(static crackles) - [Narrator] Release your inner light.

(static crackles) - [Narrator 2] Vote for Brain, the only candidate with a brain.

(static crackles) - [Narrator 3] Using this product may make your toenails explode.

Consult your doctor before using.

(static crackles) - I'm standing not far from downtown Pungo, Virginia, where a series of strange occurrences have rocked the locals of this sleepy little hamlet, from lights in the sky to weird noises heard all around the area, to sightings of everything from monsters to boogeymen.

Something seems to be going on in Pungo.

Joining us right now is the Mayor of Pungo, Mayor Kline.

Can you tell us what is happening here?

- Hello.

Yes.

- Mayor Kline, is it true that there are many strange occurrences happening here?

- Well, things do seem a little weirder than normal.

But.

- Do you have any idea what is causing these sightings?

- Well, I have an idea.

Of course, I have ideas.

I just don't have any proof that it's him yet.

And if it's him, this is all I need to end him for good.

- Mm, him, Mayor, who are you talking about?

- Well, not many people know the truth.

They know the stories, they know the rumors.

They know the out the door and innuendos, the scuttlebutt.

But I know him.

He's thwarted my plans for years.

But I'll have my revenge.

I'll get that Dr. Madblood.

(static crackles) (birds call and insects chirp) - [Narrator] Once upon a time, there was a retired mad scientist who lived in a rundown manor house on the edge of the Pungo Swamp.

- [Narrator 2] This crazy old man used to like to stay up all night.

- [Narrator 3] Mixing formulas, making monsters.

- [Narrator 4] And showing perfectly horrible movies.

- [Narrator 5] And every Halloween, he'd like to throw a party.

(funky music) - Oh, good evening, gang.

Welcome back to Madblood Manor for our 49th Halloween special.

We're so excited to be here and to bring you a little silliness in this otherwise crazy time.

You know, we've been saying these are crazy times for years now.

Maybe crazy is the new normal.

That's a scary thought.

We got a great movie for you tonight to help you take your mind off said craziness, the 1923 classic, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" starring Lon Chaney.

You might remember Lon Chaney Jr. as the first-ever Wolf Man, a film from 1941.

Well, this is Lon Chaney Sr., his father, who was known as the man of 1,000 faces because of his use of makeup to take on roles like the Hunchback and later, the iconic image of Phantom of the Opera.

We've also got a great party happening here at Madblood Manor to celebrate the spooky season.

And some fun things are in store ahead.

So without further delay, sit back, relax, and enjoy the first act of our, uh, Ernie, hi.

(Ernie squeaks) Is everything okay?

(Ernie moans) Well, the only two things that usually get you this upset are Brain or somebody messing with your things I've found in my belly button collection.

(Ernie sobs) Okay, buddy.

Gang, let's start the movie and I'll sort out the current crisis.

Oh my.

(Ernie sobs) (bells toll) (choir vocalizes) (dramatic music) (dramatic music continues) (church bells toll) (choir harmonizes) (serene music) (church bells toll) (rhythmic medieval music) (pensive music) (choir vocalizes) (bells toll) (pensive music continues) (rhythmic folk music) (somber music) (rhythmic folk music) (dramatic brass music) (rhythmic folk music) (contemplative music) (rhythmic folk music) (dramatic brass music) (serene choir vocalizes) (ominous music) (bells toll) (ominous music continues) (lively folk music) (lively folk music) (dramatic orchestral music) (dramatic orchestral music continues) (dramatic orchestral music continues) (tense, rhythmic music) (gentle flute music) (emotive music) (emotive music continues) (emotive music continues) (emotive music continues) (rhythmic folk music) (rhythmic folk music continues) (lively guitar music) (ethereal music) (Dr. Madblood laughs) Hey, gang.

I sorted out Ernie and his collection, I think.

The other monsters liked to mess with Ernie sometimes so they ran into the movie and hid his prized collection all around.

It's just something they do.

We don't have a lot of entertainment here in Pungo.

- Hey Doc, happy Halloween.

- Oh, hey Dusty, how are things?

- Well, normally I'd say finer than a frog hair or great like Tony Tiger.

But no, that's pretty bad, actually.

