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Al Ridenour's passion for the horror genre is genuine, as is his eagerness to explore and seriously analyze its relationshipwith the folkloric realm. Throughout his life, Ridenour has eagerly embracedthe weird and macabre, exploring his obsessions through various creativemodes and undertakings. Since the 1990s, Ridenour has worked as a journalist,author, artist, animator, arts impresario, and small-time cultural agitator (thelast with the Cacophony Societyunder thenom de guerre, ""Rev. Al""). Mostrecently, with the enthusiastic reception of his 2016 book The Krampus and the Old, Dark, Christmashe has made a name for himself as thepreeminent English-language expert on the folklore of the Krampus. Now in its second printing, Ridenour's Dangerous Minds' Christopher Bickel described the Krampusas ""the definitive work on Krampus""and a ""must read,"" whileLA Timesbook critic Elizabeth Hand found the book ""gleefully erudite,"" remarking thatit ""deserves to be a classic."" Ridenour's research on the Krampus began in 2012,followed the next year by travels to Europe to observe traditional activitiesfirsthand.Shortly after that, along with long-time friend Al Guerrero, hefounded Los Angeles's annual and ongoing KrampusfestandKrampuslauf, engaging both local andEuropean performers for these annual events. He has translated, produced and directed adaptations oftraditional European Krampus plays, lectured on the Krampus at theInternational Goethe-Institut, The San Diego Art Institute, and the NewAmericans Museum. He also crafts and sells Krampus masks and teachesworkshops for those interested in making their own. In 2018, he was recruitedby Geek Nation Tours as onboard consultant for tours of Austria and Germanyfocusing on Krampus events and traditions.
