Chipmunks On Haunted Hill

Alvin and the Chipmunks have gone through many iterations over the years, but my favorite look for these rascally vocalists is how they appeared in their own 1960s TV show. Titled The Alvin Show (sorry, Simon and Theodore), this animated television show debuted on CBS in 1961. As you can see from this cover of the tie-in comic book, the winning character design is in the favored UPA-type stylization of the era, and I love it. This 1964 issue of the comic features a frightfully haunted house theme that fits in perfectly with our Countdown to Halloween 2024. 

So Dear For Halloween

Welcome back, trick-or-treaters! You’re just in time for a real October treat: this promotional art drawn by the legendary Disney artist Hank Porter to publicize Walt Disney’s So Dear To My Heart. in Fall 1948, this underrated film was due for release in January 1949, so October was the perfect time for planting the title and characters in the public’s collective mind. And this Halloween themed art (created for the pharmacy chain Rexall’s magazine) does the trick—therefore it's a treat! This rarity is from the collection of Disney collector and Hank Porter expert David Lesjak and is used with his permission. Be sure and read my D23 article all about this charming, heartwarming movie here. Check back soon for more Countdown to Halloween 2024.

Liō Loves All Things Halloween

Back for more of the choicest Halloween treats? Don't forget to visit the other "Crypt Keepers" who are participating in our Countdown to Halloween 2024 blogathon. There are quite a few of spooky stuff bloggers on board and each one is offering tempting spooky-season treats. As for here on Tulgey Wood, we have a delicious goodie from the funny pages that is a treat for sure. One of my favorite of contemporary comic strips is Liō. Written and drawn by Mark Tatulli, this captivating comic centers on the little boy who loves all things terrifying—but to him they aren't scary, they're fun. Here's a gallery of four Sunday pages plus one daily specifically themed to Halloween. But like his favorite shop, Halloween is every day for Liō. 

 

Meeting William Joyce For A New Yorker Halloween

The New Yorker can always be relied on to provide an artful Halloween cover or two each October, ever since the celebrated magazine was first published in 1925.  One of its best, entitled “Halloween” (just because) was published on October 31, 1994. The artist is William Joyce, award winning author, illustrator and filmmaker whose distinctive style of art has inspired many projects. He wrote and illustrated Meet the Robinsons, the book on which the Disney animated feature is based. William Joyce was an executive producer of the movie, which was released in 2007. More Halloween art and other goodies are on their way all through this month of macabre surprises, so come on back for our continuing Countdown to Halloween 2024.  

  

Substitutiary Letterhead it Must Be

Our Countdown to Halloween 2024 continues with a Tulgey Wood—Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Disney’s magical motion picture premiered on this date, October 7, in 1971. Here’s one of three styles of letterhead used by the Disney Studio to help promote the film. I love the stylish, minimalist design of the art. So sophisticated, as is appropriate for this witty musical. It’s all part of our spooky season blogathon—come back through October 31 for more treats and a few tricks. 

TCM Rules October With Classic Horror

Halloween time calls for classic horror films—and lucky for us, as is their annual practice, Turner Classic Movies serves up a whole month of monsters, maniacs and other frightening folks. Wednesdays in October features the Star of the Month, Bela Lugosi, who needs no introduction. (OK, he was immortalized as Dracula.) On Thursdays, TCM presents Creepy Cinema with themes including Handsome & Homocidal, Hitchcock & De Palma, and more. Then for October 30 and 31, it’s the annual 48-hour Halloween Terror-Thon—featuring an encore screening of Dracula, which has already been cablecast as part of the Lugosi salute last Wednesday. Head on over to the TCM website for more info.  #countdowntohalloween2024

The Ghosts are Bad but the One That's Cursed/Is the Headless Horseman; He's the Worst!

Celebrating Walt Disney’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow for its 75th anniversary! Originally released on October 5, 1949, as one half of the animated feature, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, the Ichabod (Crane) half of this package feature inspired this 1971 album. The pictured LP is a reissue of the original 1969 album, with added “magnificent, full-color” illustrations. (You can see the illustrations on the back cover of the LP, the second image on this post.) The narrator is not Bing Crosby but legendary Disney voice artist Billy Bletcher, who also provided the terrifying laugh of the Headless Horseman in the original animated production. Don’t loose your head, there’s more Halloween fun here at Tulgey Wood all through October as we Countdown to Halloween 2024.    #countdowntohalloween2024

Not The Pumpkin King, Part 2

Spider-Man deals with monsters and mutants and who-know-whats, but he’s not always battling anything as Halloween-specific as these pumpkin weapons, wielded by the Hobgoblin‚ who let’s face it, is pretty Halloween-specific himself. The pumpkin-full cover of The Amazing Spider-Man no. 244 (September 1983) is by the legendary John Romita Jr (pencils) with inks by Bob Wiacek. Maybe Halloween 2024 is a particularly good one for Spidey as it was just announced that he will be an all-new balloon for our next big holiday in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Watch the skies…and watch for more fun right here at Tulgey Wood throughout October for Countdown to Halloween 2024. Swing by all the other participating blogs and Instagram accounts, too! 

Not the Pumpkin King

An underrated Disney animated feature, The Black Cauldron (1985) also has its castle’s doorway darkened by an underrated Disney villain. The Horned King may not be the fascinating character that say, Maleficent, is, but he’s spooky for sure. A leading Disney authority has described this lesser known character as “scary in design.” You can spot him here on the cover of the rare coloring book. You’ll find much more that’s scary or spooky or silly but hopefully fun all through October here in our Countdown to Halloween 2024 blogathon. Be sure and pop in to the other blogs, too! 

Trick Or Treat...POP!

Would it be Halloween without Casper trying to scare up some friends? Of course not, so here he is on a trick-or-treat themed cover from January 1989, with both Casper and his pumpkin candy pail. It’s all part of the Countdown to Halloween 2024 blogathon, so stop by everyday in October for more Halloween fun. And please visit all the other participating blogs who are giving out treats with silly and scary throughout the spooky season.