The FAA has just grounded all flights around the Pungo Swamp.

Some kinda, what the heck?

The oh, magnetic interference.

And it's messing with all the airplanes, including my old crop duster.

- That's weird, I hadn't heard about it.

- Yeah, it's been going on a few days now.

I sure wish I could get back to flying.

- Well, I for one feel safer with you on the ground.

- Brain.

- That's okay, Doc.

He's just mad 'cause his last air freight order was a total B-U-S-T bust.

- Quiet, you propeller-headed nincompoop.

- Okay, what did I miss?

- Well, it seems the Brain ordered, lemme get this right.

10,000 Vote for Brain T-shirts from China thinking he'd make a bunch of money for his campaign.

- It was the perfect plan.

- Okay, and?

- Well, the box came in and I'm thinking where's the rest of the order?

It was like this size and I didn't even have to open the cargo bay.

I just threw it in the back seat.

It turns out he ordered 10,000 T-shirts this big.

(Dusty laughs) - I couldn't tell from the pictures.

- So are you still running for president, Brain?

- Of course.

Now that (indistinct) guy dropped out, I'm number three in the state.

I think I got a chance.

- Well, even if it's a small chance.

(Dusty and Dr. Madblood laugh) - Hey, I have a good excuse.

I don't have eyes.

What's your excuse for not having a brain?

- Oh boy.

Seriously, looks like he's gonna be in a swell mood tonight.

- So what do you do with 10,000 T-shirts that big?

(Dusty laughs) - That's a good question.

I guess we could put them in the rats in the basement and let's head back to the movie, gang, yeah.

- They better be small rats.

(Dusty laughs) (ethereal music) (festive folk music) (dramatic orchestral music) (Ernie moans) - Oh no.

(dramatic orchestral music) (courtly brass music) (dramatic orchestral music) (courtly brass music) (cheerful folk music) (tense music) (cheerful folk music) (stately orchestral music) (stately orchestral music continues) (lively percussion music) (militaristic percussion music) (romantic folk music) (romantic folk music continues) (ominous music) (romantic folk music) (ominous orchestral music) (ominous orchestral music intensifies) (ominous orchestral music continues) (ominous orchestral music continues) (somber orchestral music) (Ernie groans) (somber orchestral music) (choir harmonizes) (somber orchestral music) (romantic guitar music) (romantic guitar music continues) (romantic guitar music continues) (ethereal music) (upbeat dance music) - Welcome back, gang.

You know, Lon Chaney wanted this movie to happen so bad that he basically became an uncredited producer of the film.

Once he acquired the rights to the story, he worked for years to make it happen.

I think we have most things under control here at Madblood Manor.

(Dr. Madblood laughs) The party's going full swing downstairs.

The monsters are, well, they're around.

I'm sure they're having fun.

Brain is, well, Brain.

- Hey, somebody made these stickers for me.

- Huh.

We've had a few visits from old friends and I think some more will drop by.

All in all, it's been pretty, oh, I can't believe I almost jinxed it.

- Are you Dr. Madblood?

- Yes.

- I am Professor RJ Minks of the Unusual Astronautical and Unexplained Terrestrial Phenomena Department of the Ryans Institute for Research.

- Good luck for turning that into a, that title into an acronym.

That was a mouthful.

- Yes, please don't make me say it again.

No one can read my business cards because the font is so small.

- I can understand.

Good evening, Professor.

What brings you out to our sleepy little town on this dark and stormy night?

- I'm here to research the energy vortices that have been appearing all around the area.

- Excuse me, are you Dr. Madblood?

- I am a professor.

- I am a professor.

- I'm a doctor, trust me.

- Doctor.

- Professor.

- Doctor.

- Professor.

- Professor.

- Professor.

- Doctor.

All right, enough.

We could do this all night, but we only have a two-hour time slot.

How may I help you?

- I am Professor Charlie Chetnam of the Davis Institute of Parascience.

I'm here to discover the nature of the recent strange phenomenon happening around the area.

- We seem to have a lot of that going around.

- Doctor, do not waste your time on this charlatan Chetnam.

The Davis Institute is a joke.

- Excuse me, where did you say you were from, the Ryans Institute?

