Behind the Folklore - Bad Day At Black Rock

by crystalrach

For Folklore Main Page Click Here

RABBIT'S FOOT
In American folklore, the foot of a rabbit is carried as an amulet believed to bring good luck.

The belief originates in the system of African-American folk magic known as hoodoo. A number of strictures attached to the charm that are now observed mostly in the breach:
First, not any old foot from a rabbit will do: it is the left hind foot of a rabbit that is useful as a charm.
Second, not any left hind foot of a rabbit will do; the rabbit must have been shot or otherwise captured in a cemetery.
Third, at least according to some sources, not any left hind foot of a rabbit shot in a cemetery will do: the phase of the moon is also important. Some authorities say that the rabbit must be taken in the full moon, while others hold instead that the rabbit must be taken in the new moon. Some sources say instead that the rabbit must be taken on a Friday, or a rainy Friday, or Friday the 13th. Some sources say that the rabbit should be shot with a silver bullet, while others say that the foot must be cut off while the rabbit is still alive.

The rabbit's foot is dried out and preserved, and carried around by gamblers and other people who hope it will bring them luck. Rabbit's feet, either authentic or imitation, are frequently sold by curio shops and vending machines. Often, these rabbit's feet have been dyed various colours, and they are often turned into keychains. Few of these rabbit's feet carry any warranty concerning their provenance, or any evidence that the preparers have made any effort to comply with the rituals required by the original tradition. Some may be confected from fake fur and latex "bones."


OTHER REFERENCES
Kubrick
The name of Gordon's Hunter friend. Almost certainly a reference to movie director Stanley Kubrick - who directed, amongst others, The Shining.

Edgar Cayce
The name John used for his storage container. The real Edgar Cayce was an American who claimed to hve psychic abilities.

Dean: Pull a little Rain Man. You can be Rain Man.
Referencing the 1988 movie starring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman, with Tom Cruise as Charlie Babbit discovering the brother he never had, savant Raymond (Rain Man).

Dean: Say good bye, wascally wabbit.
This is from The Bugs Bunny Show, which features cartoon animals in an animated world. Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny were two of them. Elmer was always hunting down Bugs Bunny, who was a rabbit. He was never able to say the 'R' in a word, so whenever he talked to Bugs Bunny or about Bugs Bunny, instead of saying rascally rabbit, he would say "wascally wabbit."

Dean: I'm Batman!
Batman is a fictional comic book superhero who does not possess superpowers and, instead, makes use of intellect, detective skills, science and technology, wealth, physical prowess, and intimidation in his war on crime.


Information from Wikipedia and TV.com.