The California Institute of Abnormalarts, a bar and concert venue that also functions as a museum of oddities, is home to something that will make anyone with coulrophobia (an irrational fear of clowns) quake in their boots…and it’s every bit as creepy as you might imagine….
Some time ago, Crew acquired what he claims to be the mummified corpse of a clown known as Achile Chatouilleu, a performer who died in 1912.
Achile, whose name translates to “French tickler,” reportedly asked before his death to be embalmed in his favorite clown costume and makeup. The body – which is still in perfect condition today – is pretty creepy, to say the least.
If anyone reading this is out in LA, feel free to drop by the CIA and let me know how well-embalmed the clown looks up close…
Back in August, I ordered three PS Publishing slipcased editions on sale at £12.99 each marked down from £60:
Baxter, Stephen. Universes. PS Publishing, 2013. First edition hardback, #131 of 200 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and Fine decorated slipcase.
McAuley, Paul J. A Very British History with A Very British History: Additional Stories. PS Publishing, 2013. First edition hardback, #127 of 200 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and Fine decorated slipcase.
Watson, Ian. The Best of Ian Watson with Squirrel, Reich and Lavender: Bonus Stories. PS Publishing, 2014. First edition hardback, #47 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and Fine decorated slipcase. Note that in this set the signature page is found in the additional volume, not the main volume.
Wong, David. John Dies At the End. Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Press, 2009. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Cult science fiction horror novel and basis of the Don Coscarelli movie of the same name. Bought for $32.50 from Half Price Books with a 50% off coupon.
Another signed Neal Barrett, Jr. book for my collection.
Barrett, Neal, Jr. Judge Dread. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with slight touches of edgewear. Signed by Barrett. Based on the Sylvester Stallone movie. Bought for $5 at Armadillocon
Here are three Joe R. Lansdale first editions I picked up, the first two at Armadillocon:
Lansdale, Joe R. Hap and Leonard. Tachyon, 2016. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, inscribed to me by Joe.
Lansdale, Joe R. and John L. Lansdale. Hell’s Bounty. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, a PC copy of 1,000 signed numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Got this from Joe in trade.
Lansdale, Joe R. and Kasey Lansdale. The Case of the Bleeding Wall. First edition hardback, #363 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought as part of a $99 package deal with some other books I’ll be cataloging or selling later.
Picked up one more thing from the Fred Duarte estate that I didn’t see during my previous purchase:
Bradbury, Ray. Green Shadows, White Whale. Random House Audio, 1992. Audio cassette (probably the “first edition,” as I suspect there was only one) in a Very Good- packaging with 1″ of the inner cardboard cassette sleeve missing at bottom. Signed by Bradbury across the rear of the package. Two cassettes adding up to three hours of audio (presumably abridged) of Bradbury reading from his own novel. (I also have a first edition of the novel signed by Bradbury.) Bought from the Duarte estate sale at Armadillocon for $5.
Here’s some nice creepy viewing: 20 scary urban exploration videos:
I’m not the sort of person to poke around abandoned buildings any time, much less at night, but here are some creepy, scary, and unexplained things that urban explorers have chanced across doing just that.
Austin’s Single Lash was one of the bands playing at that Luscious Heaven show at Cheer Up Charlie’s. I only managed to catch one of their songs, but I thought the lead singer was really good. “Bitemarks” may or may not have been that song.
