Five questions asked over a glowing Jack o'Lantern, under an Autumn moon obscured by passing clouds…in between mouthfuls of candy corn…J.W. Morehead of TheoFantastique examines the Theater of the Fantastic through his academic eyes. He's also a nut for Lemax's Spooky Town collection. So if you're ever in a Michaels arts and crafts store around the beginning of August and you get knocked over by someone rushing to the Halloween section, odds are it's him. That's when Michaels puts out the latest Spooky Town additions. (Then again, it could be me, too. )
Why is Halloween important to you?
Halloween is filled with great nostalgia for me. I have fond memories of the holiday from my childhood, and since I've adopted Ray Bradbury and Ray Harryhausen's personal pact to grow old but not to grow up, Halloween allows me to give my inner ten year old a chance to experience the fear and festivity of my childhood. As an adult I've continued to look at the holiday as a scholar, and it includes a number of other facets as a cultural celebration that add to its intrigue for me.
Describe your ideal Halloween.
I don't know that I've had an ideal Halloween yet, but I've come close. I've got a friend who lives in Salem, and he gave me an opportunity to come out and stay with him during Halloween week. The place is amazing during this time of year, and I had an opportunity to visit the memorial for the executed accused Salem "witches," to visit the Pagan shops in the area, and to rub shoulders with other tourists, as well as real Pagan Witches and those who assume a vampire identity as well. The place has so much atmosphere, and it was a great experience. I hope to go back one year in the near future. If I could top this one year it would be setting up my own Halloween party for adults, as well as my own haunted attraction in my front yard and garage that would be the talk of the neighborhood.
What Halloween collectibles do you cherish, or hate, or both?
I try to add to this each year, and my hunting begins in late July/early August. Each year I have a few stores I hit to find new additions. This includes Dollar Tree with their Disney Haunted Mansion-esque mini monster busts, Spirit Halloween for new home haunt decorations (this year I hope to add new tombstones, a rubber vulture and bat), and of course, new Lemax Spooky Town items. If I had more space I'd secure a few animated Halloween items for my home haunt, and would pick up several masks to start a collection.
When was your very first Halloween, the one where you really knew it was Halloween, and how was it?
I don't know how old I was, but I remember growing up in the mid- to late-1960s and 1970s and the great sense of anticipation with new costumes from classic monsters. Perhaps my earliest memory is in early elementary school with my Universal Frankenstein's monster plastic mask which transformed me in my mind into the creature that I saw glowing on my television screen. When this experience is coupled with my fond memories of going to the pumpkin patch, selecting the perfect pumpkin, taking it home and carving it for the neighborhood to see, these are some of my earliest and fondest Halloween memories.
Oops. Our fifth question ran off to Michaels. I'll see if I can get it back…