1984 Vincent Price' s Halloween Thriller

Vincent Price's Halloween Thriller is a 1984 syndicated Halloween special that features the beloved horror actor playing host to a mix of Halloween music videos, including Halloween playlist staples like "Time Warp" from The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Rockwell's "Somebody's Watching Me," Ray Parker Jr.'s "Ghostbusters," and Ozzy Osbourne's "Bark at the Moon." The special also features two performances from illusionist Abb Dixon, who performs a "cremation" and "the table of death."

Watch a VHS recording of the special as it originally aired on October 27, 1984 WOC with original commercials below. Mary McNamara's comment on the video at archive.org describes it as: A time capsule perfect for annual viewing, the fuzzy stolen from television copy only enhances the experience. Family Friendly loop for greeting Trick or Treaters. Oddly enough they couldn't get the rights to show Michael Jackson's "Thriller" music video but they showed Jackson's "Billie Jean" video instead.

1987 Friday Night Videos with Elvira

Friday Night Videos (later becoming Friday Night and then Late Friday) is an American music video show that was broadcast on NBC from July 29, 1983 to May 24, 2002. It was the network's attempt to capitalize on the emerging popularity of music videos as seen on MTV and VH1 of the same era.

In 1985, FNV began featuring celebrity guests as weekly hosts. Elvira Mistress of the Dark (Cassandra Peterson) hosted this episode the day before Halloween in 1987. The music videos were edited out due to copyright reasons but I included a YouTube playlist below that contains all the official music videos/songs that aired. Video found on YouTube account called Elvira Mistress Of The Dark, I'm not sure if this is her official account:



Youtube playlist of music videos that were edited out of the above video:

1980 Boo!

Boo! is a Canadian Halloween TV special that originally aired over the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on Sunday, October 26th 1980, but the video below was recorded on local Chicago TV's WGN Channel 9 on Saturday, October 30th 1982 during the 4:30pm to 5:30pm timeframe. This obscure variety/skit show was created and produced by Riff Markowitz, who also brought us "The Hilarious House of Frightenstein". Musical Director of "Laugh-In", Ian Bernard composed the disco theme. Strangely, no writers are credited.

The cast of great Canadian talents included Peter Cullen as The Wolf Man, Jack Duffy as Dr. Frankenstein, Ben Gordon as Dracula, Barbara Law as The Countess and Ted Zeigler as Frankenstein's monster, with special guests Dionne Warwick and Rip Taylor. I'd say this is a mashup of "Saturday Night Live", "The Star Wars Holiday Special" and "The Paul Lynde Halloween Special", so bad and not funny that I hope it doesn't ruin anyone's holiday. The hour long video includes the special with commercials.

1974 The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute

First broadcast 43 years ago on October 31st, 1974 on ABC's Wide World of Entertainment, Vincent Price and his hunchback sidekick Zuckman (played by great Canadian actor Billy Van) hosts The Horror Hall of Fame a corny but fun comedic special (laugh track included) featuring clips of classics films like "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari," "The Golem," "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," "The Phantom of the Opera," Bela Lugosi's "Mark of the Vampire," and (at the time) current titles "Dracula Has Risen from the Grave" (Christopher Lee pulling the stake out of his heart), "Blacula" and "The Exorcist."

The real highlights of the special are the scenes where Mr. Price sits and conducts interviews with guests including Batman's (1966–1968) Riddler Frank Gorshin (discussing his impression of Boris Karloff), Gomez Addams himself John Astin, "In Search of Dracula" author Raymond McNally, actress Candy Clark from "American Graffiti," who allows herself to be transformed into a monster by makeup artist William Tuttle, and the great John Carradine. Ivor Barry has a small role as mad scientist Murray Frankenstein, and his long awaited Monster escapes before we get a chance to see it. An affectionate salute to the horror genre:

1984 Elvira's MTV Halloween Special - Rockula Retrospective

I posted Elvira's 1986 MTV Halloween Special back in 2014's Halloween Countdown, here's Elvira's MTV Halloween Special from 1984. Both videos were uploaded by Rockula Retrospective a Youtube channel that features reviews, webcasts, commentary and mashups on a wide range of topics. Full 5 hour special with music videos included.

1977-1981 Sha Na Na

Sha Na Na is an American rock and roll group. The name is taken from a part of the long series of nonsense syllables in the doo-wop hit song "Get a Job", originally recorded in 1957 by the Silhouettes. Billing themselves as "from the streets of New York" and outfitted in gold lamé, leather jackets, pompadour and ducktail hairdos, Sha Na Na performs a song and dance repertoire of classic fifties rock and roll, simultaneously reviving and parodying the music and 1950s New York street culture.

Sha Na Na hosted the Sha Na Na syndicated variety series that ran from 1977 to 1981. It was among the most watched programs in syndication during its run. The members of Sha Na Na during the TV series were Jon 'Bowzer' Bauman (vocals), Lennie Baker (sax), Johnny Contardo (vocals), Frederick 'Dennis' Greene (vocals), 'Dirty Dan' McBride (guitar) (left after third season), Jocko Marcellino (drums), Dave Ryan ('chico') (bass), 'Screamin' Scott Simon (piano), Scott 'Santini' Powell (vocals), Donald 'Donny' York (vocals). Each was introduced only by his nickname or his first name in a voice-over by Myers at the beginning of each show.

Their current touring group features original members Donny York and Jocko Marcellino, and long-time member Screamin' Scott Simon. Everyone else from the original band and TV show has since departed. Current band members include bassist Tim Butler, guitarist Gene Jaramillo, drummer Paul Kimbarow, and sax player Michael Brown.

