Toys R Us Halloween Catalog

The Screaming Skull (1958)

A newlywed couple arrives at the home of the husband's late wife, where the gardens have been maintained by a gardener faithful to the dead woman's memory. Soon eerie events lead the new wife to think she is going out of her mind. (Synopsis from IMDB.com)

Drive-In Theater Doomsday Promo

Here is another vintage drive-in promo film.

Drive-In Theater Spookathon Promo

Here is a vintage promo film that drive-in theater owners would use to advertise a marathon of horror movies. I am not sure when this was produced, but it was likely from the early 60s.

Bug (1975)

If you enjoy scary movies about killer insects, then you'll love Bug, from 1975. An earthquake releases a strain of mutant cockroaches with the ability to start fires. Eventually most of the bugs die because they cannot survive in the low air pressure on the Earth's surface, but a scientist keeps one alive in a pressure chamber. He successfully breeds the cockroach with a modern bug creating a breed of intelligent, flying super-bugs. This particular scene is interesting, because it was filmed using the living room and kitchen set from The Brady Bunch, which had ended its run the previous year. Here's a clip:

In Search Of: Amityville Horror (1979)

This episode of In Search Of, hosted by Leonard Nimoy, recounts the story of the Amityville Horror as reported by the Lutz family. It includes clips from the motion picture released that same year. Some of the footage from this episode was used the next year in the Amityville episode of That's Incredible, another sensationalistic 70s show.

Ray Parker: Ghostbusters (1984)

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Night of the Living Dead isn't a movie I grew up watching. In fact, I didn't see it until I was an adult, and it's not a particular favorite of mine. Still, I appreciate the fact that, despite its shoestring budget, the film had a tremendous influence on the horror genre. And I do remember one Halloween night around 1989 when the movie was shown on Night Flight, and as my mom prepared to take me trick-or-treating, my older brother asked her if he could watch the movie. She said no. This Night Flight intro to the film may have been recorded from the same late-80s broadcast:


Here is the full movie:

Mr. Boogedy (1986)

Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie (2005)

It's Halloween in the Hundred Acre Wood. Roo's best new pal, Lumpy, is excited to trick-or-treat for the first time. However, Tigger warns them about the dreaded Gobloon who'll turn them into Jaggedy Lanterns if he catches them. But if they catch the Gobloon before it catches them, they will be able to make a wish. With Roo by his side, Lumpy knows he can face anything. So when Pooh eats all the Halloween candy, Lumpy and Roo decide to be 'brave together, brave forever' and catch the Gobloon so they can wish for more. When Roo thinks Lumpy is turned into a pumpkin, Roo decides to wish for something more important. (Synopsis from ?)

The Worst Witch (1986)

Originally released November 1, 1986. Mildred Hubble is the flunk-out of the Witch's Academy...that is, until she gets her big chance to show everyone just how much magic she can make! The school's headmistress Agatha has an evil twin, who is plotting to cause havoc just before the big Halloween celebration and visit by the Grand Wizard. Can Mildred find a way to stop this plot before it ruins the party? This family fantasy features a stellar cast, including Diana Rigg and Tim Curry, as well as plenty of enchanting action.

Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park (1978)

Originally aired October 28, 1978, and released in theaters outside the U.S. as Attack of the Phantoms the following year. Anthony Zerbe appears in this made-for-TV movie as an evil inventor working at an amusement park. He also appeared in Child of Glass, another 1978 made-for-TV film. NBC bumper: Movie:

Phantom of the Park Movie from some random person on Vimeo.

Child of Glass (1978)

Shown on TV for the first time on May 14, 1978, I saw this movie on the Disney Channel back in the 80s. It is not available on DVD, unfortunately, but you can still find used VHS copies. Denise Nickerson, who plays Connie Sue in this movie, had also appeared in a Halloween-related Brady Bunch episode, "Two Petes in a Pod." And Anthony Zerbe, who plays Timmons, appeared in Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park, also in 1978.

House on Haunted Hill (1959)

This is a fun movie to watch on Halloween. The first time I ever saw this was during the mid-90s when I was staying the night at my grandparents' house with my brother and sister. In the TV room there were shelves full of old books and videos. Some of the tapes they had obviously received as gifts or had purchased without ever opening them. Anyway, it was late, the grandparents had already gone to bed, and my siblings and I decided to put this movie in the VCR. If you haven't seen this one before, it contains at least a couple of startling moments. During one surprising scene, a female character is frightened and shrieks loudly. Grabbing the remote in a scramble to turn the volume down so that it wouldn't disturb the grandparents, my sister actually turned the volume up, and the woman's scream filled the house. This greatly increased the scene's effect on us. To add to our excitement, our grandmother walked into the room shortly after without her dentures in, which we had never seen before. I hope you enjoy this film.

The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966)

This movie was shown on TV a couple of times that I remember during the late 1980s near Halloween. The part I looked forward to was the scene where Luther Heggs, played by Don Knotts, spends the night inside the mysterious Simmons mansion and gets spooked by the sight of the old pipe organ playing itself. No one was better than Don Knotts at playing nervous, excitable characters.

Here's a trailer for the movie:

I remember making a "haunted house" in my bedroom after seeing this movie. Inspired by the painting that hung in the Simmons house, I made a watercolor portrait of a woman. Luther Heggs had reported seeing the portrait with a knife stuck in the woman's throat and blood flowing from the puncture. I simulated this effect for my haunted house by hanging my picture on my bookcase and sticking a steak knife through it.