Monday, October 31, 2011

2011 Happy Halloween - Safety Tips

Happy Halloween 2011!! Here we have 2 videos with safety tips to follow this Halloween. The first video is Hanna-Barbera's Unicef Halloween Safety Tips: Featuring Scooby Doo and The Flintstone Kids:



The second video contains Halloween Safety Tips from Joy Berry's "Taking The Scary Out of Halloween":

Saturday, October 29, 2011

1980s-2000s Peanuts Great Pumpkin Shorts

Here are five animated shorts that add on to or spoof the classic Halloween special It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.

This first short is from The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show that ran from 1983 to 1985. It's titled simply Great Pumpkin. While Linus, Sally and Snoopy await his arrival, Peppermint Patty and Charlie Brown go bowling.

Great Pumpkin - 6 minutes:


The second short is from the online series Peanuts Motion Comics and is called Dear Great Pumpkin. Again Linus prepares for the arrival of the Great Pumpkin while Lucy torments Charlie Brown yet again on a football field.

Dear Great Pumpkin - 3 minutes:


The third short is from the 1988 TV special Snoopy!!! the Musical. Linus once again holds vigil in the pumpkin patch on Halloween night, in hopes that the great pumpkin will appear. Snoopy accompanies him, but wears dark glasses so as to prevent anyone from recognizing him.

The Vigil - 3min:


The fourth short is from the sketch comedy show MADtv that ran from 1995 to 2009. This is a spoof of the classic special.

It's The Big Ass Pumpkin Chuckie Brown - 2 minutes:


The fifth and final short is also a spoof from the Adult Swim stop motion animated television show, Robot Chicken.

O Great Pumpkin - 2 minutes:

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

Friday, October 28, 2011

1998 Alien Voices - A Halloween Trilogy

Leonard Nimoy and John de Lancie are co-owners of the theatrical company "Alien Voices". Nimoy and de Lancie, along with other veteran actors, performed classic stories as if they were an old radio shows from the 30's and 40's on the stage. They even had people performing the sound effects live, just like the old radio shows. This special, titled "A Halloween Trilogy" originally aired October 26th, 1998 and contains the following 3 plays: The Mark of the Beast, The Canterville Ghost and The Cask of Amontillado. This was one of three Alien Voices television specials made for the Sci-Fi Channel.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

1980s Commander USA's Halloween Special - Alligator People

Commander USA's Groovie Movies is a movie showcase that was hosted by Jim Hendricks as "Commander USA" and ran weekend afternoons on the USA Network from 1985 to 1989. The Commander was a great horror movie host in the tradition of Elvira and Joe Bob Briggs, my other two favorite horror hosts. I remember many great Saturday's watching the USA Network. I really wasn't interested in the movies, I just loved the Commander's comedy bits before/after the commercial breaks.

In the first (and only actually) Halloween special, the Commander hosts the 1959 science fiction horror film The Alligator People starring Lon Chaney Jr. You can watch the full Halloween movie/special below:

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

2005 The New Worst Witch - Trick or Treat

The New Worst Witch was a British TV series that ran for 2 series from 2005-2006. It carries on from the original 1998-2001 series The Worst Witch, which is based on books by Jill Murphy. This time at Cackles Academy its no longer Mildred 'Millie' Hubble causing trouble its her cousin Henrietta 'Hettie' Hubble who causes just as much trouble. The complete series was released on Region 2 DVD but is hard to find. Many may remember the 1986 made-for-television film The Worst Witch. Though a British film, it aired in the USA on HBO.

In the Halloween episode Hettie, Mona and Cressie have been selected by Miss Nightingale to sing to the Grand Wizard. It turns out, the Grand Wizard is ill, so his place is taken by wizard author Richard Avalon. Hettie gets into trouble while trying to prove a point and is replaced by Belladonna to sing in the ceremony. Hettie decides she must prove who Richard Avalon really is...



Monday, October 24, 2011

2003 Disney's House of Mouse - House Ghosts

Here is the second Halloween episode from Disney's House of Mouse series titled House Ghosts. Click here to view the first Halloween episode of House of Mouse.

