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Trick-or-treating is a Halloween custom where children go door-to-door in costume, asking "Trick or treat?" and requesting treats such as candy or money. The "trick" part is an idle threat to play a prank on the homeowners if no treat is given. Trick-or-treating is a central Halloween tradition. Homeowners in neighborhoods with children are generally expected to have candy ready for the influx of trick-or-treaters. In 2023, the National Confectioners Association found that 80% of American adults planned to distribute confections to trick-or-treaters, while 93% of children intended to go door-to-door collecting them. The practice of dressing up in costumes and going door-to-door to beg for treats on holidays dates back to the Middle Ages, including the tradition of Christmas wassailing. Trick-or-treating is similar to the late medieval practice of "souling," where the poor would visit homes on Hallowmas (November 1st) in exchange for food, offering prayers ...

Written By: Ken Hulsey As a child growing up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, I heard the haunting tale of the Ditch Witch, also known as La Llorona or The Weeping Woman, recounted around campfires and during sleepovers countless times. While the details varied, the core narrative remained the same - a young mother who, scorned by her lover, tragically drowned her own children. Now eternally cursed, the woman's spirit wanders the banks of the Rio Grande, forever lamenting and searching for her lost offspring.

 Photos and Story By: Ken Hulsey I began the week before Halloween by spending an eerily foggy Monday morning in an area that looked like it belonged in an episode of Scooby Doo. As I arrived for an early start to the workday, a dense bank of fog had settled in. I couldn't resist capturing the spooky atmosphere in a series of photos - the lights from nearby businesses illuminating the fog and backlit trees created a truly spectacular visual. I also got some haunting shots of an old abandoned house on the property. My travels down to the Marksville area revealed the fog lingering well into late morning, allowing me to photograph an abandoned Mardis Gras float against the hazy backdrop. The whole experience had a wonderfully eerie, Halloween-esque feel to it.

The story opens with Linus and Lucy venturing into a nearby pumpkin patch in search of the perfect pumpkin. After Linus rejects a few smaller options, Lucy spots the largest pumpkin in the patch. Linus then clumsily rolls the massive pumpkin back home. Once there, Lucy grabs a large knife and starts slicing into the pumpkin, gutting it. At this point, a horrified Linus cries out, "Ohhhh, you didn't tell me you were going to kill it!" and begins wailing.

Photos and Story By: Ken Hulsey Last weekend, Terri and I ventured to Natchez, Mississippi to attend the annual Balloon Festival. Watching the vibrant hot air balloons soar overhead evoked cherished memories of my time living in Albuquerque. This nostalgic experience filled my heart with joy. We're already eager to return next year.

 Written By: Ken Hulsey The 1953 American horror film House of Wax, starring Vincent Price, was director André De Toth's 3-D remake of the 1933 film Mystery of the Wax Museum, marking the first 3-D film of the early 1950s.

Written By: Ken Hulsey Retiring from the monster business, Dr. Frankenstein plans to pass the reins to his hapless nephew, Felix, at an upcoming convention attended by an assortment of famous creatures - Frankenstein's monster, Dracula, the Werewolf, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, among others. But when the incompetent and overly kindhearted Felix proves unfit for the role, the monsters hatch a plot to eliminate him and seize control of Frankenstein's latest, and most dangerous, discovery - the secret to total destruction. The film utilized Rankin/Bass' "Animagic" stop motion animation technique, which involved photographing figurines in successive still frames, repositioning them slightly between each shot - a process akin to that used for Art Clokey's Davey and Goliath and the original King Kong. Notably, a creature strongly resembling Kong himself makes a cameo appearance in the film, though due to licensing restrictions, h...

 In this inspiring sermon, Pastor James Greer shares the powerful lessons from the life of Caleb, a man whose faith and perseverance in the face of giants led to incredible victories. At 85, Caleb was still ready to take on the greatest challenges, proving that age is no barrier to God's plans. Pastor Greer highlights how perspective shapes performance, and how trusting in God's promises allows us to conquer our biggest obstacles. Whether you face personal struggles, family issues, or spiritual battles, this message will remind you to keep fighting, endure suffering, and trust God’s timing for victory.

 Photos & Story By: Ken Hulsey This morning, Terri and I traveled to Natchez, Mississippi for their 39th Annual Balloon Festival. I was excited to see hot air balloons again, having last witnessed them gliding gracefully across the sky back in the early 1990s when I lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Albuquerque hosts the renowned "Fiesta," one of the world's most visually stunning balloon events, drawing thousands of balloonists from around the globe. While the Natchez festival paled in comparison to that grand spectacle, it was still a delightful experience, with over two dozen balloons taking to the sky.

 Photos and Story By: Ken Hulsey A couple of weeks ago, my travels took me to the town of DeQueen, Arkansas and the railyard of the DeQueen & Eastern Railroad, a short line operating in western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. This railroad, which began service in 1900, is now under the ownership of Patriot Rail, the company I was there to inspect. As I drove onto the property, I noticed an intriguing structure that I quickly identified as an old steam engine house from the railroad's early days.

