Today Is Time For Tricks And Treats

From the in-house Disney Newsreel newsletter, October 1980: Nothing says Happy Halloween than this charming art by veteran Willie Ito. Have a safe and spooky Halloween!

An "Iron Giant" Steps (Make That Flies) In

In this marvelous piece of Halloween publicity art from 1966, one of my favorite Hanna-Barbera characters, Frankenstein Jr., reminds us all to be safe trick-or-treaters.

Halloween is Peanuts Time

Anyone who has spent enough time in Tulgey Wood during October knows (if they didn't know before) that Peanuts (featuring "Good Ol' Charlie Brown") is an important part of Halloween. The comic strip celebrated the frightfully festive fun of Halloween every year, one way or another—or did it?  The Peanuts comic strip began on October 1, 1950—yes, Peanuts is celebrating 65 years this year—but that first month did not present the strip's first Halloween-themed installment.  Those first strips from October 1950 were drawn up by artist/writer Charles M. Schulz as "sample" strips designed to sell the feature so they were all of a generic, non-seasonal nature.  Did it feature a Great Pumpkin-themed story? Of course not. Linus, the primary (and only) proponent of the Greart Pumpkin had yet not even been "born." He was introduced in the strip as a baby on September 19, 1952 (though he was first mentioned on July 14). The first Halloween-themed Peanuts strip from October 31, 1951 (the strip's first full year) is pictured below. This classic comic starring Charlie Brown and Snoopy is part of the Countdown to Halloween 2015. 

Archie Andrews, Monster Kid

Thanks to the enormous popularity of the Universal Monster movies that started airing on local TV stations in 1957, the classic monsters became a big part o pop culture, serving as less than frightful fodder for parody in movies, TV and comics. This February 1962 issue of Archie #125 features Frankenstein's creature front and center with the titular teen. It's all part of the October fun in the Countdown to Halloween 2015.

Mask Madness

On this cover from the  Halloween 2002 Disney Catalog, Mickey is unmasked as the Beast while a series of other Disney characters are wearing masks of, well, other Disney characters. Enjoy this classic, clever and only-in-October-offbeat Disney artwork as we continue our Countdown to Halloween 2015.  

 

Donald Thinks Halloween ComicFest 2015 Is A Scream

Since we're celebrating the Countdown to Halloween 2015 here at Tulgey Wood let's also take a spooky second to also celebrate Halloween Comic-Fest 2015. This year, make sure you stop by your local participating comic book shop on October 31 and pick up some free comic book goodness just for Halloween. Described as "a celebration of comics, comic shops, and pop-culture in October,"  the fourth annual Halloween ComicFest offers free Halloween and horror-themed comics and mini-comics. This year, there are 21 specially published titles— thirteen full-sized comics and eight mini-comics—available to choose from, including Donald Duck’s Halloween Scream! #1 (shown below). And this year, why not give out  comic books instead of candy as treats for trick-or-treaters? Halloween ComicFest 2015 offers Mini-Comic Polypacks, a pack of 25 copies for fans to purchase and pass out on Halloween— a great way to give out an entertaining story to kids that will last longer than any Halloween candy. These fun treats are a lot healthier for mind, body—and teeth! So plan on sinking your teeth, vampire or otherwise, Halloween ComicFest this year. 

Morty And Ferdie Knockin' At The Door

In this charming cover from the Fall 1989 issue of Mickey Mouse Magazine Minnie welcomes three trick-or-treaters at her door. And in the best tradition of costumed revelers (especially when they are licensed characters) the sheet must be lifted to reveal exactly which candy collector is hidden beneath.  It's Mickey of course—bu standing by his side there's also Morty and Ferdie. It's always a treat to see Mickey's nephews for the trick is that these two supporting characters in the Mouse's posse. This post is just another step in the Countdown to Halloween 2015. 

Chronicling Casper

Over on his excellent Cartoon Research blog, animation historian Jerry Beck is currently chronically the little-known history of the Paramount Cartoon Studios, the animation production entity that followed Fleischer. There's a lot more to the story than Casper the Friendly Ghost but since this is the Countdown to Halloween 2015, it seemed appropriate to shine the spotlight on the spirited little spirit. Jerry is featuring all kinds of ultra-rare production and promotional material such as the ad here announcing Casper's triumphant network premiere on ABC in 1959. Check out Jerry Beck's incredible in-depth story chronicling this little-explored area of animation history. It's an ongoing must-read—and with Casper aboard it's perfect for Halloweentime.  

A Bewitching (Obviously) Photo

October is Halloween month and it's frightfully fitting that October is also Bedknobs and Broomsticks month. The Disney super-spectaclar premiered on October 7, 1971, so it's also beyond appropriate that the Oscar-wining musical fantasy is showcased here in Tulgey Wood to help us Countdown to Halloween 2015. One of the many interesting facets of the film's history is a still commonly used to promote or illuminate Bedknobs and Broomsticks is the one seen below on the cover book adaptation.  This photo has been run so often—because it so perfectly portrays the film's main characters and the key element of the animation—that it's become one of the most oft-seen Disney photos. It's even in my book, published yesterday by DK. Wait, what? You say you didn't know about this book? It's entitled The Disney Book and you can read more about it here.

Archie Andrews Knows Halloween

Thankfully, we can always rely on Archie Comics for good ol' fashioned Halloween fun. This year, the monstrous month brings four devilishly delicious double digests, you dig? All the covers are in the fun tradition of Archie and his Riverdale pals 'n' gals but the last one below (World of Archie) is the best of the bunch, drawn as it is by Archie vet Dan Parent. The other covers are by Fernando Ruiz (both Archie Jumbo Comics and Betty and Veronica Halloween Annual) and another by Dan Parent (Archie's Funhouse). Just looking at these contemporary comics makes you feel all Halloweeny, don't they? Perfect for the Countdown to Halloween 2015.