THE MAGICIAN – During Halloween Season a few years back Balladeer’s Blog reviewed the 1926 silent movie adaptation of The Magician. This time around I’ll review the original Somerset Maugham novel from 1908. It’s no secret at this late date that the malevolent sorceror of the title, Oliver Haddo, was based on the real-life Aleister Crowley. In fact, Crowley would accuse Maugham of plagiarism when he reviewed The Magician under the name Oliver Haddo, his fictional counterpart.
At any rate the 1926 film is an under-appreciated classic of the Silent Era and the novel is of an even higher quality. In Paris – where Maugham first met Crowley in real life – Dr Arthur Burdon, a prominent young British surgeon, has come to visit his fiancee, artist Margaret Dauncey.
Burdon also visits his elderly former mentor, Dr Porhoet, who has turned from medicine to the study of Magick and the occult arts. It is through Porhoet that Dr Burdon and Margaret – plus Margaret’s friend Susie Boyd – first encounter the elegant yet repellant Oliver Haddo. The cadre of friends make the mistake of ridiculing the boastful Haddo’s claims of being a sorceror in the young 20th Century. Continue reading
I. Jacques Morand – Roughly 300 years ago Jacques Morand was in love with Genevieve Parent. Unfortunately for him Genevieve decided to join a convent. When Morand could not change her mind through pleading he turned to threats, which drew warnings from Genevieve’s father and brothers. 
CROWHAVEN FARM (1970) – Do you like ghosts and witches? Do you enjoy slow burn horror like Rosemary’s Baby? Give Crowhaven Farm a viewing or two. It’s perfect for a viewing party after the trick or treaters are done for the night. And at just 74 minutes what do you have to lose? 
VAMPIRE (1979) – Incredibly underappreciated horror film that concentrates on atmosphere and eeriness rather than in-your-face antics. Cult actor Richard Lynch stars as the title menace, Prince Anton Voytek. When the undead bloodsucker’s tomb is disturbed by construction for a new church (talk about adding insult to injury), the vampire subjects the city to a reign of terror. 
BLAZING A TRAIL TO VICTORY – The MIDAMERICA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY PIONEERS took it on the road against the EVANGEL UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS yesterday. A 7-0 Pioneers edge in the 1st Quarter became 14-0 by Halftime but the Crusaders knotted things up at 14-14 to end the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th MNU pulled out a 28-21 win. 
TRIPLING UP ON THE COMPETITION – The MAYVILLE STATE COMETS found themselves on the road against the PRESENTATION COLLEGE SAINTS (should be the Angels). The Comets went up 7-0 in the opening Quarter and never looked back. By the 3rd Quarter Mayville State led 28-7 before winning it 42-14. 
SHUTOUTS – The BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS visited the CENTRAL METHODIST UNIVERSITY EAGLES and blanked them 16-0 ### And the GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS (should be Zebras) obliterated their hosts the WILLIAM PENN UNIVERSITY STATESMEN 55-0. 
MARVEL SPOTLIGHT Vol 1 #5 (August 1972) 
With so many divisions of college football not playing any games this fall, Balladeer’s Blog’s readers have been asking for at least SOME kind of additional pigskin content. In that spirit here’s a look at some of the coolest football helmets from now-defunct college programs. 
CANISIUS COLLEGE GOLDEN GRIFFINS 
CAL STATE-NORTHRIDGE MATADORS 
UNIVERSITY OF EVANSVILLE PURPLE ACES 
THE DUST CLOUD (1912) – Halloween Month continues here at Balladeer’s Blog with a look at this tale written by British author E.F. Benson. The story deals with a ghostly automobile and for me the 1912 setting and several macabre touches give it a certain charm that makes it irresistible. 
After-dinner conversation about the finer points of assorted automobiles turns to Harry’s late friend Guy Elphinstone, another car enthusiast. Elphinstone was a singularly unpleasant man and often spitefully drove over chickens and rabbits who got in his way as he flew along the roadways. 
THE GALLOWS MAN – This is another neglected American horror legend which has been presented in many different versions over the years. Ralph Sutherland was born in 1702 in either New York City or a town near the Catskills, depending on the version. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER SIX – The Upset of the day came in the game between the SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE MOUNDBUILDERS and their hosts the 6th ranked KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY COYOTES. The Moundbuilders led 7-0 in the 1st Quarter and 14-7 at Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Southwestern College on top 35-21 before winning it 42-21.
WORKIN’ OVERTIME – The ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM welcomed the WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY PIONEERS (should be the Flying W’s). After a scoreless opening Quarter the Firestorm held a 14-7 advantage at the Half. That became a 21-14 lead in the 3rd Quarter before the Pioneers forced Overtime with a 28-28 tie. In the extra session Arizona Christian University won out 31-28. 
HOW SWEDE IT IS! – The BETHANY COLLEGE SWEDES took it on the road against the STERLING COLLEGE WARRIORS yesterday. The Swedes watched a 6-0 1st Quarter lead turn into a 7-6 Warriors edge by the midpoint. Sterling College was in front 21-6 going into the 4th Quarter, but Bethany College exploded for 20 points for a spectacular 26-21 comeback win. 
As Halloween Month continues here’s a look at the very early years of the Marvel Comics horror character Blade the Vampire Slayer, who debuted in 1973. In retrospect I prefer the original “look” for this dynamic figure: the long coat, the bandolier of six teakwood knives and the green-hued “photo-optic visor” aka goggles aka biker shades. I’ve never liked swords for vampire slaying so the wooden knives used by Blade back then appeal to me more. 
alleged legal fights with the original creator of Blade, fights that eventually necessitated the changes in Blade’s look and trademark weaponry. Suffice it to say that the 1970s Blade strikes me as an “Indiana Jones of horror” with a vintage Pulp Magazine vibe. And football player Eric Dickerson would have made a perfect cinematic Blade if a movie had been done in the early 1980s, right after Raiders of the Lost Ark. With Pam Grier as Safron Caulder and Oliver Reed as Deacon Frost.
TOMB OF DRACULA Vol 1 #10 (July 1973) 
Our vampire slayer arrived in time to save all but a few of the “beautiful people” from Dracula.
