CAPT. BILLY'S WHIZ BANG OCT. 1922 MAGAZINE COVER

Hey, I think that gal is stealing a pumpkin out of that field. She better watch out or the Great Pumpkin might get her.

With a fun cover like this you would think Capt. Billy would have added some Halloween tomfoolery inside the magazine, but alas he must've forgot that his issue would be the October issue. I can't believe the good captain didn't think that some guy 86 years into the future might want to blog about his magazine during a Halloween countdown on a computer!

As you've been reading this ramble, you might be thinking to yourself that the title of this magazine has a familiar ring to it. The big hint is that Capt. Billy was really W.H. Fawcett a war veteran and a magazine publisher. Does Captain Marvel and Billy Batson from Whiz Comics ring any bells?


Whiz Comics started in 1940 and was published by Fawcett. It is obvious that this magazine title inspired the comic book title and the character of Billy Batson.

WHAT'S IN THOSE ORANGE CUPCAKES?

1963 Halloween kids hyped-up on trick or treat candy and orange cupcakes.



Originally uploaded by islandfalls

WATCH SECRET SATURDAYS TONIGHT AT 8 PM ON CARTOON NETWORK

The Secret Saturdays show is going to be loads of fun! I've enjoyed following the show's progression on the creator of the show Jay Stephens' blog, Monsterama. Now all that hard work has paid off and the premier is tonight at 8:00 PM. I'm sure this will be a big hit with kids and adults.

Also, the official Secret Saturdays comic book comes out next Wednesday and that's written by fellow Halloween Countdowner John Rozum. After you've watched tonight’s first episode, follow up with the comic book next week.

CAN THE MAYOR WIN A HAUNTED FORTUNE?

Here we go again the annual Halloween scratch off. Let's see if I can win some boo-la moola!


I like those numbers 8 and lucky 13! Now to scratch those eyeballs.





Rats! Another year with another loser lottery card. That's ok, because I'm not sure if I would want a Haunted Fortune. I might be too scared to spend it!

See the past loser cards here and here.

WIN THIS ORIGINAL 1955 REVENGE OF THE CREATURE FAINT CHECK TICKET

Be the only one on your block to own this original "Faint Check" ticket for the double Horror Show - Revenge of the Creature and Cult of the Cobra. A classic theater showmanship gimmick that was issued to movie goers at the Olympic Theatre in Cicero, Illinois in 1955.

This coveted treasure will be given away during the Halloween countdown. All you need to do is visit Weird Hollow and pick a monster head. Visit this link for all the gory details and enter the most silly, odd, crazy and stupid contest that you'll ever enter. Go ahead, it will be fun and hurry up as the deadline for entry is Monday Oct. 6th at 11:59 PM.

SPACE WITCH BY DON FREEMAN

Since we blasted off yesterday into the Halloween countdown, it’s appropriate that I dedicate this second day to one of my favorite kid books - Space Witch by Don Freeman. You can see by the well loved cover, just how much enjoyment this book gave me.


The amazing Don Freeman, author and artist of over 20 children’s books mashed up Halloween characters with space age themes for this wild tale about Tilly Ipswitch, Queen of Halloween.


Tilly decides to build a Zoom Broom, a spaceship that she will ride into space. Tilly hopes to visit Mars with her black cat Kit to scare Martians on Halloween.




I read this book hundreds of times when I was a kid. For me, the cover is iconic and whenever I see this swirly purple cover it brings me back to my childhood. Freeman’s artwork seems to move when you flip thru the pages and his story is fun an exciting with lots of moods. I like how it has a “Twilight Zone twist” at the end!

I’m surprised this book was never made into an animated cartoon. It would be nice to see the Space Witch fly around in her Zoom Broom swooshing thru a purple colored space year after year.

Check out Don Freeman's website to learn more about this talented artist.

ILLUSTRATED JACKS #1

This one comes from the October 1970 issue of Women's Circle magazine. At first glance this Jack looks nice and happy, but the longer you stare at him he starts to look scary and evil. Go ahead, stare away.

Creepy, right?

COUNTDOWN TO HALLOWEEN OCT. 1-31

1. . .2. . .3. . . Blast off!
The Halloween countdown has officially started and the festivities here in Neato Coolville now known as Neato Ghoulville during October, will hopefully be a sweet treat for all of you Halloween fanatics. You’ll see the regular type of neato stuff and a few surprises along the way.

If you dare, take a stroll down Weird Hollow, the spookiest street in this town. Go meet Vlad the impaler and keep an evil eye out for episodes of his show, "Ask Vlad".


I'm positive that you'll have a gruesome time in Weird Hollow. Though you might want to pack some silver bullets and a wooden stake just to be safe. Ah heck, you might as well bring a torch carrying angry mob, because you just don’t know who or what might be lurking about on that street.

The Halloween countdown has turned into a blog-O-thon event as numerous bloggers are taking part this October! Check the list on the side and visit them daily! Thanks for putting the list together John and Jon.

Have a neato cool & spooky October!