Alfred Hitchcock's Haunted Houseful [VINTAGE 1961]

Near fine condition glossy oversized color illustrated boards. Rubbing at upper and lower spine edges. The volume is otherwise in fine condition. (see photographs) "Nine 'cool" stories about haunted houses and ghosts for boys and girls." "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to my haunted houseful. Visitors are always welcome. This book is an effort to provide reading for young people who are at the awkward age. Children who are too lazy to walk but still too young to drive. Here are nine stories carefully compiled to furnish reading material in Life's great waiting room where we while away the hours until our driver's license is issued. I suppose you are wondering why, when the fashion is to put an "Adults Only" sign on books and movies, I am editing a book for younger people. The answer is quite simple. I have previously edited two books of mystery and suspense stories for the older set and the poor dears were frightened silly. In fact, one senior citizen reportedly went completely ape. I do not pretend to know what that absurd expression means but I get the idea and I don't intend to waste a volume of perfectly exquisite ghost stories on people such as that. They just don't have the stomach for it. (Obviously I do.) Of course there may be a few adult delinquents who hold up under experiences with the supernatural, but, let's face it: most of your elders are just plain chicken. It may seem contradictory, but another reason I am not addressing this book to adults is (and, believe me, this hurts) they insist they don't believe in ghosts. It's shocking, really. After all, these are the people who write our country's laws and pay our allowances. I don't know how they could become so confused. Perhaps you are partly to blame. You have not watched them closely enough and they have fallen in with bad company. But, as the television repairman often says, the picture is not as black as it seems. There are still many parents who secretly believe. You have probably seen them going through strange rituals and observing peculiar taboos. This morning before breakfast, did you notice your father lean over and touch his toes repeatedly for no apparent reason? Does your mother go through intermittent periods of fasting? Does she refuse to eat certain, wonderfully rich desserts? Do not be upset. Your parents don't want to talk about it, but some ghost or evil spirit has appeared to them, possibly in their own dressing room, and they are desperately trying to exorcise him. Why am I publishing a book when I can haunt millions of houses simultaneously each Tuesday night? Certain types of stories make perfect television fare. In the realm of the ghost story, however, I think the printed page has some advantages and I want you to discover them. When you read, you can be alone. - Absolutely alone. Television gives you the comfortable illusion of associating with all those actors. Worst of all, it bathes the entire room in light. Under such circumstances it is amazing that the commercials can be as frightening as they are. But I have chatted long enough. It is time to get down to business. First, find a room where you can be alone. Comfortable? Uh-uh! Take that transistor radio out of your ear. We want absolute quiet. Next, turn the light down low. I know; plenty of light is better for your eyes. However, it is death to ghosts and we should always think of others. Now, concentrate on the printed page. ---What's that? You hear a strange noise? I'm sure it's just a shutter banging in the wind. - You don't have shutters? Good! Your attitude indicates you have completed your reading readiness and are all set. You may begin wandering through our little tract of haunted houses, - No, I'm not coming with you. This is as far as I go." - Alfred Hitchcock, from the Introduction.…