Happy Halloween 2025!

 

And that's a mummy wrap on the 2025 Countdown to Halloween!

I hope you had as much fun reading and watching as I've had blogging. To celebrate the season, we've shared our time with the Pink Panther, Fred Flintstone, Parker Stevenson, the Banana Splits, space aliens, and our beloved Vincent Price, just to name a few. I hope you've had plenty of ghoulish fun!

Thanks again to Dex of AEIOU and Sometimes Why for orgnaizing the Countdown--many good spooky vibes to you, sir! And of course, the most important person throughout all this is YOU, the reader/watcher/listener. The Countdown would be meainingless without your care and support. THANK YOU!

Please enjoy the season finale tonight, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy an entire spooky weekend! I'm sure everyone will keep festivities going straight through Sunday evening. When the sun rises Monday morning, then we'll officially close the books on Halloween 2025.

Thank you once again, and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

And coming soon!

Vincent Price's Dracula: The Great Undead (1982)

 

Hello! It's the last week of the Halloween season! And this is the next-to-last post of the Countdown to Halloween. And I celebrate this week by going full circle back to the beginning of my part in the Countdown--Vincent Price.

Today I present Vincent Price's Dracula: The Great Undead, a documentary about the Dracula legend from Bram Stoker's titular Count to real-life inspirations for the same. This was first released directly to home video in 1982, then in later years shown on PBS stations.

Price presents the material as a wealthy eccentric hosting the viewer in his gothic abode, telling the legends and history of the character with Price's usual wry wit and pomp. Perfect Price!

Enjoy below or directly on YouTube here. Thanks!

See you on the 31st, when I'll wrap up the Countdown!

Spaced Invaders (1990)

 

For the last weekend before the big night, I've chosed the 1990 family comedy Spaced Invaders!

Five Martians land on Earth because they think there is an invasion of the planet by their people. However, they've really intercepted a small town's broadcast of the famous War of the Worlds play by Orson Welles on Halloween night, mistaking it for a real invasion.. Hilarity ensues.

I haven't seen this movie yet, but I remember it's release during my high school years and found the commercials for it funny. It's a forgotten movie but well received by those who have seen it as a light, fun, family-friendly film. The studio, Disney/Touchstone, must not have had much faith in the movie. Despite being Halloween-themed, it was released in theaters in April. ???

Enjoy below or directly on YouTube here. Have a great last weekend before Halloween! But with the night on a Friday this year, I'm certain the whole of next weekend will be filled with fright!

The Banana Splits in Hocus Pocus Park (1972)

 

Today's installment of the Countdown to Halloween features the Fab Four. No, not that one--The Banana Splits!

The live action furry quartet, created by Hanna-Barbera in the early 70s, help a lost girl escape from the clutches of a wicked witch and her two daffy apprentices in Hocus Pocus Park. This one is clearly for the yougn and young at heart.

Enjoy! You can also find this special on Tubi.

Struck By Lightning TV Series Pilot, CBS, September 19, 1979

 

Welcome back to the Countdown to Halloween! There are less than two weeks left until the big night, so be sure to kick things into high gear!

Today I offer the first episode of the very short-lived TV series Struck By Lightning. In the series, high school science teacher Ted Stein, played by Jeffrey Kramer (Jaws, Jaws 2, Halloween II), inherits an old New England inn. As he arrives at the inn to check out his inheritance, he meets the staff, including a gruff, imposing caretaker played by Jack Elam. It turns out, the caretaker is none other than the Frankstein monster!

Who just so happens to look like a gruff, imposing New England caretaker.

Ted must do more than run the inn; he must also use his scientific skills to recreate a serum Dr. Frankenstein created to keep the "creature" alive for another 50 years.

Did I mention this is a comedy?

The show's conceit should make more sense when you watch the pilot below. Maybe. 

The series didn't click with audiences, and it was canceled after airing only three episodes (although 11 were produced). It's unusual to be sure, but I found it an interesting watch.

