A salute to classic Scooby-Doo villains, featuring who's who-style entries on some of the weirdest bad guys ever!

The Super Friends have asked for help chasing ghosts out of the Hall of Justice. Will the Scooby gang be helpful, or will Shaggy's fear of rainbows give these particular ghosts too big an advantage?!

Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. gang have tickets to opening night of Hamlet at the Crystal Cove Theater. But Shakespeare's play features only one ghost -- not two!

Why is Fred always hungry, while Shaggy has nothing but traps on his mind? And why is Velma concerned with what to wear, while Daphne is consumed with books? What is the mystery behind our gang acting so unfamiliar, and can Scooby save the day? All will be answered once you fall under the spell of…the Hypno-Haunt!

"Being a fan of a popular film, television or book franchise is something most of us enjoy. But, we may not be familiar with the scientific study of fictional narrative or of fandom. In this book, two media psychologists reveal the sometimes-paradoxical idea that fiction helps us find truth in our real lives. Whether you consider yourself a fan or whether you find yourself thinking of a particular fictional scene for inspiration, you are not alone. Perfectly sane people regularly admit that their favourite stories are important to them. Though journalists sometimes assume that the interest in the fictional world is a sign of trouble, we enthusiastically disagree. Because story worlds are social simulations, people use them to work out their values, decide how to handle similar situations, and even decide what kind of person they want to be. Though films and shows are widely spoken of as diversions or as escapism, there are many ways that they aren't trivial at all to us. In this book, the authors explore how we understand the identity of a favourite character and the actor who plays the character. Are they the same person? We also delve into the nitty gritty of mental models for story worlds and timeless story arcs such as the hero's journey. The moments that strike us as important can change as we age and move through different life stages. Our conclusion: fans are not crazy. What fans are is human"--

Profusely illustrated and engagingly written, this book tells the whole exciting story of the history and development of roller coasters, from the first 15-foot-high, four-mile-per-hour Switchback Railway in Coney Island's 1884 amusement park to today's wild mega-monsters. Photos throughout.

Revisiting a televised narrative that focused not on the monster, but on the monster hunter. Before Buffy the Vampire Slayer or The X-Files, there was Carl Kolchak, a world-weary Chicago newspaper reporter with a cheap, seersucker suit and a penchant for uncovering monsters lurking in every corner. Kolchak first appeared on American screens in the 1972 ABC television movie The Night Stalker, which was then the most-watched television movie in history. The success of this initial offering led to a sequel, The Night Strangler, and a television series, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, that ran from 1974 until 1975. By carefully focusing on the historical and artistic contexts in which it emerged, Kendall R. Phillips offers insights into the way the series both reflected contemporary horror narratives and changed them. Ultimately, the series proved influential for later television horror shows based not only on what it did right but on the mistakes future creators would learn to avoid. The enduring impact of the series on current television horror continues to draw more and more individuals into its robust fanbase, and these fans continue to consume and create new narratives of their favorite monster-hunting reporter even fifty years after he first appeared.

Once consigned almost exclusively to Saturday morning fare for young viewers, television animation has evolved over the last several decades as a programming form to be reckoned with. While many animated shows continue to entertain tots, the form also reaches a much wider audience, engaging viewers of all ages. Whether aimed at toddlers, teens, or adults, animated shows reflect an evolving expression of sophisticated wit, adult humor, and a variety of artistic techniques and styles. The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Series encompasses animated programs broadcast in the United States and Canada since 1948. From early cartoon series like Crusader Rabbit, Rocky and His Friends, and The Flintstones to 21st century stalwarts like The Simpsons, South Park, and Spongebob Squarepants, the wide range of shows can be found in this volume. Series from many networks—such as Comedy Central, the Disney Channel, Nickleodeon, and Cartoon Network— are included, representing both the diversity of programming and the broad spectrum of viewership. Each entry includes a list of cast and characters, credit information, a brief synopsis of the series, and a critical analysis. Additional details include network information and broadcast history. The volume also features one hundred images and an introduction containing an historical overview of animated programming since the inception of television. Highlighting an extensive array of shows from Animaniacs and Archer to The X-Men and Yogi Bear, The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Series is an essential resource for anyone interested in the history and evolution of this constantly expanding art form.

"200+ characters and guest stars!"--Cover.

Nostalgia, a bittersweet yearning for the past, is an important element in Jewish-American performances of the late twentieth century. Numerous plays and films of this time use nostalgia to engage Jewish, including Yiddish, cultural themes and images. Nostalgia offers audiences a window through which to examine past and current social changes. These include American Jews' departure from Europe to America, the city for the suburbs, Yiddish for English, as well as the civil rights, women's, peace, and gay and lesbian movements, and other transformations. These performances illustrate how theatre and film transmit culture from generation to generation and between one ethnic community and the wider American scene.