You're Not Elected In New Jersey, Charlie Brown

Began the morning with breakfast and Doc McStuffins. "Doc McStuffins Goes to Washington" when she's one of several kids who are invited on a tour of the White House by then-first lady Michelle Obama. She tries to help a stuffed otter who has gotten damaged, but chases after her instead when she goes looking for her owner. "Winded Winnie" is a toy tiger that's supposed to blow up balloons, but is having a hard time creating wind. Doc discovers she has dust in her tubes after having been in the attic for a long time and teaches her about how asthma works in humans and why it's important to clear out one's lungs.

Headed out after the cartoon ended. First of all, I'm going to say that I intend to keep my voting and my politics private. I don't really think personal politics are something that should be discussed in a public arena. I'd rather listen to people on both sides of the political divide. 

Second, I headed to Collingswood for a stroll, some Christmas shopping, and to enjoy a beautiful day. Stopped at Collingswood Music first. I only had a few minutes to check them out during the Book Festival last month. They and Innergroove are also among the very few stores in Collingswood that are open on Tuesdays. (Collingswood Music only closes on Mondays.) They still have a lot of really good Bond soundtracks, and I dug up an interesting jazz collection, too. I came up with: 

The soundtrack from You Only Live Twice

The Rascals - Time Peace: The Rascals' Greatest Hits

Riverside: The Soul of Jazz - 1961

Headed a few blocks down to Groove Ground Coffee House. I was hoping they'd have pastries or sandwiches, like Starbucks and Common Ground. All they had was an egg sandwich on a bagel, so I took that on a spinach bagel with bacon and a frozen hot chocolate. The frozen hot chocolate was sweet, and the sandwich was filling, at least. They were the quietest I'd ever seen them, even for 1:30 in the afternoon. Two college students and an older couple who seemed to be regulars came in as I ate. I also fished the soundtrack from The Fabulous Baker Boys out of their record racks. 

Made my way across the street next to pick up a drink at WaWa. Ended up with a Mountain Dew Baja Blast Zero. Stopped at the little bath shop a few doors down to look at Christmas gifts. Ended up getting a little something for Lauren and Amanda. 

Made my way down to the Collingswood Library next to look at their books for sale. I found another recent American Girl cookbook, this one revolving around Christmas baking. Trouble was, I forgot I gave my last paper dollar to Groove Ground as a tip. I had to dig out change instead. 

After that, I figured I'd better go home, before I did something else wrong. Opted to take the long way across Newton Lake Park, past the mimosa trees and the field and where the playground used to be. It was too nice to not linger a little bit. The sun was still shining, and it was a little too warm, in the mid-70's, but windy enough to keep me cool.

Went straight upstairs after I got in and put on Hallelujah, I'm a Bum. I go further into this unique political semi-opera from 1933 with Al Jolson as the leader of a group of homeless people in New York who falls for a mysterious young woman at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

Election Day Special - Hallelujah, I'm a Bum

Switched to political-themed sitcom episodes while finishing the dusting and wiping down the windows and electronics. Mike runs for "Monkee Mayor" in The Monkees when the current mayor condemns the homes of their neighbors to build a parking lot. The corrupt construction owner Mr. Zecknbush thinks he can buy Mike out, but Mike ends up being the one who really wins when he admits the truth.

Richie learns how politics works when he falls for a girl who is campaigning for Democrat Adelai Stevenson in "The Not-Making of the President" from the second season of Happy Days. Staunch Republican and Eisenhower fan Howard Cunningham is shocked at his son changing sides. He's ready to mock  his attempt at a political rally speech...until he realizes Fonzie is giving the speech for the opposing side.

"The Election" is nothing but a headache for the cops on Barney Miller. They're all trying to get to the polls, but keep getting called back by half the loonies in New York doing the same thing. A shoplifter asks to be released so he can vote, and a housewife (Brett Somers) threw a toilet out the window because her husband wouldn't let her vote Republican.

It's "Carlson for President" on WKRP In Cincinnati when Arthur runs for city council. He looks like a lock, until he accidentally blurts damaging information about one of his competitors on the air during a debate. He's so upset about it, he tries to throw the election.

The Peanuts have their own problems on the campaign trail in You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown. Lucy's polls show that Chuck has no chance of becoming school president, so they nominate Linus instead. He's ahead in the polls, until he starts in on his favorite subject, the Great Pumpkin. Even later, he learns that making campaign promises you have no intention of or ability to keep may get you that big title, but they won't make you terribly popular once you're there.

Finished the night after a shower with more of the CDs I've picked up recently. Flora the Red Menace was Liza Minnelli's first big role, along with one of the earliest scores by John Kander and Fred Ebb. All their embryonic talents are on display in the story of an art student in the early 30's who joins the Communist Party after she falls for a guy who's also involved. This is really strange, but Minnelli stands out in two good songs, the lovely "A Quiet Girl" and the big finale "Sing Happy."

I've come to appreciate the genius of jazz pioneer Miles Davis over the past few months, listening to his music late at night on YouTube.  The Best of the Capitol/Blue Notes Years collects some of his most popular early work for the labels. Some of the better numbers here include "Dear Old Stockholm," "Tempus Fugit," "It Never Entered My Mind," and "Somethin' Else." 