It's Halloween and Donald tries very hard to impress the Magic Mirror with his costumes, while Pete unleashes some grim grinning ghosts onto the club to try and scare everyone away. I laughed for 10 minutes when I saw Mr. T and Hades! Included are the following animated shorts: Hansel and Gretel (1999), Pluto Gets the Paper: Spaceship (1999), How to Haunt a House (1999).



Thursday, October 20, 2011

1981 Dark Night of the Scarecrow

Misguided townsfolk, blinded by bias and fear, mistakenly kill a mentally retarded man after someone accuses him of raping the young girl he had befriended. Shortly thereafter the entire town is beset by a supernatural terror. The story originally aired on television.

I remember watching this movie from when I was a kid and it scared the crap out of me! There is just something very scary about scarecrows. This is perfect to watch on a creepy Halloween night with the lights out.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

1970s & 1980s Danse Macabre cartoon PBS filmstrip

This is a remarkable cartoon set to Danse Macabre, by French composer Camille Saint-Saƫns. I remember watching this video in elementary school every year during Halloween. One of the best short length Halloween animations ever created. This was shown on and produced by PBS in the 1980s. I remember watching this 1980s version, If you are looking for the 1970s filmstrip version look below this video:

1980s Full Short:


Some folks have been looking for the Danse Macabre filmstrip version they saw in the 1970s or earlier. The one illustrated by Harold Dexter Hoopesthey. I believe this is it below:

1970s Full Filmstrip:

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

1996 Boo to You Too! Winnie the Pooh

This Halloween special begins with Pooh and his pals getting ready for trick-or-treating, but Piglet is too scared to go through with it. Even worse, Piglet thinks Pooh is in the clutches of spooks, but in a rare test of his own mettle, he summons his courage and decides to fight for his friend.

This video is simply delightful! I first taped this off of the TV years ago. I just watched it for the first time in years a few days ago. I just love it.

Full Special:

Monday, October 17, 2011

1999 Monster Mash

Frank, Wolf and Drac have fallen on hard times. Frank's batteries need recharging, Wolf's losing his hair and Drac's wearing dentures. But when the scariest monsters on the block become the laughing stock of the ghoulish underworld, they must prove their worth by giving a "typical" human family the fright of their lives. Based on the famous pop song of the same name. This is a fun Holiday movie for kids of all ages. It is a silly twist on some of our old favorite classic monsters!

A playlist of 5 videos that adds up to the full 60 minute special:


Or Click Here to watch the other parts on Youtube.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

1985 WWF Saturday Night's Main Event - Halloween Episode

Here are video clips from a 90 minute Halloween special of WWF's Saturday Night's Main Event from 1985. These clips contain all my favorite wrestlers dressed up in costumes as they compete in fun Halloween contests that took place in between the matches, which have been edited out. I loved wrestling and Halloween as a kid and this is a fun cheesy special that combines both.

Part 1 - Intro:


Part 2 - Pie Eating Contest:


Part 3 - Great Pumpkin Dunk:


Part 4 - Rowdy Roddy Piper's Halloween:


Part 5 - Pumpkin Pass:

Friday, October 14, 2011

2003 Disney's House of Mouse - Halloween with Hades

This is the first Halloween episode of Disney's House of Mouse series titled Halloween with Hades. Click here to view the second Halloween episode of House of Mouse.

Hades falls in love with Maleficent and Mickey tries to bring them together. My new nightmare....Hades dressed like Mickey. Included are the following animated shorts: How to Camp (2002) and Donald's Halloween Scare (2000).



Thursday, October 13, 2011

1996 The Ghoul VS Count Scary present Night of the Living Dead in MasTERRORpiece Theatre

In this Halloween special two Detroit horror host icons, Count Scary and The Ghoul battle it out as they host the 1968 public domain classic "Night of the Living Dead". Originally aired 10/31/1996 on Channel WKBD Channel 50 from Detroit, Michigan.

Full Special and Movie:

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

1983 Smurfs - All Hallows Eve / The Littlest Witch

Some Bright Memories.........."All Hallows' Eve" was originally titled "The Smurfs' Halloween Special," though it is a normal cartoon episode of standard running length and not an actual cartoon special. It was renamed "All Hallows' Eve" for the syndicated run.

