Happy Thursday and welcome back to Mac Claire, your curated destination for all things Music, Arts & Culture! This is the last of my Halloween articles and I really hope you've enjoyed them all. If you missed the previous ones (Mac Halloween Favorites and All About Pumpkins), you can find them in the Special Features section of the blog. Tonight's double-feature Scenes from the Screen/Greetings From... article is all about the New England town of Salem, Massachusetts! I'll be talking about a virtual event that I attended in Salem and two movies that have been filmed in the historic town.
Easily one of the most visited towns in the world during the Halloween season, Salem was the site of the 1692-93 Salem Witch Trials. Over 100 townsfolk, both men and women, were accused of practicing witchcraft during a wave of local hysteria about the supernatural "devil's practice" that was rumored to be spreading throughout colonial New England. Many people were hung, some died in jail, and others were even pressed to death. Eventually the court that conducted the Trials was dissolved and legislation was passed that restored the innocence and good names of the accused. Financial restitution was given to their families as well, but the tragedy of the Salem Witch Trials left a large stain on the community.
Films like Hocus Pocus have created a lighter spin on the complicated history of the town, and are part of the reason that it has become such a major tourist destination. Those who live in Salem and work in the town's tourism industry, however, work hard to make sure that the tragedy and historical impact of the Salem Witch Trials is not overlooked by the festivities each year. Though Salem is technically open for business this October, there have been many changes to the Halloween celebrations. Additionally, as COVID-19 numbers increase again, the mayor has had to restrict transportation into the city to ensure that there aren't more tourists than is sensible during these times. Luckily, there are many ways to experience Salem at Halloween without being there in person and that's what I decided to do this year!
Greetings From...Salem!
I recently attended a Virtual Tour of Salem, Massachusetts hosted by New England Curiosities. The tour guide, Roxie, was a former resident of Salem with evident knowledge and passion for the town and its history. Keeping tour-goers engaged in a virtual setting is no small feat, but she did a wonderful job during her tour, which was part-photo, part-video, and narrated live with virtual interaction and the opportunity to ask questions via the Zoom chatroom.
As we "walked" the streets of Salem we were treated to all the sights: historic homes and inns with stunning architecture, lesser-known shops and restaurants (like Bit Bar and Crow Haven Corner) that will enhance your visit, prominent Salem museums/house museums, familiar spots from movies (which we'll get to later 😎), the Bewitched Sculpture, the cemeteries and memorials that preserve Salem's history, the old Salem jail, and spookily-decorated homes. We were also told stories of the supernatural experiences that have occurred at many of these places. In the cemeteries, Roxie's knowledge of the symbols and images found on the headstones and tombstones told us a great deal about some of Salem's earliest residents: what they believed in, what they did for a living, how they died, how they were related to the Trials, etc. If you are interested in attending a virtual tour with Roxie through New England Curiosities (which I highly suggest!), I will be providing a link to their website below.
Scenes from the Screen
Hocus Pocus
This 1993 classic starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy has easily become on the most iconic Halloween movies. Telling the story of the fictional Sanderson sisters, three witches hung during the Salem Witch Trials who come back from the dead in the 1990s, Hocus Pocus is celebrated every year with special events in the Disney theme parks, costume contests, paint nights, themed merchandise, and more, worldwide. Many of the tourists who flock to Salem each year seek out the spots where their favorite Hocus Pocus scenes were filmed, and we were lucky to be treated to a view of these spots on our Virtual Tour of Salem with Roxie and learn a little more about them.
Photos In Order of Appearance:
Hocus Pocus Official Poster, Courtesy of IMDb
Salem Pioneer Village (Opening Thackery Binx Scene in Hocus Pocus), Courtesy of Salem.org
Salem Town Common (Max & Allison Leaving School Scene in Hocus Pocus), Courtesy of New England With Love
Private Residence on Ocean Ave (Max's House in Hocus Pocus), Courtesy of New England With Love
Ropes Mansion (Allison's House in Hocus Pocus), Courtesy of New England With Love
Old Town Hall (Halloween Party at Town Hall Scene in Hocus Pocus), Courtesy of New England With Love
Phillips School ("A Prison for Children" Scene in Hocus Pocus), Courtesy of New England With Love
Hubie Halloween
This brand new Adam Sandler Halloween film arrived on Netflix earlier this month. Hubie Halloween follows the story of Hubie Dubois, a lifelong Salem resident who dedicates himself to making sure everyone has a safe and fun Halloween night in the spooky city. Unfortunately, Hubie isn't treated very kindly by his fellow residents, who mock and ignore him, but this is the year that things will change. While a good portion of Hubie Halloween was filmed in the nearby town of Marblehead, MA, the Salem Town Common was used for the town festival scene. The bright-orange string lights that were a part of the set became such a hit with real Salem residents, that the town decided to put them up for Halloween again this year!
Photos In Order of Appearance:
Hubie Halloween Official Poster, Courtesy of IMDb
The Hubie Halloween Film Set on the Salem Town Common, Courtesy of @suppressthepast on Instagram via Boston.com
Happy Halloween, friends! Stay safe and healthy out there this year. I hope that you've enjoyed this Salem double-feature and the other Halloween articles I've shared this October. Again, if you would like to check out Mac Halloween Favorites or All About Pumpkins, they can be found in the Special Features section of the Mac Claire blog.
Enjoyed this spooky article? Please give it a heart and a share! I'm a new blogger and every little bit of exposure helps me grow my audience. You can also connect with Mac Claire on Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest, and subscribe to the weekly email list so that you never miss an article!
Next Thursday I'll be bringing you a special feature entitled Mac VOTES! I'll be listing the best podcasts, television shows, fashion, and more to get you into the election spirit. And don't forget to check in on Monday at 10am for my Mac Weekly Highlight, taking a look at the best finds from Music, Arts & Culture's past week! Talk to you then 😊
~Claire
Links:
New England Curiosities: https://newenglandcuriosities.com/
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