Halloween Watch List

[poseablemonster]

OLD FUDDY DUDDY'S HALLOWEEN RANT
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I need a kinder, gentler Halloween. With more devils, pumpkin men, witches, and Universal Monsters that don't look like Fred MacMurray under the makeup.

LOL!  Me, too, Bob...me, too.

[ramsey37]

   
   So far the local Wally World has shown no signs of Halloween aside from greeting cards made by Hallmark but the proper Hallmark store has already started putting out their Halloween stuff like the talking "Trunk O'Treats" that has a voice slightly Karloffian.

    "Meek"

Wal-Mart will begin setting out Halloween items around September 2nd. I'm curious to see what movie assortment they'll have this year. The Halloween season is usually a good time to find cheap DVDs of horror classics at Wal-Mart.
George

[emazers]

Here are Pictures and Where to buy Gemmy's Animated Lifesize Monsters For Halloween.
http://gemmy.com/category.cfm?subCatId=234&parent=41

[CreepyJeff]

Here are Pictures and Where to buy Gemmy's Animated Lifesize Monsters For Halloween.
http://gemmy.com/category.cfm?subCatId=234&parent=41

THanks for posting this.  I LOVE that life size witch with cauldron.  I tried to find that last year after Halloween but came up empty.  Hopefully they'll reissue her for this season.  That's one I'd pay full price for.

Creepy Jeff

[Universal Steve]

Hey MonsterBob,
You ae not the minority. I fully agree with you. Halloween comes around and instead of getting all geared up for the Universal goodies that should be there, I mostly sit back and watch. You would think Universal would at least give us one season of merchandise. I just don't get excited about all the generic monster merchandise. If it wasn't for the classic monsters, they would not be able to make all of these knock-off monsters. Also if someone makes something (like the Dollar Tree items and the Target pants and shorts) and doesn't get their permission, Universal is right on it. I know all about licensing but you would think Universal would see other companies selling their bootleg stuff and would make legit items for us to collect. It has even come down to I have bought a couple of generic things and put a halloween mask on it just to make it Universal. Sort of a do-it-yourself Universal Monster kit. Let' turn the clock back to 1991 when they celebrated the 60th anniversary of the monsters and merchandise was everywhere. Now we are lucky to get a repackaged DVD from them. Oh the Pain!

[tv horror]

I agree with you Steve there is a market for these items, what would you rather have a SpongeBob theme or Universal horror for a party? It would be a shame if they waited until 2031 to grant the licenses , by then most of us will be meeting the old stars in person! As for the U.K it's all back to school no Halloween in sight.

[chrisnurse]

I As for the U.K it's all back to school no Halloween in sight.

Ain't that the truth! Halloween is pretty disregarded over here in the UK these days.

[raycastile]

The last few Halloween retail seasons have been pretty lame.  But then...there always seems to be some little surprise item like the jigglers or dollar store figurines.  I'm still waiting for this year's "surprise."  Maybe the surprise will be that there isn't anything.

[aura of foreboding]

Maybe the surprise will be that there isn't anything.

I hope that's not the surprise.

A few year's back I was really surprised to see actual Lugosi licensed Universal Monsters party supplies.  I wish they would have done more with that line.  The images of the Monsters were some of the best I have ever seen.

[packy120353]

Maybe the surprise will be that there isn't anything.

But what was last year's surprise? Not the jigglers or the Dollar Tree stuff (and DT had a lot - the figures, playing cards, finger puppets, big posters, slime/goo) I mean they were out there but they weren't new last year.  Was the Toy Island stuff around Halloween? The giant Pez? Sadly it may come as NO surprise if the Monsters are still dormant. That's why I love to hit the thrift stores - you never know what'll turn up. To a regular shelf stocker Dracula and Frankenstein are Halloween characters. That's where the surprises could be.

[fmofmpls]

Halloween used to be fun, and going to Woolworth's Halloween aisle as a kid was an annual trek I always looked forward to (and it didn't start in the middle of summer, BTW!) . Again I stress the fun end of it. There weren't severed limbs and bloody women in cages that scream hanging everywhere. To me, this stuff is not the Halloween I wish I could remember. And we wonder why kids are so screwed up in the head!

Make some room for me on your soapbox Bob because I couldn't agree more. Scoot over a little. Thank you. It seems like with every Halloween I find myself celebrating a memory and not the season itself. Sure, I've got two little boys with whom I can experience Halloween through, but still, it's a far cry from what Halloween used to be. Streets filled with hundreds of kids on a warm Autumn night. And the trick-or-treating would go on all night long. It was an event that was filled with anticipation for that one dreamy night. Nobody would even think of going to a "family treat night" at the local mall. Nowadays, it seems more apparent that they're trying to take Halloween off the streets and put it in a community center or shopping mall. I guess I can see why with all the sickos around. Speaking of sickos .. this brings me to my next rant (or astute observation).

I need a kinder, gentler Halloween. With more devils, pumpkin men, witches, and Universal Monsters that don't look like Fred MacMurray under the makeup.

I'm going to blame it all on films like the Coffin Joe flicks. Sick, depraved, and sadomasochistic influences within our culture have poisoned Halloween of old. Little boys who used to dress up like the Frankenstein monster are now dressing up like Coffin Joe; breaking bottles over peoples heads and gouging out little girls eyes. And then taking their victims trick-or-treat bags and scattering the candy all over the street. There's no turning back now. We're doomed. Halloween is dead. And where's Raymond Castile at? I'd like to take this soapbox and hit him right over the head with it.  

[ramsey37]

Oh lordy, break out the riot gear, the Coffin Joe fans will descend upon us en masse now
George

[raycastile]

I get along very nicely with trick-or-treaters.  Look here.  We're having a pleasant time.

[ProfGriffin]

Trick or Treater indeed.
That's a bachelor party isn't it?  Come on...Little Red Riding hood is about to push play on her tape player ain't she?

[Monster Bob]

I guess I can see why with all the sickos around. Speaking of sickos .. this brings me to my next rant (or astute observation).

I think the sickos were there way back when, it's just now we know they are around and where they live!