Enjoy!

The Intruder Within TV-Movie (1981)

 

We come to the conclusion of this week's portion of the Countdown to Halloween with the 1981 TV-movie The Intruder Within!

Workers at an oil rig in Antarctica discover prehistoric fossilized eggs while drilling for oil. When one of the eggs hatches and introduces a killer creature into the premises, it's up to the drillers to take it down.

If this sounds like a rip-off of Alien, it is, but that doesn't mean it's not entertaining. I remember my parents watching this movie when it first aired, and while I couldn't tell what was going on at the time, it still creeped me out.

1981 must have been a good year for made-for-TV horror movies. Last Friday, the TV-movie I featured, This House Possessed, also debuted in 1981.

Enjoy below or directly on YouTube here. Have a great spooky weekend! We're in the thick of the season now. Make the most of it!

The Flintstones Special: The Flintstones' New Neighbors (1980)

 

Today I present The Flintstones Special: The Flintstones New Neighbors, an animated special that appeared on NBC prime time September 26, 1980.

In this special, the Munsters-esque family the Frankenstones move next to Fred and Wilma, but Fred won't have any "freaks" living next door to him and is initially antagonistic towards them. However, he soon learns that looks can be deceiving and prejudice can dwell in anyone. Who'd think such an important lesson could be handled on a Flintstones special?

The Frankenstones are fine and all, but to be honest--I'll take the Gruesomes any day.

Enjoy!

Friday the 13th: The Series, Season 1, Episode 5, "Hellowe'en"

 

Welcome back! I hope you had (or are having, if you have today off) a great October weekend!

I kick off Week 3 of the Countdown to Halloween with the Halloweeniest program I've featured yet this year. I present a Halloween-themed episode of the 1980s horror TV series Friday the 13th: The Series!

For those unaware, the series was about two distant relatives who inherit their uncle's antique store. The only problem--all of the items for sale are cursed, thanks to the uncle making a deal with the devil! It's up to the cousins and an old business partner of the uncle to reclaim the cursed items before further harm can be done.

Although the show uses the title and logo of the famed horror movie franchise, there is no canonical connection between the film and tv series whatsoever. The show's producting studio, Paramount, simply wanted to get more mileage out of the franchise name. Ha!

In this episode, "Hellowe'en," our protagonists are out doing their thing on Halloween night, only this time, the not-so-dearly departed uncle makes a return to renter the living world. Not a good idea!

Enjoy! And for Joe Mello---THIS ONE'S FOR YOU! :)

This House Possessed TV-Movie (1981)

 

Welcome to Friday! Today, as I do most Fridays during the Countdown to Halloween, I present a long-form video to enjoy. This week, it's the 1981 made-for-TV movie This House Possessed!

In the film, Parker Stevenson plays a young rock star who suffers a nervous breakdown and takes time off in a luxurious mansion with his nurse. While in the house, very strange things occur to both the rock star and the nurse. Is the house haunted? Are they crazy? Or is something else going on? And what exactly is the history of the house?

The reputation of this movie is admittedly not good, but I'm featuring it because a specific scene stayed in my head when I first stumbled upon this movie as a child involving a very creepy shower.

Enjoy below or directly on YouTube here. Have a great holiday weekend! Enjoy the extra day if you're lucky to have it!

The Pink Panther, "Pink Panic" and "Pink Plasma"

 

Welcome back!

Today I offer not one but two great cartoons featuring the magenta mountain lion himself, the Pink Panther. In the first, "Pink Panic," the Panther spends the night in a haunted ghost town with a troublesome ghost and skeleton on his tail. In the second cartoon, "Pink Plasma," Panther spends the night in a creepy castle with a hapless vampire. Fortunately, the intrepid Panther comes out on top--most of the time.

Enjoy!

Halloween TV Commercials 2025 Edition

 

Welcome to the first full week of the Countdown! And today I have a great way to kick the week off. Today I present my annual look at great Halloween TV commercials!

