2003 Scare Tactics Scare Tac-ular!

A 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.

"Bloody Mary":


"Camp Kill":


"Who Let The Rats Out?":


"Harsh Reality":

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.



Update here is just the intro and animated history of Washington Irving:

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!

1991 VH1 Top 21 Video Countdown with Elvira - Incomplete

A 1991 VH1 music video countdown show hosted by Elvira. Music videos have been edited out. Includes a short horror film called "Attack of the Vinyl Creature" and Elvira tells us about the history of Halloween.

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:

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 and closing 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.

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:

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!

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:

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:

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.

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:

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:

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.

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.

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:

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: