"Witch and ghost make merry on this last of dear October's days."

I know that I did a post yesterday, and I don't typically do two in a row.However, I just couldn't resist doing a special, vintage Halloween post!Simple as it may be, I hope you guys enjoy a few costume ideas and some old-school Halloween entertainment!

COSTUMES

Want to get in touch with your vintage side and sport a classic Hollywood look this Halloween?Well, here are just a few (basic) costume ideas:

Judy Garland as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz 1939

You can actually find this outfit already assembled for you in most costume stores.If you want to do it yourself, just curl some pigtails, wear a white button-down shirt with a blue dress, and find some sort of dog to carry with you.

Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast At Tiffany's 1961

You might not find this one in a costume store, but its super easy to create and very iconic.To do it yourself,just find a little black dress and some gloves.Put your hair back and complete your look with a fancy necklace and a little tiara.Oh!And Holly wears some big sunglasses in the film while she's enjoying her breakfast outside Tiffany & Co.

Marilyn Monroe

Everybody knows this infamous moment.And, again, this is definitely a look that almost all costume stores carry.If you want to do it yourself, put on a sexy white dress,some heels, and pearl earrings.You can wear a platinum blonde wig, or, if you're brave, you can dye your hair and curl it.Finish your look with some bold eyeliner and red lips.

Lucille Ball as Lucy Ricardo on the I Love Lucy show

Another simple, classic, iconic look which you might be able to find in a costume store.To do it yourself, wear a 50's type dress (fuller skirt,collar, short sleeves or halter straps),flats,red lipstick,and pearl earrings.Now,about that hair!You can more than likely find a wig.If you're brave, you can dye your hair and put it in a curly updo.Or, if you're a natural red,like me,you can skip they dying process.

Laura Prepon as Donna Pinciotti from That 70s Show

I know what you're thinking.That 70s Show isn't old.It's not a classic film, tv or radio show.You're right, but the characters on it are from the 70s,and therefore have some pretty crazy,vintage outfits.Plus, they're fairly recognizable.Take it from me,I've dressed up as Donna before (possibly more than once) and everyone thought it was great.

Plus, this is the world's easiest outfit to put together.Part your hair down the middle and straighten it.Throw on some flared jeans,a plaid shirt,some sneakers or clogs, and a nametag that says "I'm with Foreman" (or Foreplay.Take your pick),"Donna Pincipotti," or "Big Red."

And don't forget,these are just a couple ideas.You can always go with the classic 20s flapper look, or be a 50s guy or gal (both of which are popular looks in costume stores).

And now for a little entertainment, courtesy of Baby Snooks.They might seem kind of long since they're in multiple parts but they're really not, and they're most definitely worth your time.Click the links for special Halloween episodes of The Baby Snooks Show:

Episode: "Halloween"

Part 1- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doBtRg5wRcA

Part 2- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWcSxKBFDrM&feature=related

Part 3- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJEldv_brBc&feature=related

Episode:"Haunted House"

Part 1- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyDzkWfdyBY

Part 2- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylArkrOZY7w&feature=related

Part 3- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da7_YCtLij8&feature=related

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

"No man can be a genius in slapshoes and a flat hat."-Buster Keaton

STAR OF THE MONTH

Buster Keaton

Born October 4, 1895

Died February 1, 1966

Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton was born in October of 1895, in Piqua, Kansas.He was a natural-born performer whose parents, Myra and Joe were comedians.His father actually owned a travelling show with Harry Houdini.

Rumor has it that it was, in fact, Houdini who gave young Keaton the nickname of "Buster" when he was still an infant.Unlike most babies and toddlers, Buster had an uncanny ability to take a spill, get trampled, or thrown around,and never come close to shedding a tear.

When Buster was only around three years of age, he started acting in a show alongside his parents. "The Three Keatons" was nothing more than a simple comedy sketch, where Buster would make his father angry,and Joe would lose it and end up throwing his young son into scenery, the orchestra pit, and sometimes even the audience.Viewers were often shocked,especially noting that the small boy hardly ever got so much as a bruise.

