Spooky Daily

An Animated Ghost Story from 1923Felix the Ghostbreaker is a Felix the Cat cartoon from 1923, directed by Pat Sullivan. This version has a spooky modern score composed just for this 'toon by Mickey E.Vil of The Mugshots. Felix makes the mistake of looking for a resting place in a cemetery, although not intentionally a final resting place. The ghost he stirs up proceeds to haunt a nearby farm until Felix saves the day. It takes a while, because after all, Felix is just a cat and not all that smart to begin with. A clown car full of police can't stop the ghost, but Felix treats us to a Scooby-Doo ending that shows such subterfuge was a trope long before the Mystery Machine. The music makes this early silent cartoon much more enjoyable, although kids might pass it up just because it has no color.

The Cursed History of the Screaming Egyptian MummyA story about a terrifying movie monster is always a pleasure, but even more so when it's true. A mummy excavated near the Valley of the Kings in Egypt is the subject of this tale. No one knows who he was in life, so his remains were labeled as "Unknown Man E." It must be frustrating to be one of the most famous mummies ever while also being completely unknown at the same time. Certain details about his burial suggested that he was a person of dishonor for some reason. Some theorize that he was a royal assassin, or at least a scapegoat for an assassination. A ruling family may have the best lives, but they also have to keep an eye out for those who want to take what they've got. But aside from speculation, Unknown Man E remains a rare example of a mummy found in an Egyptian royal burial ground that hasn't been identified. But what about the screaming part? That has a perfectly logical explanation, but not one that makes us feel better about him. Weird History lays out what we know and don't know about the screaming mummy.

The Accidental Vampire KillerAll pop culture characters, heroes and villains, have their weaknesses. Even Superman has kryptonite, which is really not enough to make him interesting. Vampires are terrifying, but can be defeated by several things: sunlight, garlic, religious symbols, decapitation, or a stake through the heart. I would also posit that a complete dental extraction would work, although that would be difficult to arrange. In a certain case, even a reflexive action you aren't even totally aware of could be enough.

Halfoween Events Across the USAt the end of April and the beginning of May, we will mark the halfway point in the year, meaning only six more months to Halloween! This is celebrated as a demi-holiday called either Halfoween or Halfway to Halloween. There will be public celebrations across the country, mainly at, but not limited to bars, running al the way through May. Here's an event schedule in case you want to plan a road trip for some Halfoween fun.

Time to Start Growing Your Giant PumpkinThe seed packets say to sow pumpkin seeds in June, after the ground has warmed up. But you want your pumpkins to grow bigger than anyone else in the neighborhood, to make the best Jack-o-Lantern for Halloween! You'll need to get started now, since the biggest pumpkins need plenty of time, and if you start the seeds indoors in April, you'll get a head start on any that are grown from seeding the garden. But that's just the beginning. You'll need the proper variety of giant pumpkin seeds, lots of room, very good soil that you can amend now, and lots of water and fertilizer. Giant pumpkins require a lot of care, but you can start with instructions from Almanac. If you just want good-sized pumpkins for carving this fall, they've gota guide to help you grow those, too. (Image credit: Eric Kilby) 

Celebrate Half-o-Ween in April with ShudderThe end of April and the beginning of May mark the halfway point to Halloween, so we celebrate the occasion as Half-o-Ween. The subscription video on demand service Shudder is celebrating the entire month of April with a rollout of Halloween horror films. The one I'm looking forward to the most is the Shudder original film Late Night with the Devil, premiering April 19. But there will be new horror films every Friday in April, as well as watch parties and the series The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs. You'll have a chance to see Baghead, Infested, Mute Witness, The Gates, Drag Me to Hell, Summoning Sylvia, The Innkeepers, and a host of other films, plus creepy bygone TV series marathons. Read up on these films and the schedule for Shudder's Halfway to Halloween programming at Halloween Daily News.