Octoberama! "The Haunted Castle" (1896) from Melies!

From the artist we learned a bit about in Scorsese's Hugo.

October Watch: Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

Probably the weirdest thing about this movie, an all ages movie featuring classic Universal Monsters at their least scary meeting the comedy duo of Abbott & Costello, is that there's a sort of continuity to the Universal Monster pictures, and this movie is absolutely a part of the long narrative tied together by meetings of Frankenstein, Wolfman and Dracula.

In fact, in addition to the stars in the title, this movie also features Bela Lugosi as Dracula, Lon Chaney Jr. as Talbot/ The Wolfman, and Glenn Strange as Frankenstein's monster (who he'd played in at least 2 prior films).  It's 17 years after the first Dracula film and 16 years after Frankenstein (and 7 years after The Wolfman, so you don't need to look that up).

Octoberama! Fridays with Elvira!

Elvira has her own line of wine, but for some reason we can't get it in Texas.  No idea why.  I'd like to try the "Macabrenet".  Californians are encouraged to get me box.

Nice to know Elvira hangs out in her sofa with her laptop during her downtime, too.

Octoberama! Esther Williams!

You will not recognize Ms. Williams at first as she is nowhere near a swimming pool or dozens of other swimmers.  But Ms. Williams takes some time off from submerging herself to enjoy the holiday.

Octoberama! Cyd Charisse!

You didn't really think I'd make it through a themed series without posting Cyd Charisse, did you?

Octoberama! Carole Lombard!

We will forgive Ms. Lombard her whack jack-o-lantern and focus on the ruffle on that blouse.  That's amazing.

Octoberama! Betty Grable!

In my long history of blogging, I've use this picture before, but I don't believe I knew this was Betty Grable.  Nonetheless, let us join Betty in her spooky moment.

October Watch: Dracula's Daughter (1936)

I can't remember if I'd watched this movie before or not, because bits looked familiar, but I'm counting this as my first viewing of Dracula's Daughter (1936).

Following quickly on the heels of 1935's Bride of Frankenstein, this movie took a different angle from the Frankenstein sequel, and this one features a lot of the titular character instead of a scant few minutes and mostly hissing at Karloff.  However, it lacks any of the over-the-top insanity of Bride.

Octoberama! Sundays with The Bride!

Ms. Elsa Lanchester takes five on the set of Bride of Frankenstein

Octoberama! See the 1910 "Frankenstein" from Edison Studios!

I'll be honest with you cats. I thought this film was lost until I stumbled across it this week while doing something completely unrelated. Apparently, totally not lost.

So, spend 12 minutes with a movies made 110 years ago, why don't you?

Octoberama! Fridays with Elvira!

Who better than to take us into the first weekend of Ocotober than Elvira, Mistress of the Dark?

Octoberama! Ava Gardner!

Ms. Ava Gardner is swooping in to provide you with a little Halloween excitement!

October Watch: Lake Mungo (2008)

Remember when I said "hey, give me some ideas for spooky movies to watch during October?"  Well, some of you humans did so.

One of those humans was Nathaniel Capp, who recommended the 2008 documentary Lake Mungo to me.  I knew it was Australian and creepy, and that's all he'd told me.  "Go in without knowing anything" he said, and so I did.  To discuss the movie is to spoil the movie, so...  anything you read below is your problem.

But I will say, it is definitely some decent October Halloween viewing.

Okay.  SPOILERS NOW.

Octoberama! Audrey Totter!

Audrey Totter looks sweet enough, but she might also know how to use that knife.

Octoberama! Ann Miller!

We refuse to not post pictures of Ann Miller in witch costumes.

Octoberama! Joan Crawford!

Each day of October, we'll be counting down to Halloween with Signal Watch Worthy imagery, movie reviews, posts, etc...

If you want to contribute anything from pictures to guest posts, feel free to contact me, and let's do it!

For our first post, what's creepier than a smashingly happy Joan Crawford?  I believe this is Halloween, 1933.