All Hallows Eve - Full Epsiode:


A young witch named Brenda is in danger of flunking out of Witch's school, unless she can be more evil, but the Smurfs teach her about being good.

The Littlest Witch - Full Short:

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

1998 Two Of A Kind - Nightmare On Carrie's Street

While out trick or treating, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen switch costumes with Max and Brian, so that they can attend there baby sitter's college Halloween party, from which they were banned by there father, Kevin, who believes the girls are too young to attend. This is episode 6 of 22 made and originally aired on October 23, 1998 as part of TGIF, a family-friendly prime time television programming block on the ABC network. After its cancellation, the show gained more of an audience when reruns aired on FOX/ABC Family channel from 1999 to 2004.

Full Episode:

Monday, October 10, 2011

1933 Betty Boop`s Halloween Party - b&w and colorized

It's the scariest time of year, and Betty Boop hosts a party with aid from a scarecrow; but an uninvited gorilla threatens havoc. Betty caused controversy no matter what cartoon was created with her in it. Original black & white and colorized versions.

Full Black & White Short:


Full Color Short:

Saturday, October 8, 2011

2003 Scare Tactics Scare Tac-ular!

A 45 minute Halloween special from the series Scare Tactics which airs on the SciFi channel (now called SyFy). This was filmed in 2003 in front of a live audience at Universal Studios and is hosted by the original host Shannen Doherty. Features "scares" from the first season as well as new never-before-seen "scares" and scenes from the horror movies that inspired them. This is the first Halloween special in the series.

Full Episode:

Friday, October 7, 2011

1955 Disney's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow with Intro

This version of Disney's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow was an episode of the "Disneyland" TV series that originally aired on October 26th, 1955 but this video was recorded from the Disney Channel in the early 90's. The cool things about this video is it begins with an animated history of the life of author Washington Irving and is hosted by Walt Disney himself. I remember this airing on the Disney Channel on Halloween night. I so wish this version was available on DVD. Part 1 below contains the history of Washington Irving and Parts 2 and 3 contain the first and second half of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow animated Disney special.

(Part 1) Walt Disney intros the history of Washington Irving... video by vhs_vcr


(Part 2) Walt Disney intros The Legend of Sleepy Hollow... video by vhs_vcr


(Part 3) The rest of Ichabod Crane and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow... video by vhs_vcr


Wednesday, October 5, 2011

1972 Disney's The Mouse Factory - Spooks And Magic

Here's an episode titled Spooks And Magic from a Walt Disney TV series called The Mouse Factory that aired from 1971 to 1973. This episode features 3 classic Disney cartoons and is hosted by Phyllis Diller. This is essentially a prototype for the two Disney specials that were produced in the early 80's called "Disney's Halloween Treat" from 1981 and "A Disney Halloween" from 1983. Though not actually filmed at the attraction, a lot of footage and music from the Haunted Mansion is used in this. Lookout for Goofy Dracula and Donald Duckenstein! Ha, hilarious!


Tuesday, October 4, 2011

1991 VH1 Top 21 Video Countdown with Elvira - Incomplete

Clips from a 1991 VH1 music video countdown show hosted by Elvira. Music videos were edited out. Also includes an incomplete short horror film called "Attack of the Vinyl Creature" and Elvira tells us about Halloween's history.

Part 1:


Part 2 more clips from the countdown and the History of Halloween:


More clips from the incomplete short film "Attack of the Vinyl Creature":


Monday, October 3, 2011

1999 Out Of The Box - Trick or Treat

Out of the Box is a Disney Channel children's series that celebrates imagination and creativity. The premise of the show is that a group of children discover a bunch of empty boxes and, with some creativity and paint, create a wonderful clubhouse. Hosts Vivian and Tony join an ethnically diverse cast of children in the clubhouse and help them look at ordinary things in new and creative ways.

The Halloween episode called "Trick or Treat" finds everyone's favorite holiday drawing near and includes slightly scary stories and a frighteningly good sing-a-long. You will love the great ideas and kid friendly activities. I think this is a great video for kids.

