>> TANE: IT’S THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN PEOPLE’S MINDS TURN TO SCARY SURPRISES AND THE DEFINITION OF MONSTER.

NO, THIS ISN’T ANOTHER ELECTION ESSAY.

I’M TALKING HALLOWEEN.

TO HELP US GET READY, I BROUGHT HONEST TO GOODNESS, SECERTIFIED MONSTER EXPERT, THE REVEREND DR. MATTHEW KESSEN.

ROUND OF APPLAUSE, EVERYBODY.

[ Applause ] >> MATT: THANK YOU, TANE.

I HAVE THREE MONSTERS TO SHARE TODAY TO INSPIRE COSTUMES, DECORATIONS, OR JUST TERROR.

MADE ALL THE MORE BONE-CHILLING BY THE FACT THAT THEY’RE ALL MINNESOTA MONSTERS.

>> TANE: SO THEY ALL TERRORIZE US BY TAKING AN HOUR TO SAY GOOD-BYE?

>> MATT: MUCH WORSE.

LET’S START WITH A SNAKE.

IN 1904, IT WAS REPORTED THAT A 12-FOOT SNAKE WAS TAKEN ON BOARD A BARGE ON THE MINNESOTA RIVER, NEAR EDEN PRAIRIE.

>> Tane: OOH, I BROUGHT A SNAKE TO THIS STUDIO ONCE.

>> MATT: NOT JUST ONE.

WHEN IT OPENED ITS MOUTH, A DOZEN SMALLER SNAKES CAME OUT.

>> Tane: UGH.

SO IN 1904, IT WAS A BARGE TO EDEN PRAIRIE FILLED WITH SNAKES.

SOMEDAY SOON, IT’LL BE A LIGHT RAIL TO EDEN PRAIRIE >> BOTH: FILLED WITH SNAKES.

>> MATT: YES.

NEXT, THE MINNESOTA ICEMAN.

IN THE 1960s, THE MINNESOTA ICEMAN WAS PRESENTED AS A POTENTIAL MISSING LINK BETWEEN APES AND MAN.

IT WAS EXHIBITED AT CARNIVALS ACROSS THE STATE.

TWO CRYPTO-ZOOLOGISTS CAME TO SEE IT IN ROLLING STONE AND PRONOUNCED IT A GENUINE UNKNOWN ANIMAL.

BUT ULTIMATELY, THE SMITHSONIAN INVESTIGATED AND DETERMINED IT WAS SIMPLY A, QUOTE, "CARNIVAL EXHIBIT MADE -OF LATEX RUBBER AND HAIR."

IN 2013, THE MINNESOTA ICEMAN WAS SOLD ON EBAY AND IS NOW ON DISPLAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

>> Tane: OH, SO LIKE MANY OLDER MINNESOTANS, SICK OF THE ICE, HE IS A ?O SNOW BIRD NOW.

>> MATT: FINALLY, COME BACK WITH ME TO OCTOBER 23RD, 1965.

A YOUNG MAN NAMED JERRY TOWNSEND WAS DRIVING OUTSIDE OF LONG PRAIRIE.

SUDDENLY, HIS CAR WENT DEAD.

HE LOOKED UP.

THERE IN FRONT OF HIS VEHICLE, A LARGE ROCKET-SHAPED OBJECT, STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

THEN HE SAW THEM.

THREE METAL OBJECTS COMING TOWARD HIM!

>> TANE: LIKE GIANT ALIEN ROBOTS?

>> MATT: SORT OF.

THEY WERE NINE INCHES TALL.

WAD ALING ON BASES WITH FINS ON THEM DOWN THE ROAD.

IMAGINE TOWNSEND’S TERROR AS HE CAME FACE-TO-FACE WITH EXTRATERRESTRIAL BEER CANS!

>> TANE: ARE YOU SUGGESTING PEOPLE DRESS UP AS ALIEN BEER CANS?

FOR HALLOWEEN?

>> MATT: SURE.

OR JUST ATTACH SOME FINS TO YOUR BEVERAGE AS YOU FOLLOW YOUR KIDS TRICK-OR-TREATING.

YOU CAN SAY IT’S MINNESOTA HISTORY.

>> TANE: THAT YOU SAW ON TPT!

>> TANE AND MATT: HAPPY SPOOKY