my copy of Cricket Magazine. The covers always blew my young mind. Most of the stories were pretty dark as well. Sadly the building in LaSalle (a few blocks from my house) suffered from a fire a few years ago and sits crumbling to this day. The magazine is still published a few miles away in a neighboring town.

Cricket is an illustrated literary magazine for children published in the United States, founded in September 1973 by Marianne Carus, whose intent was to create "The New Yorker for children." Marianne Carus still serves as the magazine's editor-in-chief.

Each issue of Cricket is 48 pages. The magazine is published nine times a year (monthly, with some of the summer months combined) by the Carus Publishing Company of Peru, Illinois. Its target audience is children from 9 to 14 years old. Until March 1995, Cricket was published by theOpen Court Publishing Company of LaSalle, Illinois, now part of Carus.

Cricket publishes original stories, poems, folk tales, articles and illustrations by such notable artists as Trina Schart Hyman, the magazine's art director from 1973 to 1979. Carus has solicited materials from well-known authors and illustrators, including Lloyd Alexander, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Ursula K. Le Guin, Eric Carle, Stacy Curtis, Charles Ghigna and Paul O. Zelinsky.

One distinct feature of Cricket is the illustrated cast of recurring characters that appears in the margins of each issue, similar to a comic strip. These characters include Cricket, Ladybug, and other friends, most of whom are also insects. The characters are involved in a storyline that runs throughout the issue, but also comment on the articles above them. They define difficult words, draw attention to unusual facts, and otherwise annotate the magazine's content
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So today I have dug up a few older copies that I have and would like to share them with you. Believe it or not, I still have Volume 1 Number 2 October 1977 but due to its age I prefer not to stick it into the scanner so for now just the cover. The one I will share a few pages came from the year 1977. For more information visit Cricket Magazine (They show this year October Issue with its really cool cover.) or The Cricket Store.

Sorry its hard to read it was a dark comic.

I love the witch's

Click the next page link for the 1973 cover

Count Down To Halloween Day 10

Artist Robert A. Scott 2009 Rondo Award Winner. To purchase or view more of his work visit Scottra.com

Count Down to Halloween Day 9 Dawn Of The Dead

Director: George A. Romero

Writer: George A. Romero

Stars:

David Emge

Ken Foree

Scott H. Reiniger

Following an ever-growing epidemic of zombies that have risen from the dead, two Philadelphia SWAT team members, a traffic reporter, and his television-executive girlfriend seek refuge in a secluded shopping mall.

In 1968, George Romero brought us "Night of the Living Dead." It became the classic horror film of its time. Now, George Romero brings us the most intensely shocking motion picture experience for all time.

The movie that influenced many with its solid story strong cast and so of the best Zombies ever! Filming at the Monroeville Mall took place during the winter of 1977-78, with a three-week reprieve during the Christmas shopping season (during which other footage, e.g. the TV studio, was shot). Filming at the mall began around 10 p.m., shortly after the mall closed, and finished at 6 a.m. The mall didn't open until 9, but at 6 the Muzak came on and no one knew how to turn it off.

Tom Savini, head of makeup effects, was unhappy with how the blood mix (produced by 3M) photographed; it looked fluorescent. Director George A. Romero felt it was perfect for the film's comic book style. Much of the fake blood used in the blood packets was a mixture of food coloring, peanut butter and cane sugar syrup. In the scene where Roger hits the zombie (played by Tom Savini) with the truck and it leaves a bloody smear on his windshield, the effect was created by Savini throwing himself on the non-moving truck and spitting a mouthful of blood on the windshield.

This is a must see during the Halloween season. For most Romero fans this is the best of the series and at conventions every where is widely talked about.

4 Bloody Brains out of 5!

Dr. Rausch "These creatures cannot be considered human. They prey on humans. The attack and they feed only on warm human flesh. Intelligence? Seemingly little or no reasoning ability but basic skills remain a more...remembered behavior of ah....normal life. There are reports of these creatures using tools. But even these actions are the most primitive: the use of tools as bludgeons and so forth. I might point out that even animals will adopt to use of tools in this manner. These creatures are nothing but pure, motorized instinct. We must not be lulled by the concept that these are our family members or our friends. They are not"

Count Down To Halloween Day 8

Count Down To Halloween Day 7 TV Scares!

This year I thought I would try something different. Halloween is a magical time on the small screen as well as the big screen. This year on Sundays I'm going to focus a little on the small screen.

Halloween Wars Season Premier tonight on the Food Network at 9PM/8C.

Just when you thought it was safe to walk past that old house or take a shortcut through the cemetery comes this deliciously scary four-part series: Halloween Wars. Five teams of cake decorators, candy makers and amazing pumpkin carvers will unite to prove they are the best, walk home with a big cash prize and scare our pants off with some of the most amazing horror tales — all made from cake, candy and pumpkins. Grab onto someone you love, and bring your appetite 'cause the cold night of Halloween is about to get heated up.

And for the Kids tonight on Disney Good Luck Charlie Halloween Special.

Amy dresses up like a kangaroo for Halloween, complete with a baby pouch for Toby and Charlie, while Bob goes in his exterminator uniform, going by the name Captain Extermo.

