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I’ve always been slightly nuts about Halloween. I distinctly remember having several VHS tapes packed full of Halloween specials that I would beg to watch year-round. I’m sure those tapes are long gone now, but luckily for me (and you), most of them can be found on YouTube now. Here are a few of my old favorites – and a few I wish I had known about!
1. A Disney Halloween. There have been a few Disney Halloween specials over the years (with so many great villains, how could there not be?) but this is the one that holds a special place in my heart. Hosted by the Magic Mirror from Snow White, it featured spooky clips from various Disney movies such as the Heffalumps and Woozles part of Winnie the Pooh. My favorite parts were the oldies, though – The Skeleton Dance and an old Mickey cartoon from 1937 called “Lonesome Ghosts.” Mickey, Goofy and Donald were Ajax Exterminators, the original Ghostbusters, and were called to a haunted house by four bored ghosts looking to have a little fun. You can see the whole thing here, but the one I want to embed is The Skeleton Dance. It’s so good.
2. It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. If you’re looking for thrills and chills, obviously this isn’t the special you’re looking for. But watching Linus doggedly wait for the Great Pumpkin and watching Charlie Brown get a rock – again – has become a must-see over the years. The first time it ever aired, Charles Schulz once said, kids from all over the world sent in some of their Halloween candy to poor Charlie Brown so his Halloween would have more treats than tricks for once.
3. Garfield’s Halloween Adventure. I vaguely remembered this one involving a pirate ship, and then thought, “No… that doesn’t make any sense.” But it did, in fact, involve a ghostly band of buccaneers. While collecting their sugary loot, Garfield and Odie end up at a haunted mansion and wander inside, where they find an old man sitting. The man tells them they arrived on the 100th anniversary of the night a bunch of pirates buried their treasure in the floorboards of the house and that they would be returning for it very shortly. They do, of course, and scary antics ensue.
4. Halloween is Grinch Night. Despite his curmudgeonly demeanor, Dr. Seuss fans were clamoring for more Grinch after How the Grinch Stole Christmas premiered in 1966. So, in 1977, Seuss gave the public what they wanted. We revisit Whoville, this time on “Grinch Night,” when a “Sour-Sweet Wind” brings the Grinch and his pooch Max back to terrorize the tiny citizens of town. It’s up to a small Who named Euchariah to save the day.
5. Roseanne Halloween specials. I can’t say that I’m necessarily a big Roseanne fan, but I did enjoy how all-out she went for All Hallows. I always envied the parties and pranks that went on at the Lobo.
6. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, AKA The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. This is another oldie and can be hard to catch on T.V. these days. Before Johnny Depp’s skittish and squeamish Ichabod Crane, there was Bing Crosby’s skittish, squeamish and gluttonous version.
7. The Flintstones Meet Rockula and Frankenstone. The Bedrock clan wins a vacation to Rocksylvania to spend the night in Count Rockula’s castle. It turns out that Rockula is more woman-hungry than blood-thirsty, though, and he has his eyes (fangs?) on Wilma. Frankenstone is Rockula’s creation.
8. The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror. The Simpsons’ Halloween Specials have been a seasonal staple since the series’ second season in 1990. That’s a lot of specials, so I can’t possibly pick one to highlight, but I do really enjoy when they’re based on Twilight Zone episodes or at least include a sly reference to them. Do you have a favorite?
9. Bugs Bunny’s HOWL-Oween Special. Like the Disney special, this Looney Tunes show compiled a bunch of scary cartoons from years past. I’m partial to Transylvania 6-5000, a cartoon in which Bugs takes a wrong turn headed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and finds himself in “Pittsburghe, Transylvania.” He mistakes a vampire’s enormous manor for a hotel and ends up spending the night under the watchful and hungry eye of Count Blood Count. Here it is in its entirety:
10. The Paul Lynde Halloween Special. Paul Lynde is maybe a little before my time, but this sounds pretty interesting. You had Florence Henderson singing a disco rendition of “That Old Black Magic,” KISS performing several songs that have nothing to do with Halloween, and special appearances by Witchiepoo, The Wicked Witch of the West (played by the original, Margaret Hamilton), Donny and Marie Osmond and Betty White. Just… wow. Check it out here if you’re in the mood for a little camp. OK, a lot of camp.
What did you watch as a kid to gear up for Halloween?
Comments (37)
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I distinctly remember being super-psyched for Garfield’s Halloween Adventure, as I was a big Garfield fan. It kinda stunk, though. Oh well. (The other Garfield holiday specials weren’t all that amazing either.)
Transylvania 6-5000, on the other hand, is frickin’ brilliant.
posted by Chris Higgins on 10-16-2009 at 5:18 pm
The first Halloween TV special I watched was “The Worst Witch” with a young Fairuza Balk and Tim Curry. I recently bought that one on DVD. It’s still as amusing to me now as it was when I was a child.
And it’s not really TV special, but I will always hold a special place in my heart for “Hocus Pocus.” Bette Midler is a comedic genius.
posted by tambalina on 10-16-2009 at 5:34 pm
The “Disney Halloween” was always my favorite! I wish they would start playing it again. Luckily I found it on youtube!
posted by dee on 10-16-2009 at 5:39 pm
The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episode referencing “To Serve Man” from The Twilight Zone always cracked me up.
And, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” always warms my heart – especially seeing the duel between Snoopy and the Red Baron!
posted by Steve from San Diego on 10-16-2009 at 6:20 pm
When I saw Hocus Pocus I thought it was the coolest movie ever!
posted by Leslie on 10-16-2009 at 6:27 pm
My parents have the “Thrilling Chilling Sounds” Disney album playing all Halloween.
You’d think a cash-whore like Disney – they’d have that thing out on DVD but no they don’t!
posted by Dianne on 10-16-2009 at 7:14 pm
I sat down with my 3yo in front of the computer yesterday to watch Garfields halloween adventure. I wish it would come on TV again. Childhood memories with YouTube won’t be quite the same.
posted by guy on 10-16-2009 at 8:05 pm
@Dianne
Mannheim Steamroller has a Halloween CD with several sound effects tracks.
posted by PartiallyDeflected on 10-16-2009 at 8:27 pm
“Before Johnny Depp’s skittish and squeamish Ichabod Crane, there was Bing Crosby’s skittish, squeamish and gluttonous version.”
I’m confused. That’s clearly Bing Crosby singing in the clip, but the character he’s voicing is just as clearly not Ichabod. Did he voice two characters? I checked IMDB, but it didn’t have Ichabod on the cast list.
posted by Johanna on 10-16-2009 at 10:06 pm
Does anyone else remember the Fat Albert Halloween special?
posted by ahavakamm on 10-16-2009 at 10:26 pm
@ ahavakamm -
Was this the one where the gang pulled a prank of greasing a ladder rung and someone got hurt because of this?
posted by Anon Emous on 10-16-2009 at 10:51 pm
Just checked Tv.com and I was wrong – it’s actually the EASTER special, I am assuming based on the brief synopsis
posted by Anon Emous on 10-16-2009 at 10:55 pm
P.S. You can hear samples from Transylvania 6-5000 in the Gorillaz song “Dracula.” At least, I think you can. Sounds like they used “I am a vampire!” and “Rest is good for the blood.”
posted by Johanna on 10-16-2009 at 11:39 pm
I’m sorta surprised that Roseanne made this list but Home Improvement didn’t. I was never much for the show, but I always tuned in to see the Halloween special each year.
posted by Amauriel on 10-17-2009 at 12:43 am
My favorite part of the Garfield Halloween special was Garfield saying, “Candy, candy, candy, candy.” I think of that every Halloween (and any other time there’s a lot of candy around!).
My husband’s favorite Treehouse of Horror was season 6 (Episode V) with “The Shinning,” “Time and Punishment,” and “Nightmare Cafeteria.”
posted by Lynley on 10-17-2009 at 1:21 am
Hahaha for all the people mentioning Hocus Pocus, I just watched it last night. It’s one of my all time favorites and I watch it year round but I was itching to watch a Halloween movie.
There was also this one I use to rent as a child. It was cartoon about a brother and sister on Halloween that got turned into a Werewolf and a ghost (I think). I LOVED that movie even though the animation was horrible. It had great music though. For the life of me I can’t remember what it was. If one knows, please let me know. This was about 15-17 years ago though the movie may be older then that.
posted by Haily on 10-17-2009 at 1:48 am
My absolute favorite was the The Halloween Tree. I remembered about it earlier this year and watched it on YouTube. It was just about as great as I remember. My sister and I never really watched any other children’s Halloween specials, because my parents let us watch the adult horror movies on cable because most of the language, sex, and nudity was edited out.
Although not a Halloween special, I also really loved Tales from the Darkside. Ah, nostalgia.
posted by Christian on 10-17-2009 at 4:17 am
My mom and I have a Halloween tradtion of watching “House of Wax” on Halloween night-the Vincent Price version, not that remake crap. I also like watching “The Exorcist” a day or two before, you know-just to set the tone :)
posted by Amanda on 10-17-2009 at 11:31 am
I like just about all Hslloween themed shows or movies, but I was especially fond of Hocus-Pocus.
posted by Sara in AL on 10-17-2009 at 10:47 pm
Disney recently released the Haunted Mansion album from 1969 to the parks only on CD. Can’t wait to get mine on my next trip. As for the Disney “legend of Sleepy Hollow”, I grew up near the town of Tarrytown, the “home” of Ichabod Crane, and I have to tell you that the cemetery in person has given me the chills all my life, and the Disney Headless Horeseman has given me nightmares to boot. I’m 41 and still freak out from it!
posted by shirleyfeeney on 10-18-2009 at 3:01 am
@Christian: I’m glad someone else remembers The Halloween Tree! I loved that as a kid, and was hoping it would make this list. Still, I’m glad to hear it’s on YouTube. I’m going to watch it today!
posted by treewithlights on 10-18-2009 at 10:39 am
When it comes to the Simpsons, nothing will ever beat Treehouse of Horror IV, simply the best one ever…
“otto, there’s a gremlin on the side of the bus”
posted by Wayne on 10-18-2009 at 11:58 am
Disney’s Halloween Treat was always my favorite but I’m always a fan of Hocus Pocus as well. I also used to watch this Addams Family Special that was made in the 70s. It was supposed to be the come back of the Addams Family with some new cast members and whatnot. But in it, they throw a Halloween party. I loved it as a kid!
posted by C on 10-18-2009 at 2:07 pm
@ Johanna: Bing actually narrates (and sings, of course) the entire “Sleepy Hollow” cartoon. There are no voices really. But the animated Ichabod is clearly modeled after him.
posted by Nerak on 10-18-2009 at 3:47 pm
Some of my Treehouse of Horrors favorites are:
“Clown Without Pity”
“Attack of the 50-ft Eyesores”
“The Devil & Homer Simpson”
“The Genesis Tub”
“Time & Punishment”
“Terror at 5 1/2 ft”.
And I always liked their version of Poe’s “The Raven”.
posted by Nerak on 10-18-2009 at 3:51 pm
Mr. Boogedy was always one of my favorites.
posted by Tanuja on 10-18-2009 at 8:04 pm
@Haily: You’re thinking of Witches’ Night Out. It’s a brother and sister and their babysitter. A witch decides to turn them into anything they like for Halloween. But then everyone’s afraid of them and they ask her to change them back, which she ultimately does.
@Tanuja: I LOVED Mr. Boogedy. I really miss that movie.
I was also a fan of Frankenweenie (it involves a dachsund), and The Halloween that Almost Wasn’t. That one deals with the witch deciding she’s not getting enough love as that other monsters and refusing to fly over the moon, effectively canceling Halloween. All the monsters get together to change her mind, but it’s seeing a little girl dressed up like her that convinces her to take the midnight ride.
Why don’t they show these anymore?!
posted by Chelsea on 10-18-2009 at 9:31 pm
My vote goes for “The Mad Monster Party”
Rankin and Bass were a powerhouse of kiddie Kitsch. Whatever that is. Oh and must tip my hat to snoopy’s scenes behind enemy lines in “Great Pumpkin” The orchestration combined with the whistle in the distance and the great backgrounds still give me a nostalgic chill deep down.
posted by Greg VA on 10-18-2009 at 9:55 pm
Transylvania 6 5000 will always be my favorite Looney Tunes cartoon! Thank you for posting it on here. I still laugh out loud during the exchange of magic words and Bugs pulls out “Walla Walla Washington!” Now that is funny stuff!
posted by jenna on 10-18-2009 at 11:35 pm
I knew this post was written by you, Stacy, when I saw the first line about Halloween! I think I’ve been reading this website for a bit too long. ;)
In any case, I always watch the Great Pumpkin. Just wouldn’t be Halloween without it.
posted by Logan on 10-19-2009 at 5:05 am
OMG, thank you thank you THANK YOU for posting the Disney Halloween Treat link!! I have it on VHS at the house, but of course it’s over 20 years old and doesn’t play anymore. I can’t wait to go home tonight, curl up under a blanket and watch it!!!
Thanks for making my Monday!!
Does anyone remember the Scooby Doo special with the monsters? I think it may have been a spin where the ‘gang’ showed up as kids/puppies, but I’m not sure. My best friend and I watched that religiously growing up. :)
posted by OkieMelissa on 10-19-2009 at 9:56 am
Anyone remember Ernest Scared Stupid? That troll gives me nightmares to this day.
posted by Meagen on 10-19-2009 at 10:00 am
@Chelsea – I can’t handle Frankenweenie (it makes me cry everytime), but my copy of “Nightmare Before Christmas” has it in the special features. I’d check that out and maybe rent it? Or I’m sure it’s online.
oh, can I hear it for “Teen Witch”?! I remember watching it when I was a kid and it’s come on a lot in the last few years (although I haven’t seen it this year) – I think the rap in the street part between the guys and the best friend is my absolute fav. My boyfriend and I have been known to suggest eachother to “top that” on occassion.
recaptcha: “9,300 slugs”. ew. Reminds me of Harry Potter…
posted by OkieMelissa on 10-19-2009 at 10:12 am
@ Chelsea, I was also going to mention The Halloween That Almost Wasn’t…I always liked that one…”Teeny-tiny bat, teeny-tine bat”…lol
I was also a fan of the Boogedy Movies, their were two of them. I found one on an old VHS tape a few years ago and watched it…wish I could find that tape, now.
posted by J-me on 10-19-2009 at 11:35 am
agreed on the lack of Home Improvement…& what about Raggedy Ann & Andy and the Pumpkin Who Couldn’t Smile?? and of course, CASPER!
posted by kate on 10-19-2009 at 11:37 am
No love for the Quantum Leap Halloween episode? It was seriously bizarre, featuring Al as an evil demonic character and a Satanic murdering goat. The fact that the whole episode turned out to be a dream didn’t lessen the weirdness factor.
posted by Ben on 10-19-2009 at 3:09 pm
@Chelsea. Thank you! When I looked at Amazon at first I thought it still wasn’t right cause the cover was different. But they also showed the original cover and that was it! To bad it’s like $42!!
posted by Haily on 10-20-2009 at 1:12 am