Part 1:


Part 2:

Saturday, October 1, 2011

1994 Disney's Boo-Busters

In 1994 Disney released a VHS video called Boo-Busters that contained Halloween related episodes from two of Disney's animated TV shows. This is a recreation of that video.

Here is the opening bumper of the VHS tape:


The first episode is called Hallow-Weenies and is from the animated show Goof Troop: Max and PJ discover a haunted house that's home to a Dixieland band of ghosts who play more pranks than music. When Goofy shows up, things really get wild.



The second episode on the tape is called Ghost of a Chance and is from the show Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers: Chip 'n Dale are off to London to discover that Merry Old England is Scary Old England when they meet up with a hauntingly funny ghost.



And finally here is the closing to Boo-Busters VHS:

Thursday, September 29, 2011

1992 Follow That Goblin!

A singing, dancing and rapping extravaganza erupts when Scott and his sister Abby tour the haunted house on Halloween night. The two are trapped in the murky mansion when they stop to help Herbert the Goblin, a hapless haunt who's lost the will to frighten. He teaches the monsters how to be truly scary and save the house.

This is a wonderful children's video! It looks like it was made by the same people who did the Penny cartoon and much of the claymation on Pee Wee's Playhouse. Simple, crude, and cheaply done, but extremely entertaining. This video is also full of valuable lessons for children. It teaches children to share, help your fellow neighbor, be kind to everyone, and many more lessons. It expresses these lessons through songs that the whole family will enjoy. Watch the whole video below:

Friday, September 23, 2011

1995 What-a-Mess: Monsters, Goblins and Ghosts, Oh My!

This animated series was about a grubby, Afghan puppy named What-a-Mess who gets into all kinds of hilarious mess-adventures. A VHS video called Monsters, Goblins and Ghosts, Oh My! was released in 1995 and contains the following 2 Halloween related animated shorts:

"What-A-Mess and the Hairy Monster"
On a dark and stormy night, something spooky is afoot, so What-a-Mess asks Trash to guard him and his new friend, Esmeralda, a dancing mouse.

"Trick or Treat"
It's Halloween and What-a-Mess is supposed to protect his owners on their trick-or-treating, but (gulp!) it's dark and there are ghosts and goblins out there!

Thursday, September 22, 2011

1986 Double Dare: Halloween

It's a Halloween Episode of Double Dare, with a Halloween Themed Obstacle Course. Corncobs vs. Ghouls.





1985 The Jetsons: Haunted Halloween

A museum curator wants to kidnap Orbitty for a special project in time for Halloween. Will the Jetsons lose their pet alien to the curator's scheme?

The Jetsons was an overall wonderful show and this is one of the more fun episodes of the series. That why I say The Jetsons "Haunted Halloween" is not to be missed.

Full Episode:

Saturday, September 17, 2011

1999 Night of the Headless Horseman

1999's Night of the Headless Horseman is a classic retelling of Washington Irving's, "The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow". I am a HUGE fan of the story and I have seen just about every show, special, cartoon and movie based on the famous tale. This CGI animated version actually follows Irving's original story better than most. The atmosphere is creepy, especially for a computer-generated film, the musical score is effective and the voices, William H. Macy as Ichabod Crane, Tia Carrere as Katrina Van Tassel and Luke Perry as Brom Bones, are dead-on. It is not perfect, and not nearly as good as Tim Burton's "Sleepy Hollow" or Disney's "Ichabod and Mr. Toad," but a truly enjoyable ride through Sleepy Hollow nonetheless.

Full CGI Cartoon:


Thursday, September 8, 2011

1992 For Better or for Worse - Good for Nothing

The Halloween episode of "For Better or for Worse" called "The Good for Nothing" follows the family dog Farley on a series of misadventures, but all his wrongdoings lands him "in the doghouse" so he decides to run away.


Monday, August 22, 2011

1979 Friendly Giant Halloween Concert

In his castle, "The Friendly Giant" (played by Bob Homme) and his friends, Jerome the Giraffe and Rusty the Rooster, tell stories and play music for young viewers. This popular children's TV show first aired in the US from 1953 to 1958 and then moved to Canada in 1958 and aired until it was canceled in 1985.

