FOR THE FUN OF IT:

 

HALLOWEEN 1978: THE TV CUT (YES, IT'S REAL)

If I had a nickel every time some know-it-all told me that a TV cut of John Carpenter's Halloween (broadcast on Friday, October 30, 1981) was a figment of my imagination (that it never existed), I'd be one wealthy son of a gun. 

Well, the NBC, "One Night Only" version of the slasher classic does exist, with twelve minutes of additional material directed by Carpenter to compensate for the deletion of its edgier elements. It surfaced among my YouTube suggestions. To flaunt the find, I've planted the link below. 

This NBC revision holds an interesting segment with Donald Pleasance's Sam Loomis arguing with sanitarium-review staff on why Michael Myers shouldn't be transferred to a new facility. There's even a Michael Myers unmasking at the movie's end. Yeah, pretty fascinating stuff, though on the whole, this network offering is way too subdued and padded for my taste. I wouldn't recommend it except, well, I just want to put those lousy know-it-alls to shame. 

At any rate, check out the presentation if you wish and Happy Halloween! (FYI: Take note of the Prom Night flub in the kickoff ad.)🎃

FOR THE FUN OF IT:

 

HALLOWE'EN SPECIAL 2026: A CLASSIC MONSTERS OF THE MOVIES TRIBUTE

Classic Monsters of the Movies' Hallowe'en Special 2026 has a little of everything for everyone.

As the editorial team's crafty, collage cover conveys, the issue is an indisputable who's who/best-of-the-best compilation, commemorating such headlining staples as Bela Lugosi's Dracula (from Tod Browning to Abbott & Costello); Dark Shadows' Barnabas-based scares; Hammer's one-shot wonders (Curse of the Werewolf, The Phantom of the Opera, The Reptile, Rasputin); sensational simians and missing links (Kong, Kiko, Konga, Cornelius, Caesar and the Ape Man); rebellious, adolescent monsters from the 1950s to present (Teenage Werewolf, Teenage Frankenstein, The Lost Boys & Buffy); Jack Pierce's iconic Frankenstein Monster and the actors who wore the makeup (Karloff, Chaney Jr. & Strange); a salute to Roy Ashton, Hammer's operatic, creature creator of Frankenstein's Monster, Leon the lycanthrope, the serpentine Anna & Haitian zombies; and a sentimental tribute to the one and only (late, great) Tim Curry.

The articles were penned by Classic Monsters' scholarly scribes, Nige Burton, Jamie Jones, John Logan, Ethan Lee and Marcus Turner, with their thorough content bracketed by rare posters and stills that encompass a hundred, high-stock pages.

This voluminous volume will bring one edifying joy (in addition to some hearty chills), not only during Halloween, but all year round. But be warned: Only 250 copies of the Hallowe'en 2026 Special are to be printed. If you desire one, it's wise to act now.

https://www.classic-monsters.com/shop/product/classic-monsters-halloween-special-2026-signed-art-print/

PINUP TIME: YVONNE DE CARLO IS LILY

 

GOODBYE, TOM DANIEL

Your designs weren't just designs. They were redefining blueprints that opened our eyes to creativity and, in the case of your Hot Wheels line, sheer, shameless fun. 

Many of your creations came in boxes, their packaging daring us to replicate colorful images with glue and paint. (I remember those joyful, challenging hours I invested into assembling Evil Iron Trike and Dragonfire. The time spent was so well worth it.)

In certain special cases, your designs even materialized as full-size vehicles, as with the Batcycle for the 1960s Batman series. There's also your marvelous Munsters set of the Koach and Drag-U-La, which maestro George Barris reproduced, based on your spectacular specs. 

No matter the format, your work came to epitomize an era when kids and adults alike could turn whimsy into reality, when they could hold a product in their hands and sigh in utter awe. 

You gave us so much, Mr. Daniel, more than mere words can express. Thanks for the fond memories, my friend. Trust me when I say they'll never end. 

WISE WORDS:

I SAW HOUDINI: BACK FROM THE DEAD

Fox Nation/Red Rock Films' Houdini: Back From the Dead is an absorbing, A.I.-accentuated, three-part documentary, where an interviewer (voiced by Brian Gurnett) grants passage into Ehrich Weiss's extraordinary life, on the 100th anniversary of his death. 

Helmed by Red Rock's president/showrunner, Brian Armstrong, the A.I. presentation recreates Houdini's voice (based on antiquated recordings), along with imagery culled from archival photos, most of which are enlivened by vivid color. 

Though the visuals are striking, it's the content that enchants, as the series' chapters ("Master of Illusion," "Master of Fear" and "Master of Death") chronicle the legendary escape artist/illusionist in a way that exceeds all previous, biographical attempts (and indeed, there have been some good ones).

As a means to weave a thorough tapestry, the series returns viewers to Houdini's Budapest birthplace and then tracks his life in America, sharing insights on his parents, Mayer Samuel and Cecillia, his brother, Theodore/Dash (aka Hardeen), and the love of his life, Bess Rahner. 

Along the way, one gains an appreciation for Houdini's work ethic (his push to succeed), with significant benchmarks and influencing personalities presented. These include encounters with Martin Beck and C. Dundas Slater, from whom Houdini's handcuff skills gained prominence; his astonishing, Scotland Yard evasion; his beguiling, stage gimmicks (the Chinese Water Torture Cell and the Milk Can Escape); his daring, aviation stints; his friendships with authors Walter B. Gibson and Arthur Conan Doyle; and his sweeping, seance-debunking campaign. 

Thanks to the documentary's careful execution, much of the content proves touching, as when Houdini vows to fill his mother's apron with gold (to fulfill his father's dying wish), as well as his measures to comfort Bess when they lose their beloved dog, Charlie, or when it's confirmed that Bess cannot conceive. 

Despite its controversial format, Houdini: Back From the Dead succeeds through its reenactments. That the results manage a welcoming warmth also lends justification to the approach.  

I can't help but praise Houdini: Back From the Dead. For anyone who has come to admire the man (whether per photos, movies and/or books), this is a hands-down must-see. Don't let it slip by. Take a peek--and be amazed!