Of course, they're not necessarily Halloween specific, but may simply have a spooky, scary, or strange theme. Let's check them out!

First, try claiming Dracula's gold (Dracula has gold?) in this fun electronic game from 1982.

Next, it's always great to pay a visit to Count Chocula and Frankenberry, but especially on Halloween!

This British commercial for Knorr soup is supposed to be whimsical, but frankly, I find it a bit creepy. I'm sure this scarecrow is friendly, but..well, take a look!

Most of the commercials I feature are many years, even decades old, but the final two commercials I have today are in fact from this very year! The first one from this past July features Cheetos doing a tie-in with Netflix's hit series Wednesday by auditioning Thing to be Cheetos' new spokes...hand.

Finally, my last commercial today is extremely new--it debuted September 29, 2025, exactly one week ago from when I'm writing this! Dr. Frankenstein attempts to teach his creation the ways of the world with poor results. But hook Frankie up with Xfinity wi-fi, and he becomes an overnight sensation!

Thank you for your time! Please come back every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in October for more Halloween greatness!

The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute starring Vincent Price

 

Hello again, and welcome back! Today we kick off the Countdown in earnest with a fun look at movie monsters of the past, hosted by the unofficial mascot of the Countdown.

Today I present The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute, a special that aired on February 20, 1974 as part of ABC's Wide World of Entertainment series on weekday late nights. It's a lighthearted look at horror movie characters of the past, hosted by none other than one of the greats, and a favorite of this blog--Vincent Price. I try to include at least one visit from Price in every Countdown, and this year, there may be more than one!

The special is heavy on comedy, and the jokes are pretty tame, but that's 1974 TV for you. Guests include Price's fellow Batman alum Frank Gorshin, John Astin (TV's Gomez Addams as well as another Riddler portrayer), and horror movie legend John Carradine, among others.

You can watch the special below or directly on YouTube at this link. Enjoy! Have a great first weekend of October. Drink pumpkin beer! Watch horror movies! Read my blog's archives! Eat candy!

Welcome to the 2025 Countdown to Halloween!

 

Hello one and all to the 2025 Countdown to Halloween! The time has come once again to arise from our coffins and partake in the Danse Macabre that is the Countdown. And am I sure ready for it!

Rejoice as we enjoy our annual parade of movies, cartoons, TV episodes, and other gifts of ghoulishness for a packed 31 days. I'm so happy you've chosen to spend your season with me!

Of course, I'm not alone in the Countdown. Thanks to Dex of AEIOU and Sometimes Why for organizing this year's Halloween hootenany. Please be sure to partake in all of the participating sites this year.

Please be especially sure to try my daughter Megan's Instagram site, Wallflower Avenue, as this is her first year participating in the Countdown. Way to go, Meg!

Without further ado, let the 2025 Countdown to Halloween begin!

Happy Halloween 2024!

 

And just like that...HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I feel the need to apologize: due to some goings-on in my personal life (job hunt, other stuff), I'm afraid my Countdown output was not as robust as I had planned this year. It wasn't due for lack of content, but time was just too little in supply this year. Be that as it may, I hope you enjoyed what I did share this year. We had a fair bit of Dracula than expected and a fair bit of comedy than expected, which was totally coincidental, but fun nonetheless.

Once again, I thank Dex of AEIOU...and Sometimes Why for running this year's Countdown, and completely solo at that. Thank you very much, Dex!

Have a great rest of the year, and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

And next up on our annual holiday cavalcade:

The Carol Burnett Show, "My Husband is Dracula"

 

We're approaching the frightening finish line of the season! Don't lose steam now!

Today I offer a clip from The Carol Burnett Show, titled on YouTube as "My Husband is Dracula," although the title of the sketch in the clip says "The Bat and the Beautiful." Either one works!

In this skit, Carol is indeed married to the famous bloodlusting count, but marriage to a vampire isn't all it's cracked up to be. Poor Carol!

Enjoy!

