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. 

Can You Survive The Horror of...Countdown To Halloween 2012?!

I have the honor of being added to the spectacular Halloween-themed blog-a-thon Countdown to Halloween 2012, hosted by John Rozum. My official "Cryptkeeper"badge is at the top of this blog and pays tribute to one of my favorite classic-style horror, The Thing That Couldn't Die (1958). This annual marathon of bloggers focusing on any and every aspect of Halloween features over 220 varied blogs of every spooky size and shivery shape, including a few of my usual recommendations here on the right. Be sure and visit the Countdown's main page and check out the many choices open to you. (Some of the participating blogs are devoted to the gorier, more horrific side of Halloween with occasional less-than-family-friendly language so reader discretion is advised.) And be sure and check back here often as we continue the Countdown to Halloween 2012!

Witchy Woman

Angela Lansbury birthday is today, October 16, and as I noted back here, October seems to be a significant month for Bedknobs and Broomsticks—and that seems entirely appropriate for this musical fantasy featuring witchcraft, black cats, ancient spells and, yes, broomsticks. The amazingly talented Ms. Lansbury—she is the recipient of an incredible five Tony Awards (including one she was awarded in 2009), six Golden Globes, not to mention numerous Oscar and Emmy nominations—stars as apprentice witch Miss Eglantine Price. Miss Price is, as producer-co-writer Bill Walsh explained, a "typical" English witch: "Not hags with pointed hats, but little ladies who live quietly and grow roses and don’t make a big thing about it. There’s kind of a nice, homey, folksy quality about an English witch.” Pictured here is one of the splendid lobby cards from the film's original 1971 release and it shows the spellbinding Angela Lansbury as the spell-casting Miss Price to bewitching effect. For more info on this   enchanting film, be sure and check out the article I wrote all about Bedknobs and Broomsticks for the D23 website. One of the subjects covered is the October significance for Disney's big screen movie-musical, starring the always entrancing Angela Lansbury.

Big Frankie, The Friendliest Monster In Town

Introduced in 1962, the Frankenstein Monster was the first of the now iconic Aurora Movie Monster Model Kits, and quickly became a sensation.The overwhelming success of the Frankenstein model meant the Aurora company had to add plants that operated 24/7 just to keep up with the demand, and of course led to the other classic Universal monsters such as Dracula and the Wolfman being added to the line. Frankenstein's monstrous sales led to the release of a new Frankenstein product in 1965, Gigantic  Frankenstein, as seen in this print ad. You can read for yourself about this oversized model yourself, but one intriguing note is the portrait of the monster on the cover of the box. It's intriguing that such a disturbing artwork was used for what is actually a rather whimsical (though some would say disturbing) plaything. The Frankenstein portrait was put to a more appropriate use (and indeed may have even been created for) a hobby-shop banner promoting the Aurora monster-model contest I wrote about here. The banner is shown below for your Halloween chills and thrills.

The Wonderful World of Disneyland Showtime!

Here's a tantalizing artifact promoting The Wonderful World of Disney TV show for the spring of 1970  from The Wonderful World of Disney (an apt title) magazine, 1970, Volume II, No. 2. This marvelously produced publication was available at Gulf service stations because Gulf Oil was the sponsor of (wait for it) The Wonderful World of Disney TV show. One of the most intriguing Disney episodes spotlighted here is "Disneyland Showtime." Broadcast on March 22, 1970, this very special episode is prime Halloween viewing because of its focus on the newly unveiled Haunted Mansion at Disneyland Park and Kurt Russell's fun and informative behind-the-scenes tour thereof. If you haven't already done so, be sure and check out my blog entry from Halloween, 2007, about the show entitled "Haunted Mansion Horror: Disneyland Showtime."

Trick Or Treat For UNICEF!

Did you know that in 1967 LBJ proclaimed October 31st "National UNICEF Day" in perpetuity? And here you thought it was just Halloween! What with Walt Disney's it's a small world, Danny Kaye, Audrey Hepburn and all, UNICEF is a real favorite here in Tulgey Wood...and one of the biggest reasons for that is Trick or Treat for UNICEF. This annual campaign began in 1950, and over the years it has had some fun spokespersons. Lassie hosted the first television appearance of the campaign when she carried one of the trademark orange collection boxes on her Sunday night show. Casper the Friendly Ghost was a spooks-person one year, and in 1969, Bewitched devoted an entire episode entitled "To Trick-Or-Treat or Not to Trick-Or-Treat" to the campaign on Halloween Eve, October 30, 1969. This year, UNICEF has eschewed the traditional orange on their collection boxes in favor of some delightfully childlike designs featuring the faces of monsters, witches and other Halloween favorites. Posted below is the box from a few years ago which was distributed by Hallmark. For more information on this fun and helpful Halloween tradition visit the Trick or Treat for UNICEF website. 

It's Swell

For any Monster Kids and their friends of the 1960s who wanted to make their own monsters (or creatures or things), Mattel's Thingmakers sets were the very, well, thing. No set was more Halloween-orific than the Creeple Peeple set from 1965 by which miniature monster makers could make miniature monsters with a specially outfitted Thingmaker ("your own toy factory!"), some Plastigoop and your own pencils.  Take a gander at this pre-Christmas print ad (click on it for a larger view)—it gives a glimpse of the Halloween-type fun to be had making the Mattel brand of monster known as Creeple Peeple. (and while your at it, take a peek at the ever-popular Creepy Crawlers).