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! Feature now complete for the season!
#44: Hi-C / Slimer Store Display! (1988)
I’ve saved the best for last. This is a Hi-C / Real Ghostbusters store display, and while your mind might jump to Ecto Cooler, this standee actually predates that drink! (Hi-C and The Real Ghostbusters, which were both under the Coke/Columbia umbrella, had been doing team-ups as early as 1987.)
Featuring Slimer, it stands 3.5 feet tall, and it’s in the running for the most gorgeous thing I own. And no, it wasn’t cheap. I pretty much never invest this much into any single item, but I had to have this thing. Look at it!
It’s sturdier than many similar standees, and it had to be, because this was intended to stay on display for a full calendar year. See, the displays were shipped with a volley of “holiday hats” for Slimer to wear, covering everything from Thanksgiving to the Super Bowl to Independence Day. Mine came with all of the hats, so if you follow me on my socials, this won’t be the last time you see Giant Cardboard Slimer.
The details are phenomenal, and considering its age, the standee is in fantastic condition. As a well-documented klutz, I’m now living in permanent fear of the straw on Slimer’s juice box.
#43: Pizza Hut Monsters Box! (1992)
Back in 1992, Pizza Hut embraced the dark side with a pretty gigantic Universal Monsters promotion, offering everything from souped-up collector’s cups to neat hologram cards. The classic monsters enjoyed a retail renaissance throughout the ‘90s, and this was one of the fun side effects.
The best part of the promo, though, were the swank boxes Pizza Hut designed for their personal pan pizzas. Available with every kid’s meal, the boxes featured the whole creepy crew, right down to that extra-dramatic off-model Dracula. (That particular Drac was used on everything back then, to skirt any licensing issues with the Lugosi estate.)
#42: Toys “R” Us Circular! (1989)
Arriving with the Sunday paper in October of ‘89, this TRU circular betrays its age with a Batman costume, a Real Ghostbusters makeup kit, and that long-obsolete Starburst logo. It’s a treasure!
This was near the end of Toys “R” Us’s run as a true Halloween supercenter. When I was a kid, they’d have costumes from the floor to the ceiling, with every accessory and decoration you could want. They steered clear of the truly ghastly masks, but by and large, it was a one-stop shop.
Back then, dedicated Halloween stores were still rare to see, and driving to a “real” costume shop probably wasn’t high on your parents’ wishlist. It really came down to Toys “R” Us, Kmart, or your local pharmacy. So why not pick the one that also had fifteen aisles of action figures and video games? Read More…
Fright Night 1987 TV Broadcast!
The latest Purple Stuff Podcast is here, and this one could only be served in the cold, black heart of the Halloween season. (Well, I guess we could’ve released it in April or May, but it sure wouldn’t hit the same.)
Join us as we march through the October 1987 network television premiere of FRIGHT NIGHT, as aired on a Fox affiliate in Wisconsin, complete with cheesy bumpers and oh-so-’80s TV commercials.
This ran just a few days before Halloween that year, and what a perfect flick for the season. Jay came at this with the perspective of a longtime fan, but I’m a shameful Fright Night newbie… and I fell in love with this wonderful movie. Chris Sarandon as a shark-toothed vampire who’s obsessed with Marcy D’Arcy? God, yes!
We’re gonna walk you through our favorite moments, talk about Fright Night trivia, and even dip into some of those vintage TV commercials. It’s almost as good as watching the whole broadcast in 1987!
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.
As a reminder, The Purple Stuff Podcast is also on Patreon, where you can get access to our huge catalog of monthly bonus episodes. October’s is coming up soon, and it’s very Halloweeny! Thanks to all who support us over there!
PS: While we can’t show you the movie, we did put together this montage including the intro, bumpers, and some of the glorious TV commercials. (H/T to SpookySkunk for this!)
Thanks so much for listening, and for sharing the show around! We hope this episode adds a little something to your Halloween season. Pair it with apple cider and a pumpkin donut, and you’re set!
Dino Drac’s 2024 Halloween Funpack!
It’s finally time for Dino Drac’s 2024 Halloween Funpack! If you’re already a subscriber, good news: Your box has already been shipped, and will be there soon!
If you’re not a subscriber, I have some spares that I can offer on an individual basis. Supplies are limited, and the Halloween boxes usually go fast, so if you’re interested, zip to the bottom to order. They’re $25 each, and that includes shipping to anywhere in the United States!
…but if you’d like a closer look before you order, keep reading to learn about everything in this month’s box! Read More…
Purple Stuff: Spooky Songs, Volume XI!
The wait is over! It’s time for one of The Purple Stuff Podcast’s most important annual traditions, where we give your Halloween playlists a boost with song suggestions that you probably never considered before. Yes indeed, it’s time for SPOOKY SONGS, VOLUME ELEVEN!
Me and Jay from Sludge Central have been at this for around a decade now, and it’s still one of our favorite shows to do. This deep into the series, it’s more challenging than ever to find killer songs that we haven’t already covered – so we had to turn over a lot of rocks to dig out the good stuff. I think we succeeded!
Join us as we celebrate another ten terrifying tracks that would be perfect for your Halloween playlist. Featured artists include Jon Mikl Thor, the Crypt Keeper, and The Chipmunks!
Click here to listen to this month’s show!
…which you can also find on Apple, Spotify, 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 episode, every month. (We just dropped the latest one, where we name some of the hottest Halloween food promotions coming our way this October.)
Thanks so much for listening, and for sharing the show around! This latest episode actually counts as September’s – we had to push it off, because I’ve been sick. But that means you’ve still got more Halloween action coming from The Purple Stuff Podcast this month, so stay tuned! Happy October!