Summary: Welcome to our 2013 X-mas spectacular. Keeping our tradition alive, we celebrate the festive season by indulging in terrible and horrific themes. This year we are very happy to deliver a themed episode on a subject we have long planned to cover: the A Ghost Story For Christmas series. In homage to the centuries old tradition of telling supernatural tales at Christmas, the BBC began airing adaptations of classic M.R. James ghost stories on or about Christmas through the 70's. The series expanded to include the excellent Charles Dickens tale The Signalman followed by some original written works, later to be revived in 2005 with new installments of M.R. James stories. We are big fans of the concept of celebrating X-mas by telling some creepy tales so this series is a big recommendation in concept at least. Following our rundown of the Ghost Stories For Christmas series, we kick back to enjoy a 20 minute version of A Christmas Carol from 1947 narrated by non other than Vincent Price. The short is admittedly terrible (notably for the garish American accents in London), so we fill the time by discussing The Desolation of Smaug. In an attempt to clarify the plotpoints, Ted walks Anthony through his take on just what the hell is going on - plot spoilers run about 1:09:14 through 1:27:21. Finally we close things out with the annual gift exchange and our well-wishes to all who have listened to and participated in the podcast. As always we welcome your comments: horroretc@gmail.com Voicemail (206) 337-5324 WWW.HORRORETC.COM
