Whoooooooo!! It's HALLOWE'EN tonight, and happy memories
spring to mind of when I was still young enough to go out 'on the scrounge'
every October 31st. As well as the usual assortment of apples, monkey
nuts, oranges and stuff to look forward to, there was also a tidy pile of cash
to be reaped from grown-ups who couldn't be bothered to get fruit in for the
spring to mind of when I was still young enough to go out 'on the scrounge'
every October 31st. As well as the usual assortment of apples, monkey
nuts, oranges and stuff to look forward to, there was also a tidy pile of cash
to be reaped from grown-ups who couldn't be bothered to get fruit in for the
'guisers' who came to their door. We'd give them a verse or a song, and a
shilling (or two) would be quickly pressed into our grasping little hands
shilling (or two) would be quickly pressed into our grasping little hands
before the door was hastily shut so they could get back to watching
CORONATION STREET on the telly.
We Brits were more innocent in our approach to All Hallows' Eve
than our Stateside counterparts. Essentially, we were begging - but we
also offered a few moments of entertainment in return for the treats and
cash pressed upon us. In America, it was nothing less than extortion, pure
and simple. "Trick or treat!", these masked, tiny-terrorists would proclaim,
threatening to inflict some form of mischievous retribution upon any poor
householders who didn't meet their demands. Well, I don't know about
you, but I know which version of the age-old tradition I prefer.
also offered a few moments of entertainment in return for the treats and
cash pressed upon us. In America, it was nothing less than extortion, pure
and simple. "Trick or treat!", these masked, tiny-terrorists would proclaim,
threatening to inflict some form of mischievous retribution upon any poor
householders who didn't meet their demands. Well, I don't know about
you, but I know which version of the age-old tradition I prefer.
I couldn't quite think of a suitable picture to accompany this post, so in
the end I decided to feature film-fandom's favourite fright-meister, BORIS
KARLOFF! However, just to be different, here he is not as the Monster
or the Mummy, but as simply - himself.
or the Mummy, but as simply - himself.
Happy Hallowe'en!