Dolls In the Autumn Sunshine

Got started with brunch and PAW Patrol. Mayor Humdinger steals Farmer Yumi's honey and bee hives when he wants honey for his crumpets and won't wait for it to be ready. The "Pups Save the Honey" when the bees get loose and chase Humdinger out of his cave hideout. Mayor Goodway is upset when two seagulls steal her purse with her beloved avian pet Chickaletta inside. It's a team effort when the "Pups Save Mayor Goodway's Purse" and rescue Chickaletta from a dunking at the beach.

Headed out to run errands after the cartoon ended. I've been coughing like crazy for over a week now. I have no idea why. I otherwise feel fine. Went to Dollar General first and picked up a birthday card for my sister Anna (it's Sunday), toilet paper, two more of those moisture eliminators, and an Oreo Coke Zero when my throat got dry. Grabbed cough medicine at CVS, along with Christmas ornaments for Amanda and Lauren.

Strolled across Oaklyn and down to West Clinton for lunch. Opted for a spinach-feta pastry, a raspberry "chuffin" (a cinnamon roll baked in a muffin pan), and an unsweetened peach iced tea for lunch at Common Grounds. They were really busy, too. I was barely able to find a seat. It seemed to be mainly college students chatting or working on laptops.

Took the laundry downstairs when I got home, then put on The Monkees. "The Audition" has the guys trying to audition for a big-time producer after they fail to get an invitation to his office. What they don't know is, he's looking for them when his secretary plays a tape they made of Mike's "Sweet Young Thing." The guys do everything they can to get into him, while he does everything he can to find the band with that great sound. The episode ends with a genuinely interesting interview discussing a series of riots in LA over curfew that Micky Dolenz witnessed in real-life. (And Davy Jones makes an equally-good point that no one will listen to him, as he was under 21 - barely 20 - at the time.)

Pulled out the dolls' boxes to dress them for November after the episode ended. Samantha, Molly, and Josefina wear the outfits they originally came in. Molly is in her argyle sweater and blue skirt with saddle shoes, Sam's in her mauve checked dress with black boots, and Josefina is in her red and brown print skirt. I have a hard time squeezing Felicity into her blue and yellow brocade dress (the outfit the most recent version of her doll came in), but she looks so pretty in the silky turquoise and gold print that it's worth it. 

Jessa's in the original "modern" magenta leggings and denim vest from 1995 and the AG flower print long-sleeved T-shirt from 2004 with Springfield Collection denim sneakers. Ariel wears the beaded flared jeans from the 2004 meet outfit with a blue and teal square-necked peasant blouse and the tan boots Whitney originally came in. I love that soft red flower print dress with the attached cardigan I found for Whitney at the Cottage Resale Shoppe two years ago. It's so soft and comfy, I wish it came in grown-up sizes (without the attached cardigan). Kit's thick brown knitted cardigan and plaid wrap skirt came off eBay. Barbara Jean looks elegant for school in her black and magenta mini-dress with the white top, black velvet collar, and soft red-violet jacket, with black velvet strap shoes borrowed from Jess.

Listened to the Rolling Stones greatest hits albums I picked up last month while I worked. Hot Rocks 1964-1971 is the better of the two and is in slightly better shape. You can't argue with some of their best and most famous work, including "Gimmie Shelter," "Satisfaction," "Paint It Black," "Under My Thumb," "Jumpin' Jack Flash," and a live "Midnight Rambler." Despite the scratches, I'll hang onto this one.

Not only do I think More Hot Rocks (Big Hits and Fazed Cookies) isn't as good of a collection, the albums and their covers were in terrible shape. All four the albums were rather badly scratched, but this one had skips, too, and the covers had obviously gotten wet at one point and were badly stained. Despite having a few good songs (among them "She's a Rainbow" and their version of "Not Fade Away"), this isn't worth keeping. I'm going to leave it with the trash tomorrow and be more careful about buying records from overpriced antique shops in the future.

Brought the laundry upstairs to put it away, then had dinner while watching Match Game '78. They're really skipping around now. Richard Dawson finally left by this point, replaced here by cheerful David Doyle and ever-rhyming Nipsey Russell. I'm a bit surprised Gene couldn't figure out the top answer for "__ of Steel," even though he was around when a certain superhero in a red cape and S first debuted.

Finished the night at YouTube with game shows revolving around movie and TV trivia. Movie trivia shows apparently go back to radio, where any station could ask its audience questions about the latest hit film at the neighborhood theater. One of the earliest on TV was Bank on the Stars, which had contestants trying to remember what happened in clips from recent films. I dug up an early episode of its second run hosted by Bill Cullen. 

Most movie and trivia game shows tended to be simple, cheap affairs, like The Movie Game from 1969. Contestants teamed up with two celebrities to answer movie questions. In the second round, the celebrities would act out clues to a person or movie that the contestant would have to guess. Dick Martin and Dan Rowan at the height of their Laugh-In fame are joined by Greer Garson and a young Sharon Farrell. Nothing earth-shaking, but the game play was fun.

