Halloween History
A series of witchcraft accusations and trials made this Massachusetts town infamous in 1692.
Salem
In this 1933 monster movie, a giant ape famously climbs the Empire State Building.
King Kong
This superstitious schoolteacher encounters the Headless Horseman in Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
Ichabod Crane
Bobby "Boris" Pickett recorded this 1962 novelty hit about a graveyard dance craze.
Monster Mash
In Greek mythology, this three-headed dog guards the entrance to the underworld
Cerberus
This ancient Celtic festival marking the beginning of winter is widely associated with Halloween's origins.
Samhain
Steve McQueen starred in this 1958 science-fiction horror film about a growing mass of alien slime.
The Blob
In Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula, this young solicitor travels to Transylvania to meet the mysterious count.
Jonathan Harker
This American rock band released the 1976 hit "(Don't Fear) The Reaper."
Blue Öyster Cult
In Irish folklore, the mournful wailing of this female spirit is believed to foretell a death in the family
Banshee
In Scotland, children traditionally wore disguises and performed songs or jokes in exchange for treats in a custom known by this name.
Guising
Vincent Price offers five strangers $10,000 each to spend a night in a supposedly haunted mansion in this William Castle film.
House on Haunted Hill
This American author wrote the 1959 supernatural horror novel The Haunting of Hill House.
Shirley Jackson
This legendary horror actor provided the spoken-word narration for Michael Jackson's 1982 song "Thriller."
Who is Vincent Price
In Greek mythology, these dangerous creatures lure sailors toward disaster with their enchanting songs.
Sirens
In Ireland, this traditional Halloween fruit bread sometimes contains a hidden ring, believed to predict an upcoming marriage.
Barmbrack
Robert Mitchum portrayed a murderous preacher with "LOVE" and "HATE" tattooed across his knuckles in this 1955 thriller.
The Night of the Hunter
This 1898 Henry James novella follows a governess who believes she is encountering ghosts at an English estate called Bly.
The Turn of the Screw
This actor and filmmaker directed and performed in the famous 1938 Halloween radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds.
Orson Welles
This name refers to mysterious, flickering lights seen over swamps and bogs, once believed to lead travelers astray.
will-o'-the-wisp?
This famous Scottish poet wrote a poem titled Halloween in 1785, describing traditional fortune-telling customs.
Robert Burns
This 1920 German silent horror film features a hypnotist who commands a sleepwalker named Cesare to commit murders.
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
Published in 1764 by Horace Walpole, this pioneering Gothic novel features a gigantic helmet that mysteriously crushes a young prince.
The Castle of Otranto
Running from 1941 to 1952, this horror radio anthology was famous for its creaking-door introduction and an original host named Raymond.
Inner Sanctum Mysteries
In Irish folklore, this terrifying headless horseman carries his own severed head and is considered an omen of death.
Dullahan