Watching this program as a young boy helped me develop a like for reading and for music. The pipe and harp theme song still sticks in my head. Some say, Mr. Rogers is an utter joke compared to Bob Homme. This particular episode is solely devoted to Halloween:



Monday, August 15, 2011

2000 Cry Baby Lane

On October 28, 2000 Nickelodeon premiered a made for TV-Horror Film. The next day, parents complained that it was “too” scary and disturbing for the children's network. Nickelodeon responded by never airing the movie again and never releasing it on DVD or VHS. Over the last 10 years, Nickelodeon even refused to admit it existed. Luckily, a man recorded the one and only time it aired and posted it on the Internet in 2011.

Full Movie:

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

1948 Mighty Mouse in The Witch's Cat

The mice are throwing a Halloween party, parading around a jack-o-lantern. A witch and her cat, flying by, notice the festivities. As they swoop down on the witch's broomstick, the cat tries to capture the mice but they summon the Mighty One for help. Mighty Mouse is nearly done in by the witch's poison but saves the day as always. Resulting in the mice continuing there celebration of All Hallow's Eve.


Thursday, July 28, 2011

1998 Wishbone in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

I love collecting movies, shows and cartoons based on the classic story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". This episode of Wishbone and "Night of the Headless Horseman" are my two favorites in my collection, not that there's anything wrong with Bing Crosby's rendition, of course.

In this episode, the Jack Russell terrier with the vivid imagination is Ichabod Crane the school teacher from the Washington Irving classic. If you just judge this video in terms of Irving's original story, it is an above-average effort and faithful to the original but it might be too scary for children under 7.

This was originally broadcast in the fall of 1997 as a prime-time special in time for Halloween. The show tried to up the ante for their first hour-long effort and I think they succeeded admirably.

Again, this is one of my favorites. It definitely teaches kids about literature, and of course, having a cute little dog helps. Wishbone in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow also called Halloween Hound: The Legend of the Creepy Collars.


Tuesday, July 19, 2011

1990s Eureeka's Castle: Halloween Special

Eureeka's Castle was a fantastic show for kids. It composed of muppet type characters that have many great musical moments combined with learning techniques for preschoolers. If you remember "Fraggle Rock" and "Muppet Babies" then you'll know exactly what this show was like. The writing was very strong and the performances were top-grade.

The Halloween episode, also called It Came From Beneath the Bed or Nightmare on Magellan Street, wasn't too scary for the little ones, but it was terror-laden without losing any of that colorful delight we came to expect from an Eureeka's Castle episode. I can't seem to find this episode on DVD or VHS, but you can watch it online below for free.

Full Episode:

Saturday, July 9, 2011

1989 Whoopties Halloween

Here is a strange Halloween special from I think the late 80s. Other than that, I can't seem to find any other information about this weird special. Good for a laugh or two.

Part 1:


Part 2:


Part 3:

Saturday, June 18, 2011

1986 & 2004 The Berenstain Bears - Halloween

Here we have 2 Halloween themed shorts from The Berenstain Bears cartoon series.

The first short is from 1986 and its called The Spookiest Pumpkin. Papa is ambitious to win a pumpkin carving contest and Brother and Sister are also joining in. Papa is extremely secretive with his own pumpkin and guards it closely. Papa then has nightmares and he chooses to miss out on the contest.

The Spookiest Pumpkin:


The second short is from 2004 and its titled Trick or Treat. On Halloween night, the cubs try to avoid Widder Jones's house, because Brother has heard rumors about her being a witch. As the cubs go trick-or-treating, they're afraid to get near her house for fear she'll turn them into statues. When the cubs realize Witter Jones is a nice lady, she and the cubs decide to play a trick on Too Tall and his gang (who give the cubs more rumors) by playing a trick on them.

Trick or Treat Part 1:


Trick or Treat Part 2:

Friday, June 17, 2011

1951 To Boo or Not to Boo - Casper, the Friendly Ghost

Here is a 6 minute Halloween cartoon I really enjoyed watching when I was younger: it stars Casper the Friendly Ghost.

