Spooktober: Hell's Bells (1929)

 One of the earliest Disney Silly Symphonies was Ub Iwerks' "Hell's Bells". Fitting for Halloween, no?

Toon Rock: Miss Atomic Bomb (2012)

 Off the 2012 CD, "Battle Born", the Killers released "Miss Atomic Bomb" as the 3rd single. It is considered a sequel to 2004's "Mr. Brightside", off "Hot Fuss", with Eric Roberts returning as the antagonist, if you will.

Spooktober: The Tell-Tale Heart (1953)

 In 1953, Columbia & UPA obtained a license to adapt Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart into an animated short subject. James Mason is the narrator.

If you look close, you'll see that Bill Scott, later of Rocky & His Friends, co-wrote the adaptation. Who knew?

Spooktober: Hoppity Hooper in Hallowe'en (1965)

 From season 2 of Hoppity Hooper:

Hoppity and friends find themselves in the supposedly haunted town of Ware, where all sorts of strange happenings are taking place. Paul Frees narrates, and voices the magician and a monster based on Frankenstein.

Funny how Bill Scott (Fillmore) is only credited as a writer, but not as an actor. Hmmmmmm.

Spooktober: The Real Ghostbusters in Russia (1990)

 From the final season of Slimer! & The Real Ghostbusters.

The boys and Slimer are in Russia when they learn of a monster in Siberia. Here's "Russian About", written by J. Michael Straczynski.

His voice might not be easily recognizable, but Walter Koenig (ex-Star Trek) is one of the guest stars. Having learned of Koenig's passing at 90, this is in his memory. Rest in peace.

Spooktober: The Ghost Busters vs. the ghosts of an Egyptian queen & her mummy (1975)

 One big reason why Ghost Busters flopped the way it did as a live action series was the ham-handed writing of series creator Marc Richards, who apparently couldn't be bothered with proper context in his scripts, which is why most of the episodes came off as being, well, amateur night, despite the talent involved.

One case in point is the adventure of an Egyptian queen's ghost (Barbara Rhodes) and her mummy bodyguard, who wasn't exactly a menace.

This video comes complete with commercials, including a spot promoting CBS' lineup that we pulled a long while ago, and a Crest commercial with Arthur O'Connell. Jackson Beck narrates the spot for Ideal's Evel Knievel toys.

You may need to turn up the volume for this one.

Spooktober: The Monster Squad vs. No Face (1976)

 Yes, The Monster Squad turns 50 this year. To mark the occasion, the team deals with a master of disguise named No Face (Edward Andrews), who has impersonated the Mayor to declare crime legal.

The villain is a knockoff of an old Batman villain, False Face. Sid Haig co-stars.

From Comics to Toons: The Captain & The Kids in What a Lion (1938)

 William Hanna "supervised" (read: directed) "What a Lion", a Captain & The Kids short for MGM. 

Seems the Captain (Billy Bletcher) and the Inspector are out in the jungle, and the kids have a little fun......

Saturday Morning's Forgotten Heroes: Captain Marvel rescues a dog (1974)

 Due to anti-violence regulations, DC couldn't license out any of Captain Marvel's foes for Shazam!. While Mister Mind likely could've been used via animation (and he'd come along in 1981), the Captain had the same issues that Superman had before him, but also took the time to rescue endangered animals, such as a dog trapped in a burning room.........

In memory of Michael Gray (Billy), who has passed away at 75. Rest in peace.

Toon Sports: Popeye in King Of The Rodeo (1979)

 From season 2 of The All-New Popeye Hour:

The Popeye Sports Parade sends Popeye (Jack Mercer) back to the rodeo, but this time, he & Bluto (Allan Melvin) aren't dueling over Olive. Instead, they're competing to become "King of The Rodeo":

Well, you knew how this was going to end, right?

Spooktober: The Three Musketeers in The Haunted Castle (1968)

 Something tells me this Three Musketeers entry might've had a hand in developing the basic plot for Scooby-Doo, which bowed the next year.

Anyway, phony ghosts robbing coaches? Yeah, that tracks.

Did anyone catch the blooper of Don Messick (Aramis) reading Athos' lines in the checkers scene instead of Jonathan Harris? This mistake would often be repeated at Hanna-Barbera during the 70's.

Literary Toons: Raggedy Ann & Raggedy Andy and the Camel With The Wrinkled Knees (1988)

 From season 3 of CBS Storybreak:

Johnny Gruelle's Raggedy Ann & Andy hadn't been seen in a few years when their adventure with "The Camel With The Wrinkled Knees" was adapted in 1988 as the pentultimate episode of the series. Host Bob Keeshan must've known the end was near, as he never mentioned the book by name in his intro.

Game Time: A complete episode of Hollywood/Storybook Squares (1976)

 The revival of Storybook Squares began in the summer of '76 on Hollywood Squares. The gameplay format had change to allow three generations of families to play the game.

This time around, the rules were bent to allow for William Shatner to reprise as Captain James T. Kirk (Star Trek), while the rest of the panel were in costume as various characters such as:

John Byner as the Mad Hatter (Alice in Wonderland). Byner paid homage to Disney's adaptation of the Lewis Carroll classic by impersonating Ed Wynn, who voiced the Hatter in the movie.

Bonnie Franklin (One Day At a Time) as Peter Pan.

Rip Taylor as Rip Van Winkle.

Roddy McDowell as Sherlock Holmes.

Doc Severinson (The Tonight Show) as the Angel Gabriel.

Julie McWhirter (fresh from The Rich Little Show) reworked the Family Hour Fairy into the Good Fairy.

Joan Rivers as Little Red Riding Hood.

Charo as Lady Godiva.

Paul Lynde missed this week of tapings due to other commitments, hence Byner occupying the center square.

