They're Altogether Ooky—Especially As Part Of A Nutritious Breakfast

The General Mills Monster Cereals are back for Halloween 2019. And though it can (again) be lamented that Big G is not using the original art that once graced the Monsters' cereal boxes and their animated commercials, it's great to have Frank, the Count and Blue Boo back again. As an added jolt for this Halloween season, the Cereal Monsters are teaming up with the Addams Family to promote the new animated Addams Family movie that starts scaring up audiences on October 11th. There's even a whole set of Pumpkin Carving Stencils that star Franken Berry, Count Chocula and Boo Berry alongside six members of the Addams clan. Nothing so mundane as having the stencils Free Inside This Specially Marked Box in this digital age—they can be downloaded at MonsterCarving.com. These spectral cereals (with marshmallow "sweeties" as they were called once upon a spooky time) are all part of the Countdown To Halloween 2019. Be sure and click on the preceding link for the many other blogs participating in this fun boo-a-thon this year.

It's The Great Pumpkin, Linus Van Pelt

October 2 marks the anniversary of the Peanuts comic strip's debut in 1950. It's only appropriate that Charles M. Schulz's comic magnum opus first appeared during the spooky season as it has become an inseparable part of Halloween thanks to Schulz's annual Halloween-themed strips. This spooky-time association was especially cemented with the debut of the hit 1966 television special, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.  Long-time Peanuts licensee Hallmark was one of the first to both capitalize and celebrate the Great Pumpkin theme, as noted before here in Tulgey Wood, in 1968 with a waiting-in-the-pumpkin-patch theme for their Plan-a-Party line. In the early 1970s, Hallmark again returned to Linus's very sincere pumpkin patch with both wall decorations and a new centerpiece. Enjoy this spookily seasonal art with a Peanuts twist as we Countdown to Halloween 2019 here at Tulgey Wood.

There’s No Turning Back Now...It's Time for The Countdown To Halloween 2019!

Kindly step all the way in please, and make room for everyone...it's October 1, and that can only mean it's time for the 2019 Countdown to Halloween! The theme of this annual blogathon this time around is a celebration of the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland Park upon the occasion of its 50th anniversary—as you can see from the 2019 badge that has hitched a ride on this here blog.  So, even though most posts here in Tulgey Wood will not be focusing on the menacing manse, we'll kick things off with some, um, haunting imagery of the Haunted Mansion, by looking back to 2015. That's when three of the main Disney comic book titles ran some merrily macabre art as variant covers. While you consider these dismaying covers, welcome. To regular visitors, good to see you again and I hope you like the treats I toss into your plastic jack-o-lantern bucket because I have decided it's candy I don't want myself. And to new visitors, a special welcome—Tulgey Wood is full of surprises, treats and even a few spooky tricks, so I hope you enjoy the chilling challenge of wandering through the madness. Be sure and visit the other blogs participating in this Halloween sppok-a-thon. These dedicated "crypt keepers" have decorated their front porches with scarecrows and specters so be sure and knock on their doors. (Do be aware that some of these blogs focus on the more horrific side of this holiday, and may also include strong language and mature themes.) Most of all, be sure and stop by throughout this spooky month right through October 31st itself as we Countdown to Halloween 2019 here at Tulgey Wood.

Falling For Halloween Fun

As seen on this colorful cover of Looney Tunes #36, October 1944, the autumn winds are blowing, sweeping Bugs, Porky and hopefully you toward Halloween time. Starting tomorrow, the Countdown to Halloween 2019 starts right here at Tulgey Wood, a part of the annual blogathon that features over 100 blogs dedicated to making your spooky season a little more ghostly and ghastly, and a lot more fun. So make sure you leaf everything behind and blow by here tomorrow, October 1, for a month-long spook-a-bration of all delightfully frightful.

A Birthday Surprise For Unca Donald

Happy 85th anniversary, Donald Duck! That's right, today, June 9, is the official birthday for the mallard of all media, for he was introduced in Walt Disney's The Wise Little Hen, the Silly Symphony short the debuted on this date in 1934. We turn to a Sunday page from the classic Donald Duck comic strip, drawn by Al Taliaferro and written by Bob Karp, as reprinted in Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #212 (May 1958). Interesting to note that this Sunday page was originally published in newspapers on December 25th, 1955. Hey Donald, isn't that someone else's birthday? Happy B-day, Mr D, no matter on what date you celebrate.

Muppet Merriment For Thanksgiving Day

That special day is here, and to help us get into both the fun and the festive spirit of Thanksgiving Day 2018, here are the Muppets. As promised yesterday, here's an elaborate feast-for-the-eyes for this day of feasting. I mean, how many pieces of Muppet memorabilia includes Sweetums and the Swedish Chef?  This Hallmark wall decoration (click on the image to see a larger version) really captures some Muppet merriment to make this special day even more special. So inspired by this delightful Muppet art, let's give thanks for all creatures who are loving and accepting of others, no matter how fuzzy or furry or colorful. Happy Thanksgiving to all! 

Recalculating The Cornucopia

Over the years, Hallmark has created a cornucopia of holiday art—and since Thanksgiving is often overlooked, we are especially grateful for the art created for this national day of thanks. Especially when it features a member of the Peanuts gang, such as this wall decoration starring Snoopy. Be sure and come back tomorrow to see a truly remarkable piece of Hallmark memorabilia that will help us appreciate Thanksgiving Day with even more fun and festivity. 

Giving Thanks For Archie

Archie is one comic-book character who knows how to celebrate a great American holiday. Here he is celebrating Thanksgiving in a classic cover from Archie's Pals 'n' Gals (no. 628, 1992).  It's a bona fide Archie-fied Thanksgiving, with plenty of football-like action and (no surprise) a wisecrack from Reggie (proving that as usual he's not much of a pal). 

Get Your Head In The Game, 43

This cover from the November 1969 issue of The Golden Magazine For Boys And Girls Illustrator Mel Crawford—famed for his comic and storybook art for Golden publications—cleverly combines two major traditions of this great American holiday, football and feasting. One look at the great turkey feast awaiting inside and No. 43 loses his head and misses the ball—and though No. 20 is none too happy, no one can blame him. This memorable cover art is the kickoff for Thanksgiving week here at Tulgey Wood.

90 Years Of Mickey

In celebration of Mickey's 90th today, November 18, 2018, here's a little known bit of Disney: On February 7, 1957 Walt Disney's TV series, Mickey Mouse Club presented Steamboat Willie as its Mousekartoon of the day. Head Mouseketeer, Disney Legend Jimmie Dodd gave the screening of this very special animated short a special introduction. Strumming the Mickey Mouse March (which Jimmie composed) on his Mousegetar, Jimmie then said: “Hi Mouseketeers. I’d like to talk to you today about the Mousekartoon you’re going to see. It stars our club leader , Mickey Mouse. Now what makes this Mousekartoon interesting is that it was the first one in which Mickey appeared. Not only that, it was the first Disney cartoon with sound. It’s called Steamboat Willie. It’s the story of Mickey’s adventures on a riverboat. Steamboat Willie was made in 1928. it was first shown in the Colony Theatre in New York in October [actually November], 1928. Since then it’s played all over the world—and Mickey has become pretty famous. Many of his pictures have been shown at court before kings and high rulers by royal command. A lot of countries have adopted their own names for Mickey.… Of course, to us he’ll always be Mickey Mouse. So today, Mouseketeers, when you see Steamboat Willie, remember this is the picture that gave this wonderful little guy his start. I just thought you’d like to know.“ Happy birthday to timeless, ageless, immortal Mickey.