The Mausoleum of Madness!
Welcome to Dino Drac’s Mausoleum of Madness! Here you’ll find daily drops of creepy collectibles from my personal collection, all never previously seen on the site. Everything from eerie ephemera to terrifying toys. There are some major gems waiting to be featured here! Updated daily through Halloween!
#18: Magic Glow Worms! (1971)
Fleer’s Magic Glow Worms and Bed Bugs was an odd title for what these actually were: Packs of temporary tattoos with a bonus stick of bubble gum.
Admittedly, the tattoos were of various creepy creatures, and they did glow in the dark, so I guess they paid off the name well enough.
I don’t do ‘70s nostalgia on Dino Drac often – mostly because I wasn’t alive for it – but I know a gem when I see it, and a boy turning green with fright over the temporary tattoos that he himself chose to affix is definitely a gem.
This is a complete display box, but even individual packs aren’t cheap. They are oddly plentiful, though, and so many of them are in really nice condition. Makes me wonder if someone uncovered a boatload of factory-fresh cases in more recent years? If you’re out there, fess up!
#17: Russ “Vampire” Troll! (1990s)
At the height of Troll mania in the early ‘90s, Russ Trolls unleashed this gothic god. There were other vampire Troll dolls on the market, but this one was my fave. The gray skin really set him apart.
I’m not sure if I’ve ever confessed this, but I was a Troll MANIAC back then. I practically grew up in Atlantic City, surrounded by arcade crane machines, which of course was where Troll dolls bred and multiplied.
I had dozens of those dolls – small ones and big ones, dressed like everything from sleepy wizards to punk rockers. For a year or so, they were all over my bedroom. A hundred Troll eyes on me during my most private moments.
Eventually, I realized that a room full of Trolls could be trouble if anyone in junior high ran opposition research. I remember tossing them all in a bag and hiding them in my closet. Dunno what became of them after that. Hopefully, they escaped and found better homes.
#16: 7UP Halloween Cans! (1990s)
While the cans are undated, all signs point to them being from the ‘90s. The Cool Spot cameos are a dead giveaway, as is the prominent “NutraSweet” logo on that diet can.
I absolutely adore the jack-o’-lantern spin on the Cool Spots. I’ve noticed giant-sized plush dolls of them on eBay, which I’m assuming were store displays. If you’re wondering why those dolls are still on eBay and not here in the Mausoleum of Madness, it’s because people are charging like a thousand dollars for them. WTF?
For maximum impact, you have to envision dozens of these cans in a tub of ice, in the center of a grade school Halloween party. Kids dressed like Bart Simpson and the red Power Ranger grabbing them left and right, while a Drew’s Famous CD blasts a bad cover of Thriller.
#15: Disney Haunted House Album! (1964)
At one point or another, I feel like everybody owned a copy of this album. Released in 1964, Disney’s Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of the Haunted House is *still* an easy find at yard sales and thrift stores. Hell, some of you were probably born into homes that already had a copy collecting dust in a corner.
It’s partly an audio storybook, and partly a collection of spooky sound effects. The whole thing is on YouTube, though I’d hardly call it an easy listen. As was the case with those Hallmark SFX cassettes that became popular in the ‘80s, this album was mostly meant to add ambiance to yard haunts and costume parties.
Where does Disney fit in? Well, if I can believe Wikipedia, all of the sound effects came from Walt Disney Studios. Plus, the story portions were read by Laura Olsher, who was a regular on Disney’s vinyl releases in the ‘60s.
#14: McNugget Buddies Display! (1996)
This display once stood in a McDonald’s restaurant, there to promote the 1996 series of Halloween McNugget Buddies. It’s huge, cardboard and cumbersome, and I’ll spend my remaining days failing to find the right place for it.
Compared to the more iconic 1993 set of Halloween McNugget Buddies, things got pretty weird in ‘96. The costumes included a spider, a rock star, a fairy princess, a dragon, a space alien, and Ronald McDonald himself.