In the short, Casper wants to have fun on Halloween by making friends rather then scaring people like other ghosts on Halloween. He trys to go trick-or-treating with the other kids; but his ghostly transparency gives him away and everyone runs away from him in fear. Upon coming to a Halloween costume party at a barn, Casper coats himself in white wash to hide his transparency, and proceeds to enter the party incognito. Inside, he meets a little girl named Lou, who instantly took a shine to him; but will it last? Watch it and see.

So, I love this cartoon! It's a classic! A real heart warmer around Halloween time.


Thursday, June 16, 2011

1976 The Headless Horseman of Halloween - The Scooby-Doo Show

This has to be the BEST Scooby episode ever. The gang is having fun at a Halloween costume party with their friend who happens to be a descendant of Ichabod Crane. Their fun turns into a nightmare when the headless horseman shows up. The mislead is well placed, as well as the "bad guy's" slips. Finally, the solution and motive is on the plausible side. Watching this makes me feel like I am actually there experiencing the fear along with Shaggy, Scooby and Scoob's loveable relative Scooby Dum. I absolutely LOVE this episode of The Scooby Doo Show and It's great for the whole family. Enjoy!

Full Episode:




Wednesday, June 15, 2011

1994 Walt Disney Cartoon Classics: Halloween Haunts

This is a recreation of wonderful VHS video called Halloween Haunts that was released in 1994 by Walt Disney Studios. It contains a compilation of 3 great classic animated shorts, that fit the theme for Halloween viewing.

Here is the intro, the animated segments in between the shorts and the ending to the original VHS tape:


The first cartoon up is, Pluto's Judgment Day (1935) an Early Technicolor short. Pluto's cat-chasing days come to a close when he dreams that he's sent to hell and put on trial for killing lots of cats. The jury is composed completely of cats! Not a true Halloween episode but still a spooky atmosphere.

First Short:


Lonesome Ghosts (1937) This one is great as well. Four green phantoms want some fun, so they invite ghost busters Mickey, Donald, and Goofy over to their haunted home with the aim of driving them crazy. Great early Disney slapstick.

Second Short:

Trick Or Treat (1952) This is a certified classic in my mind, and based on a great story by the legendary Carl Barks, I love the spooky, opening shot of the town. Donald would rather play a trick on Huey, Dewey, and Louie than give them a treat on Halloween. Witch Hazel overhears the problem and casts a spell on Donald and boys get their treat after all. Just a great short with gorgeous animation.

Third Short:


This is still a favorite of mine as the animation is all fantastic. All three shorts have been released on separate DVD collections. The VHS version is available for sale online but expect to pay alot of $$ for a brand new tape because they are harder to find these days.

1984 A Halloween Hassle at Dracula's Castle - The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries

This episode involves the gang along with Scrappy going to a Halloween gathering at a castle. Soon, they realize that these party guests are really monsters. But, they are in fact being haunted a ghost who possibly is a danger. Scobby, Scrappy and the gang do this one really well. Dracula along with the other classic monsters are the perfect villains for the gang and this, along with the usual features of a Scobby Doo piece, makes this episode very interesting. Most of 80's Scooby-Doo shows are really hard to find. Bottom line, kids will like this and they will still like it when they stop being kids. Besides, Drac looks cool in this one.

Full Episode:


Monday, June 13, 2011

1984 You Can't Do That on Television - Halloween

Here's a Halloween special of the sketch comedy series You Can't Do That on Television - during which Christine casts an imaginary spell onto Ross after he publicly expresses his disdain for Halloween, as aired on the Nickelodeon cable channel.

The program, started in Canada in 1979 and running there through 1990, was a staple of Nickelodeon from 1981 until 1994. This edition starred Christine McGlade, Lisa Ruddy, Alasdair Gillis, Dougie Ptolemy, Mike Cameron, Les Lye and Abby Hagyard.


