More Bedknobs, More Broomsticks

As previewed yesterday, today I gave a special 45th anniversary presentation about Bedknobs and Broomsticks, followed by a screening of the film, at the historic Main Theater on the Walt Disney Studios lot right here in Burbank. It was a beautiful day for a magical happening, and over 400 D23 Gold Members attended the sold-out event. (The photo of the me was taken by D23 before the event began, during the rehearsal—you can tell because I'm not wearing my sports jacket.) The Event Gift—the Star of Astoroth, just as seen in the film (see below in another D23 photo), was a big hit. To make things even more witchy and wonderful for this October event, the Walt Disney Archives had a special exhibit of materials and props, including the enchanted bedknob. Please enjoy the photos from the event (all but the first and second taken by faithful friend, sincere supporter and talented photographer Chad Russo) below... and when you're through clicking through (for a larger view) please do check out the article (plus all the photos) I wrote for D23 all about Bedknobs and Broomsticks. This wondrously witch-crafty post is part of the Countdown to Halloween 2016 blogathon. Walk up to the front porch and ring the doorbell right here at Tulgey Wood right up through October 31 for more frights and delights.  

That's The Sort Of Thing Witches Do

Welcome back for some more trick-or-treat sweets for the Countdown to Halloween 2016. October is a witchy month so, as noted before in Tulgey Wood, it's the perfect time for Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Halloween-y content aside, there are a number of October dates associated with Disney's magical musical fantasy. One is that Bedknobs and Broomsticks premiered in London 45 years ago today, on October 7, 1971. That's why tomorrow, October 8, 2016, I'll be offering a pre-screening Bedknobs and Broomsticks presentation at the D23 Gold Member event at the Walt Disney Studios. In the meantime, please enjoy the artistry of this Whitman Paper Dolls set, one of many pieces of memorabilia created to accompany the release of this witchcraft-laden film. Also, be sure and stop by and see the article I wrote (and don't miss the fascinating photos!) about Bedknobs and Broomsticks for D23.com.  It's exclusive D23 member-only content only but you should be able to access it through the above links. Happy 45th anniversary, Bedknobs and Broomsticks!

Disneyland Halloween 2016

Haunted Mansion Holiday, the Night Before Christmas overlay of the classic Disneyland Park attraction, is showcased on the current Guidemap to Disneyland cover, while other Halloween appropriate attractions are highlighted on an interior page.  It's in a way ironic that guests can't experience the very Halloween-esque Haunted Mansion during October, but the reimagined version of the iconic attraction is very well done and is up through the beginning of January. Feel free to ring the Tulgey Wood doorbell although October for more tricks, treats and surprises both silly and spooky. It's all part of the Countdown to Halloween 2016 blogathon.   

Dracula, Prince Of Collectables (Universal Style)

More monsters—and it's one of the most famous monsters of all. The Universal Monsters had long been the masters of merchandise but every decade seems to bring more. This 1991 frame-tray puzzle from Golden Books, a favorite publisher and purveyor here at Tulgey Wood, was part of a whole series of official Universal Monster memorabilia.  It offers Monster Kids of all ages (but especially ages 3 through 7) a delightful way to display dexterity of the digits from that infamous star of Universal Studios' monster movies, that classic count, Dracula. This same excellent painting, capturing Bela Lugosi at his most menacing, was also issued by Golden as a 200 piece puzzle, Yet another treat from the Countdown to Halloween 2016 blogathon, continuing throughout the spookiest month right through the 31st. There's plenty more of the best candy still to be had in the treat bowl, so be sure and stop by all through October. 

The Munsters Made Much Memorabilia

Both of those 1960s monster TV series, The Munsters and The Addams Family, inspired much merchandise. The Munsters seemed to our distant its competitor–not surprising really, considering that the monster family residing at 1313 Mockingbird Lane seemed more down-home and heartwarming than the family created by cartoonist Charles Addams. Here is the Munsters sticker fun book published under the Whitman imprint, its front and back painterly covers two more fine examples of the quality memorabilia issued by Western Publishing. Today's monstrously fun post is part of the Countdown to Halloween 2016 blogathon. Head back here all through October for more Halloween treats. Mask and costume not required.