Followed by Austin and Aly Halloween,

Austin's new record label owner, Jimmy Starr, invites him to perform at the Starr Records Halloween party, where he will perform a duet with famous musician to Ally's new song.

This Was the Day That Engulfed the World in Terror!

Director:

Nathan Juran

Writers:

Martin Berkeley

William Alland

Stars:

Craig Stevens

William Hopper

Alix Talton

The calving of an Arctic iceberg releases a giant praying mantis, trapped in suspended animation since prehistoric times. It first attacks military outposts to eat their occupants, then makes its way to the warmer latitudes of Washington and New York. A paleontologist works together with military units to try to kill it.

What a fun and fantastic way to start of the month of October. Deadly Mantis is one of those fantastic Sci-Fi big bug movies from the 50's that you must see at least once. If you live where there is no Svengoolie (Sorry that's a bummer) I strongly feel that October is a great time to check out the late night TV guide on your remote and hunt down a horror host in your area. And if your a fan of horror host's there is no better time then now to introduce your friends and family to the simple pleasure's in life.

Did you know that The footage showing the Eskimos fleeing from the mantis is actually from S.O.S. Eisberg. And that during the movie, the Air Force sends out a message to members of the Ground Observer Corps asking for help in spotting the mantis. This was a real group that existed at least since World War Two. It was comprised of regular citizens who received basic training in spotting and identifying aircraft, but was discontinued in 1959. Be sure to tune in for more fun fact's from the Goolie himself.

I will be tuning in this week I think by now I have seen this movie 5 times my wife is going to kill me.
I give The Deadly Mantis...

3 Blood Brains out of 5

Make sure to check
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counting down to
Halloween.

Part of Count Down to Halloween Day 6.

Double the action. Double the terror. Double the D's.

Director:

John Gulager (Feast 1-3)

Writers:

Patrick Melton (Feast 1-3, Saw 4-7)

Marcus Dunstan (Feast 1-3, Saw 4-7)

Cast

Danielle Panabaker
Matt Bush
Katrina Bowden
Jean-Luc Bilodeau
David Koechner
Chris Zylka
Meagan Tandy
David Hasselhoff
Christopher Lloyd
Paul Scheer
Gary Busey
Clu Gulager

Having awoken from their spring break extravaganza at Lake Victoria, the swarm heads upstream where they look to make a meal out of Big Wet, a local water park where when it comes to fun, nobody does it wetter! Though they came to get wet, get loaded and get some, the staff and patrons get more than they bargained for when they must face the fiercest, most bloodthirsty piranhas yet. Lead by the strong-willed, studious Maddy and her friends, Barry and Kyle, the trio must dive in and take on these man-eating creatures using every ounce of their being but can they be stopped?

So how do you top and already over the top movie? You hire John Gulager and his buddy's Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan for a "Project Green Light" redo. Yep, the guys who brought you the Feast franchise are back to splatter more gore. This time they bring in some pretty big guns! I'm talking star power to match all that naked flesh.

The movie opens with Clu Gulager (Return of the Living Dead) and Gary Busy (Ginger Dead Man) pretty much being themselves. The old coots bounce off of each other with great tongue and cheek humor, and lead into a very young and likable cast. Add in comedic power of David Koechner (Waiting, Anchorman) who plays the sleazy co owner of the new Adult Strip Pool Water Park to a tee. Koechner should be up for some kind of award for a job well done. Then bring back some of the veterans like Ving Rhames and Paul Scheer, and Christopher Llyod put them into a blender add great non CGI effects, pour it out on to the page and you get Piranha 3 double d.

There is a lot to like here. David Hasselhoff pokes fun of himself and the many characters that he has played over the years. The plot is silly, but it is fun. There is plenty of nakedness to go around and tons and tons of gore. Look, at times the movie makes no sense, and is pointless but it does its job of entertaining you. For the most part it is very well written and Gulager proves that he should be taken more serious in Hollywood. He keeps a steady pace from beginning to end. The camera angles are very thought out, and the fact that he did not stoop to the CGI level. Now its not 100% CGI free, you can not help but to appreciate the fact the he uses puppets and blends the two together well.

In the end this is a fun popcorn movie that will not let you take it serious enough to complain about it. The first Piranha (Remake) had more gore and blood but 3DD does not disappoint by any means. The cast is great looking cast that goes for the topless ones as well. If you liked the first one than this is a must. If you're a fan of 80's slashers then rent or buy this now! You won't feel cheated.

I give Piranha 3DD a very strong

4 Bloody Brains out of 5

Now if only they could have signed Pamela Anderson.

Count Down To Halloween Day 4. Spooky Haunted House Puzzles

Hey gang the count down is moving a long nicely. For Family Fun Time I thought I would post a few Vintage (Do I dare say vintage the book looks like it was from the 70's) haunted house puzzles for you to print out. If you would like me to post more let me know in the comment section.

Solutions after the break

Halloween Count Down Day 3

Every year lately at Flashback Weekend my brother and I have been picking up more art that autographs. And with the Disney Princess Zombie's being one of my all time view post's I felt this year during Halloween I would show some of my favorite art. So first up is Steve Jencks his work can be found and purchased over at Lost Highway's B-Movie Reviews. Here are the few that we picked up this year.

This is the newest one not yet on the web site.