As I’ve been curating stories for the Haunted Headlines posts the past couple of weeks, I’ve noticed a trend: stories about the 25th anniversaries of a few notable creepy pop culture classics that debuted in 1993, namely: Hocus Pocus, The X-Files , and Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Maybe even one (or more) of these is (among) your personal fave(s)? (If so, be sure to leave a comment letting me know. It’s always fun to hear who likes what.)
A quarter of a decade is a pretty big deal. Which is newsworthy in and of itself.
But, like I said, these have been making headlines because of ways these classics are being celebrated. Let’s take a look:
Hocus Pocus – Released July 16, 1993
It was this Hocus Pocus story from Bustle that I included in the September 7-14, 2018 Haunted Headlines that first caught my eye: “A Self-Guided ‘Hocus Pocus’ Tour In Salem Is A Witchy Fan’s Dream Come True.”
But then it was this story from the Finger Lakes Times in the September 17-19, 2018 Haunted Headlines that made me realize it was celebrating 25: “Travel Trending with Kathy Witt: Salem, Massachusetts celebrates 25 years of ‘Hocus Pocus’.”
Visitors can learn about the film sites of this movie and many others on one or more of Salem’s outstanding tours, including Spellbound Tours, Salem Historic Tours, and Salem Trolley Tours.
That Finger Lakes Times article talks about six film sites in particular that fans of the movie might recognize and particularly get a kick out of.
So whether you take a DIY tour or a guided one, Salem, Massachusetts is happy to welcome Hocus Pocus fans anytime, but especially at Halloween –and they recognize there may be more of you than normal making a witchy pilgrimage to their bewitching town this season.
But if you can’t make it out the east coast, Entertainment Weekly reported that Freeform is creating a Hocus Pocus-inspired haunted house for Halloween. They’re transforming Hollywood’s historic Lombardi House into a “spookily immersive experience,” which will celebrate not only Hocus Pocus, but also another movie on this list, The Nightmare Before Christmas.
The X-Files – Series Premiered September 10, 1993
This haunted headline in the August 24-31 edition from Fox News was the first that made me realize the X-Files was also in the 25 club: “Mattel releases ‘X-Files’ Barbie dolls to mark show’s 25th anniversary.”
Which of course I had to talk about in that week’s Haunted Headlines video. I thought it was fun that the dolls came with mini FBI badges showing the real faces of the actors who portrayed the characters.
Then in the September 7-14 Haunted Headlines, there was another fun nod to the X-Files anniversary, this time from Bloody Disgusting: “‘The X-Files’ Turns 25: The 10 Best Monster of the Week Episodes!”
Excellent list, and a fun way to take a jaunt down memory lane with a show that is definitely among my all-time faves.
The Nightmare Before Christmas – Released October 29, 1993
Last, but not least, is The Nightmare Before Christmas. As mentioned above under the Hocus Pocus listing, I included a story from Entertainment Weekly in the Haunted Headlines: September 19-21, 2018 about the haunted house Freeform is creating in Hollywood’s historic Lombardi House that will celebrate both Hocus Pocus and The Nightmare Before Christmas in honor of their 25ths.
Bloody Disgusting reported that the “run amock” experience will include a graveyard with 31 interactive tombstones, as well as Mr. Oogie Boogie’s Lair and Dr. Finklestein’s Lab.
Happy Silver Anniversary to all three of these ghoulish gems that delighted us back then and are fun frights to revisit even now.
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, as well as obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of healing, to learn how she channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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