A Monstrous Election

Seems there's some sort of election going on. Maybe you've heard. And if you're looking for something not quite as scary as the real thing, here's something a little more sweet and silly. Those Monster Cereal mascots, Franken Berry, Count Chocula and Boo Berry are spookily stumping for your votes at a special election website. (I guess Fruit Brute and Yummy Mummy were shut out of the nominations.) The Big G Monsters are making their annual Halloweentime appearance on (select) shelves and since it's an election year, the cereal specters have thrown their shrouds into the ring. Happily, the website features the charming original versions of the monsters (as opposed to their recent re-designs) so these creepy candidates are obviously putting there best frights forward in order to earn votes. As of this posting, Count Chocula is in the lead. Care to cast your vote for your favorite frightener? Visit the Monster Cereal Election site, and your vote will earn you a chance to win (prizes, that is).  This post is part of the Countdown to Halloween 2016 blogathon. Be sure and don your mask, grab your treat bag and ring the bell here at Tulgey Wood all through October. There are plenty of treats still in store.

Monster Of The Month

Maybe Turner Classic Movies should be renamed Turner Classic Monsters—just for the month of October, of course. As you can see from this page of the October 2016 issue of Now Playing, the TCM program guide, the fantastic movie channel is featuring Frankenstein all month long. The monsterathon starts today—October 2, 2016—with the first and frightfully fabulous Frankenstein (1931) at 8:00 pm EST, followed by two more Frankie classics. The article (click on the image for a larger view) doesn't mention it, but this classic film is celebrating its 85th anniversary this year. So what a great year to be having a Halloween honor for the movies' most famous monster. Also, be sure and check out TCM on October 31st for a full day of frightening flicks. This post is part of the Countdown to Halloween 2016 blogathon. Come back all this month for some more monstrous fun. 

Donald Meets Monsters

Happy October, Happy Halloweentime! Welcome back to our regular visitors, and to new visitors—I hope you find Tulgey Wood your favorite house on the block to pick up treats and maybe a few tricks, too! To kick off the Countdown to Halloween 2016 fun, here's Donald Duck in one of the best and certainly most monstrously elaborate covers ever concocted for a Disney comic book. This is from issue Number 320, October 2004, of Donald Duck and Friends (as the long-running Donald Duck comic was needlessly titled at that time) and was drawn by one of my favorite Disney artists, Daniel Branca. Illustrating the "I, Monster" story inside this Halloween-themed mag, this comically creepy cover meets Donald up with the most monsters he faced in funny books since the Carl Barks adaptation of Trick or Treat (1952). For more monsters and beasties be sure and stop back at Tulgey Wood all through Halloween for Countdown to Halloween 2016.

You're Invited...Starting Tomorrow!

Here's a delightful vintage Hallmark invitation to ask you to attend the Countdown to Halloween 2016 blogathon here at Tulgey wood. It all starts tomorrow, October 1, so be sure and drop in tomorrow and all through October for some quality trick or treating. By the way, you can't tell here but this invitation opens out to spell the word "BOO." So Boo to you and see you tomorrow for the first of the frightful fun.  

Some Frights Are Flying Your Way

Here's a classic Gold Key cover from Bugs Bunny No 171 (April 1976), drawn by John Constanza, perhaps. It's flying your way as a reminder that in just 30 days, Countdown to Halloween 2016 begins. Once again Tulgey Wood will be participating so all through October you'll find spooky surprises and fanciful frights—most of them more in season than the prank Bugs is playing on Elmer. Be sure and check back on October 1 and then all through October for not-very-scary silliness and frightful fun here at Tulgey Wood. In the meantime check out the official Countdown to Halloween 2016 page for all the details about this blogathon.