More Haunted Mansion Hauntings

One of the most fun and most Halloween-esque promotions for Disneyland Park's opening of Haunted Mansion in 1969 was this edition of The Wonderful World of Disney magazine (Volume I, No. 4, 1970), the famous publication offered by Gulf Oil to promote the Disney TV series of the same name, which Gulf sponsored.  The photos of legendary Imagineer Yale Gracey interrupted in his Imagineering by one of the Mansion's silly spooks is a classic, and inspired more than one young Disney fan to pursue a career in Imagineering or just plain Disney-ing...after all, working with friendly- spirited spirits looks like so much fun! This post is part of the Countdown to Halloween 2012 blog-a-thon—be sure and stop by for more Halloween tricks and treats. 

A Hanna-Barbera Halloween (Or Close Enough)

There weren't a lot (if any) specifically Halloween-themed Hanna-Barbera comic books but there were plenty that fit the macabre mood, especially with Scooby Doo on board. Here are three favorites: the monster-movie themed cover from Scooby Doo Mystery Comics # 21 from October 1973 (from the Gold Key era; thankfully [and incredibly] Scooby Doo is still being published today); a tale of the Headless Horseman from the comic based on the underrated Funky Phantom show, issue # 2, June 1972; and Magilla Gorilla # 9 from October 1966.This Halloween post is part of the Countdown to Halloween 2012 blog-a-thon, adding fun to your October festivities all month long.

Welcome, Great Pumpkin

The classic animated TV special It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown was first broadcast on October 27, 1966, making today the 46th anniversary of its first telecast. In 1968, as that Halloween cartoon treat was on its way to becoming an annual event, Hallmark released a whole series of Halloween "Plan-a-Party" goodies, including paper cups, napkins, a table cloth and centerpiece, and these invitations—all decorated with delightful Charles Schulz art of Great Pumpkin fanatic Linus and party animal Snoopy. These irresistible Hallmark goods undoubtedly helped many a host or hostess throw a Halloween hootenanny rivaling the one given by Violet in It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. This Halloween post is part of the Countdown to Halloween 2012 blog-a-thon.  

Early One October Morning In 1985...

As I noted back here, the date of October 26 is writ large in Back to the Future lore for, according to the classic 1985 comedy-science-fiction-fantasy-action-adventure-suspense film (heck, it's almost a musical!), that was the day on which high-schooler Marty McFly (brilliantly played by Michael J. Fox) accidentally time-travelled to 1955. Marty did so of course by means of a DeLorean time machine and posted here as a Back to the Future treat are the schematics, as published in the movie's "Official Collector's Edition Souvenir Magazine." (Click on the image for a larger view.) Can this post really be considered a part of the of the Countdown to Halloween 2012 blog-a-thon? Given its sci-fi/fantasy elements and its very own "mad" scientist (Doc Brown, superbly played by Christopher Lloyd) and even its "horror" overtones (what's more horrific than watching yourself being erased from existence?), why not? At any rate enjoy, and be sure and come back for all the fun still to come for the Countdown to Halloween 2012 blog-a-thon. 

A Harvey Halloween

Casper the Friendly Ghost was the cornerstone of the Harvey comic book empire and their friendly flagship phantom inspired some Halloween worthy covers. Here are just two examples: Casper, #101, dated January 1967 and Little Audrey  #73, dated December 1967. (Both of these comics were obviously intended to be on stands for Halloween 1966.) Judging by Playful Little Audrey's reaction it's fairly apparent that she never had much interaction with her Harvey neighbors such as the Ghostly Trio, Spooky the Tuff Little Ghost or even Wendy the Good Little Witch or Casper himself (all characters pictured on the Casper cover shown below ...otherwise wouldn't she be more inured to this sort of thing? This post is all part of the Countdown to Halloween 2012 blog-a-thon. Come back for more Halloween fun all this month. 

Pajama Party With Annette!

Today, October 22, is Annette's birthday and in celebration of Walt Disney's most beloved Mouseketeer, here's the front and back cover of one of Annette's top-selling LP albums. Annette's Pajama Party, as you can see here, is "The Original Soundtrack of 'Pajama Party.'" Pajama Party (1964) is my personal favorite of the films the lovely Annette made for American International Pictures,   one reason being Miss Funicello's leading man is her frequent co-star from her Disney films, Tommy Kirk. This soundtrack album was released on Disney's prestige Vista label, of course, as that was Annette's home label. To celebrate Annette's birthday with both style and substance, visit her official website and please consider making a contribution to combat MS. (There's more information here.) In the meantime, Happy Birthday to this classy and courageous Disney Legend.

Oreo! Yo-ho-yo!

I saw this Halloween salute to The Wizard of Oz from Halloween Oreos in the October issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine, which I was leafing through while in a waiting room, and just had to post it here for you all to enjoy as part of the Countdown to Halloween 2012 blog-a-thon. 

Casper Explains It All (About UNICEF) To You

As mentioned on my previous post about Trick or Treat for UNICEF, Casper the Friendly Ghost was a spokesperson (make that spooks-person) for that October 31-centered program. As a follow-up, here's a   1973 comic-book giveaway in which "the friendliest ghost you know' explains how donations helps kids (or as Casper of course calls them, "friends") all over the world. I wondered whether I should post this or not as part of the Halloween Countdown 2012 as its about UNICEF in general and doesn't even mention the Trick or Treat campaign... but then I realized Casper is just naturally (or supernaturally) about Halloween. He's a ghost, for pete's sake! Enjoy (the first page/cover and the last page of this four page publication are below), and please continue to visit as Tulgey Wood continues its participation in the Countdown to Halloween 2012 blog-a-thon. 

That's One Kooky Costume

Who wore this costume for Halloween 1961? Eggheads, smarty pants and of course fans of all-around expert on everything, Ludwig Von Drake. The garrulous quackster had been introduced just over a month earlier on September 24, 1961, on the premiere episode of Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color. The costume is just one of the many pieces of primo Von Drake memorabilia issued to help promote the newly introduced character. (Note that the costume is labeled as a masquerade, not Halloween, costume so that variety stores, five-and-dimes and toy stores wouldn't put these gaudy get-ups out just in October—though perhaps the orange-and-black color scheme of the packaging indicated that Ben Cooper knew which season filled its treat bag.) I unfortunately don't have the tunic-like part of the costume but here's the mask, which as you can see is quite authentic. While this mask is probably a little too small for most of us to slip on we can still imagine what it might be like to go trick-or-treating as one of the most merchandised Disney characters ever. In the meantime be sure and check out the article about Professor Von Drake I wrote for the D23 website. This post is part of the big Countdown to Halloween 2012 blog-a-thon—be sure and check out the other blogs that are counting down to the 31st too!

Gruesomes! Meet The Gruesomes!

To capitalize on the 1960s monster craze, especially as embodied by The Munsters and The Addams Family television shows, Hanna-Barbera added a monsters-next-door clan to The Flintstones. Introduced in the episode originally broadcast on November 12, 1964, this weird but friendly family, consisting of Weirdly and Creepella and son Goblin, also appeared in the Flintstones comic book, their first appearance being in issue #24 from 1964, the cover of which is seen below. Check back on October 31 for more monster fun, Flintstones-style. It's all part of the Countdown to Halloween 2012 blog-a-thon.