The Hollywood Game was designed for summer night's viewing. This is basically movie Jeopardy, with the contestants answering questions from categories and the fourth round involving them guessing an answer and betting on the response. The bonus round had contestants guessing nine pictures in a category. An obvious imitation Jeopardy, with Bob Goen hosting, likely intended to be summer prime time filler. No wonder this would be the last nighttime game show until the short-lived Big Deal in 1996.

Beat the Geek on Comedy Central in 2001 was a lot more fun. Three contestants answer questions tossed out by "geeks," men and women who specialize in certain facets of pop culture such as movies, TV, or Simpsons episodes. The second round has the contestants and the Geeks facing off against each other answering trivia. If the contestant answers more questions correctly than the Geek, they get the Geek's medal. Winner faces off in a category against a Geek. Yeah, if you know pop culture like these guys, you'll probably get as much of a kick out of this as I did.

Comedy Central wasn't the only cable channel who tried to get in on the movie trivia games...but AMC and PAX struck out with their chintzy efforts. The Movie Masters on AMC in 1989 had Gene Rayburn in his last show hosting a panel answering movie trivia questions for home viewers. PAX's The Reel to Reel Picture Show from 1998 was based on (and made to sell) a Canadian board game. This time, a contestant and a celebrity worked together to answer a series of questions from randomly chosen subject. The bonus round had them answering a question that revealed a clue to a famous movie or person. Winner got a trip, or they were supposed to. The company that produced the show went belly-up after five weeks had been filmed. No one got paid (including host Peter Marshall), and most didn't get their prizes. 

MTV was far better-equipped to handle pop culture trivia games. Their first game show, Remote Control, had three college kids strapped into recliners answering TV and music trivia. The last kid standing (literally, given the other two are dragged into the walls) finishes the show by guessing which singer performs in a series of quick music video shots. The series was developed and hosted by Ken Ober, playing a geek living in his mother's basement with his strange friends (including a very young Adam Sandler). This was a big hit in the late 80's and remains a blast to watch today, especially if you know anything about 80's music or TV trivia.

The syndicated Couch Potatoes from 1989 was very similar, only here, two teams played on a bright-colored set made to resemble a living room of the time. Marc Summers is the host asking TV trivia questions, with Joe Alaskey as his announcer neighbor. I remember getting a kick out of this when I caught it on USA later in 1989, and the amusingly informal game play makes it still really fun to watch today.

Beat these pop culture geeks and test your knowledge of movies and TV with these tough trivia shows!

Bank on the Stars (1954)

The Movie Game (1969)

Remote Control (1988)

Couch Potatoes Pilot (1989)

The Movie Masters (1989)

The Hollywood Game (1992) 

The Reel to Reel Picture Show (1998)

Beat the Geeks (2001)

The Eagles Pound On the Jaguars

Began the morning with breakfast and America: The Complete Greatest Hits. The country-rock group is an old favorite of mine. I remember hearing many of their song on the Saturday night oldies radio show as a child. They had some of the biggest hits of the 70's and early 80's with "A Horse With No Name," "Sandman," "Ventura Highway," "Tin Man," "Sister Golden Hair," "Daisy Jane," and "You Can Do Magic." 

Headed off to work after I ate. Work was a mess from start to end. We were so busy! There were lines down the aisles for most of the afternoon. It's the beginning of the month, and a lot of people may be starting to think Thanksgiving, too. I had a hard time keeping up with sweeping and cleaning up spills and doing the carts until another bagger came in later and took over the trash and sweeping. Focused on the carts for the rest of the afternoon.

Soon as I got home, I changed and vacuumed and Swiftered the rooms. Listened to the soundtrack from You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown, which I picked up from Amazon yesterday, as I worked. Once again, this isn't the best-known Peanuts score, but it does have some good things. That's Vince Guaraldi himself supplying the laid-back vocals for the ode to Snoopy's "Joe Cool" persona, and there's the "Incumbent Waltz" that opens the album.

Did some dusting while listening to Oh Kay! This is part of a series of LPs the Smithsonian put out from 1977 to 1982 to explore older musicals that debuted before the advent of the full-on cast albums. Truth be told, this isn't really an accurate "cast album," either. It's mainly either George Gershwin playing his own music, or star Gertrude Lawrence singing them. The hits "Do, Do, Do," "Someone to Watch Over Me," and "Clap Yo' Hands" are repeated constantly throughout the run time. At least it does give you the character of the era and an idea of what this sounded like at the time.

Switched to Paramount Plus for the Eagles-Jaguars game. To be honest, the Jaguars have won two games so far this season, and this one didn't help matters. They played badly in the first two quarters and were down 17 - 0 by halftime. They did come back, but not enough to get past the Eagles, who won 28 - 23.

Finished the night after a shower and dinner on YouTube for the Match Game Sunday Classics marathon. Grumpy character actor Richard Deacon started on Match Game in 1974, during a wild week that also included Nipsey Russell and Gunilla Hutton. He appeared sporadically through the syndicated run in 1981, with one last final appearance with the rest of the Leave It To Beaver cast on The Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour a few weeks before his death in 1984. 

