HALLOWEEN WALLPAPER: THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES

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Are you ready for Dr. Phibes on your computer desktop or phone? Of course you are. 

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BIG LOTS SUPER HERO KID PENCIL TOPPER

    

Since childhood, I've always been a fan of figural erasers and pencil toppers and whenever I see one in a flea market, (usually found in a bag of junk) I pick it up. Last year, I found this Big Lots pencil topper. I've never seen it before and I'm not sure of its age. For the sake of this Halloween countdown we're going to say that he was a giveaway from the store during Halloween. Well...he is orange and is wearing a super hero costume. That's something, right? Anyway, he's a lot of fun with his mischievous side smile and shifty eyes.   

Anyone know anything about this little guy? I'm guessing he's from the 1990's as I found him in a bag with a bunch of Monster in My Pocket figures.

---Update--- The pencil topper has be id'd, thanks to eagle eye Erick from the Wonderful Wonderblog and fellow Halloween countdowner. This kid is actually a creepy old man named Mr. Big Lots.  He's the discontinued mascot for the department store.  Thanks for the info Erick!

THE WITCH WITH BLINKING RED EYES (AND HER PET BAT TOO)

From 1987, here are two blinky eye halloween decorations made by Electric Button Company. The witch is doing her best Uncle Sam impression. "I want you for Halloween!" Yikes! She sure is scary. At least her pet vampire bat doesn't seem all that terrifying. I'm sure he'd make a swell pet!

For fun I made some blinky GIFs so you could see these in action. 

Don't stare too long into her blinky red eyes or you might fall into a trance. You've been warned.

HALLOWEEN WALLPAPER: KISS OF THE VAMPIRE

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Earlier today I shared a neat promo bat from Brides of Dracula. Now you can ad this vamp to your computer desktop or phone in the form of wallpaper from the 1963 Hammer film, Kiss of the Vampire. 

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BRIDES OF DRACULA PAPER BAT PROMO FROM 1960

FLEA MARKET FINDS #89

Just in time for the Halloween countdown, I found a goodie at a neat little antique shop the other day.

Eek! It's a paper bat!

This paper bat is very cool as it's a promotional item for the 1960 film Brides of Dracula, the second Dracula movie from Hammer Films.

I've always been a Hammer horror fan and finding this bat was kind of a thrill. I wonder if it was distributed as a hand out during a screening of Brides. I can imagine some kid holding on to this bat in the dark theater scared silly as he/she watched Peter Cushing fight lady vampires. Neat that the kid saved it for 55 years so I could find it and share with you during the Halloween countdown. Thanks kid!

Here's the movie trailer to Brides of Dracula -

HALLOWEEN WALLPAPER: RAY BRADBURY'S THE HALLOWEEN TREE

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Not sure if people use desktop wallpaper much anymore but I still enjoy making them. For the past few years I've been sharing some of these that I've reassimilated from movie posters, comics and books. (Follow this link for all the posts containing wallpapers.) For this year's Halloween countdown, I've created a new batch of appropriate themes to haunt your desktop. Today's image is from the cover of Ray Bradbury's The Halloween Tree. Also for the first time, I'm including an iPhone wallpaper image. Enjoy!

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WELCOME TO THE 2015 HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN

It's alive! IT'S ALIVE! The Halloween countdown is live and ready to count the ways until All Hallow's Eve! Hard to believe, but this is my tenth haunted hoedown. The tenth time that my mild-mannered blog, Neato Coolville has turned into Neato Ghoulville! Again we will celebrate all things fun and creepy everyday during the month of October. Our pal Vlad will be returning with some of his monsterific Castle Vlad videos. A new batch of horror movie desktop wallpapers have been created. Plus there will be lots of random weirdness and surprises along the way.

Now go grab a paper bag, some scissors and glue and make yourself a nifty Halloween mask just like these kids.

By the way, before we get started with the countdown, I just want to say...what's up with Owl Boy? In the neat 1952 Halloween illustration above, all the kids are laughing and having a fun time but Owl Boy in the corner looks out of place. Hmm...I bet he creeped out all the kids at that Halloween party back in '52.

HAPPY HOTPOINT HAND PUPPET

 FLEA MARKET FRIDAYS #88

I just recently found this 1950's Happy Hotpoint hand puppet at an antique store. Everyone knows Happy Hotpoint right? This version of the little imp/pixie was the official mascot for Hotpoint appliances in the 1950s. (Click here to see what he looked like back in the 1930s.)

Hotpoint was the official sponsor of the TV show The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. Watch the little imp in action in this animated spot.  

Eventually the animated version gave way to a live action portrayal by Mary Tyler Moore. Hmm... too bad they didn't make a Happy Hotpoint Mary Tyler Moore doll.  

I'm not sure when Happy retired from the ad mascot biz, but the old imp looks pretty darn happy in his domain inside my stove. (Shh... don't tell him that it's a Whirlpool.)