This is a great DVD chronicling the history of the country’s oldest continuously running home haunt – The Witch’s Dungeon. If there’s one that’s been open longer then I don’t know about it, and I’ve met Cortlandt Hull at the Monsterbash in Pittsburgh – great guy and a true lover of all things Halloween. As always all previous prizes and contest rules are located at the bottom of the post. You can find out more about this DVD by clicking either the graphic above or the one below this description of the Witch’s Dungeon I ganked from Wikipedia:

Located in a residential area in Bristol, Connecticut, the Witch’s Dungeon Classic Movie Museum housed in a small Swiss chalet style building, suitable for a witch, is a tribute to classic movie monsters that has been in existence for over 40 years. Since its founding, it has been a Halloween staple in Connecticut that is visited by people from all over the country.

The museum is owned by Bristol-native Cortlandt Hull. Since he was a young boy, he had always been interested in art and film. Due to a rare blood condition, he was ill most of his younger years, and this heightened his interest in the arts. Having a love of cartooning, at one point Hull considered a career in animation. As young as six, he begged to stay up late to watch Boris Karloff in “The Mummy” on TV – without realizing it, that changed everything! Shortly afterward, he became interested in wax museums, as Cortlandt put it – “I was a weird little kid!” Then he started to build and paint the Aurora model kits of the classic monsters.

Hull always seemed fascinated by the make-up and effects in fantasy and horror films. Even at a young age, he viewed it as a form of art. Thanks to co-operative parents, he began collecting lobby cards, photos, and magazines such as “Famous Monsters”, “Castle of Frankenstein” and “Fantastic Monsters”. Soon, the Aurora model kits were not big enough. By thirteen, Hull wanted to build life-size figures of his favorite actors, in make-up based on their films. Wax museums of the time had only torture devices and famous murderers in their “Chamber of Horrors”. Amusement parks had “dark rides” with generic vampires or monsters, mechanically jumping out at you – the “Boo” tactic!

Hull’s concept, even from the beginning, was a tribute to the actors and make-up artists that gave us those memorable monsters and characters we love. So in 1966, Cortlandt’s father helped him build the Swiss chalet-style building to house the museum. Cortlandt built life-size figures of classic movie monsters that were made of wax, fine wire mesh, papier-mache and polymers. As Cortlandt got older, and as his artistic ability got better, the figures were replaced with more accurate ones that would arguably rival wax figurines at Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum.

Over the years, Universal Studios took notice of the small Connecticut museum. They were glad to see that someone was keeping interest in their classic monsters alive. In 1997, Cortlandt and two of his colleagues, Dante Renta and Paul Clemens, created a life size figure of Lon Chaney Jr. as “The Wolf Man”, for the entrance of “The Classic Monsters Cafe” at Universal Studios Florida. Even several actors, make-up artists, and relatives of classic horror actors took notice of the non profit museum and got involved. Over the years, several people in the film industry became honorary board members of the museum, including: John Astin (Gomez Addams on “The Addams Family”), Bob Burns (film historian and collector of movie memorabilia), Ron Chaney Jr. (grandson of actor Lon Chaney Jr., and great-grandson of actor Lon Chaney Sr.), June Foray (voice actress), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker of “Star Wars” fame), Sara Karloff (daughter of actor Boris Karloff), Béla Lugosi Jr. (son of actor Béla Lugosi), Leonard Maltin (film historian/critic), Victoria Price (daughter of actor Vincent Price), and Dick Smith (Oscar-winning make-up artist). Some other members who have since died are John Agar (horror actor), Roddy McDowall (Cornelius in the “Planet of the Apes” films) and legendary horror actor Vincent Price.

Here’s the way this works. Every week on Monday – cuz Mondays suck – I’m going to add a prize to the pack. The first prize was added February 1st – and each successive Monday through and including March 15th something new gets added. That’s 7 prizes in all. Then on Saturday March 20th – the Vernal Equinox (that’s the Spring Equinox people) I will pick one winner to take it all. Below are the rules and how to enter so get cracking – you can enter every day again, and this week’s prize is below that. w00t!

**Contest runs February 1st, 2010 through March 20th, 2010 midnight EST! One person takes all the prizes. A new prize will be added every Monday and all will appear at the bottom of this post as they are added.

**I will draw a winner using Random.org at midnight EST on the Vernal Equinox – March 20th, 2010. All entries must be to me by then.

**You can enter up to once a day by emailing me at RavensBarrow@verizon.net . Yep, once a damn day people with the subject heading “Vernal Equinox Entry” and include your name and address only. I think the telephone number thing scares some folks – especially the ones I stalk and make prank calls to – so we’re skipping it this time. I’ll get it from the winner since the shippers like to have it. Do not enter more than once a day using this method. If you fail to follow these instructions to the letter I am not going to let you know your entry is void like I have in the past so please include all the information.

