Ahhhh, Fall is in the air!
Temperatures are falling, the air is crisp and pumpkins are everywhere! And, we all know what that means: Halloween is just around the corner!
I had several of my ghoul-friends over for some witch’s brew and a planning party the other night. We are planning on having our annual Monster Bash at the Witchwood Cemetery at midnight on Halloween, and we were discussing the activities. We have it at midnight so we all can be home earlier in the evening to hand out goodies to all the little monsters that come around our homes here in our community. We have such fun tormenting the little creatures who come our way. I don’t know who has more fun…us or them! Anyway, we were all sitting around on my front porch when the conversation turned to movies.
“Granny,” asked Hester Grimple,”What’s your favorite Ray Harryhausen movie?”
“Oh, without a doubt, 20 Million Miles to Earth,” I responded. “The story is good and I think he did his best animation for it.”
“Mine’s The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad,” Hester replied.
“I like Jason and the Argonauts,” Vespera Howler chimed in.
“My favorite is Mysterious Island, said Elspeth Darkmoor. “The music, especially the main title, is spectacular!”
Esmeree Grimshaw and Winifred Hawthorne both agreed that Earth vs The Flying Saucers was their favorite.
We all were of the opinion that his earlier movies were the best, effects-wise and story-wise. Perhaps it was just the originality of Dynamation and the fact that the earlier movies were geared toward more adult audiences.
We finalized our basic plan for the Monster Bash and committee chairs were assigned. We would meet again in a few weeks to give update reports.
After the gals left I searched my files. I have quite a few Harryhausen radio spots so I decided to feature what I have over the next two weeks. Sadly, I don’t have as many as I wish I had, but what spots I have are good. Back at the end of April I featured spots for It Came From Beneath the Sea, and they are pretty cool. So this week I feature 20 Million Miles to Earth (paired with The 27th Day), The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad (1975 rerelease), Mysterious Island, and an old off-the-air recording of the excellent Jason and the Argonauts radio spot.
So, I hope they bring back some animated memories to you monsterkids out there…you know, those of you who grew up with your 8mm movie camera in hand experimenting with stop motion. I did….shoot, we ALL did. It was a magical time.
20 Million Miles to Earth Radio Spots
The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad Re-release Radio Spots
Mysterious Island Radio Spots
Jason and the Argonauts Radio Spot