For all his grouchiness and touchiness about his lack of hair, Deacon was one of the better players in the first seat. In fact, Nipsey and George Kennedy were probably the only semi-regulars who did better there. He won at least three people big money, including a $10,000 in a PM episode. He got to see Bob Barker and Gene Rayburn moon over nubile young Charlene Tilton late in 1979 and and was there for the New Year's week in 1977 and 1978 when Fannie Flagg sat in for Brett Somers and kept claiming Brett was in jail. (She was actually out doing a play.)

Get to know Dick Van Dyke's boss and Lumpy's dad in this very funny marathon!

Match Game Sunday Classics - Best of Richard Deacon

Angels and Matches

Began the morning with breakfast and The Hunchback of Notre Dame II. I go further into this lukewarm follow-up to one of Disney's more underrated movies at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Animation Celebration Saturday - The Hunchback of Notre Dame II

Stayed at Disney Plus for Sailor Moon Crystal as I got ready for work. "Moon" encompasses the episode where a hologram of Queen Serenity explains about the Silver Millennium and how it was destroyed. Though most of the episode is pretty similar to the original version, it diverges significantly at the end. The Guardians fight the Four Dark Knights (all of whom are still alive), and though they don't sway them to their side, they don't kill them, either. It does end the same, though, with evil Queen Beryl brainwashing Tuxedo Mask...

Headed off to work after the show ended. Thanks to it being the beginning of a holiday-heavy month, we were crazy all day. I spent most of the time sweeping and pushing carts. One of the managers did help me with the carts at one point, but I was largely alone. Had a hard time keeping up with them. I was still having a hard time when I finally finished. Grabbed a vanilla-glazed donut too, since they're doing free donuts this weekend. 

When I got home, I put on Charlie's Angels while I got organized. The girls are recruited to keep an eye on a bodybuilder who is competing for the title of "Mr. Galaxy," but has been plagued by suspicious accidents. There's a long list of suspects who would want him out of the competition, from the gangster he used to box for to the man who has won Mr. Galaxy six years running and has gambling debts to deal with. Julie and Bosley join the country club where his competition works, while Kris trains with him and Kelly snoops around as a reporter for a health magazine.

Finished the night on YouTube with today's Match Game Saturday Classics marathon. Match Game has always been popular with the LGBTQ community, thanks to its many gay panelists and references to sexuality. Some early episodes tossed out a few references that weren't so pleasant. Dick Gautier and Brett Somers give now-offensive answers in two 1973 episodes that have those two shows banned from the airwaves. Likewise, Dear Abby's answer is the reason her PM episode can't be found anywhere but YouTube. Elaine Joyce and Bobby Van use similar language in reference to a question about what Batman and Robin do together.

Other references have dated far better. Many episodes bash anti-gay country singer and star of orange juice commercials Anita Bryant, especially ones where Charles Nelson Reilly was involved. Goes without saying that he wasn't a fan of questions involving her. Other gay panelists who turned up on the show included Richard Deacon, Fannie Flagg, Nancy Kulp, Tab Hunter, and Wesley Eure. 

Have a "gay ol' time" with some of the most famous LGBTQ panelists in the show's history...and some of its most infamous moments.

Match Game Saturday Night Classics - A Gay Ol' Time

Strawberry Girls

Began the morning with breakfast and the 2003 Strawberry Shortcake. Strawberry and her friends are scared out of their wits by a walk through a dark forest and the old house they see there. Honey Pie Pony's stories about "The Blueberry Beast" don't help matters. When the other kids run away, Strawberry finally decides to confront the "beast" herself...and learn that sometimes, an old house is an old house, and there's really nothing to be afraid of.

Called Uber after Strawberry ended. It was getting late, and I wanted to get to the Cherry Hill Mall quickly. The driver arrived within 7 minutes. There was no traffic anywhere, not even on Route 70. He pulled in at Nordstrom's front entrance 20 minutes later.

I mainly came here for their last job fair of the year. It was a major bust. Sun Newspapers was the only business that even remotely interested me, and they still only want salespeople. Everything else was health or police-related. They didn't have nearly the room that they usually did, too. Most of their space was taken up by the small but admittedly quite detailed Santa's Workshop Santa meet and greet area. 

Had slightly more luck elsewhere in the mall. Peeked in The Lego Store, Build-a-Bear, Miniso, and Rumi Life, but didn't buy anything. Got my nephew Khai's Christmas present at FYE, along with candy for Amanda and a double record collection of the lesser-known Beach Boys albums Sunflower and Surf's Up called the Feel Flows Sessions, the latter for only $15. Grabbed a Peanuts calendar for next year at Go! Calendars and Toys. Had a quick but tasty apple, cranberry, and blue cheese salad and half of a chicken salad sandwich from Saladworks in the food court for lunch.

After lunch, I took one more look at the job fair, but they were starting to shut down by then. Hiked up the stairs and over the foot bridge to the shopping center across the street instead. I wanted to do some grocery shopping at Target. They have the Made Good granola bars for cheaper than anyone else. I've seen a holiday-themed 12 pack of Kind water in apple cinnamon, peppermint bark, spiced pear, and citrus berry at the Acme, but I wasn't able to get it home. The one at Target had a 2-dollar off coupon. I'd call Uber. Also grabbed treat bags for the Mystery Bags next year and the record soundtrack for How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I've wanted it for years, but even used copies tend to be pricey. 

