![]() ![]() So we can hold death in our hands for a little while, or on our tongues, or in our eyes, and make do with it.” – Ray Bradburyīut by 1966, Bradbury already felt that Halloween wasn’t what it used to be. Facing that darkness, that horror, is a very important part of existence. Kids love Halloween because it’s a celebration of all the stories that offer them a glimpse into the dark, forbidden places. As a writer, he’s always understood that young readers shouldn’t be talked down to, that good youth fiction is written for children, not to children. And children, he claims, are fascinated by death. It’s an important holiday after all, one that allows us to freely explore our obsession with the macabre and the unexplained, to experience “the rawness and nearness and excitement of death” as Bradbury put it. Bradbury commiserated with animator Chuck Jones over lunch a few days later, agreeing that though they admired Schultz, his special didn’t quite capture the true essence of Halloween. They were all disappointed that The Great Pumpkin didn’t show up there was something missing and to them it wasn’t a proper Halloween film at all. In October 1966, Ray Bradbury and his daughters sat down together to watch the Halloween special It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, Schultz’ second holiday-themed special following the success of A Charlie Brown Christmas. ![]()
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