Writing
What magic word is often associated with granting wishes and comes from the Hebrew words meaning “I will create as I speak”?
Abracadabra. Abracadabra is a term that English showmen picked up after seeing rabbis perform healings. They used the word as a sort of incantation
What supervillain is known as the “Clown Prince of Crime” and is one of the archnemeses of Batman?
The Joker. To get the attention he desires from Batman, the Joker turns to crime.
What is the term for a magician’s small, hidden compartment used to store and retrieve items during a trick?
Trapdoor. The trapdoor “magic” makes it appear that objects materialize out of thin air.
What famous magician is known for his mind-bending street magic, endurance stunts, and TV specials like Dive of Death and Real or Magic?
David Blaine. He set a world record in 2003 for holding his breath underwater for an astonishing 17 minutes and four seconds.
In the Disney animated film Aladdin, what is the name of the magical blue entity who grants three wishes?
Genie. Robin Williams plays the iconic role of Genie in the original Aladdin (1992). Will Smith plays Genie in the 2019 live-action remake.
What types of cards date back to the 1400s and are commonly used in fortune-telling to gain insights into a person’s future?
Tarot. The cards are said to be steered by spiritual forces, and although each card has several meanings, a person’s meaning is decided by which would apply to the situation or question being asked.
Which horror novel by Stephen King features a menacing, supernatural clown named Pennywise?
It. The novel was inspired by a popular Norwegian fairy tale called Three Billy Goats Gruff
In what 1993 movie do the three Sanderson sisters cause mischief and mayhem as witches on a quest for eternal youth?
Hocus Pocus. The sisters are Winifred, Sarah, and Mary, and they are played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy.
What is the term for the rude Halloween tradition where people ring doorbells and run away before the door is answered?
Ding-dong ditch. Ding-dong ditch is believed to have originated in the 19th century by school children.
Who is the famous illusionist and endurance artist known for his elaborate stage shows and performances? Hint: He was named Magician of the Millennium by the International Federation of Magic Societies.
David Copperfield. He was the first illusionist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
What classic character by Dr. Seuss is known for his antics and for stealing Christmas from the Whos of Whoville?
The Grinch. Boris Karloff narrates the 1966 animated film How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
What is the magical object used by wizards and witches to focus their magical abilities?
A magic wand. It is said that the type of wood used to make the wand represents the energy and power associated with it.
What mischievous comic-strip character is known for his trademark spiky hair, striped shirt, and slingshot as well as for causing trouble for his neighbor, Mr. Wilson?
Dennis the Menace. In the original television show, actor Joseph Kearns, who played Mr. Wilson, unexpectedly died after the 100th episode. The character’s brother, another Mr. Wilson, was introduced for the last year of production.
In Alfred Hitchcock’s film The Birds, what are some of the types of birds that terrorize the citizens of Bodega Bay?
Gulls, crows, ravens, and sparrows are the main culprits. In an interview, Hitchcock claimed 3,200 birds were trained for the film.
What term is commonly used to refer to a magical ability to read someone’s mind?
Telepathy. It is believed that the cuneus (KYOO-nee-uhs) is a small region in the occipital lobe of the brain that is associated with empathy and telepathy
What Vegas magicians were known for their white lions and white tigers and got their big break from Grace Kelly in 1966?
Siegfried and Roy. The duo was invited by Grace Kelly to perform at her annual Red Cross gala in Monte Carlo that year. During the show, their cheetah ran past Kelly and into the kitchen. Everyone assumed it was part of the act, but it wasn’t.
What is the name of the mischievous character from the 1993 film The Nightmare Before Christmas who wreaks havoc on both Halloween and Christmas?
Jack Skellington. The movie is a stop-motion animated musical and was cowritten by Tim Burton. Skellington is the iconic Pumpkin King of Halloween Town in the film.
What is the practice of predicting the future based on the positions of celestial bodies?
Astrology. Astrologers believe that the planets and stars are linked to human behavior
Who wrote the classic horror novel Frankenstein?
Mary Shelley. She penned the tale after an evening huddled around the fireplace with friends telling ghost stories.
What is the name of the mischievous animated character who debuted in 1940 and is known for his love of mayhem and carrots?
Bugs Bunny. His first official animated short was titled A Wild Hare. His catchy catchphrase is “What’s up, Doc?"
What is the term for the act of magically summoning an object into existence?
Conjuring. A supernatural horror film called The Conjuring was released in 2013 and stars Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, and Ron Livingston.
What is the name of the legendary magician and escape artist who died on Halloween in 1926?
Harry Houdini. He initially gained a reputation as the “King of Handcuffs.”
In the 1960s television series The Addams Family, what is the name of the daughter who embraces the grim and often causes chaos?
Wednesday Addams. Her most cherished toy is a headless doll.
What is the name of the ghostly holiday celebrated in Mexico that coincides with Halloween?
Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos. It’s a day when people pay tribute to departed ancestors and to the souls of loved ones who have passed
What infamous series of events took place in 1692 in colonial Massachusetts, resulting in the execution of several people accused of witchcraft?
The Salem witch trials. The trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft.
What 1978 horror movie takes place on Halloween night and features the character Michael Myers?
Halloween. There are 13 total Halloween movies, 12 of which feature Michael Myers.
What were the magic words used to gain access to a locked room in the 1944 film Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
“Open sesame.” The movie’s captivating storyline helped solidify the expression “open sesame” as a reference for unlocking secrets or hidden realms.
What magician, known for his playful and comedic style, stars in the television show Fool Us, wherein magicians attempt to perform tricks that he and his partner can’t figure out? Hint: He is part of a duo with a man named Teller
Penn Jillette (of Penn & Teller). Penn & Teller: Fool Us originally aired in 2011.
In Disney’s The Lion King, which character is known for his conniving and mischievous ways as he plots to take over the Pride Lands
Scar. He is the villainous lion and brother of Mufasa. The movie was made into a Tony Award–winning Broadway musical in 1997.
What night of the year is called Mischief Night? Hint: It is also called Devil’s Night, Cabbage Night, Devil’s Eve, Gate Night, or Goosey Night, depending on where you live?
October 30. It is a night reserved for mischief and pranks that occurs the night before Halloween in some parts of the U.S. However, the first known instance of the occasion is said to have taken place in Oxford, England, in 1790