It was past 3 PM when I finally got out of Target. Contacted Uber...but saw the ridiculous prices just to get home from Target and walked down to Kohl's, which is closer to the entrance. The price was still a bit much, but not as bad. At least the driver only took 8 minutes to arrive. There was some traffic on Cuthbert Road coming off the Cooper River Bridge, but it was clear after that. 

Put on The Monkees at home while putting everything away. It's "Too Many Girls" when Davy becomes the target of a scheming stage mother (Reta Shaw) who is desperate for the diminutive Englishman to partner with her daughter Fern (Kelly Jean Peters). She reads tea leaves and makes her predictions come true...but the guys aren't about to let their friend and lead singer walk out on them. They join the amateur hour contest that Davy and Fern are performing in and sabotage their act.

"Son of a Gypsy" has dated less well today. Maria (Jeanne Arnold) and her colorful if stereotypical band of thieving gypsies are angry when the Monkees get a party gig at a mansion. They lure the four to the camp, then kidnap Peter to force them to help steal the priceless Maltese Vulture from the lady who hired them.

Took down the Halloween decorations and put up what I have for Thanksgiving next. I like Halloween more than I did when I was a kid, but it's never been my favorite holiday. Thanksgiving, on the other hand, is one of my major favorites. I like how it's a relatively calm oasis of food, football, and giving between two of the biggest and busiest holidays of the year. Jodie gave me a teddy bear in a pilgrim woman's costume and three stuffed turkeys (one with dangling beaded legs) from Dad's collection. I bought the turkeys Plymouth and Mayflower when I was still collecting WebKinz. Most of my other Thanksgiving decorations came from yard sales and thrift shops. There's folksy wooden pilgrims that I put on either side of the TV, the smaller resin pilgrims that went on one of the book shelves in the bedroom, the cute stuffed pilgrim and Native girls who went on top of the shelf, turkey salt and pepper shakers, and a beautifully detailed turkey candle.

Watched Fosse while I worked. This is a live taping of the 1999 Broadway revue that revolved around Fosse's work. As you can imagine, most of these are instrumental dance numbers like "Rich Man's Frug" from Sweet Charity and "Sing, Sing, Sing," as used in his 1979 revue Dancin'. Though there is some sensational dancing, I'm kind of shocked this won Best Musical in 1999. It's a revue, not a traditional book musical. To give it credit, it does give you a sense of what the real man's work was like. Interviews with Ann Renniking and Ben Vereen on the DVD give you an even greater appreciation for this hard-working, hard-driving man. If you're a fan of Renniking, Vereen, or Fosse's work, you're going to want to dance on over and give this a shot.

Did a little bit of inventory work next. Added The Lion King, Little Mary Sunshine, The Little Mermaid, and Mack and Mabel. I found the Disney titles at a yard sale, but the other two go so far back, I bought them from Borders in the late 90's-early 2000's on dates with my then-boyfriend.

Got my schedule at this point. It's identical to this week, with slightly fewer hours on Wednesday and the same days off. Good. I'll be able to vote on Election Day without having to take off or hope I can get to the polls on time. I also put in for Thanksgiving off. I'm not working it again after the mess there last year. It's just not worth the extra money. 

Broke for dinner and Match Game '78 at 7:30. They skipped way ahead to the week with Debralee Scott and former baseball great Joe Gargiola. Joe got to witness the sight of Betty White "taking it all off," or at least parading around while taking off her vest and scarf for the crowd.

Finished the night online after a shower with Mystery Science Theater 3000. The Starfighters may be the most boring movie they ever did. It's supposed to discuss a group of fighter pilots in the Air Force, their relationship with girls from the near-by town, and their testing an experimental plane. That's...pretty much it. Absolutely nothing happens between repeated stock footage of the planes in the air and refueling. If this was an Air Force recruitment film, they goofed big-time. Top Gun would have a lot more fun with the same general idea over two decades later. 

Hot for Halloween

Began the morning with the Colliers Harvest of Holidays anthology. In addition to a few spooky poems, the book has two sweet comic pieces featuring very modern witches. "The Blue-Nosed Witch" is a scatterbrained miss who is forever late for her coven meetings. She sets her clock so far back on Halloween, she ends up joining the trick-or-treaters. Another young witch is annoyed when she conjures "The Water Nixie" for the local kids. She was hoping for a fairy. She has more luck hurrying to school on her broom after her disapproving witch mother falls asleep.

Switched to The Woody Woodpecker Show during breakfast. The only cartoon on the show made directly for television was the Halloween-themed "Spook-a-nanny." Woody spends most of the episode between cartoons blowing up balloons for his boss Walter Lanz. The rest of Lanz's creations try to keep him out of their Halloween party. He eventually gets in by following a ghost rock band, but forgets he can't walk through walls like they can.

Headed out for Halloween brunch next. It was so dead at the Pop Shop when I got in, I think I was the first one there. My pumpkin cheesecake "Bettys" consisted of two regular pancakes topped with two huge scoops of pumpkin cheesecake filling. Not bad, but so huge and rich, I couldn't finish them. Watched parents come in with their younger kids in costume as I ate, including a ghoulish princess in a fancy blue dress and scary make-up and two boys with their faces made up.