The six have absolutely nothing in common, save for the fact that they’re all anthropomorphized chunks of fried chicken. Course, now that I’ve typed that, it sure seems like enough.
PS, check out Ronald’s hair on that display. Has it ever looked better? You could run that on a box of Feria. My compliments to his stylist. Read More…
Purple Stuff: Werewolves & Wolf Creatures!
The Purple Stuff Podcast is howlin’ into the Halloween season with a jumbo-sized episode that’s many (full) moons in the making. Prepare yourselves for eight great WEREWOLVES and WOLF CREATURES from all walks of pop culture!
Now, this being us, it’s definitely not a list of the most well-known werewolves. If you wanna see The Wolf Man, turn on Turner Classic Movies. If you wanna hear about John Saxon wearing fake back hair and eating mice, listen to The Purple Stuff Podcast.
Me and Jay from Sludge Central have put together quite a hairy haul for this episode, which covers everything from movies to toys to completely forgotten episodes of long-ended syndicated TV shows. You’ll love it!
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 exclusive bonus shows every month. We’re doing all-spooky shows over there, all season long!
Stop reading here if you’d rather be surprised, but if not, here’s a list of links that’ll help you learn more about our assorted wolf picks!
1. Superboy “Werewolf” Episode!
2. Coors Light Beerwolf!
3. Tales from the Crypt: Werewolf Concerto!
4. My Mom’s a Werewolf!
5. Dr Pepper’s Little Red Riding Hood TV Spot!
6. Tyco’s Gorzak!
7. Hornby’s WereBears!
8. Tales from the Darkside: Family Reunion!
Thanks so much for listening, and for sharing the show around! We’ve got some killer stuff in store for you on the podcast this season. Stay tuned!
Oh, and PS: I know this is around when I usually start Halloweening on Dino Drac. I just need a few more days to catch my bearings after a truly trying month. Hang tight… the fun stuff is coming!
Dino Drac’s Eerie August Funpack is here!
Dino Drac’s Eerie August Funpack is here, and as is tradition, it kicks off three straight months of ALL-SPOOKY Funpacks! These are always the most popular boxes I put together, and I’m very happy with what’s in store!
Please note that subscriptions are currently closed. If you want one of these beastly beauts, zip to the bottom of the page to see if I have any spares left to sell. They’re $25 each, including shipping. I have very few left, and these typically go quick, so apologies in advance to anyone who misses out. I wish I had more!
The Eerie August Funpack is all about the fine arts – music, painting, and Spooky Nerds Ropes. Keep reading to learn about everything in this month’s box! Read More…
Purple Stuff: Blockbuster Video in 1994!
The bold blues, the stench of popcorn, and the telltale hum of fluorescent lighting. Are you ready to take a trip back to you-know-where?
In the latest Purple Stuff Podcast, we’re using our time-bending powers to visit Blockbuster Video in 1994!
No, really, that’s what this episode is about. Join me and Jay from Sludge Central as we ride our bikes to VHS heaven, argue over what to rent, do some people-watching, and relive the entire experience of the Blockbuster Video chain from its mid ‘90s heyday.
While people like us obviously preferred the mom-and-pop video stores from earlier in our youth – and often criticize Blockbuster for doing them so dirty – the chain was still a huge part of our collective childhood, and we spent many, many, many nights stomping around its thin carpets, looking for our weekend entertainment. It was fun as hell to do it again!
Click here to listen to this month’s show!
…which is also 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 exclusive bonus shows each and every month. We’re entering the spooky season now, so if Halloween is your thing, there’s no better time to join. (And yes, when you do, you get immediate access to our back catalog of over sixty bonus episodes!)
We hope y’all dig our virtual trip to Blockbuster Video in 1994. Thanks so much for listening, and for sharing the show around! If you have any specific memories of the chain – even if they’re just about the giant gumball machines – feel free to share ‘em in the comments section.