Getting Schooled: The Drug Knot (CBS Schoolbreak Special, 1986)

 After a fictionalized account of his life as a NYPD detective went belly-up in the 70's, David Toma resurfaced in 1986 as an anti-drug crusader who gave talks in high schools.

One such case was adapted into "The Drug Knot", a CBS Schoolbreak Special. Our cast includes Rance Howard, Tracy Nelson, and a pre-Married....With Children David Faustino.

Writer David Villaire is known for having written a few Super Friends shorts a few years earlier, and doubles as a production assistant. Directed by Anson Williams (ex-Happy Days).

Toon Rock: A Fifth of Beethoven (abridged) (2006)

 Seth MacFarlane and the producers of Family Guy paid homage to musical director Walter Murphy by inserting his 1975 chart topper, "A Fifth of Beethoven", into an episode of the series. It's under a minute, and, as we'll see, Meg gets left behind.....

Spooktober: A meeting with the teacher (The Munsters, 1966)

 From season 2 of The Munsters:

Eddie (Butch Patrick) is given an assignment to write about a "typical American family", like his own. That leads to the teacher (Pat Woodell, ex-Petticoat Junction) paying the Munsters a visit......

Retro Toy Chest: Remember Tiny Tears? (1960)

 An independent toy maker released Tiny Tears around 1960, and to best sell the product, hired ventriloquist Shari Lewis to pitch the product, with help from Lamb Chop:

Tiny Tears would stick around for a while, well into the 70's, if memory serves me correctly.

Tooniversary: The Girl Who Cried Vampire (Filmation's Ghostbusters, 1986)

 You've heard of the boy who cried wolf, right? Now, meet "The Girl Who Cried Vampire", as a chronic liar gets a reality check from Eddie (Peter Cullen). And check the vampires, reconstituted versions of Sam Dracula & Bella from The Groovie Goolies!

Toonfomercial: Remember Mr. Bubble? (1961)

 Ah, Mr. Bubble. A bubble bath for kids, introduced in 1961. This toonfomercial introduces the product.

I believe that is June Foray as the nearsighted parent.

Spooktober: The pilot for the Munsters Today (1987)

 A year before The Munsters Today hit the air, the producers presented a pilot for advertisers and, since the show would be syndicated, prospective stations.

As you'll see in this open, Herman (John Schuck, ex-McMillan & Wife, Holmes & YoYo), might've been bopping to the beat not of the theme song, but his dance moves suggest Madness' "One Step Beyond". If you've seen that video, you'll know what I mean. Co-starring Lee Meriwether (ex-Barnaby Jones, Time Tunnel), Jason Marsden, & Howard Morton.

I think Fred Gwynne might've been off making a movie, and was never considered for even a cameo.

The title is a misnomer (maybe): Our Gang in The First Seven Years (1930)

 Our Gang's "The First Seven Years" carries a 1929 copyright, but was released in 1930, seven years after the series began, so I guess the title actually represents an anniversary for the franchise.

Anyway, Jackie Cooper gets into a fight with Speck over the affections of Mary Ann. Let the chaos begin!

Saturday School: The Adventurers Club finds a Statue of Limitations (Mission: Magic!, 1973)

 The kids from Mission: Magic! head off to Paris to track down a missing statue, but all three suspects have their own version of the Contemplator. Or do they?

If you look close, Franklin (Lane Scheimer) looks like he might've been modeled after Bill Cosby's younger self from Fat Albert. Head writer Marc Richards was also responsible for Ghost Busters two years later. Hmmmmmm.

Tooniversary: Blackstar vs. the Zombie Masters (1981)

 Blackstar turns 45 this year. The series finale seems appropriate for Halloween season, so, here's "The Zombie Masters".

Retro Toy Chest: Remember the Vertibird? (1972)

 Mattel introduced the Vertibird, a modern version, albeit as a helicopter, of the VTOL's of the Golden Age, in 1972. Unfortunately, it didn't survive the decade.

Check this introductory ad.

Sunday Funnies: Pies & Guys (1958)

 The Three Stooges were nearing the end of their run at Columbia. "Pies & Guys" is the 2nd time they had revisited "Hoi Polloi" (1947's "Half-Wits Holiday" being the other), as two professors try to assimilate the boys into society. Chaos, of course, ensues.

Spooktober: Flip The Frog in Spooks (1932)

 Ub Iwerks' Flip The Frog returns in 1932's "Spooks", appropriate for the Halloween season.

Toon Legends: A Lad in His Lamp (1948)

 Bugs Bunny and director Bob McKimson took their turn at parodying Aladdin with 1948's "A Lad in His Lamp". Bugs finds the lamp as he is doing some work, and meets the genie (an uncredited Jim Backus in one of his first toon roles).........

Spooktober: Sometimes, it's not a good idea to meet your heroes.... (The Munsters, 1965)

 From season 1 of The Munsters:

Herman is jealous when Eddie devotes more of his time to TV host Zombo (Louis Nye), but both find out the truth about Zombo, which helps them bond.......

In this clip, Eddie appears on Zombo's show. Uh-oh.......

From Primetime to Daytime: The Addams Family goes to school? (1964)

 From season 1 of The Addams Family:

Morticia (Carolyn Jones) decides to keep Wednesday & Pugsley away from school after seeing some of the books the kids have to read.

Apparently, Grimm's Fairy Tales makes Wednesday cry.......

Spooktober: Moan & Groan, Inc. (1929)

 "Moan & Groan, Inc.", a Our Gang entry from 1929, was deleted from King World's syndicated package in 1971 due to the use of ethnic stereotypes.

Return with us to the days of Farina (Allen Hoskins), Chubby (Norman Chaney), and Jackie Cooper, with Edgar Kennedy as the neighborhood cop.....

Spooktober's just getting started........