You might as well work for the Ministry of Silly Walks.

- How dare you?

I've taken readings on a dozen energy vortices in this area.

What have you done?

- I've recorded EM fields that keep flipping polarity across Pungo.

- Okay, enough, enough.

You say you have energy vortex data?

- Yes.

- And that you have EM fields that you're reviewing.

I wonder if this could be the Pungo Triangle acting up.

- What?

- What?

- The Pungo Triangle.

You know, it's like the Bermuda Triangle, but here and have a smaller budget.

It started back in the '70s and I had to calm it down.

- I've never heard of that.

- Well, it was the '70s.

We had a lot of weird stuff going on.

Anyway, let's head back to the movie and I'll try to help these two professors sort it out.

(ethereal music) - [Professor Chetnam] Professor, professor.

(romantic guitar music) (romantic guitar music continues) (menacing orchestral music) (emotive folk music) (menacing orchestral music) (menacing orchestral music continues) (emotive folk music) (menacing orchestral music) (pensive flute music) (pensive flute music continues) (threatening orchestral music) (bells toll) (threatening orchestral music) (threatening orchestral music continues) (gentle folk music) (gentle folk music continues) (gentle folk music continues) (upbeat medieval music) (romantic guitar music) (romantic guitar music continues) (cheerful music) (tense orchestral music) (gentle orchestral music) (rhythmic folk music) (melodramatic music) (melodramatic music continues) (ethereal music) (upbeat dance music) - Gentlemen, so good to see you, how are you?

- Hello.

Nice to see you, my friend.

- We've wanted do this for years.

- Oh, I'm so glad you could be here.

It's great to have you be part of the crowd.

- What a party.

- Oh, yeah (indistinct).

- Hey gang, did you know that this movie was one of the most expensive films of the early '20s?

They built the square and Notre Dame for the sets.

They also used hundreds of extras for the Festival of Fools celebration in the beginning of the film.

I sorted out the two professors who were here to study the weird goings on in Pungo and sent them to where I last dealt with the Pungo Triangle to see if that's what's causing all of this hullabaloo.

(Dr. Madblood laughs) - Dr. Madblood?

- Hello, how can I help you?

- I am Meredith Lamb, representative of the Society for Eccentric People, Especially Interested in the Special.

- S-E-P-S-I-S. Sepsis.

- Well, my society has sent me here to collect and gather news of the happenings that have been going on here recently.

I think, I think it's aliens.

- Not, no, that was last year.

This isn't aliens.

- Alternate dimensions.

- Nope.

- Oh, fractured time paradox.

- Uh-uh.

- Oh, a tear in the space-time continuum.

- Nope.

- Oh, all right then.

Ghosts?

- Sorry, not ghosts.

- Well then can you tell me what is happening here, hmm?

- Well, I'm pretty sure it's the Pungo Triangle acting up again.

- What?

- The Pungo Triangle.

You know, it's like the Bermuda one except smaller and less specialized.

- Less specialized?

My Society for Eccentric Peoples Specially Interested in the Special is not going to be interested if it isn't special.

(Dr. Madblood laughs) - Well, gang, there you have it.

SEPSIS may not be interested in our triangle, but I still think it might be important.

I better start working on a device to quiet down this anomaly.

Why don't we head back to the movie where Captain Phoebus and Esmeralda are about to have their hands full.

(ethereal music) (stately music) (romantic music) (menacing music) (stately music) (stately music continues) (menacing music) (Ernie moans) - Who are these people?

- I don't know.

- Let's go.

(stately music) (suspenseful music) (suspenseful music continues) (menacing music) (stirring orchestral music) (menacing music) (romantic orchestral music) (romantic orchestral music continues) (somber orchestral music) (steady, stately music) (steady, stately music continues) (bells toll) (choir vocalizes) (choir continues to vocalize) (ethereal music) - Ah, welcome back gang.

I'm just tinkering with this overthruster in case they, we need it.

My mad scientist sense is tingling.

Or maybe I've just been sitting in this chair too long and things are starting to fall asleep.

(alarm beeps) - Good evening, Dr. Madblood.

- Thelma, so good to see you.

- Happy Halloween.

- I should say Countess Velma, I'm so sorry.