Buster grew up on the stage, and easily began making a name for himself there.He continued doing family acts, until he was around 21 years old.His father,an alcoholic, was no longer able to do the shows, and Buster almost lost his built reputation as a good performer.So, Buster and his mother, Myra, travelled to New York together.The young Keaton was then introduced to film, and took it up naturally and easily.His first appearance was in the short film,The Butcher Boy in 1917.He made several more short films until 1920, when he got his first starring role in a movie for the silent film, The Saphead.

Due to his success,Buster was given control over his own production unit.He made more than one comedy film reel as the head of Buster Keaton Comedies, and then gradually shifted into producing full-length feature films.Keaton was very successful, until 1927.After investing too much money in a film that was considered a flop, he was never allowed free reign with his films again, having to work under a sort of supervisor, who monitored expenses and had moderate control over story lines.

The next year, 1928,brought a contract with MGM for Keaton.He later recalled signing it as one of the worst mistakes of his life.Keaton had always been free to improvise, ad-lib, do his own stunts and write his own material.Under MGM, however, he had cold-cut scripts, no room was made for his own twists and takes on things, he had to use a stunt double, etc.However,despite his unhappiness with his new contract, he was successful in "talkies."He would continue act in movies,on television,and with cameo appearances for the remainder of his career,and lifetime.He passed away in February of 1966 due to lung cancer.

Today, he is most recognized and remembered for his early silent comedies, which are one of a kind."Great Stoneface," as he was known,had a special talent of keeping people laughing and being able to convey emotion, whilst always keeping his deadpan expression.In recent years, Buster Keaton has been listed as the seventh greatest director of all time, and many of his films have been labelled as some of the greatest comedies ever made.He also has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

MOVIE OF THE MONTH

The Cameraman

1928

Starring Buster Keaton,Marceline Day,and Harold Goodwin

The Cameraman follows the adventures of Buster (Keaton), who sells tintype portraits on city streets to make his living.Buster has a crush on an MGM secretary named Sally (Day), and he tries to get a job as a cameraman for the studio in order to spend more time with her.An already successful cameraman, Harold (Goodwin),mocks Buster and tells him there's no way he'd ever get the job.

Sally tells Buster that he could be a great cameraman,he just needs some experience.Encouraged by her words, Buster empties his bank account to buy a motion picture camera, and goes about filming anything and everything.Sally looks at some of his film, and it just isn't good enough,so she tips him off about something big that could be happening in Chinatown, and she tells him to go check it out with his camera.On his way there, Buster accidentally kills a sidewalk musicians monkey.A police officer settles the issue, ordering Buster to pay for the monkey and take it's body so he can dispose of it.Soon after leaving, Buster finds out that the monkey was only stunned, but it revives and joins him for the rest of his mishaps.

Buster and his monkey arrive in Chinatown to the breakout of a Tong War.Buster,putting himself in danger, does his best to get up close and personal so that he can get good footage of the fight.The police break up the fight,and Buster is almost taken into custody, but he manages to get away.Ecstatic,he goes to MGM to turn in the footage only to discover that, in his excitement, he forgot to load actual film into his camera.

Dismayed, Buster goes back to selling tintypes, but eventually discovers he really did get footage of the Tong War.The monkey had switched reels before he turned it in.After another series of mishaps, Buster submits the real footage to be used,free of charge.The boss at MGM decides to show it for laughs,but is astounded at the quality of the footage.He sends Sally to get Buster, telling him he has great reception waiting for him.Caught in a ticker-tape parade,he assumes it's for himself, not realizing it's actually for Charles Lindbergh.

Today is the last day of Buster Keaton films on Turner Classic Movies,beginning at 8pm ET with In The Good Old Summertime.

To see a clip from The Cameraman, go here:

http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/74/The-Cameraman/videos.html