Zuvembie Madness!

Still completely stymied as to a costume.  However, I finished 10 more pages today, bringing me to 48, which is certainly more important!  I actually have one scene that I'm real excited to share with someone to get feedback.  I think it's the emotional lynchpin.

I'm from the South Side of Chicago.  Chicago Ridge to be precise and proud.  If you're familiar with the area, then you're familiar with Riley's Trick Shop on 111th and Ridgeland.  I cannot begin to describe the level of wonder this place held for a kid.  I haven't been there in years, so I cannot speak for it's current status, but in the mid 80's this place had everything. 

Walking in through the door, immediately to the left, there was a glass counter that stretched the entire length of the long, rectangular store.  This glass case had all the tiny trinkets and gags, specifically it held the Magic Tricks!  The older gentleman working, he may have been Mr. Riley, I'm not sure, was always ready to demonstrate a new magic trick for you.  I LOVED going there and he'd show a disappearing mummy, or slice off a finger, etc.  It was always something new and brilliant.  There were literally dozens of gags, no exaggeration.

On the wall behind the case was a collection of masks.  This was like you see in any costume shop, so you can understand the overwhelming sense of HOLY SHIT that took you over when you walked in and saw the Ewok mask from the "new" Star Wars movie. 

Across from them, above the eyeline of the room and stretching the length as well, were full on body costume, adorning the walls.  All kinds of costumes were hanging there, as you can imagine, but there was one Holy Grail that always sparked my imagination.  Batman and Robin, from the 1960's show now, as this was Pre Burton, Pre Dark Knight Batman.  My lord, those costumes always teased me, because I was just a kid, but they were adult costumes.  EVERY single year we'd go in, and I was never the right size for them.  I can still picture them hanging on the wall.

Pic from comicon of exactly the costume I wanted!

If you have the opportunity, go to Riley's and check it out.  If you're in the city, go to Fantasy Costumes, it's probably a larger selection, as it's a HUGE store, but there's something about Riley's charm that will keep it #1 in my heart.

NOT the costumes from Riley's.

UPDATE: After I wrote this, I saw they've opened a new store in Frankfort!  Good for them!  They're on Facebook if you're interested!

MotD: White Zombie

Bela Lugosi as a zombie master!  This is the movie that was shot on the same sets at the same time as the original classic Dracula!  It's a quick film, and lots of fun.  Lugosi is barely in it, but as expected he steals every scene.  Be especially aware when he does the hand *grip* move, which is great as he's just demonstrating his command over us all by shaking his own hands.

And since it's Lugosi, let us not neglect to "Pull the strings!"