NEW YEAR'S EVE IN A HAUNTED HOUSE - 2012 INTO 2013 EDITION

Hmmmm…. Father Time is kinda’ scary, isn’t he?

Speaking of time, I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for making the past few years so much fun for me. Thank you to all those who have twittered about my blog, chosen to “follow” the blog, have left comments on posts and told others about the project. I am especially grateful to all the blogs and websites who have publicized this wacky endeavor over the past 12 months.

Special thanks goes to Brian Solomon of The Vault of Horror who invited both me and John Cozzoli of Zombo’s Closet of Horror to join him on-stage at The Bijou Theatre in Connecticut for a double-feature screening of Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein and Young Frankenstein last week. Brian was wonderful to meet and a big fan, and John of course also continues to be a strong supporter of this project.


LEFT TO RIGHT: John Cozzoli, Brian Solomon, Paul Castiglia

Another round of special thanks goes to master (and celebrity) chef and restaurateur Francesco Palmieri of the Orange Squirrel restaurant in New Jersey. Francesco hosted a special Halloween dinner comprised of entrees from Vincent Price's cookbook... and he invited me to participate and give a short presentation on Price including a fun trivia contest! Francesco and his family and staff were all wonderful people and I am grateful to have met them as well.


Paul Castiglia, Francesco Palmieri

Of course, there's no blog without you readers out there so thank you to ALL SCARED SILLY FANS! (And if I’ve left anyone out please know it wasn’t intentional)!

Last but certainly not least I also have to thank my wife for letting the TV be commandeered by all these movies (some of which were just downright painful for her to sit through), my friend Brent for being a terrific fact-checker and of course everyone’s favorite current-day character actor, carrying the torch for all who’ve gone before, the ubiquitous Daniel Roebuck, who graciously agreed to write the foreword for the book that will (hopefully) ultimately result from this blog!

Thank you also for bearing with my erratic schedule – due to other commitments I can’t always post on a regular basis. Please hang in there and keep checking back… you’re bound to see a new review every now and then.

Until the next review, here is Vagabond Opera performing “New Year’s Eve in a Haunted House,” composed by avant garde jazz legend Raymond Scott, the man behind many of the melodies heard in Looney Tunes cartoons - enjoy your New Year's Eve!