Written By: Ken Hulsey The classic movie monster Creature from the Black Lagoon, developed by Universal Pictures, was the last in a long line of iconic horror characters. By the 1950s, most studios had shifted their focus from horror to science fiction films. Universal followed this trend, with Creature from the Black Lagoon arriving soon after the popular It Came from Outer Space, both starring Richard Carlson in his signature role as the heroic scientist. This was a departure from the typical portrayal of scientists as villainous or misguided. It was a logical move for Universal to blend their established horror brand with the emerging science fiction genre, resulting in the creation of Creature from the Black Lagoon. The original design for the Gill-Man (Creature) differed significantly from the iconic version audiences know today. Early on, studio executives had envisioned a sleek, streamlined monster. However, test shots revealed this sleek design did not translate well underwater...

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Written By: Ken Hulsey In 1941, Curt Siodmak set out to write a horror story inspired by Greek mythology and the widespread folkloric belief in human-to-animal transformation. Little did he know that his script for The Wolf Man would not only shape the future of horror films, but also influence perceptions of the occult. Contrary to common belief, Siodmak was solely responsible for iconic werewolf elements like the pentagram, silver vulnerability, and the full moon trigger - including the legendary poem "Even a man who is pure of heart, and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolf bane blooms, and the autumn moon is bright." This was an original creation, not a reflection of pre-existing folklore and witchcraft as is often assumed. The Wolf Man was not Universal's first werewolf film. That distinction belongs to Werewolf of London, which flopped at the box office in 1935. The earlier film starred popular character actor Henry Hull, with a far more subtle...

Join Pastor Darrell Ingram as he delivers a powerful message about faith, vision, and overcoming life's obstacles. Using the story of the Israelites in Numbers 13, Pastor Darrell encourages us to see beyond the giants in our lives and focus on the blessings God has promised. With wisdom on having a "grape-taster" mentality, he shares how God has a unique plan and picture for each of us, and how we can unlock the potential for our dreams, families, and futures by trusting in Him. Whether you're facing challenges with family, work, or personal struggles, this sermon will inspire you to change your perspective and step into the "Promised Land" of your life. Don't miss this life-changing message filled with hope, encouragement, and a call to embrace God's vision for your life! 

Written By Ken Hulsey In 1932, Universal Pictures decided to capitalize on the success of Frankenstein and its star Boris Karloff by producing a new horror movie. The initial idea was to create a film based on the real-life exploits of the French mystic Cagliostro, who claimed to have lived for several generations. However, this concept was soon abandoned in favor of a screenplay penned by Nina Wilcox Putnam, which featured the resurrected corpse of an ancient Egyptian prince. This decision was likely influenced by the recent discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb and the resulting national obsession with Egyptology. Universal felt that the combination of Karloff and this topical theme would guarantee a hit, and their instincts proved correct. Despite the popularity of the Karloff name, Universal was hesitant to greenlight the film. They hired Karl Freund, director of Frankenstein, Dracula, and I Love Lucy, to helm a project whose script closely mirrored that of Dracula, which Freund had ...

Written By: Ken Hulsey In 1818, a young aristocrat named Mary Shelley was inspired by a summer night of ghost story readings with friends to write what may be the greatest horror story in history. Her short story, "Frankenstein," about a scientist named Victor Frankenstein and his attempts to generate new life from dead tissue, has since inspired countless novels, plays, TV series, and movie adaptations. However, the famous interpretation of the monster by Boris Karloff in the 1931 Universal film adaptation differs significantly from Shelley's original depiction. Karloff's monster was a slow, mute creature who acted out violently due to fear and confusion. In contrast, Shelley's monster was highly intelligent and articulate, with his violent behavior stemming from the internal anguish over how he had been created. This monster was capable of confronting his creator intellectually, expressing his pain and suffering. Ultimately, Karloff's version was more cinema...

Written By: Ken Hulsey The former London Lyceum Theatre manager Bram Stoker is often credited with creating modern vampire lore through his 1897 novel Dracula. However, contrary to popular belief, Dracula was not a successful novel and is not considered an important work in Victorian literature, despite inspiring countless films, TV series, books, and plays. While it is a common notion that Stoker's inspiration for the vampire character was the infamous Vlad III Dracula ("Vlad the Impaler"), most scholars agree this is not the case. Stoker did discover the name "Dracul" (meaning "Dragon") while studying Romanian history, which he used for his vampire character, but the connection ends there. Stoker's main inspirations actually came from earlier vampire stories such as Emily Gérard's "Transylvania Superstitions" (1885), Sheridan Le Fanu's "Carmilla" (1871), John Polidori's "The Vampyre" (1819), and Lord Byro...