COUNTY LIFE

Top horror movies, series polled

Published

5 years ago

10/28/2020

For many, Halloween is the most wonderful time of the year, giving them the perfect excuse to hide behind their sofas as they “watch” their favorite horror film or to indulge in a frightful TV series.

But which films and TV shows give which states the biggest frights?

Comparitech, compiled a list of the most popular movies and TV shows by state (based on what’s trending on IMDb for horror) to see what people are finding most spooktacular.

Some states are getting their frights from the latest horror offerings, some are heading into the past to give themselves the creeps, and others are prolonging the agony with lengthy series. In Texas the top movie was “The Conjuring.”

Some states are getting their scares close to home

There were a few states whose favorite movies were made in their own backyard. This includes:

Illinois for Halloween (1978) – The original film movie from the Halloween series, Halloween introduces us to Michael Myers. After been committed to a mental institution for the murder of his 15-year-old sister (he was 6 years old at the time), Myers escapes after 15 years and returns to his hometown of Haddonfield in Illinois to continue his killing spree.
Maine for It (2017) – A remake of the popular classic (derived from Stephen King’s novel of the same name), It is set in the small town of Derry, Maine. Here, a group of bullied kids gets together to try and destroy a monster that disguises itself as a clown and preys on children.
New York for Sleepy Hollow (1999) – Even though Sleepy Hollow was filmed in North Carolina, it’s set in 1799 in the Dutch hamlet of Sleepy Hollow, near New York City. Police constable Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) is sent to investigate the mysterious and brutal goings-on of the Headless Horseman.
Massachusetts for The Witch (2015) – Set in New England in the 1600s, The Witch follows a family who encounters black magic, witchcraft, and possession in the woods just beyond their farm.
Rhode Island for The Conjuring (2013) – Based on a true story, The Conjuring follows the story of paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren, as they try to help exorcise the demons that are possessing the Perron family. And the scariest bit? While the film may seem far fetched, Lorraine herself was actually involved in the making of the film and maintains that she didn’t allow for any over-dramatization of the events.
Colorado for The Shining (1980) – Although this film is based on Stephen King’s novel, King did experience the haunting effects of the real-life hotel in which the book and film are set. With numerous tales of hauntings, King and his wife stayed the night at the Stanley Hotel in room 217. It was there that King had a nightmare that his son was being chased through the hotel by a possessed fire hose. At the time, King was also battling alcoholism, thus forming the central character of his novel.

What’s clear, then, is that horror films based on true stories add to the popularity and fright factor for those living in the state in which they’re set.

Methodology

Using the top 90 films on IMDB’s list of horror movies that are most popular among IMDb users at present, we searched each film individually on Google Trends to find which state scored the highest. This was then the designated film for that state. If any state came up twice, we used the film that ranked higher on Google Trends. If a state didn’t appear top for any of the movies, we searched through all of the 90 films to see which was most popular in the state according to Google Trends.

Movies where no data was available on Google Trends or have only been released recently in cinemas were omitted (new titles released on streaming channels, i.e. Netflix, were not omitted).

COUNTY LIFE

Free Music in the Park Festival on June 14

Published

3 days ago

06/05/2025

bowienews

Make plans to enjoy a leisure Saturday in the park at the Music in the Park Festival on June 14 in Bowie’s Pelham Park.
Guests are invited to bring their lawn chairs and set up under the oak trees that fill the park near the amphitheater. This is the second year for this free festival as it expands to a full day hosted by the Bowie Community Center and R&K Sound Company.
The day opens with a 5K run/walk at 8:30 a.m. at the Pelham Park Pavillion. Pre-race warm-up begins at 8:10 a.m. and the race starts at 8:30 a.m. There will be first-third place winners in each age category.
Entry fee is $35 and participants receive a T-shirt. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Clear Choice Pregnancy Resource Center. Enter at the QR code on the Clear Choice Facebook page or email fourseasonsraceseries@gmail.com.
Live accoustic music opens the free festival starting at 11:30 a.m. with Corbin Woolsey, Blake Mangus, Tiffany Chandler, Sara White and Dillon Edwards. Other live music that day will include Bad Daddy Band and Bricktown Band. ZZ Texas, a ZZ Top tribute band will take the stage at 8 p.m. Live music continues until 10 p.m.
There will be food truck vendors, bounce houses (fee) and vendors. Guests are allowed to bring beer in a cooler, but no soda pop or similar drinks. There will be a $5 cooler fee.
Those with questions may call Bonnie at 940-872-4861 or Kenny at 817-704-9847.

COUNTY LIFE

Nocona Chamber presents annual awards

Published

3 days ago

06/05/2025

bowienews

By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Members of the Nocona Chamber of Commerce celebrated their past year during the annual awards banquet Monday night surrounded by theme of “Roaring ‘20s.”
A beautiful array of tables welcomed guests to the annual event in the H.J. Justin Building in downtown Nocona. Longtime chamber member and local businessman Larry Lemons welcomed the group and shared his tale of the benefits of being in the chamber of commerce in humorous verse.
“If you love seeing deliberate strides in your community,” you may want to be a chamber member. He pointed to the chamber’s efforts to promote the town, welcome visitors and promote business members.

Hobie Meekins of Wells Fargo Bank was named Chamber Citizen of the Year.

Read the full story and see more photos in the Thursday Bowie News.

Top photo: The Carpenter Shop was named Organization of the Year by the Nocona Chamber of Commerce.

Hobie Meekins was named Citizen of the Year by the Nocona Chamber of Commerce Monday night. (Photo by Barbara Green)

COUNTY LIFE

Cruisin’ Nocona opens Friday

Published

3 days ago

06/05/2025

bowienews

For the 12th year in a row Nocona celebrates the automobile with Cruisin’ Nocona on June 6-7 with a slate of events across downtown.
This event, hosted by the Nocona Chamber of Commerce, made the move from May to June in 2025, but the activities remain the same.
The festivities kick off Friday morning with registration and check-in from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the H.J. Justin Building, 100 Clay Street. That will be followed by a breakfast burrito fundraiser (by donation) benefiting Nocona Lucky Paws from 9 to 10 a.m. It is open to everyone, even those not participating in the cruise.
Chamber organizers explained due to state regulations the cruise can no longer be called a “poker run,” but it will contain a “game component” that will have the same spirit of fun as prior events as everyone enjoys the spring countryside. There will be case prizes of $200, $100 and $50 for first, second and third places.
At 11 a.m. the cruise and game begin, followed by a barbecue lunch at 1 p.m. prepared by the Nocona High School BBQ Team, also at the Justin Building. The cruise resumes at 2:20 p.m. and concludes at Nocona Beer at the Brewery by 4:15 p.m., with game winners announced at 4:30 p.m.
The evening wraps up with the Dark of the Moon Lighted Truck Convoy at 8:30 p.m., traveling down Clay Street and back to the brewery.
June 7 begins with a pancake breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Justin Building, featuring pancakes, sausage, fruit, coffee, and orange juice. The breakfast is by donation and open to anyone in the community, benefiting American Legion Riders Chapter 220.
At 10 a.m. registration opens for the Car, Motorcycle, and Working Truck Show, with judging beginning at 1 p.m. Kids can join the fun during the Power Wheels Races at 2 p.m. (vehicles must be unmodified and child-operated). The awards ceremony begins at 4 p.m. followed by a live concert by Tin Rivers.
Additional highlights on Saturday include local vendors, food trucks, shopping, and the Trucking Thru Time Rolling Truck Museum, making this a full day of fun for all ages.