The day Halloween fans have been waiting for all year long is finally here, October first! Halloween can never come fast enough, but once it’s here, I go into full Halloween mode. October first marks the beginning of the Halloween season. I like to start the festivities right with spooky music, scented candles, movies and decorations. The days finally begin to cool, the leaves change to beautiful colors and night comes early.

The Halloween TV Guide has been extensively updated through October 8th and you can find all the Halloween movies and specials airing. Additional updates include: Witching Hour Cutouts, Cheesecake Brownies, Candy Corn Cookies, Mulled Cider, Goblins Hot Chocolate, Slow Cooker Witch’s Cider, Ghostini, Candy Corn Smoothies, New Halloween Invitations, Floral Pumpkin Centerpiece and Boo! Mantel idea.

Guest Blogger: Lindsey Lewis, Web Contest Specialist at Mr. Costumes and Christmas Lights Etc.

Every year since I was a child, I looked forward to Halloween. What wasn’t to love? Costumes, free candy, time to play with your friends, and colder weather as fall turned to winter. There were no complaints from this kid when October rolled around. Of course, that had a lot to do with my favorite holiday, Halloween, and, whether I dressed as one of the numerous Disney princesses or one of my mother’s homemade black cats, I loved Halloween costumes so much that they left a lasting impression on me.

Years later, when I was much “too old” for Halloween (as they say) and I was trying to decide what I wanted to do with my life, I went right back into trick-or-treating. At first it was merely a college job; I worked for two different haunted houses, one at the Children’s Museum in Macon and the other the world famous Netherworld Haunted House in Atlanta, Georgia. “Professional zombie” just had a nice ring to it.

Meanwhile, I was trying to obtain an English degree. I certainly didn’t think my English degree would end up with my working in the Halloween industry–or working anywhere else for that matter. However, my love for Halloween didn’t diminish in college as much as I worked and scared and dressed like a dead girl. Instead, it increased, and I found myself traveling around the United States to costuming conventions and making my own outfits as a seamstress.

Upon the dreaded graduation, I started my job search. I had an impressive resume under my belt so long as I could find some Halloween-related work. Whether by chance or Halloween luck, a local Halloween costume company, Mr. Costumes, was hiring writers. Not only would I utilize my degree but also I would work with the holiday I was most passionate about. Since graduating, I have been a writer at Mr. Costumes focusing on web content, blogging, and the social media campaign. To say Halloween is every day for me now would be an understatement. I work closely with the costumes I love and spend a good portion of my day dreaming up grand Halloween parties.

If you want to work like it’s Halloween all year round, open yourself up to some new experiences. Here are some jobs that will have you working closely with the industry:

- Get a job at a Halloween store and become familiar with the products.
- Work as a haunter at a haunted house. Make sure you keep your eyes open and your hands ready to work. Learning to make Halloween props and costumes can be a lucrative business.
- Offer to be an extra on horror themed movies and television shows. Getting experience in the industry is key. (Remember ‘professional zombie’? It wasn’t so much a joke.)
- Visit industry conventions like HauntCon to learn more about a life in the Halloween industry.
- Watch out for awesome opportunities. You never know what’s out there!

Halloween has become the second biggest holiday in the United States, second only to Christmas. With a business this big and lucrative, there are jobs out there. If you dream of working in the Halloween industry, never give up. There is a place for you, too.

According to Deadline, KatzSmith has signed on with Warner Bros for a Beetlejuice sequel. According to the story “The film will not be a remake; the intention is to reboot it by advancing the storyline of the original.” The original Beetlejuice movie was created in 1988, and is directed by the talented Tim Burton. Original cast members included the fantastic Catherine O’Hara and a positively unique and a never again duplicated performance of Beetlejuice played by Michael Keaton. The original film had the positively bleak Tim Burton look and feel as well as a theme song that is universally recognized and widely distributed amongst Halloween CD’s.

Even small performances have kept a place in my mind over the years, including the case worker Juno played by Sylvia Sidney. Also, the hilariously grim (and green colored) wrist slashing, beauty-queen receptionist played by Patrice Martinez.

Winona Ryder even gives a breakout performance of the “strange and unusual,” teenage daughter who can see the dead. O’Hara and Ryder’s on screen time is absolutely spectacular and filled with a level of dialogue and hilarious dysfunction that could never be replicated.

Though KatzSmith has said “it will not be a remake,” I can’t help but wonder if they will even be able to get any original cast members to return, let alone capture the creepy, macabre and hilarity that encases Keaton as Beetlejuice. It is hard to imagine anyone reaching the same character portrayed by Keaton.

The only thing to come close to a sequel has been Beetlejuice the animated series in 1989. It ran for four seasons and has a high rating on imdb. The series does a fantastic job of continuing the original movie and breathing new life into something many people considered “dead.” It isn’t every day a large blockbuster film transitions into a successful animated series.

The good thing about the KatzSmith duo is they have a passion for “comedies they grew up loving.” They originally were also signed on to do the movie “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” before Lionsgate chose a different director. The rights are still being worked out, who knows if this Beetlejuice sequel will see the light of day.

GeekTyrant is reporting Geena Davis would be interested in reprising her role as “Barbara.”

Moviehole reports that as early as 2005, Keaton was interested in returning to the role in a previous sequel that never made it past the early stages.

I need to make a correction about the Peanuts Holiday Collection. Amazon.com is listing the release date for the new Peanuts Holiday Collection for October 5th, 2010. One month earlier than previously said to be released and on my birthday too (how convenient). Bluray.com has a wonderful review and features screenshots from the new “Great Pumpkin” release.

Halloween Wallpapers:
The internet is full of wallpapers and it can be hard to find great wallpapers in the massive “black hole” that is the internet -especially for holidays like Halloween! I have searched the internet high and low for great Halloween wallpapers (other than the ones on this site of course). Here are a few links to get you and your computer – in the Halloween spirit!

Smashing Magazine – over 37 Halloween wallpapers
Hongkiat – 50+ Be-Bewiched Halloween wallpapers
Tutorial Lounge – 75+ High Quality Halloween Wallpapers

Halloween radio:
AOL Halloween Radio is a great place for a mix of Halloween music & haunted ambience.
Halloween radio is set to return September 13th, 2010.
Live365 Various Halloween radio stations – just search Halloween.