Mental Floss
From loving tributes to the genuinely bizarre, here are some of our favorite Halloween commercials from decades past.
Anna Green|
Matters become more confusing when you add pumpkins to the mix.
CaLea Johnson|
Harry Houdini and Princess Diana are just a few of the spirits that mediums have tried to contact over the years.
Stacy Conradt|
The cemetery failed to interest the public until it started seeking out famous corpses.
Jake Rossen|
Libraries are usually quiet, secluded spots. But not all are as peaceful as they may seem.
Jane Alexander|
You’ve likely heard of fight or flight, but a third reaction—to freeze—is misunderstood by many.
Faith Roswell|
Read up on the case before the new documentary ‘This Is the Zodiac Speaking’ hits Netflix on October 23.
Lorna Wallace|
In 1956, two highly-regarded party figures stepped in for candidates Eisenhower and Stevenson to tackle election issues.
Jake Rossen|
In these horror franchises, the follow-ups were just as good (or better) than the original.
Jessica Toomer|
George Joseph Smith was widower three times over. His wives had a nasty habit of drowning in the bathtub.
Jake Rossen|
Fall just got more colorful for colorblind visitors to Virginia’s state parks.
CaLea Johnson|
Take $200 off Roborock’s Qrevo Curv through October 6—and nab a buy one, get one deal while you’re at it.
The answer depends on where you hope to live.
Michele Debczak|
From the ‘manananggal’ (Philippines) to the ‘csodacsirke’ (Hungary), you’ll want to make sure you steer clear of these terrifying supernatural beings.
Sophie Lau|
Some gourds are bred to have a bumpy appearance.
CaLea Johnson|
This spooky season, be able to tell your bugaboos from your tommyknockers.
Angela Tung|
The phrase made famous by ‘Good Will Hunting’ is much older than the 1997 film—and doesn’t have anything to do with actual apples.
Tim Brinkhof|
From the Smithsonian’s “castle” to modern landmarks like the Hollywood sign, America’s most famous places bear histories of haunting.
Rob Lammle|
Clowns have a long and spooky history.
Michele Debczak|
Women have written some of the most blood-curdlingly scary stories of all time, but they haven’t always gotten the credit they deserve. Explore some delightfully spooky Halloween reading from 11 masters of horror literature.
Anna Green|
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