Halloween Revisited -- A Monster Mask Mystery

I originally posted this October 5th, 2015.  When I repost these, I just copy and paste from the original post as I don't want to actually repost the original  because that changes the post date and puts it out of the original sequence of posts.  And to recreate a post with this many photos defeats the reason behind "Halloween Revisited" which is "I'm lazy".  So I apologize if this shows up with weird format/font/etc.  I'll fix if I see that it does.

Sometimes when I start writing a post, it begins as one thing and ends as another.  Initially, this post was about trying to identify a mask, but it turned into a tangential examination of Halloween masks used in classic television shows and movies I recall fondly from my childhood.  In other words, I'm easily distracted.

Last spring, I drove a fair distance to attend what appeared to be an enormous estate sale chock full of retro goodies.  What particularly caught my eye in the ads for the sale were numerous Ben Cooper/Collegeville plastic Halloween masks. Once inside and after fighting my way through the crowd, I finally found the room with the masks, just in time to see a lady grabbing every plastic mask there. I pushed toward her to see if she'd left any, but she hadn't.  However, she had passed on a rubber mask which I grabbed.

Monster Hot Rod Plaque

While out garage saling last weekend, I stumbled onto an unadvertised estate sale in my childhood hometown (which isn't saying I took some long drive. I only live about 5 minutes away from where I grew up).  The sale was at the home of a family my family knew and in fact only lived about 1/4 of a mile from our home.

The last person to live in the house was one of the sons of the family.  He had been into hot rodding cars since the 1960's and a lot of items were hot rod related.

While looking through a box of cast metal plaques, I came across this one (actually, I found two of them).

Beistle Skull and Cross Bones Die Cut

This is another damaged die cut I found at the same sale as this witch.  Again, damage doesn't bother me.  These were meant to be hung in classrooms and homes year after year.  Damage is going to occur.

 This Skull and Cross Bones was made by Beistle in the 1960's.

Brutus and Frank

 I came across this vintage Halloween costume minus the mask, but I loved the artwork on it.  It screamed '50's Monster Movie to me. The red eyes, the fangs, the blood(?).

Happy National Donut Day

National Donut Day is today.  National Donut Day National Donut Day was started in 1938 by the Salvation Army to commemorate the volunteers who served donuts to soldiers during WW I. In honor of that, I thought I'd share this short clip I found on an 8mm movie I picked up recently at an estate sale.  The film was labeled "Bowling" and features a men's bowling team in tournament in Madison, Tennessee sometime in the early to mid 1960's.  But the most interesting part of the film is this short clip where they stopped early in the morning for Krispy Kreme donuts, giving a peak into the look of the business (outside anyway).

The early morning sun reflects in the windows which allows a vague glimpse at the menu on the wall. Our bowler balances 4 dozen Krispy Kremes while a cigarette dangles from his lips.  A Krispy Kreme delivery van looms in the background.

While I prefer our local donut shop over Krispy Kreme, there is something about them when they glide off the assembly line hot and fresh.

Why not stop by your favorite donut shop today, Krispy Kreme or otherwise, and treat yourself?

Halloween by Brach's

Technically, I'm not cheating on "Mondays are to Die(cut) For" as these aren't die cuts.

I found these cardboard store displays at an estate sale laying on the floor of a bedroom, unnoticed by the throngs of people passing through.  I recognized them immediately as Halloween store displays, but wasn't sure what display or company they belonged to, although I had a hunch they were Brach's as the art looked familiar.

Zombie Sneppy

 I found this freak for $5 at an estate sale, tucked away in the garage of all places.  At first I thought someone had stuck a skull head on a blow-mold Snoopy body.

Devilish Swizzle Sticks

Though I'm not an imbiber, I've long had a fascination with bar culture and its accessories, particularly swizzle sticks.  It probably goes back to when my mom and dad would go out for New Year's Eve and would always bring home swizzle sticks from their drinks.

I came across these devilish twins a couple months ago.

