Oct 31
All Hallows Eve. What once served as a spooky New Years Eve tradition for the ancient Celts (which they called Samhain) was ultimately appropriated by Pope Gregory IV in 840 AD to serve as the daylong vigil preceding the Feast of All Saints. Even so, the Christians preserved the pagan festival's spooky trappings anyway. Cunning bastards.
Oct 31 1926
Houdini dies in room 401 of Grace Hospital in Detroit. The escape artist was killed by diffuse peritonitis, after having undergone an emergency appendectomy. Contrary to popular belief, the fatal appendicitis could not have been caused by a punch to the stomach.
Oct 31 1966
The Acid Test Graduation! Ken Kesey hosts, among others. "The question is no longer CAN you pass the Acid Test, but DID you pass the Acid Test."
Oct 31 1993
Actor River Phoenix dies of a drug overdose on the sidewalk in front of the Viper Room in West Hollywood.
Oct 31 1996
"Socially responsible" juice maker Odwalla voluntarily recalls its unpasteurized apple juice drinks after a west coast E. coli scare that killed sixteen-month-old Anna Gimmestad and caused 66 others to fall ill. The FDA describes the symptoms as a diarrheal illness with bloody stools that could lead to kidney failure.
Oct 31 1997
A Halloween "Hell House" opens in Vacaville, California for the benefit of local youths. Tableaus inside the house include a gay man dead from AIDS, a teenaged "Grunge" suicide resplendent with empty beer bottles, and a bloody mock abortion. The exhibits are operated by the Bible thumpers at Harvest Church.