1964 The Woody Woodpecker Show - Spook-a-Nanny

A rarely seen 1964 episode of The Woody Woodpecker Show was a 23 minute Halloween special titled "Halloween Party." Walter Lantz, the creator of the show and all the characters featured, hosts the special that mixes live action along with an animated Woody. As they prepare to throw a Halloween party they introduce 3 animated shorts.

The first two animated shorts shown were not Halloween related, titled "Under the Counter Spy" which stars the Bat followed by the Andy Panda short "Playful Pelican." The third animated short is called "Spook-a-Nanny" and has Woody and his friends celebrating Halloween as they sing the Spook-A-Nanny song. It contains almost all of Lantz's characters in one place. The video below contains the special minus The Bat and Andy Panda shorts:



Thursday, June 9, 2011

1973 The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

This is another animated version of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow worth recommending, but not to be confused with the Disney version. This was produced by Dave Adams and Nick Bosustow of "Bosustow Entertainment" in 1973. Some of their productions were often shown in theatres in the 60's and 70's, but this short film was released to video by Little Golden Books/Western Publishing in 1992. It packs a lot of story into just 13 minutes. Creepy enough to be fun, while it will not terrify the kids either, and is perfect for a Halloween party.

Full Short:

1993 Halloween Under the Umbrella Tree

The Halloween episode of Under the Umbrella Tree, a show that used to air on the Disney Channel in the 90s.

This was recorded off the Disney Channel in the mid 90s on Halloween during their all-day Halloween episode marathon. This was back when the Disney Channel was a subscription service with NO commercials!



Tuesday, June 7, 2011

1982 Today's Special - Halloween

It's Halloween but since Sam and Jodie had to work, they are a bit upset because they will miss out on all the fun on Halloween with the children they usually take out. So Jeff and Muffy decide to help them out: Jeff dresses up, and Muffy goes out and gather some children to come to the store to "trick or treat".


Monday, June 6, 2011

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.


1997 Witches In Stitches

This is an old animated video I happened to have that's never been posted on YouTube before so here it is. Its about two dim-witted witches that try to rescue their sister who they accidentally turned into a jack-o-lantern on Halloween night. Although the voices do become annoying, this special is suitable for all ages. Watch at TubiTV.com.

1987 Disney's DTV Monster Hits

A Halloween special featuring appropriately-themed rock and roll songs set to scenes from the Disney library of classic animation. Starring Jeffrey Jones as the Magic Mirror and Gary Owens as the announcer. When I was a kid, this was shown on the Disney channel every Halloween and it was a must watch for me, along with A Disney Halloween. As far as I know, it has never been officially released on DVD or VHS but there are DVDs for sale online of an old VHS recording of the original broadcast. The full 47 minute VHS recording is also available on YouTube, which you can watch below:


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:

Sunday, June 5, 2011

2001 Scooby Doo Night of the Living Doo

Scooby Doo and the Mystery Inc. gang pick up hitchhiking Gary Coleman, and the Mystery Machine soon proceeds to break down (multiple times) finally leaving them stranded at a haunted castle owned by David Cross. This Halloween special is an all-out spoof of the 1972 series "The New Scooby Doo Movies," complete with multiple references and gags that take jabs at the original show, musical numbers by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Matthew Sweet, and concluding with a nonsensical ending.

P.S. Evidently some folks took it upon themselves to create a drinking game out of this episode. The rules are simple: every time David Cross raises his right arm, take a drink. Harder then it looks. Enjoy!

Intro Song:


The rest:

2006 Pumpkin Moon

A charming animated family drama for Halloween based on the book Pumpkin Moon by Tim Preston and Simon Batram. It follows the story of an unusual friendship between a little black cat and an abandoned pumpkin called Zombie and the adventures they encounter on the night of Halloween. Christmas has "The Snowman", Halloween has "Pumpkin Moon".

Part 1:


Part 2:

1993 Lumpkin the Pumpkin

It's Halloween! A contest is on among the spooky witches and jack-o'-lanterns to see who can frighten the children the most. But Tara the Good Witch and LUMPKIN THE PUMPKIN don't want to be scary or play tricks. They show the girls and boys how to really enjoy Halloween and how to stay safe too. Singer Bobby Goldsboro narrates and sings this happy tale of tricks, treats and Halloween fun.

