Samhain Project 2 : Halloween Safety

 If there's a particular sound that draws out both the nostalgia and power of my childhood, it's the film projector. 

Everyone knows back in the 70's and early 80's when a film projector was either present in the center of the room or wheeled in at the onset of the class period, the hour would be much less stressful, and more brief. 

There was nothing like that clacking chatter of the film accompanied by the warbling voice of the narrator.  The one film that draws the most familiarity and nostalgia from my childhood is this gem: 

Once this began to roll annually, you knew Halloween was right around the corner: Tricks or Treats, costumes, laughter with friends and family chaperones.   Also, the creepiness of the coming fall, leaves, pumpkins and chill of the air.

But safety was the rule of the day.  There could be masks that blocked vision in the dark, possible lack of attention to traffic, and costumes that can't be seen by cars as dusk drew near.  (Flashlights, kiddos!).  

Also, those damn overlong costumes that you could be tripping over.

This era was right at the beginning of the horror stories of razor blades in apples, (illustrated horribly in Halloween II) poisoned candy (as you can see with the film, there's a healthy dose of examination of the evening's booty), and prowling weirdos in the dark; although that may be a bit much for the tykes watching this.

This film brings back positive memories.  When Halloween was nothing but fun, and you were encouraged to do it safely, and in groups....Just to avoid the outside chance of an accident.

This little wonder was put together by Herk Harvey, the legendary director of nightmare fuel Carnival of Souls, which I waxed on about in last year's Samhain Project.  Seems appropriate to a degree.

Because for a safety film distributed to schools in the fall to be screened shortly before Halloween, it is a more than just a little bit creepy.