Happy 70th To Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse Club

Today, October 3rd, is the 70th anniversary of Mickey Mouse Club, Walt Disney's classic daily variety hour starring the Mouseketeers. Since we are in the midst of the 2005 Countdown to Halloween, I'd like to tie this historic milestone for the beloved TV program to Halloween. And since I'm unaware of any specific spooky-season programming from the Mickey Mouse Club, I'll feature these two records that feature a lot of costumes. With the enormous number of musical numbers and skits performed on the show, the Mouseketeers, head Mouseketeer Jimmie Dodd and Big "Mooseketeer" Roy Williams, and guest stars donned a colorful (even in black-and-white) array of costumes—so let's pretend the costumes we see are for trick-or-treat. One additional note is that I opted to include the photo with the Swiss-themed costumes on the dance record (Roll Up the Rug For More Mousekedances)) because it has Lonnie Burr front and center—and it just so happens that Lonnie is my favorite Mouseketeer. Though all the core nine Mouseketeers are extremely talented, each with his or her strengths (Annette being in a class all her own, of course), Lonnie is the one who can do it all.  So congratulations to Lonnie and all those who made it possible for the Mickey Mouse Club to first be broadcast 70 years ago today. 

Used Dog: 75th Anniversary Of Peanuts

Today, October 2nd, 2025, marks the 75th anniversary of the first day of publication of the greatest comic strip of all time, Peanuts. And since we have just kicked off our annual participation in the Countdown to Halloween blogathon, here's a Halloween-themed Sunday page from October 30, 1960. This is just one of many thousands of strips by the brilliant Charles M. Schulz (the strip itself ran for 50 years) that is a masterpiece of pacing, characterization, utterly unique situations (this is the first instalment in which Linus refers to the sincerity of the pumpkin patch, and just plain great cartooning. Hope this helps up your Halloween mood while also celebrating the acclaimed comic featuring "Good Ol' Charlie Brown." Watch for more Peanuts coming up in October. 

Kicking Off The Countdown To Halloween 2025

Your cadaverous pallor betrays an aura of foreboding… could it be that the 2025 Countdown to Halloween blogathon is upon us? Yes, here begins 31 days of macabre merriment that will lead us straight to the spookiest day of the year! As October 1st is the anniversary of the opening of Walt Disney World, it’s a Tulgey Wood tradition to begin with a truly boo-titful Opening Day attraction. This haunting view of the Haunted Mansion is from an early postcard I recently added to my collection, showing off the Florida house of haunts at night, glowing with lighting both eerie and alluring. Early concept art by Herb Ryman from 1967 shows that plans were to make the new version of the Haunted Mansion in a more traditional pre-revolutionary manor style. However, it was decided to design the exterior of the attraction as a Dutch manor house with a truly distinctive English Tudor influence and Hudson River area styling. Come on back tomorrow (and all through October) for more Halloween fun. And be sure to visit all the blogs that are also counting down. There’s no turning back now! #CountdowntoHalloween2024

Counting Down to the 2025 Countdown to Halloween

Bugs Bunny is here in Tulgey Wood in his perennial position as the September 30th harbinger of the spooky season. In this typically awesome cover art by Ralph Heimdahl for issue 44 of Bugs Bunny (1955), this silly swami sees more than carrots in his crystal. He sees the future, especially the 2025 Countdown to Halloween that is starting tomorrow. Be sure and come back for some Halloween fun all through October. It all begins on October 1—that’s tomorrow, Doc. 

Happy Halloween 2024!

Here we are on the big day itself. Thank you for stopping by and ringing the bell, and I hope you enjoy the candy you got here. Check out all the other Cryptkeepers...and thanks for suiting up in some spooky wear for the Countdown to Halloween 2024!

Inktober Art For Halloween

Be sure and check out the (almost) daily postings of hand drawn art by Dean Brinkerhoff for Inktober. Dean Brink's Instagram account On the Brink is part of our Countdown to Halloween 2024. 

We Don't Talk About Brutus

If you have hit the link that takes you to Countdown to Halloween, you hopefully have explored the sites and blogs an accounts of some of the other Cryptkeepers. One of my favorites is Garage Sales Finds, recently displaying some classic Halloween masks and costumes. Here are a selected few. And be sure and visit Garage Sales Finds to see a lot more classic Ben Cooper costumes and artist Frank Romano.    

                                                        

                                                 

                                                          

                                                             

We The People Join The Battle Of The Bands

As part of our Countdown to Halloween each October, Back to the Future (1985) is featured. After all, Marty McFly accidentally rocketed back to 1955 on October 26, 1985. This past year, Dean Brinkerhoff and I visited one of the real-life locations used in filming Back to the Future. The Olive Recreation Center located in Burbank California is home to a large basketball court. The scene in particular features Marty in a Battle of the Bands competition, where he and his band rock out for the school board. One of the administrators (Huey Lewis in a cameo performance) abruptly stops the music to inform Marty and the Pinheads that they’re just “too darn loud.” 

                              

The Pumpkin King Says Get Yours Today!

This Is Halloween: Published last Fall, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Visual Companion by Dave Bossert is a must-have for all Disney, Burton, Nightmare Before Christmas, stop-motion etc fans…in other words, everyone! Dave interviewed Tim Burton, Henry Selick, Danny Elfman, Rick Heinrichs, Eric Leighton, Kelly Asbury, most of the animators, and so many others who helped handcraft this beautiful stop-motion film.  I had the honor and distinct pleasure of serving as Senior Editor (with Jen Eastwood) on this excellent volume, featuring the full behind-the-scenes story of the making of the film plus rare art and photos. If you don't already have this outstanding book in your library, the Pumpkin King says get yours today…it’s perfect for Halloween OR Christmas!  

Brewing Up Some Wicked Disney Fun

Twenty years ago, this frightfully wonderful Disney Catalog was published for Halloween 2004. Featuring menacing Disney villains rising in the smoke from the cauldron of the old hag from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (aka the wicked Queen). This corrupt crew of evildoers are here to celebrate Countdown to Halloween 2024.