**You must be eighteen to enter and a resident of the continental United States or Canada. Canadians will have to pay all duties and taxes themselves, but I will pay the shipping.

**Facebook still sucks, but I’m still using it cause I’m a wanker. If you become a Raven’s Barrow fan – click this link to fan us – I will post a way to get an extra entry on the fan page wall right after I post the latest addition to the prize package that, if you get to it in time, you can use to get an extra entry in the contest each day for that week until the next Monday. Basically it will be a particular subject heading to use for an additional email. Make sense? Check out the fan page and you will see what I mean. It will only be good for 7 days and can only be used once a day.

Now get emailing people!

Buy your tickets for a chance to win a 1986 Cadillac Hearse. Tickets are $10.00 and can be purchased on this website, or our booth at TransWorld or Midwest Haunters Convention. The winner will be drawn at Midwest Haunters Convention. The Hearse was donated by Tim and Ann Marie Gavinski from the Wisconsin Feargrounds. All proceeds go toward IAHA.

To find out more click either the logo above or the hearse photo below to be transported magically to the raffle info. Though, I believe I already have the winning ticket so you might be best to spend your ten bucks on a cheap hooker and some generic beer instead. I’m just saying.

I kid – now go buy a ticket, eh?!

Also, if you send me a 468×60 banner I will throw it into the rotation at the top of my page and link it wherever you like.

<a href=”http://www.ravensbarrow.com” target=”_blank”><img border=”0″ src=”http://www.castlenottingham.com/ravensbarrow/currentbanner.gif” width=”468″ height=”60″></a>

Up this week in the prize package are two VIP tickets – that’s for the show floor – for the National, Halloween, Horror, Haunted House, Hearse, and Kitchen Sink (I added that) Convention. This is the one I’m hitting this year so be sure to look me up and buy me beer. Dammit!

Here’s the way this works. Every week on Monday – cuz Mondays suck – I’m going to add a prize to the pack. The first prize was added February 1st – and each successive Monday through and including March 15th something new gets added. That’s 7 prizes in all. Then on Saturday March 20th – the Vernal Equinox (that’s the Spring Equinox people) I will pick one winner to take it all. Below are the rules and how to enter so get cracking – you can enter every day again, and this week’s prize is below that. w00t!

**Contest runs February 1st, 2010 through March 20th, 2010 midnight EST! One person takes all the prizes. A new prize will be added every Monday and all will appear at the bottom of this post as they are added.

**I will draw a winner using Random.org at midnight EST on the Vernal Equinox – March 20th, 2010. All entries must be to me by then.

**You can enter up to once a day by emailing me at RavensBarrow@verizon.net . Yep, once a damn day people with the subject heading “Vernal Equinox Entry” and include your name and address only. I think the telephone number thing scares some folks – especially the ones I stalk and make prank calls to – so we’re skipping it this time. I’ll get it from the winner since the shippers like to have it. Do not enter more than once a day using this method. If you fail to follow these instructions to the letter I am not going to let you know your entry is void like I have in the past so please include all the information.

**You must be eighteen to enter and a resident of the continental United States or Canada. Canadians will have to pay all duties and taxes themselves, but I will pay the shipping.

**Facebook still sucks, but I’m still using it cause I’m a wanker. If you become a Raven’s Barrow fan – click this link to fan us – I will post a way to get an extra entry on the fan page wall right after I post the latest addition to the prize package that, if you get to it in time, you can use to get an extra entry in the contest each day for that week until the next Monday. Basically it will be a particular subject heading to use for an additional email. Make sense? Check out the fan page and you will see what I mean. It will only be good for 7 days and can only be used once a day.

Now get emailing people!

Remember going barefoot as a child? It’s the way you first discovered and conquered your world—without the constraint of shoes. Or the sense of duty you acquired later on.

Now you can experience that same physical and visceral sensation in Vibram FiveFingers—the only footwear to offer the exhilarating joy of going barefoot with the protection and sure-footed grip of a Vibram® sole.

FiveFingers footwear connects you to the earth and your surroundings in a way that is simply not possible in conventional shoes. It puts you in touch with the earth beneath your feet and liberates you to move in a more natural, healthy way. FiveFingers stimulate the muscles in your feet and lower legs to build strength and improve range of motion. Our customers report an increased sense of balance, greater agility, and visibly improved posture.

Here’s mine . . .

