How the Pumpkin Took Over the Front Porch
How did a humble farm crop become the star of the fall porch? Here’s how pumpkins went from harvest staple to Halloween lantern to autumn tradition.
Friday Night at the Terror Glow Drive-In: The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966)
Earl gets one simple ghost and ends up with Don Knotts, a haunted organ, old murder secrets, and one very nervous night at the Terror Glow.
Weekly Roundup: Fall Traditions and Spooky Curiosities
Spiders hidden in the morning dew, a surprisingly dangerous old Halloween game, and the not-so-ancient story of cider doughnuts — this week’s roundup takes a curious look at fall traditions…
Did People Really Play a Halloween Game With an Apple and a Lit Candle?
In the 1800s, Halloween partygoers really did try to bite an apple from one end of a spinning stick while a lit candle swung from the other. Here’s how the…
Did a Horse Really Climb a Ladder to Steal Hay in 1897?
In 1897, a missing horse turned up in a hayloft with only one obvious way up: a ladder. The newspaper blamed its circus past. I had to find out whether…
Friday Night at the Terror Glow Drive-In: The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958)
Earl gets his lighter adventure with The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, a colorful 1958 fantasy packed with Ray Harryhausen creatures, Dynamation, and one very memorable Cyclops.
Weekly Roundup Episode 2: Flour-Sack Masks, Cake Yeast & Roadside Lunch Rooms. Odd Traditions and Forgotten Stops
This week: creepy flour-sack Halloween masks, the mystery of “one cake of yeast,” forgotten roadside lunch rooms, and a darker-than-expected night at the Terror Glow Drive-In.
Did People Really Wear Flour-Sack Masks for Halloween?
Those unsettling old Halloween masks made from sacks weren't just something dreamed up for a horror movie. Flour sacks really were used for masks — and the reason makes perfect…
Friday Night at the Terror Glow Drive-In: Man of the West (1958)
Earl heads west with Gary Cooper in Man of the West, a tense 1958 western that is darker, rougher, and far less cozy than the marquee suggests.
Grandma’s Recipe Says “One Cake of Yeast.” How Much Dry Yeast Is That?
An old recipe says “one cake of yeast,” but modern conversion charts may tell you anything from one packet to three. Here’s why both answers can be right—and how to…