After a very quick stop at PNC Bank for the rent, I dodged noon traffic down Cuthbert to the Westmont Acme. I didn't really need much here anyway. Mainly wanted to restock yogurt. Also picked up shampoo and conditioner on a good sale and the Kind kids' bars with online coupons and more Olipop soda. They were relatively busy, but no more than usual for a Thursday during lunch hour, and I was in and out.

Next up was job counseling with Dawn at the Haddon Township Library. I did apply for a receptionist and office assistant job at a cheesecake bakery Dawn said was right down the street from her in Burlington, but Dawn's main interest was applying for government positions. I don't know. I don't have my driver's licence, don't know if I could handle the stress at the post office, and it just seems so complicated to apply for them.

Rushed to Sprouts next. They were having a buy-one, get-one sale on cookies. I tried the seasonal flavors pumpkin chocolate chip and ginger molasses. Also grabbed more of the Nixie soda with the dollar coupon, a bag of black grapes, and lemon raspberry dried mango pieces.

Went straight into getting my costume together when I got home. I was originally going to be a cat this year, but I saw lacy bat's ears and a "wings" cape at Walmart last week and changed it to being a bat. Alas, those makeup "crayons" I bought from Dollar General proved to be worthless. The black one broke after I'd colored in my nose and done two whiskers. I finished the rest with regular makeup. Uses the purple jack o'lantern candy bucket to give out treats and carried my cutie-pie stuffed bat Bela. 

Watched Halloween Is Grinch Night while I got organized. I went further into this bizarre Dr. Seuss special at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog in 2018 (along with Garfield's Halloween Adventure). 

Halloween Short Subject Special - Halloween Is Grinch Night

I was sitting outside and reading The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Stories by 3, but the kids didn't really start coming around until 4:30. And when they came, they came in droves. It was too gorgeous to not do something outside for Halloween! The weather was sunny and ridiculously warm for Halloween, in the lower 80's, but the strong wind was deliciously cool. In fact, I'd never seen so many adults sitting outside on their stoops or driveways to give out candy, including our next-door neighbor.

Saw some terrific costumes this year. And for once, I actually got to see all of them. The warm weather meant there was no need to cover costumes with coats or heavy sweaters this year! There were lovely girl ghouls and pretty witches in lacy mini-dresses. Saw three ninjas in red, black, and blue, Beetlejuice, an Oompa Loompa, Rubble from PAW Patrol, a tiny female Incredible Hulk, and parents in Incredibles suits with a girl monster. A mom Elphaba and dad Fiyero pushed a tiny Glinda in a stroller. At least five Ghostbusters, Dorothy, a mom in her nurse's uniform, another mom dressed as Mrs. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus in a planet-print dress, three Army soldiers in fatigues, and the little girl with the short hair from Stranger Things came later in the afternoon. Another family toted a small and adorable Buzz Lightyear, while another chased a boy in an inflatable dinosaur costume. Older boys wandered around in leisure suits and ugly wigs. 

The Mystery Bags vanished in less than a half-hour. Good thing I bought more candy at the Acme to go with what I already had and a friend brought out a box of mini-Pringles containers. In fact, the Pringles were probably the biggest hit of the afternoon. All of the kids loved them and kept asking for more, especially the teenagers who weren't all that into candy.

By 6 PM, I was down to half a bag of Sour Patch gummies and Swedish Fish. Not to mention, it was time for dinner and to head down to West Clinton for the parade. I went inside and ate really quick, then used the bathroom, left the remaining candy with my friend for her kids, dropped my wallet and Bela in the purple pumpkin, and went on my way again.

To my delight and surprise, I ran into Rose, Finley, and Craig with Cider at Tonewood Brewery's outdoor patio. I was able to give Rose Fin and Khai's Mystery Bags in person. Craig took Cider home and Khai was out with friends, but I was able to chat with Rose. Rose went 80's in a slouchy blue shirt and tight shorts. Finley was a dark fairy and a sleeveless purple dress, a flower crown, beige ballet flats, "vines" drawn on her legs, arms, and face with glitter makeup, and actual fairy ear tips kept on with latex glue. She played with mini dinosaur toys while her mother and I talked and the other parents there broke out pizza for dinner.

The costumes at the parade were even cooler. One little girl went as a peacock, complete with genuine peacock feather tail. There was a dad in a construction outfit pulling his son in a wagon made to look like a bulldozer. A Little Mermaid family had a truly adorable Ariel and toddler Flounder, while a sweet Anna chased her little Olaf brother. Another boy wore a lavish steampunk suit, jacket, and top hat. There was a teen group with Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet whose high spirits were remarkable considering how hot their costumes must have been. Two pretty princesses sported poofy pink and purple gowns. Saw another Beetlejuice and three more Ghostbusters. Finley's best friend was Barbie in her pink flared western costume from mid-way through the movie. Parents went as Frankenstein and his bride, gangsters, and a mom Chucky and dad Tiffany. 

Thankfully, the parade was only slightly late this year. As the group started down West Clinton, I couldn't help noticing that it was more than twice the size it usually is. Everyone must have decided to come out and enjoy the still-warm evening. Even Finley and her friends rushed out to join me as we hiked past Tonewood. 