Bubble Bubble Toil and Trouble (with Her Head)

 I found this little witch minus her head at a sale last year.  Fortunately, someone was wise enough to put her head in the Jack O' Lantern along with the pumpkins.  A little Elmer's later and she was as good as new.

She's made by Relpo of Japan who were primarily known for "head" vases.  Ironic, hunh?  She's dated 1967.

Don't lose YOUR head this Halloween, just HEAD over to The Countdown and check out all the HEADliners there!  Okay, I'm done.

ICEE with my Little Eye

I know, it's "I Spy,", but that doesn't work for today's blog title. Work with me here, people!

I drove past an unassuming little garage sale a few weeks ago.  I almost didn't stop as it looked like mostly new items, but I figured, "Hey, I'm here."

The host was probably in his 40's, so I was surprised to find a vintage 1968 Icee Bear gym(?) bag for sale for $1.

Coffee and Toast

This past weekend I attended a rummage sale at a local church, St. John's Evangelical in Mehlville, Missouri.  Rummage sales seem the last bastion of bargains.  Unfortunately, their primary way of advertising is by signs in front of the church, so I rarely know of them.  I just happened to be driving the route past this church last week and saw the sign.

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, How Does Your Toaster Toast?

I found this 4-slot "Mary Proctor" model P21601 toaster in the basement of a home this morning.  It was pretty dusty, but I could see the chrome underneath was in good condition.  It cleaned up nicely.

Scratch Cat Fever

 These die cuts are referred to as "Scratch Cats" due to their extended claws and hackled backs.

This die cut was made by Beistle and dates to the 1960's. It's jointed and can be positioned as desired.  I recently found this along with two identical die cuts in a lot at an estate sale. I paid up for the 3 at $15, but each is worth $15, so I didn't do too bad. Aside from the staples in the back of this piece, it and the others are in excellent condition. There are no bends and the joints are tight.

I Ja, You Ja, We All Ja for Ouija

We had a Ouija board when I was a kid.  For some reason it layed on the ground in our furnace room.  And it freaked me out.  My sister had told stories of how it had predicted who she would marry, providing the initials of the person she did in fact end up marrying. I was pretty afraid of anything potentially ghost related. Yeah, I was a chicken.

I've gotten over that fear and had no problem buying this Ouija board.  In fact, I picked up 4 of them this season.  There was an odd run where I kept finding Ouija boards. 

Even when I was afraid of them, I always loved the art on these. This version dates from the 1960's.

A (Hay) Seed of Truth

Dennison produced this Pa and Ma Pumpkin set of diecuts in 1964.  You can tell this is "Pa" by his broken and repaired glasses and by the ubiquitous hay stem clenched in his mouth. 

Eureka Clown and Ghost Trick or Treaters

This is another Eureka piece I picked up in the past couple months. I bought it at the same sale where I found the owl. 

That Voodoo You Do

While this game was incomplete, I decided to buy it for the box art alone. It makes for a good Halloween display piece. 

Dennison Die Cuts

The Dennison Manufacturing Company of Framingham, Massachusetts was established in 1844 as a maker of paper jewelry boxes.  When Halloween became popular just after the turn of the 20th century, they began manufacturing party decorations.  By the early teens they were publishing party guides known as Bogie Books that told how to throw the perfect Halloween party and just happened to sell the necessary supplies.

These Dennison Die Cuts date from much later.  The first two die cuts date from the 1960's and are the large versions measuring 16" tall.

Who Are You? (Who who, who who?)

 Who? I'm a Eureka owl die cut, that's Whooooo!

This diecut dates from 1963. 

Bowled Over

I've found you can't let the feel of a sale throw you off and lower your guard.  I was in a newer home a couple months ago and wasn't finding anything vintage.  I'd already swept through the basement and was getting ready to head up when I went looking for my wife to let her know I was leaving.  She was bent over a box filled with newer party supplies which I'd seen but not thought much of.  She pulled out a stack of 6 vintage Halloween scalloped plastic treat bowls.  They were in mint condition.