From the Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives: Blood, Rats, and Scream Queens!

(NY Public Library) It s late October and the Halloween season that seemingly began when one could still walk around in shorts, is in full force. Ghosts, skeletons, carved pumpkins, spiders, and cob webs are everywhere. It s time to prepare for the first layer of winter fat that arrives after taking a jump down the "bad food" rabbit hole that leaves our nation s candy reserve depleted. It s also time to embrace our inner Vincent Price and revel in horror stories, Halloween movie marathons, and the "Peanuts" special where we all laugh at Charlie Brown as he unknowingly receives rocks instead of candy in his trick or treat bag... again. What a wonderful time of year!

Here, at the Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives, we love Halloween and want to celebrate it by sharing some great Halloween themed recordings we have in our holdings.

Andy Warhol s Blood for Dracula (1974)

[[{"fid":"276315","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Blood for Dracula","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Blood for Dracula"},"type":"media","attributes":{"alt":"Blood for Dracula","title":"Blood for Dracula","height":"200","width":"135","style":"float:right","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]Directed by Paul Morrissey and produced by Andy Warhol , "Blood for Dracula" is a film that tells the story of a dying Dracula who travels from Transylvania to Italy searching for the remedy to his illness. The blood of a virgin. Dracula, along with his assistant Anton, come to find that everyone who claims virginity isn t always telling the truth and Dracula has to make some tough decisions that lead to controversial (read politically incorrect) sub plots. The score, which was composed by Claudio Gizzi and And Warhol, fits perfectly with the creepiness of the film. Watch the trailer on YouTube.

The Rats in the Walls

Her breakout role as Laurie Strode in John Carpenter s Halloween (1978) was legendary. She set the standard high and made being a "Scream Queen" something future slasher film actresses aspired to be. As the daughter of Janet Leigh, it s not surprising that Jamie Lee Curtis made Laurie Strode an iconic character like her mother did with Marion Crane.

Be merry and enjoy Halloween!
Source: www.nypl.org