Welcome to Dino Drac’s Countdown to Christmas! This feature will be updated daily (or close to daily) through December 25th, with some kind of holiday-related thingamajig. You never know what might turn up!

This one’s really for the old schoolers who prefer blogs to algorithmic timelines full of ads for dicey hair products. I won’t be plugging it often off-site. If this is up your alley, remember to check back often! (And visit After Dark and the Xmas Jukebox, too!)

12/10: Santa Barney Animation Cel! (1980s)

During last year’s Christmas feature, I showed you a genuine animation cel from the legendary Pebbles Cereal Christmas commercial, which played a gazillion times in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and was a huge part of my childhood. (And probably yours, too.)

Since then, I’ve managed to collect several other cels from that TV spot, including this gem. You’re looking at an animation cel of Barney Rubble RIGHT as he delivered his famous line, “Ho ho ho, I’m hu-hu-hungry!”

It just blows my mind to own literal pieces of that commercial, which meant so much to so many of us. Think about how insane that is. Any time you catch that commercial in one of the thousand YouTube Christmas compilations from here on out, know that several physical pieces of it are living here at Castle Dracula. WILD.

(If you’re wondering which other ones I found, I have a couple of Santa, a couple of Fred, one of Barney splatting down the chimney, and then another of Barney when he’s clinking spoons with Fred at the end of the commercial. Not bad!)

12/10: Nabisco Holiday Appetizers! (1960s)

If these are the vibes at your holiday party, please invite me.

These images were pulled from a 1960s Nabisco recipe pamphlet, which explains why you’re seeing so many Ritz and Triscuits. (Along with crackers Nabisco no longer makes, like “Chippers,” “Bacon Thins,” and other things that sound like fake brands from The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food.)

I wouldn’t trade the Italianness of my family’s Christmases for anything, but it does mean that we’ve long lacked this specific spark of Americana. These just aren’t the sorts of trays that go out with fried calamari, you know? We’ve always been more of a Traditional Antipasto Troop.

Several years ago, I visited a friend’s house on Christmas evening, and the table was full of shit like this. I was ecstatic, and after a few minutes, absolutely stuffed with green olives. Was that how the other side lived? Maybe life without cannolis or midnight sausage wouldn’t be so bad, after all.

12/9: A Very Telco Christmas!

I said I’d cool it with the Telco stuff, and I mostly have, but this was worth showing off.

I set up my silly fake pre-lit tree yesterday, and then decided to spice things up with a pair of Telco’s “Mr. Bones” Motionettes. I believe they’re from 1987, but don’t quote me.

Mr. Bones isn’t exactly rare, but he’s a popular one. I was lucky to snag these two when the prices dropped after Halloween, and it’s easy to see why he’s so beloved. A 22-inch skeletal reaper with moving arms and a light-up head? Who wouldn’t swoon?

After replacing the bulbs in each of their heads, I was able to turn this tag team into a Christmas miracle. I also realized that tree garland was light enough for them to hold without putting any real strain on their fragile gears. Now I’ve got a Christmas tree AND a pair of color-coordinated monsters to help decorate it.

The Mr. Bones Motionettes will remain in my office for the rest of the season, beaming holiday colors while threatening to choke me with silver garland from Dollar Tree. It’s exactly how Christmas should be. Read More…

Posted by Matt on 12/09/25
Permalink | 243 Comments

Dino Drac’s December Funpack is here, and it’s stuffed with yuletide cheer. (And also chocolate!)

I think you’re gonna love this Funpack. It’s kinda like the perfect Christmas stocking, and the lead item is seriously to-die-for. More on that in a minute!

Subscriptions are currently maxed out, but I have a small number of spares that I can sell on an individual basis. The cost is $25, and that includes shipping to anywhere in the United States. If interested, scroll to the bottom to see if there are any left!

Now, in the immortal words of Kuni from UHF, let’s see what’s in the box! Read More…

Posted by Matt on 12/09/25
Permalink | 7 Comments

The wait is over! With moments to spare before the stuffing hits the table, the Purple Stuff Podcast is ready to serve up this year’s review of an old Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!

It’s our favorite annual tradition, and this year, we picked a hot one for ya. Join us for a long look back at the 1985 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, featuring He-Man, Rainbow Brite, the Cabbage Patch Kids, and whole lotta Bert Convy.

While we covered this parade’s surrounding years on prior shows, this one was definitely distinct, and deserved its day in the sun. Rue McClanahan dressed like Cinderella? A deflated Kermit balloon? Pat Sajak nearly set on fire by a gaggle of torch jugglers? In 1985, there was something for everyone!

Click here to listen to this month’s show!

…which you can also find on Spotify, or Apple, or wherever else you listen to podcasts.

Oh, and if you want to actually watch the 1985 Macy’s Parade, there are a few copies on YouTube. Here’s one that’s complete with commercials. In fact, below are links to let you jump directly to the segments discussed on the show!

1) The Cabbage Patch Kids!
2) Rainbow Brite Sings!
3) Masters of the Universe Float!
4) Toys “R” Us WWF Commercial!
5) Care Bears and Miss America!
6) Rue McClanahan as Cinderella!
7) Pat Sajak Dodges Fire!
8) Weird McDonald’s Commercial!

We hope you enjoy the new ep, whether you get to hear it before Thanksgiving or not! Read More…

Posted by Matt on 11/26/25
Permalink | 39 Comments