- Oh, that's okay.

How's the party going?

- It seems great, but it's so much better now that I'm talking to you.

Where's the Count?

- Oh, he's not far.

He's checking the rigging to be secure.

We just pulled our boat into the docks of Athens.

- Oh my.

Are you two doing well?

- Oh yes, very well.

We just went around the world again, but I wanted to be sure to stop by, check on the party and wish you well.

- I'm so glad you did, my dear.

- Oh, gotta run.

Love you, hugs and kisses.

Happy Halloween.

- You too, my dear.

Thanks so much.

What a great surprise.

It's always so nice to catch up with old friends.

(upbeat dance music) ♪ Maybe my connection is tired of taking chances ♪ ♪ Yeah there's a storm on the loose ♪ ♪ Sirens in my head ♪ ♪ Wrapped up in silence ♪ (indistinct chatter) - Gang, we've had so many happy memories over the past 49 years.

Here are some of our favorite clips from shows gone by.

Watch right over there.

We have a pretty good movie for you tonight.

It's called "The Leopard Man".

Got a movie for you tonight I think you're gonna enjoy.

Our movie tonight, oh, is a super kestinker.

It's not just a kestinker.

Tonight, we got a, it ranks right up there with "The Manster".

You know, it's up in that level.

A funny thing happened to me on the way to Armageddon, or Andromeda.

- [Person Off-Camera] Earthling, you have been summoned to answer charges against your race.

Please answer as honestly as you can.

First, you are charged with making war on your fellow man.

How do you plead?

- Me?

I've never been in a fight in my life.

(dramatic music) - It's showtime, folks.

(pulsating roar) - Wake up.

- I didn't know it was your sister.

- What, Elmo?

- What?

- Oh, will you wake up, Elmo.

- Oh, hi, hi Dr. Madblood.

- Are you all right?

- Yeah.

- Did any mail come today, my dear?

- Oh, nothing but a bunch of overdue billing, overdue notices.

(group laughs) - I think it's catching.

- I'm good.

(group off-camera laughs) - Here are the two brews you ordered, Captain.

- Brandy, you're a fine girl.

What a good wife you would be.

- Yeah, this is a kestinker.

I mean, even by our standards, this one sucks.

(Dr. Madblood laughs) This is coming home for the holiday, said "Psycho 2".

- Re, re, re, re.

(group laughs) - Dr. Madblood, some kind of spaceship just crash-landed on the front lawn.

But you know, I can take care of it if you're busy.

(group laughs) - Well, that's all the lines I know.

(Dusty laughs) - I know why you're here.

I am the Sybil of the swamp.

Tell me again.

- Wonderful, (indistinct).

It's wonderful to have you here.

Why don't you just sit down?

- Before you fall down.

(Dr. Madblood laughs) - We've been operating under normal parody parameters since just past midnight.

(group laughs) - What are the odds on this?

- What, that we don't finish this a bit?

(group laughs) - Look, he's still alive.

Look, see, he's moving.

- It's a miracle, oh it's a.

(Dr. Madblood laughs) - Hello.

Excuse me.

- I can hear he's coming.

What?

Oh, I'm sorry, what?

(Dr. Madblood yells) I must have dozed off.

No, come back please.

Bearded mask stranger, who are you?

Can I help you?

Come, go out and come in again.

(group laughs) Oh, Robbie, you got any film cleaner?

- Would 60 gallons be sufficient?

- Yeah, see there's a (indistinct).

- Gallons.

- Gallons, it'd be perfect.

- Mr, I've been (indistinct).

- Shut up, Earl.

Earl, shut up.

Shut up, Earl.

Lostest one of all, huh?

- Yes.

- Yes.

(Dr. Madblood laughs) (eerie music) - Hey, Max, happy Halloween.

(Dr. Madblood laughs) - Sybil, it's so good to see you.

I'm glad you could make it.

- I am the one who wanted to see you.

The girls and I are taking a little sabbatical to Canada, at least until all this craziness in the swamp settles down.

- Is all this craziness affecting you and the witches?

- Oh yes.

The magic, it's all over the place.

I had a couple doing a live social media feed the other day walk right through a transmutation circle.