Two Classic Cartoons: Spooks (1932) and Skeleton Frolic (1937)

 

I'ts early Friday evening, but it's still Friday, and here is my last post for the last full week of this year's Countdown.

Today I feature two very old cartoon shorts from the 1930s, Spooks by MGM (1932) and Skeleton Frolic from Columbia (1937). These rare cartoons are very reminiscent of classic Disney shorts such as The Haunted House and Skeleton Dance. I love seeing this old school animation. They truly don't make them like they used to.

Enjoy! Have a great last weekend before Halloween!

The Saw 20th Anniversary Jewelry Collection by Gnoce

 

Welcome back! I hope you’re enjoying your Halloween season!

Today at the blog, we’re doing something a bit different than we normally do.

I was recently contacted by Gnoce, the jewelry company that offers beautiful, timeless jewelry that is festive, fun, and affordable. They offer jewelry for a variety of occasions and holidays; Halloween is no exception. And in that Halloween spirit, they reached out to me because they are excited about their latest line of spooky bling, honoring the 20^th anniversary of the Saw film franchise. Thanks to Gnoce for providing me with these complementary pieces. I can’t wait to show them to you!

Billy the Puppet has been placing his victims in the most precarious of situations for two decades, and you can now literally wear your adoration for the rascal on your sleeve. Case in point, this awesome bracelet, letting you know that, for his latest victim, it’s truly “Game Over.”

A great thing about the bracelet is that you can add charms to it, such as this one featuring Billy on a tricycle (see above on the bracelet and below by itself). You know, when he’s on his downtime.

Moving from the wrist to the finger—Saw is all about body parts, after all—Gnoce also offers this Saw ring, featuring the face of our favorite little maniac. Choose your size and he can be yours!

Finally, we have this beautiful necklace, complete with Billy’s face and a favorite weapon of choice. Add this to the other pieces shown above, and you will be the number one Saw fan in your ‘hood!

To show off these pieces “in the field,” my daughter Megan has graciously agreed to model these pieces to show how great they look (thanks Megan!). Complete your spooky, goth look with the Gnoce Saw collection today!

If you like what you see, Gnoce has other great pieces for Halloween available. Check out their Halloween Sale: buy two pieces, get two free, plus get a free bracelet worth $49 with every order. Take advantage of this great offer today!

Thanks!

Starsky & Hutch, "The Vampire"

 

Welcome to the weekend! I'm rounding out this week of the Countdown with a vampire story starring the late David Soul--no, not THAT story!

This is an episode of Soul's most famous claim to fame, the '70s police series Starsky & Hutch, costarring Paul Michael Glazer. In this episode, a perp wholeheartedly believes himself to be a vampire. Which of course can't be true--or CAN it?

See for yourself. Enjoy the episode embedded below or watch directly on YouTube here.

Have a great weekend!

The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo, "Doctor Frankenstein" (1965)

 

Today I present my first cartoon of the season, and it's long overdue. This is an episode of the 1960s TV cartoon series The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo.

This series was a follow up to the original Mr. Magoo series. In this series, Magoo would play a famous story from literature, similar to Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol. This episode, which aired March 13, 1965, features an adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Unlike the fun, wholesome silliness of the original series, this episode was quite dark and serious, and it is a bit more faithful to the original novel than one would expect.

Please enjoy this episode embedded below or directly on YouTube here. Thanks!

Remembering Joe Flaherty: SCTV Monster Chiller Horror Theater

 

Last year I posted a segment of "Monster Chiller Horror Theater" from SCTV starring comedy legend Joe Flaherty. Little did I know at the time that we would lose Flaherty just a few months later. When he died, I knew I had to feature him as Count Floyd once again.

Here he is in two SCTV skits as that Halloween-ish character: the first skit with costars John Candy and Eugene Levy, and the other with actresses Catherine O'Hara and Andrea Martin. Everyone is great in their respective roles in these sketches, but I send this out in Flaherty's memory. He was such a great actor!

Thanks!