The concept is to give your feet the opportunity to go barefoot for running, hiking, watersports, and whatever without having to worry about stepping in barf, spit, dog crap, or on anything that could cause serious injury like broken glass from your alcoholic neighbor’s last beer bottle throwing episode. Now, I know this has little to do with Halloween or any of the other crap I talk about, but I like them so much I just had to share . . .

Click the DVD covers for ordering information!

BRAND-NEW CREATURE FEATURES SHOWS FROM THE GOLDEN AGE STARRING JOHN STANLEY WITH NEW MATERIAL INTRODUCING FOUR SHOWS COMPLETE WITH COMMERCIALS AND IN-STUDIO GUESTS

DOUBLE BILL #1:

BATTLE BEYOND THE SUN (Russian 1959 – Re-Edited by Francis Ford Coppola for Producer Roger Corman and Re-Released in 1962) GODZILLA VS. MEGALON (Japanese 1967)

New Introductions by “Creature Features” host John Stanley Made at Playland-Not-at-the-Beach in El Cerrito CA – “Zapped into the Dimension of Doom” – “Tut Tut: The Mummy That Gave Off an Odor” – “Trapped in the Spider’s Website” . . . Actor HARRY DEAN STANTON . . . A tribute to the war and horror comic art of RUSS HEATH . . . San Francisco marketing guru BUTCH LEE . . . the DUCK’S BREATH MYSTERY THEATER . . . Sci-fi novelist HARRY HARRISON . . . Original commercials, station promotions and other period material.

DOUBLE BILL #2:

THE INCREDIBLE PETRIFIED WORLD (USA 1959) – HORROR EXPRESS aka PANIC ON THE TRANS-SIBERIAN EXPRESS (Spanish-British 1972)

John Stanley visits the TOM WYRSCH “Creature Features” Archive/Screening Room/Library in Petaluma, CA. . . Classic four-part interview with actor/voice impressionist FRANK GORSHIN imitating famous Hollywood actors . . . MARTIN ROSEN, producer of WATERSHIP DOWN and THE PLAGUE DOGS. Original commercials, station promotions.

SPECIAL DISCOUNT

Each set contains two discs in a standard 2-disc DVD case, with wraparound cover.

These historic glimpses into television’s past are on sale for $20 each.
However, order both sets today and receive a $5 discount, or just $35.

HOW TO ORDER

Send check or money order to

John Stanley

1082 Grand Teton Drive

Pacifica CA 94044

OR ORDER ON LINE VIA PAYPAL AT www.stanleybooks.net.

Other DVDs and books are also on sale at that website.

PLEASE INCLUDE $2 PER 2-DISC SET – $4 FOR BOTH SETS

FOR POSTAGE & HANDLING

Our newest series, Raine of Terror, is causing a bit of a stir!! The tag line “Scary has never been so sexy”. Our sexy Raine sisters are telling stories of the supernatural, ghosts etc. This is in no way intended to prove or disprove the stories, just tell them. We have footage from the UK when we were filming Slay Angels, which we are using and several locations around Florida as we get ready to release the pilot this week. Romanian TV has already picked up the series.

You can check out the series promos by clicking the video below or by following this link: Raine of Terror.

Got this from Comedy Central:

Comedy Central Gets Ugly This March With The Premiere Of “Ugly Americans,” A New Animated Comedy

Get “Freaky” Starting March 17th

Take New York City, add every horrifying beast, science-fiction freak, and fantasy faerie, shake thoroughly, and you’ve got “Ugly Americans.”

This animated horror-comedy series follows one Mark Lilly, social worker at the Department of Integration, as he helps new citizens both human and “other” adapt to hectic life in the Big Apple. There are easier tasks than weaning vampires off of blood, socializing land-whales, and housebreaking werewolves, but Mark is up to the challenge. Between his stressful job, a zombie roommate, and a demon ex-girlfriend, Mark’s lucky if he can sneak in a few minutes of sleep. But who can sleep when there’s a drop-dead gorgeous Mermaid sitting at the bar?

Ugly Americans was created by Devin Clark and developed by David Stern. Executive Producers are David Stern and Daniel Powell, with animation by Augenblick Studios and Cuppa Coffee. Premieres March 17th at 10:30pm (9:30 Central) on Comedy Central.

Get Ugly on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ugly-Americans/173036869115

“Ugly Americans” Sneak Peek

Get a first look at Comedy Central’s new animated series Ugly Americans.

Link: http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId=256810&title=sneak-peek

The Demon Chick and Zombie Roommate

You know that time when you’ve just moved to the city, and you take the first apartment you find on CraigsList with some dude you never expected?

Link: http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId=256765&title=the-demon-chick