FOUND ANOTHER 1953 PLASTIC BAG MASK

Last Halloween countdown I posted about these crazy 1953 Kraft caramels plastic bag masks. Here's the original 1953 ad.


I mentioned that only the Space Helmet and the Toto the Clown masks have been found. I'm glad to report that I now own the Old Witch mask.


So if this is a trend, I'll find the Pumpkin Head mask sometime next year just in time for the 2009 countdown.

The great thing about my post last year is that it sparked a childhood memory for my mom. She's not sure if she mailed away for one of these or a friend had one, but she remembers trying one on and feeling claustrophobic. She thinks it was Toto the Clown.

EAT SOMETHING UGLY FOR HALLOWEEN

1971 Karo Syrup ad.

LEOPARDS AND TIGERS AND HALLOWEEN OH MY!

The stripes of the tiger and the spots of the leopard on these two Halloweeners help them blend naturally into their native environment of a mid-century living room. I probably should have titled this post as BROWN AND BEIGE AND TAN. OH MY!

This second slide shows the kids unmasked of their feline personas and now holding two Jack O’Lanterns. I like how Leopard is trying his darnest to smile as wide as he can. He's probably trying to make up for the Jack O’Lantern’s frown.


Again these neato cool slides were supplied by Major Pepperidge.

L'IL STRETCH MONSTER GOES TRICK OR TREATING: ARTWORK BY JOHN ROZUM

I'm proud to present this original piece of Halloween artwork by the multi-talented John Rozum. Sometime last year we traded. I traded a special item that John had when he was a kid in exchange for one of his collages. This turned out to be a super deal for me as John immortalized my favorite toy, Kenner's Stretch Monster as a Halloween costume on a trick or treater. I like to think that's me in an alternate universe back in 1978.


Look at the detail John puts into his collages. If it was me, I would probably have all those tiny pieces stuck to my fingers and all over the floor. I'm sure most of you keep up with John's comic book writing, but be sure to check out his artwork too. Click here to see his art gallery and then click here for his published cover artwork on a recent Scooby-Doo comic cover.

For more Stretch Monster stuff, click on my faux Stretch Monster costume in the sidebar. It will take you to Stretch Monster Week from 2007.

ILLUSTRATED JACKS #5

Meet Cheryl O’Lantern. Poor Cheryl is kind of sad. You see Cheryl was hoping to be as popular as her brother Jack, but for some reason people liked Jack better and Cheryl O’Lantern never caught on. Poor, poor Cheryl. I really do feel sorry for her.

From the October 1968 issue of Woman’s Circle magazine. Artist unknown.

TAKING A CHANCE ON AMERICA: BELA LUGOSI'S ELLIS ISLAND STORY

Back in September the first lady and I journeyed to New York City for a site seeing tour. I was excited to visit Ellis Island and walk the same halls that my great-grandfather did. I didn't expect to find a play based after Bela Lugosi’s journey to become an American citizen.


The play is only 30 minutes long, but it’s a great way to begin at Ellis Island as it does give you a nice overview how Ellis worked back then. The play starts with a nice clip from Dracula on the gauzy curtains and then opens to Bela portraying Dracula. Bela addresses the audience and then tells you about his early days in America trying to become a citizen. The play does a nice job at portraying what an amazing man Bela Lugosi was and how hard he worked to become an American citizen.

Photography wasn’t permitted, but I did snap a (bad) shot of the stage when we left.


I see that the play finished its run back on Wednesday and now I wish I had posted this earlier. I really thought it was permanent. Really it should be or at least rotate it with other plays, as it’s a great way to be introduced to Ellis Island and especially for children.

PUTRID PAL HALLOWEEN COSTUME BOX CONTEST

This time of year is the perfect time of year to read all about the adventures of Putrid Pal, the undead French boy!




To make this year even more special, Michael Fleming is having a fun Halloween contest. All you need to do is make a Putrid Pal Halloween Costume Box and you don't have to own a Putrid Pal Toy to enter, but if you do you can put the box on the toy! Here's my entry -

WATCH OUT FOR VAMPIRE TOAST

I got a fright when I was strolling thru an old abandoned cemetery the other night. I heard something rustling behind a tombstone and when I took a closer look a hissing Vampire Toast jumped out.

Sakes alive! I thought I was a goner, but he turned out to be nice and we shared some ghost stories before I left him to roam the cemetery waiting to scare another innocent bystander. I think those sharp teeth are just for looks.


Vampire Toast is part of Dan Goodsell's World of Mr Toast.