Return To Oz With Jack Pumpkinhead

Jack Pumpkinhead from L. Frank Baum’s Oz books is a most suitable character for the spooky season. He is, after all, a living jack o’lantern. Here’s Jack front and center on the poster for the cult-classic Disney film Return to Oz (1985), celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. This artful poster also serves as a tribute to acclaimed artist Drew Struzan, who died today, October 13, 2025. This celebrated illustrator created iconic posters for everything from Star Wars to The Muppet Movie. Can you find Drew Struzan’s famous “drew” signature within the poster’s art? 

Granny Goodwitch Makes Some Not So Scary Music

For Countdown to Halloween 2025: One of the least well-known but most delightful cartoon witches, Granny Goodwitch was created as a foil for Post Cereal spokes-bear Sugar Bear in his animated commercials for Sugar Crisp. When the Linus the Lion Hearted TV series—with a cast of Post's animated cereal mascots—debuted on CBS in 1964, Sugar Bear was naturally included, but so was Granny (wonderfully voiced by the great Ruth Buzzi), as seen here on the cover of the Linus tie-in LP record. Episodes of Linus the Lion Hearted are now seen each week on Sunday night on the indispensable Me TV Toons channel. Word has it that a DVD of the masterfully remastered and restored Linus episodes will be released in the not-so-distant future. (Dare we hope that at least some of the Post cereal commercials will be included?) Of all the Post mascots that star in the show, only Sugar Bear is still active, as seen on every box of Golden Crisp (known as Sugar Crisp)—but unfortunately without Granny Goodwitch. 

A Haunting Cover by Barks

Master illustrator-writer Carl Barks drew up his share of spooky comic book covers over the years, such as this "spooky kooky" entry for his "House of Haunts" adventure story in Uncle Scrooge no. 63 in 1966. A perfect way to celebrate our Countdown to Halloween. 

 

 

Tell-Tale Animated Horror

Although Disney had already firmly established that the art of theatrical animation was more than capable of compellingly depicting horror, UPA created The Tell-Tale Heart (1953). Drawing upon its signature elements of striking design—in this case, expressionistic visuals and minimalist backgrounds—and powerful cinematic technique, including distorted angles and high-contrast shadows, UPA produced an engrossing and decidedly unsettling adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's short story, converting it into a stark statement of psychological horror. Such was the power of director Ted Parmelee's short that Life magazine celebrated its considerable movie-making merits (click on the images below for a larger view), a perfect entry for our Countdown to Halloween. 

Spooky Steig

Artist for over 100 covers for The New Yorker—the first in 1932, the final in 1997 —acclaimed illustrator and author William Steig contributed this wild yet whimsical Halloween cover to the issue for October 31 (the day itself!), 1959. An honored part of the 2025 Countdown to Halloween. 

Boo From Bruce

One of the all-time classics of cinematic suspense, Jaws is celebrating its 50th anniversary—so why shouldn’t this iconic “monster” movie be part of our 2025 Countdown to Halloween? Especially since Collgeville created a Jaws Halloween costume? This is one mask that may have hid its wearer’s face, but its smile toothily outshines any grin any trick-or-treater could ever come up with. ("What big jaws you have!" "All the better to devour my Halloween treats, my dear.") Also pictured is a costumed action figure from Series 7 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of (chomp) Jaws—and its toothy tie-in costume. 

Big Bedknobs, Golden Broomsticks

In the bewitching bevy of merchandise created for the 1971 release of Bedknobs and Broomsticks, the Big Golden Book is a standout. The cover art alone captures the specific movie magic of this Disney classic with typical Golden Book flair. (With a flair, you might say.) The emphasis is on the titular Bedknob itself, sparking with the power of the Marvelous Traveling Spell, an iconic moment that is challenging to portray, the relatively small size of the bedknob being one factor. The film premiered in the witchy month (appropriately) on October 7th in London (also appropriate), a magical milestone that cannot go unnoticed as we Countdown to Halloween 2025.

Super Moon, Sincere Pumpkin Patch

Continuing the Countdown to Halloween for 2025: Tonight, October 6th, we will experience a Full Harvest Moon that is also a Super Moon. See details below. (The moon will also be almost as spectacular tomorrow night, October 7th.) Such an October moon always puts me in mind of the spectacular Halloween moon seen in the backgrounds created by Ed Leviit for the classic Peanuts TV special, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown—a perfect reference for the 75th anniversary year of Peanuts. 

It's Halloween Time in Casper's Ghostland

Even though every issue of any Casper the Friendly Ghost comic book has a cover depicting some spooky stuff (after all, the main character is a ghost, however friendly), not every Casper comic cover is about Halloween. But this cover (from Casper's Ghostland no. 8 1961) has both Casper and a Halloween-specific subject, so it's perfect not-so-fearsome fun for our Countdown to Halloween celebration. 

Halloween Time For Captain Kanagroo's 70th Anniversay

Yesterday, October 3rd, was the 70th anniversary of not only, but also another monumental TV series. On October 3rd, 1955, Captain Kangaroo debuted on CBS. Created by and starring Bob Keeshan, this creative and innovative series that engaged the young audience's imaginations ran for almost another thirty years, and on PBS for a few years beyond that. To celebrate and integrate this milestone anniversary of the Captain Kangaroo TV series, we turn to Captain Kangaroo's involvement with the Trick or Treat for UNICEF program. In the photo accompanying this post, the Captain joins Eleanor Roosevelt in launching Trick or Treat for UNICEF. This photo and the accompanying story, written by the famed First Lady herself, explain the origins of both UNICEF and Trick or Treat for UNICEF. See it here at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum blog. For more info on Trick or Treat for UNICEF—and how you can participate—click here. And check back here at Tulgey Wood all through October for more Countdown to Halloween fun.