Dino Drac’s Countdown to Xmas!
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!)
12/7: 7UP Christmas Sweatshirt! (1990s)
I almost blew it with this one. Found it on eBay for a decent price in the heart of the Halloween season, threw it on my watchlist, and figured I’d get back to it later. As if something like this wasn’t going to get snatched up quickly. Fortunately, my brain started working, and I completed the purchase before anyone could run off with my rightful sweatshirt.
It was listed as a “Unisex XL,” despite the tag making no such claim. Given that the sleeves barely cover my wrists, that was a pretty rough guess from the seller. I’m just happy it fits at all, and that it was extremely clean by “vintage eBay sweatshirt” standards. No stains, no odors, no pending sense of skin-related doom.
It’s GLORIOUS, featuring one of the Cool Spots dressed like Santa Claus, dragging a sack of toys. I’m being conservative in saying it’s from the ‘90s, as it may very well be from the late ‘80s. Around that time, the Spots starred in several classic Christmas commercials, which got so much play on television that I still think of the holidays whenever I see them.
12/7: Toys for Joy Newspaper Ad! (1988)
“Toys for Joy” was a small chain of stores that operated in the New York area through most of the ‘80s. Research indicates that the original name was “Toys ARE Joy,” which prompted a lawsuit from Toys “R” Us. So I guess they changed the middle word to avoid a trip to Attica?
This newspaper circular from December of 1988 is charmingly low-fi, mixing five tons of yellow ink with an implausible number of fonts. Near the top we find a very classic-looking Santa breaking bread with Dudley the Dragon, who was evidently the chain’s mascot, or maybe a time-displaced Year 1 Neopet.
Of the toys featured on this page, the big one for me is Tyco’s Twin Turbo Lamborghini. That must’ve been a popular pick that Christmas, because both of my closest friends got one. They spent a significant portion of our winter break racing them around the schoolyard, while I seethed with jealousy like Peter Griffin without a boat.
12/7 – Christmas Comes to Pac-Land! (1982)
While Pac-Man’s Halloween special aired as a regular episode in its normal Saturday morning time slot, Christmas Comes to Pac-Man got the royal treatment. Prime time on ABC, baby!
I was just three years old when this premiered. I suppose there’s a chance my parents plopped me down in front of the television for a little Pac-Man action that night, but I certainly don’t remember it. Actually, I don’t think I experienced Christmas Comes to Pac-Land until well into the ‘90s, when Cartoon Network was on their curation kick.
Is it worth tracking down? F yes it is. The plot, as I recall, had to do with a very whiny Santa Claus crashing into Pac-Land. It’s then up to Pac-Man and his family to nurse Santa back to health and save the holiday. There’s even a scene where they reinvigorate the reindeer by feeding them power pellets!
Back then, with the toy market so hot, networks almost never said no to another prime time Christmas special. Selling commercial time was a cinch… even if the particular special wasn’t destined to out-clout Charlie Brown. Read More…
1985 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!
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…
Dino Drac’s November Funpack is here!
Okay TURKEYS (complimentary), I’m ready to show ya Dino Drac’s November Funpack!
The November box is one of the most popular Funpacks every year, in part thanks to a longstanding tradition that I’m happy to report is continuing in 2025!
But, there’s a catch. This one is mostly for existing subscribers only. Subscriptions are maxed out, and I have VERY few spares left to offer on an individual basis. They’re $25 each, shipped. If you’re not a subscriber but still want this box, send me an email (dinosaurdracula @ gmail) and if I have any left, I’ll let you know! (UPDATE: Sold out!)
Now, let’s dive in and see what you’re getting! Read More…
Purple Stuff: Eight Dastardly Devils!
With moments to spare, The Purple Stuff Podcast’s big Halloween show is here! Guys, you better brace yourselves, because we’re taking you straight to HADES.
For our full-length October show, we’re tacking EIGHT DASTARDLY DEVILS from all walks of pop culture! Movies, cartoons, weird decorations, video games and more!
If you think you can guess our picks, think again, because somehow, a show with this topic includes references to Care Bears and My Little Pony. It’s a jumbo-sized 90-minute celebration of evil, and brothers, it’s hotter than Hell.
Click here to listen to this month’s show!
…which you can also find on Spotify, Apple, and wherever else you listen to podcasts!
As a reminder, The Purple Stuff Podcast is also on Patreon, where you can grab an exclusive bonus show every month. The library is growing all the time, and when you join, you get instant access to our back catalog of dozens and dozens of bonus episodes… including our most recent, where we reviewed the 1988 Unsolved Mysteries Halloween special! Read More…