With all those great costumes, neither Finley nor I won anything. I suspect Finley was more disappointed than I was. She and Rose vanished right after the elementary school kids were judged. I hung around to get candy and two balsa wood gliders for a friend's kids. 

Got yet another surprise after I got home, washed my makeup off, and put my costume pieces away. The owner of the Match Game Productions channel ran a previously-unmentioned Halloween game show marathon. I came in to see Vincent Price as the Mystery Guest on a 50's episode of What's My Line? In addition to repeating the Match Game '90 Halloween episode, we had two Family Feud episodes from the 90's (one with Ray Combs dressed as Robin Hood, the other with Richard Dawson and lavish Halloween decorations), two Super Password episodes with trick and treat bags, a mid-70's Halloween Squares episode with Paul Lynde as Frankenstein in the center square, and a Price Is Right episode from the mid-2000's with an older Bob Barker and two spooky witch-based Showcases. 

Play this marathon at your spooky parties this weekend and see who plays along!

Trick or Treat Game Show Spooktacular Marathon 2024

Finished the night with The Midnight Hour. I go further into this TV teen horror comedy from 1985 at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

Happy Halloween! - The Midnight Hour

Autumn Was Warm

Began the morning with breakfast and The Muppet Show. Vincent Price appeared in the first season amid spooky skits and bizarre happenings. Kermit gets eaten by a very hungry Muppet monster, Fozzie and Gonzo have Price and Uncle Deadly as their guests at a haunted house on a very special night, Kermit and Price discuss the fine art of acting, the Muppet Newscaster announces a story about living furniture, and Price sings "You've Got a Friend" with the Muppet Monsters.

Hurried off to work after that. Between stunning weather and it being the end of the month and the day before a major holiday that doesn't involve big meals, we were dead almost the entire afternoon. It picked up a little bit around the last hour...just as the managers kept calling me to put cold items away and I spilled soapy water in the back area when I was taking it to the drains and had to mop it all up. Thanks to all that, I barely had 15 minutes to do carts before I went home. 

Went straight upstairs and into Ghostbusters when I got home. Paranormal scientists Egon Spangler (Harold Ramis), Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), and Ray Stantz (Dan Acroyd) go into business as ghost-catchers after they're fired by Columbia University. Venkman is more interested in flirting with their first customer, pretty and intelligent musician Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver), then taking her claim that she saw a ghost in her refrigerator seriously. He begins to wonder if she might really be onto something when their business triples after they catch a little green ghost roaming around a swanky hotel. They're so busy, they have to hire a fourth man, Winston Zeddmore (Ernie Hudson) to help them deal with the volume.

Their secretary Janine Melnitz (Annie Potts) is convinced that something terrible is going to happen...and it turns out she's right. They're arrested when a man from the Environmental Protection Agency (William Atherton) shuts down their containment unit and literally blows the top off their headquarters. Turns out the apartment building where Dana and her nerdy neighbor Louis Tully (Rick Moranis) live is actually the conduit for Gozer, a spirit who could bring about the apocalypse. It's up to the Ghostbusters to stop Gozer and the Stay-Puft Man from turning New York into the world's largest charred marshmallow!

I've loved the original version of this movie since it came out in 1984. The sequel was the first movie my sisters and I saw in a theater without parental supervision. I don't think the first sequel is that bad, am still convinced that the 2016 remake gets a bum rap, and haven't gotten around to the recent sequels. Frankly, the original is probably the only Ghostbusters movie most casual viewers need. 

Watched The Halloween Tree during dinner. Four kids dressed as a skeleton, a witch, a mummy, and a monster are alarmed when their leader and best friend Pip doesn't turn up for trick or treat. Halloween is Pip's favorite night of the year! They follow what they think is him to a spooky old house and a tree filled with Jack o'lanterns. The house and the tree are owned by Moundshround (Leonard Nimoy), a spooky old man. Pip takes off with a pumpkin carved to look like him, prompting Moundshround and the kids to go after him. Moundshround tells the kids that if they can keep up with Pip - and learn about 4,000 years of Halloween history in the process - he'll let him go. Even when the kids do manage to follow him and learn about the death customs of Ancient Egypt, the Celtic Druids, medieval Europe, and modern Mexico, the old man may not be ready to keep his promise, until the kids make the ultimate sacrifice.

Ray Bradbury narrates the story, based on his own book of the same name. It's interesting to learn about how Halloween came around, especially since its customs and origins aren't as widely-discussed as those for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Sweet and spooky, with decent animation for a TV special in 1993, this is very much recommended for pre-teens looking for something different to watch before trick-or-treat and adults who are interested in learning more about the holiday.

Put on Match Game '77 before taking a shower. They're finally down to New Year's week. Fannie Flagg took over from Brett Somers, who was out doing a play, in the character actress seat. She's joined by Richard Deacon and sweet but slightly bizarre Joyce Bulifant. 

Switched to vintage Disney holiday specials next, starting with Halloween Hall of Fame. Jonathan Winters plays a Disney security guard who is working at the studio Halloween night when he finds a Jack o'lantern (Winters) in a crystal ball. Jack claims he's hiding at Disney because the holiday just isn't scary enough for him anymore. Winters points to the Donald Duck short "Trick Or Treat," the truly scary "Pluto's Judgement Day," and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" to prove otherwise. 