Oh my goodness, the girl turned into a giant toad.

- Oh dear.

- The cameraman, he turned into enormous fly of which she then ate.

It took me hours to sort that out and I just had two weirdos yelling "Professor" behind the coven about an hour ago.

Max, I gotta get away before I hex some people and send them back to the Stone Age.

- It sounds like it.

Safe journeys, my dear.

We'll try and sort out the swamp so you can come back soon.

- Happy Halloween, Max.

(Dr. Madblood laughs) - Okay, gang.

Let's head back to the movie where we're about to have some trouble while taking a moonlit stroll through a park.

(ethereal music) (lush, evocative music) ♪ (sings in foreign language) ♪ ♪ (sings in foreign language) ♪ ♪ (sings in foreign language) ♪ ♪ (sings in foreign language) ♪ (bells toll melodically) ♪ (sings in foreign language) ♪ (ominous music) ♪ (sings in foreign language) ♪ ♪ (sings in foreign language) ♪ ♪ (sings in foreign language) ♪ ♪ (sings in foreign language) ♪ (gentle, romantic music) (gentle, romantic music continues) (ominous music) (gentle, romantic music) (startling, dramatic music) (melodramatic orchestral music) (tense orchestral music) (tense orchestral music continues) (ominous music) (ominous music continues) (ominous music intensifies) (ominous music continues) (ominous music crescendos) (emotive music) (emotive music continues) (courtly acoustic music) (courtly acoustic music continues) (lush, emotive music) (bells toll) (evocative music) (bells toll) (sinister music) (bells toll) (sinister music) (sinister music continues) (Ernie moans) - Oh, there it is.

- I got you.

- Come on, let's go, let's go.

(Ernie laughs) (choir harmonizes) (serene music) (sinister orchestral music) (emotive orchestral music) (tense music) (ethereal music) - Oh, hey gang, welcome back.

Poor Esmeralda reminds me of Ned in the Dark Cells.

Meanwhile, I'm still tinkering on a device to calm the Pungo Triangle just in case it's needed.

Foreshadowing, what's that?

(squeaks off-camera) What gentle sounds do I hear?

(wings flutter) Could this be a visitor?

(bat squeaks) (Dr. Madblood laughs) - Yes, it's showtime folks.

- Absolutely.

Hello Count Lacudra, Happy Halloween.

- And happy anniversary to you, my friend.

Wow, I honestly didn't think I was going to make it here.

- Really, why?

- Well, I was flying here and almost got sucked into this electric vortex-like thing, a tunnel.

- Ah, one of the energy vortexes.

- Yeah, if you say so.

It was really kind of scary though.

I was flying by the Sherwood Cabin and there's these two guys out there arguing.

I think they're professors and they're fighting back and forth.

I think they got sucked in, but I barely made it away.

(Dr. Madblood laughs) - The old Sherwood cabin, huh?

Yeah, I think this is the Pungo Triangle acting up again.

- Oh, like in the '70s?

Well, there's huge chunks of the '70s I don't remember, but I remember that thing.

- Yeah, you and me both buddy, I'll tell you.

I guess I better do something about that thing.

Why don't you go downstairs and have yourself some refreshments and I'll finish up this project.

- Oh, oh, oh.

Don't twist my arm anymore.

Okay, thank you.

- Okay, gang.

Let's see how this movie starts to wrap up.

And I'll try to start wrapping up the mystery of the Pungo Triangle.

(ethereal music) (dramatic orchestral music) (bells toll) (melancholy orchestral music) (melancholy orchestral music continues) (gentle music) (melancholy orchestral music) (somber, funereal music) (tense, rhythmic music) (tense, rhythmic music continues) (melodramatic orchestral music) (suspenseful music) (suspenseful music intensifies) (suspenseful music continues) (gentle guitar music) (gentle guitar music continues) (gentle guitar music continues) (gentle guitar music continues) (gentle guitar music continues) (bell tolls) (eerie music) (eerie music continues) (suspenseful music) (suspenseful music continues) (ethereal music) - So wait a minute.

That was rescue Esmeralda and sack the city.

I mean, at least it's good time management.

(Dr. Madblood laughs) Meanwhile, here at Madblood Manor, we're trying to stop the Pungo Triangle from running askew.