Although the animation is not that great, the music is above average. I always liked Lumpkin and his songs. This is a funny video that I know kids will enjoy:

1998 MAD TV Halloween Special

Mad TV Halloween Special with hosts/guests the rock band Kiss and Robert Englund. 5 Parts and Robert Englund segment plus 3 other Halloween skits:

Part 1:


Part 2:


Part 3:


Part 4:


Part 5:


Robert Englund on MadTV:


Other MADtv Halloween skits - Ms. Swan:


Stuart dressed as Spiderman:


Vancome Lady - Trick or Treat:

1998 Pumpkin Man

This is a wonderful Halloween tale centered around a teenage boy who's very distraught by his parents' divorce. As he reluctantly goes trick-or-treating with his friends, he comes upon the magic spirit of Halloween in the form of a Pumpkin and a scary but kind neighborhood hermit who offers understanding and guidance to our young hero. This is one of my favorite videos to watch every year. It is very uplifting and really illustrates the good natured spirit of Halloween. I highly recommend watching it.



2000 Bugs Bunny's Halloween Hijinks

This video contains 2 Bugs Bunny Specials back to back. The first one is 1992's Bugs Bunny's Creature Features and the second one is 1978's Bugs Bunny's Howl-oween Special.

1995 Shari Lewis Lamb Chop in the Haunted Studio

Halloween special in which Shari Lewis and her fuzzy friends Lamb Chop, Charlie Horse and Hush Puppy decide to perform a scary TV show in a dilapidated old silent film studio, where they meet Count Dracula, Dr. Frankenstein and the "Phantom of the Studio." Alan Thicke and John Byner also star.

This is a great slightly scary yet funny movie for the whole family to watch together. Even though it is very babyish, I absolutely love it, always have, and always will. 6 Parts.

Part 1:
 
Part 2:
 
Part 3:
 
Part 4:
 
Part 5:
 
Part 6:

1988 Mike Randall - Very Scary Halloween Special

Halloween special first aired on WKBW TV in Buffalo, NY October 1988. 4 parts

Part 1:
 
Part 2:
 
Part 3:
Part 4:
 

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.

1986 Upbeat (Halloween Magazine Episode)

Upbeat was a kid's magazine show produced by WSAV-TV, Savannah, GA in the mid-1980's. The show was turned over to the production department and this was the first episode under their tutelage. This episode took the magazine format and adapted it for Halloween.

Part 1:
 
Part 2:
 
Part 3:
 
Part 4:
 
Part 5:
 
Part 6:

1938 Toyman Studios' War of the Worlds - animated with dolls

Toyman Studios presents a film with stop motion animated dolls that uses the original 1938 Orson Welles and the Mercury Theater radio broadcast of War of the Worlds. In 1897 H.G. Wells wrote the original "War of the Worlds." In 1938 Howard Kotch adapted this story as a radio play that was presented by Orson Welles in the guise of news broadcasts so realistic that many people believed that the Earth was under attack from Mars! Toyman Studios has animated the entire thing with toys! Toy sets, toy dolls, and amazing toy battles! It’s beautiful.

Full Movie:

1977 Halloween with the New Addams Family

Halloween with the New Addams Family was a 1977 NBC TV-movie. It has John Astin, Carolyn Jones, Jackie Coogan, Ted Cassidy, Lisa Loring, and Ken Weatherwax reprising their roles from the 1960s series The Addams Family. Blossom Rock was ill at the time of the production causing her role of Grandmama to be portrayed by Jane Rose. 8 Parts.

Part 1:
  
Part 2:
 
Part 3:
 
Part 4:
 
Part 5:
 
Part 6:
 
Part 7:
 
Part 8:

1985 The Midnight Hour

The Midnight Hour (also known as In the Midnight Hour) is a 1985 comedy/horror television movie. Five high school friends, Phil, Melissa, Mitch, Mary, and Vinnie unwittingly raise the dead on Halloween night. Once the dead have returned, Pitchford Cove will never be the same again....or will it? This movie has been released on DVD but it is now out of print.

Part 1:


Part 2:

Blog Archive