The Ben Cooper Pac Man Halloween Costume (1982)

One kid in a mask like this is alarming.

An army of kids in masks like this is nightmare fuel.

Horrifying Vintage Meal Ideas: Halloween Edition

Plastic Man

From reader/contributor Amber Walsh of Everett, WA

"Seen this at Grocery Outlet today... It's called Plastic Man and looks like Michael Jackson... I laughed so hard I almost fell over...."

Photo courtesy of Amber Walsh

Christmas Music Radio Stations

 

It begins this time every year....

Certain radio stations across America and Canada begin dropping their usually Adult Contemporary, Religious or Oldies formats for all Christmas music. 

On the surface, the reason is simple enough - it's the beginning of the holiday season. And regardless if you're still nauseated from all the Halloween candy you ate this weekend and still have your pumpkin outside the front door, it's time to start planning.

But more importantly, the all Christmas music format is one of the most successful in ratings and in sales. Radio stations in this format get lots of advertising and they can charge more for it. If this format could be viable all year round, they would do it.

But by December 25th, some of us are already annoyed by the holiday music overkill and can't wait until the 26th when sanity and regular programming returns.

It's true some radio stations start this format just waaay too early. Yes, the air is getting nippy, but the first week of November is really pushing it. There should really be some breathing room between holidays. 

But the bottom line is the bottom line; It's the make or break time for last quarter profits for retail businesses. And Christmas music tends to get people in a spending mood.

Holiday music was once a staple of radio in the 1950s, but as the 1960s to the 1990s progressed, it was usually limited to December 24th and 25th. After the 9/11 attacks, the format returned en masse. We were a nation in shock and in need of comfort. And Christmas music was the perfect aural comfort blankey. It was wildly successful and began yearly traditions at many radio stations. 

With that, here's a run down of terrestrial AM and FM radio stations that have already flipped to all Christmas formats (if you really can't wait.) Most of them you can hear online or with streaming mobile.

RadioInsight Christmas Music Station List 

 

Halloween Hits: "The Lurch" Ted Cassidy (1965)

The Paul Lynde Halloween Special (1976)

One of the BEST Halloween variety TV specials of the '70s. Starring Margaret Hamilton (reprising her role as The Wicked Witch from The Wizard of Oz), Betty White, Tim Conway, Roz Kelly, Billie Hayes, Billy Barty, Florence Henderson, an uncredited appearance from Donny & Marie Osmond and musical guest Kiss.

Halloween Hits: "The Martian Boogie" Brownsville Station (1977)

 

 Listen Here

 As played frequently on The Dr. Demento Show around Halloween back in the day. Enjoy.

Witchcraft - Magic: An Adventure In Demonology - Vincent Price (Capitol, 1969)

Click on images to enlarge

 

If you're looking for some SUPER creepy occult lessons from the Master of Creepiness himself, wait no longer.

This two record set, released by Capitol in 1969 covers all the bases; Witches, black magic, demons, how to make a pact with the devil and more. It also describes the burning of witches and spellcasting in incredibly graphic detail. This album, even at 45 years old, is definitely not for the squeamish.   

Also see: Halloween Hits: Sounds of Terror! - Pickwick Records (1974) and Halloween Hits: Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of The Haunted House - Disneyland Records (1964)

The Strange and Mysterious History of the Ouija Board

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/The-Strange-and-Mysterious-History-of-the-Ouija-Board-229532101.html

75 Years Ago Tonight

Listen/Download:

The War Of The Worlds (Complete 1938 Radio Broadcast)

My grandma once told me "That whole panic was a cockamamie story. Nobody panicked, at least where we were. Most of us were listening to Edgar Bergen."

Halloween Deli Meat Ad 1960s

Frankenstein Radio Speaker

Halloween Hits: "Evil Woman" Crow (1969)/Black Sabbath (1970)

This is the original version of this song by Crow. You might know this song better through Black Sabbath's cover version.

 

Halloween Hits: "Walking With A Ghost" Tegan & Sara (2005)

(Ghost) Riders In The Sky

 Burl Ives (1949) The Original

Vaughn Monroe (1949)

Bing Crosby (1949)

Peggy Lee (1949)

Spike Jones & His City Slickers (1949) - This was CLEARLY a BIG hit in 1949

Halloween Hits: "Horror Movies" Bollock Brothers (1983)

Halloween Hits: "The Haunted House Blues" Bessie Smith (1924)

If there is one person who can rightfully claim to be the TRUE pioneer of rock n' roll, it's Bessie Smith.

She had attitude, she had an opinion and she had one hell of a voice. Her blues recordings are not only legendary, they've set the standard for all great blues singers to come. And her influence has spread far beyond the blues. Janis Joplin idolized her. So have contemporary stars like Melissa Etheridge, Bonnie Raitt and Susan Tedeschi. And for good reason - she opened the door for all strong, independent people in blues, pop, country R&B and rock music to come. And her influence reverberates to this day

But tragically, Bessie Smith never got the appreciation she really deserved in her life. In fact, in 1937 when she was in a horrific auto accident that claimed her life, her right arm was nearly severed and needed to be amputated. She died from blood loss. Bessie Smith's Wikipedia entry claims she did not die as a result of not being able to find a "coloured" hospital in time. I have a hard time believing that personally, as time was of the essence in such a life threatening injury. A closer "white" hospital could have saved her (and contrary to the "separate but equal" rule of Jim Crow, black hospitals were also grossly underfunded, under equipped and understaffed compared to the white hospitals - especially in the South.)

And to add to this injustice, she was buried in an unmarked grave and forgotten for decades until Janis Joplin personally bought a proper headstone.

Halloween III: Silver Shamrock Commercial

It's almost time kids.......

Halloween Hits: "Psycho Killer" Talking Heads (1977)

Halloween Hits: "Tubular Bells" Mike Oldfield (1973)

Who knew Mike Oldfield, a guy who's very name is linked to this Halloween hit is also the same guy behind this catchy Lost Pop Classic (from 1983):