Not to sound obtuse, but if we don't fix the situation, we're going to lose congruence.

Yeah, I'm pretty much out of triangle puns.

Ernie.

- Yes, boss.

- I have a very important job for you.

The fate of all of Pungo rests in your hands.

That's right.

I need you to take this geodesic overthruster and put it in an energy vortex on the Pungo Triangle.

- Huh?

- I need you to throw this box into one of those energy tunnels that's near the old Sherwood cabin.

- Oh, okay, sure.

- That's it, that's it.

You can do it, Ernie.

(dramatic music) - You can do it.

- You can do it.

- You can do it.

- You can do it.

(explosion pops) (dramatic music continues) (melodramatic medieval music) (stirring music) (stirring music continues) (stirring music continues) (serene choral music) (melodramatic orchestral music) (melodramatic orchestral music continues) (serene music) (melodramatic orchestral music) (melodramatic orchestral music continues) (melodramatic orchestral music continues) (melodramatic orchestral music continues) (melodramatic orchestral music continues) (urgent, emotive music) (urgent, emotive music continues) (melodramatic medieval music) (tense orchestral music) (emotive music) (emotive music intensifies) (bells toll) (somber choral music vocalizes) (somber choral music continues to vocalize) (somber choral music continues to vocalize) (menacing orchestral music) (mournful orchestral music) (dramatic orchestral music) (dramatic orchestral music continues) (intense, melodramatic music) (bells toll) (somber music) (emotional orchestral music) (emotional choral music) (emotional choral music continues) (bell tolls) (mournful music) (mournful music continues) (bell tolls) (funky music) ♪ Ooh witchy woman ♪ ♪ See how high she flies ♪ ♪ Ooh witchy woman ♪ ♪ She got the moon in her eyes ♪ (Dr. Madblood laughs) - Well, gang, that's our show for tonight.

Ernie made it back in one piece.

I sent him to the party to recover.

The professors popped out of the vortex.

They both ran for the hills.

The Triangle is at peace.

The party rages on and another Halloween is upon us.

Speaking of Halloweens, our crew recently visited Monster Fest in Chesapeake, and here are some highlights.

(uptempo music) ♪ I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand ♪ ♪ Walking through the streets of Soho in the rain ♪ ♪ He was looking for the place called Lee Ho Fooks ♪ ♪ Gonna get a big dish of beef chow mein ♪ ♪ A-Hoo, werewolves of London ♪ ♪ A-Hoo ♪ ♪ A-Hoo, werewolves of London ♪ ♪ A-Hoo ♪ ♪ You hear him howling around you kitchen door ♪ ♪ You better not let him in ♪ ♪ Little old lady ♪ - We wanna thank you for watching us have so much fun for these 49 years.

It's been a long, strange trip, but it's been wonderful.

Goodnight, gang.

Thanks for turning us on.

♪ It's three o'clock in the morning ♪ ♪ And I'm on the streets again ♪ ♪ I disobeyed another warning ♪ ♪ I should have been in by 10:00 ♪ ♪ Now I won't get out until Sunday ♪ ♪ I'll have to say I stayed with friends ♪ ♪ Oh, but it's a habit worth forming ♪ ♪ If it means to justify the ends ♪ ♪ Dancing in the moonlight ♪ ♪ It's got me in its spotlight.

♪ ♪ Dancing in the moonlight ♪ ♪ On this long, hot summer night ♪ (A'lauren laughs) - Okay.

♪ The last bus has long gone ♪ ♪ But I'm dancing in the moonlight ♪ - Really sorry.

Oh, the doctor will be with you in a minute.

- Ah, it's all right, Miss Hummer.

I mean, Miss.

(group laughs) Miss Hummer.

Will you marry me?

- No, I'm just teasing with you.

- It's not, it's not empty.

Don't bang me on the microphone.

(Dusty laughs) It's a Val Lewton film and it's got some pretty, some pretty pokey.

(Dr. Madblood laughs) ♪ It's got me in its spotlight ♪ ♪ It's all right dancing in the moonlight ♪ ♪ On this long, hot summer night ♪ ♪ Dancing in the moonlight ♪