Holiday Hauntings

As the days begin to cool, and the leaves change color, it's nature's way of nudging us to put away the beach umbrellas and bring out the holiday decorations.

Here at the Eichler Network, we've been busily wrapping up the new Fall '22 issue of CA-Modern magazine, filled with a mid-century modern mix of holiday stories, timely topics, and gift ideas.

Jumping right into the Halloween season, we present 'Otherworldly,' a tale about a spooky new movie "thriller with a modern twist" first introduced in this space a few weeks ago.

First-time producer Mike Stern, who shot the film in his Eichler in Orange, says the idea came to him one day while lounging at home in his Fairhaven tract. "I realized no one has ever made a haunted house movie in a mid-century modern home," he says.

Stern, who wrote, produced, and plays a character in the film, explains that what he set out to do was to create a cult film—"a kind of zany-strange-horrific but also funny, supernatural thriller that is most definitely a commentary on the politics of our time."

Our Fall issue's cover story ties in nicely with our delightful 1958 cover illustration titled 'Trick or Treating in the Burbs,' by classic 20th century American artist John Philip Falter. Conjuring up every kid's favorite Halloween moment, the tie-in story by yours truly, 'Houseful of Halloween,' revisits the ghosts and goblins of mid-century Halloweens past.

For that Halloween tale, we visit with pop culture artist Crystal Marshall (aka El Gato Gomez), known the world over for her colorful, 'mid-century spooky' illustrations.

"I remember adoring The Munsters," says El Gato. "I think that is my main connection to mid-century spooky. The Dragula [coffin-shaped car], and the beatniks, and the music! It was just fantastic."