Here are Halloween related skits and music from the series. I used to watch this when I was a kid, I don't remember it being so awful. You can watch a lot more skits at Foofsmom's YouTube account.

Monster Mash skit with classic monsters:


Green Door skit with aliens in a bar:


Purple People Eater skit:


Jocko, Scott, Bowzer and Santini singing Silvery Moon:


Bowzer and Jocko in the graveyard skit:


Monster Mash Olympics from their back to the 50's party video:

1996 Late Night with Conan O'Brien - Halloween

Here is the incomplete 1996 Halloween episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien with guest Dana Carvey. I find Conan and Andy Richter hilarious and I loved watching this Halloween episode.

In part 1, Conan and Andy pull a prank on Max Weinberg, a skit about the horrors of trick and treating as kids, and also contains an reenactment of the OJ Simpson trial:


Part 2 contains an interview with Dana Carvey and a Frankenstein Unleashed skit with the late great Carl "Oldie" Olsen as Frankenstein's Monster:

1977 Donny & Marie Osmond - Halloween skits

Here are some crazy cheesy clips from the Halloween episode of Donny & Marie's variety show that originally aired October 28, 1977, plus other Halloween-related skits from 1976 and 1980. I love Halloween so much that I'd watch any show that mentions or is related to Halloween, even if it's Donnie & Marie.

Spooky Opening with the introduction of the special guests Billy Crystal, Shirley Hemphill, Kristy McNichol and Ben Vereen:


Concert Spot - Mustache Disguises with Kristy McNichol:


Trick Or Treat Skit - Donny and Kristy McNichol go trick or treating and meet Billy Crystal & Shirley Hemphill:


It Takes Two segment with a spoof of Alfred Hitchcock's movie "the Birds" starring Big Bird and a skit with Frankenstein's Monster and his Bride:


Donny as Dracula, Marie as his Vampire sister?, Michael Landon as a werewolf, Don Knotts as Dr. Frankenstein with his monster and Billy Barty as Igor. Monster Mash song. This is not from the Halloween episode but it's related to Halloween. Originally aired 4/30/1976:


Another Halloween-related clip with Marie Osmond & Jeff Conaway in a Werewolf Skit from The Marie Show that originally aired 12/12/1980:

1976 The Paul Lynde Halloween Special

Found this rare Halloween special a little while ago and thought it should be shared! Originally only broadcast once on October 29, 1976, this special starred Paul Lynde, with a bevy of guest stars such as Margaret Hamilton as "The Wicked Witch of the West" from The Wizard of Oz, Billie Hayes as "Witchiepoo" from H.R. Pufnstuf, comedian Tim Conway, Roz Kelly who appears as her character Carol "Pinky" Tuscadero from Happy Days, Florence Henderson sings a DISCO version of "That Old Black Magic" and appears in various kinky outfits, the rock band KISS perform "Detroit Rock City", "Beth" and "King of the Night Time World", Billy Barty pops up with tons of midget jokes, Betty White as Miss Halloween of 1976, and Donny and Marie Osmond have a quick cameo.

This definitely has the same feel as other cheesy variety shows of the 70's with song and dance routines, skits with truly funny and painfully unfunny jokes and as a finale, the entire cast joins in a Disco music dance off. This is a must see in a "so bad it's good" sort of way.

Full Special:

1998-2004 Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Trick or Points Halloween Special

This isn't the official Halloween episode of Whose Line Is It Anyway? it is a fan made collection of improv clips and songs about vampires, werewolves, Frankenstein, Halloween, sci-fi, horror movies and other scary related material. Very funny stuff. Parts I and II are each 55 minutes long.

Part I 55min:


Part II 55min

1955 The Red Skelton Show - Halloween Special

Those of you who love classic films and the days of classic TV should already know who Red Skelton is, but if you don't then watch this great Halloween episode from his variety show named after the former circus clown himself, The Red Skelton Show. I'm sure you'll laugh out loud.

1980s Kids Incorporated Halloween Songs

Halloween related songs from the Kids Incorporated series which ran in syndication from 1984 to 1986, then picked up by the Disney Channel in 1986 to 1993. The show was about a group of children and teenagers who often solved problems from schoolyard crushes to peer pressure to child abuse. Along the way they would perform 1980s rock tunes at a former musical club, now a kids' hangout, called The P*lace. Basically this show was Glee of the 1980s but Kids Incorporated was geared more for younger people (teens/tweens) whereas Glee is obviously geared more to adults based on some of the themes and the time it airs.

When I was little, I would love watching this show when the Disney channel would offer a free preview week. Back then, Disney was a premium subscription channel just like HBO or Showtime. It then became basic cable in about the mid 90's.

Full Video:

2006 Conan O'Brien’s Skelevision Halloween

This Halloween episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien was broadcast in 'Skelevision', which means the audio from the original episode was paired up with scary boney puppetry to create this October 31st special. Enjoy!

Full Episode:

1987 Joe Piscopo Halloween Party

Joe Piscopo's Halloween Party is a 1987 HBO comedy special taped live at UCLA. It features Joe in filmed comedy bits and performing music. Also features a talent contest among various students dressed in Halloween costumes. This is classic! Great Halloween special. Wish i could get this on DVD.

UPDATE! Full special:


This video contains highlights from the 1 hour special:


In this video, Joe takes on Robert DeNiro characters in a special way.