Disney's Halloween Treat debuted in 1982 in syndication, but we saw it when it ran yearly on The Disney Channel. A talking pumpkin is the main narrator as he introduces spooky shorts like "Donald and the Gorilla" and "The Old Mill," along with the Wizard's Duel sequence from The Sword In the Stone and a short piece on the cat's contribution to horror mythology. Hans Conried as the Magic Mirror takes over to introduce some of Disney's most beloved villains, including the one he voiced, Captain Hook. The special ends with what's likely their most famous spooky shorts, Micky, Donald, and Goofy being their own ghost catchers in "Lonesome Ghosts" and "Trick or Treat."

Moved to YouTube for "Jack O'Lantern." This episode Rankin Bass's Festival of Family Classics TV show is the closest they got to a Halloween special. Jack is a leprechaun living inside a carved pumpkin who makes a scarecrow come alive to battle a witch and a warlock and help two kids save their father's farm.

Returned to Disney Plus for more Muppet Show. Alice Cooper was one of the earliest "shock jocks," and his appearance in the third season was controversial, to say the least. Henson played on his ghoulish reputation by having him try to buy the souls of various Muppets...but Gonzo is the only taker. Meanwhile, teeth complain of a toothache, ghosts sing about their "Once a Year Day," the crew of the Swine Trek try to figure out what to do when a space virus turns them all invisible, and Robin sings a lovely "Over the Rainbow."

Finished the night back at YouTube with the short "Betty's Halloween Party" from 1933. Betty Boop has fun on Halloween with her friends, until a gorilla breaks up the party and tries to grab Betty. He gets a real scare when she turns off the light, and he's attacked by ghosts, ghoulies, and the witch and black cat decorations. 

And here's even more vintage Halloween specials to enjoy before trick or treat tomorrow!

Fat Albert Halloween Special

The Wickedest Witch

The Last Halloween

Casper's Halloween Special

Looney Tunes: Broomstick Bunny

The Trouble With Miss Switch

Miss Switch to the Rescue

The Great Bear Scare

Buttons and Rusty In Which Witch is Which

Once Upon a Midnight Scary

A Pumpkin Full of Nonsense

Disney's Haunted Halloween (Educational Short)

DTV Monster Hits

Spooky Tales On a Sunny Day

Began the morning with breakfast and The Scooby Doo Show. The members of Mystery Inc are enjoying a Halloween party at Crane Manor, on the invitation of their friend Beth. They all get a shock when the party is crashed by none other "The Headless Horseman of Halloween" and Legend of Sleepy Hollow fame. Beth's cousin Elwood explains that Ichabod was their ancestor, and her aunt's diamond necklace is cursed. He's seemingly attacked by the Horseman, but Velma thinks there's something more devious going on than history repeating itself.

Ran out to run a few errands behind the Acme next. I had one last bag of items I wanted to deliver at the back of Goodwill, including my old snow boots. Went around front after that and checked out the main store. I found a bag with the most adorable little folk-ish ghost and cute smiling jack o'lantern candle and four CDs. Two will go to Lauren and her parents. The other two are for me:

Elton John - The One

Walt Disney Christmas Favorites Vol. 2 (I bought this mainly for the original songs "It Won't Be Long 'Till Christmas" and "Santa's Rap" and the rarely covered "Bring a Torch Jeanette, Isabella.")

My throat was so dry, I needed to go next door to Five Below for a Coke Oreo Zero. Found a few cute Hello Kitty items that Amanda will love for Christmas, too. They must have been training new cashiers. There were at least five young women standing behind the counter, and they were all perfectly pleasant.

Rode up to Market Street in Audubon for lunch. Had a turkey and bacon croissant sandwich and pumpkin spice chai latte outside at the Brown Dog Cafe. The latte wasn't all that different from the one at Common Grounds, just slightly less sweet. The sandwich was amazing, warm deli turkey housed between thick bacon slices and avocado spread in a flaky croissant. I enjoyed my meal while watching cars and dog walkers go by.

The traffic had picked up considerably  by the time I started home. Not only were the kids out of school, but the township was doing electrical work on Nicholson and had the tunnel under the train bridge blocked off. Cars were probably using the bridge as a detour. I went past the Kove Restaurant and down Atlantic instead, enjoying sunshine and perfectly warm weather.

Put on Sheriff Callie's Wild West while getting organized when I got home. Bandits commit "The Great Halloween Robbery" when they steal a giant jack o'lantern full of treats from the whole town. Callie, Toby, and Peck have a hard time finding them and the candy, thanks to Farmer Stinky's corn maze. Peck's tale of "The Ghost of Scary Prairie" is fictional, but his mule Clementine and Toby take it as real and run off. Callie goes after them...and when she ends up scaring them, everyone in town learns a lesson about letting their imaginations run away with them.

Switched to Voyage of the Rock Aliens at Tubi after the cartoon ended. I go further into this extremely 80's B sci-fi musical spoof at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Cult Flops - Voyage of the Rock Aliens

Worked on the inventory next. Added Legally Blonde: The Musical, the stage version of The Lion King, Li'L Abner, and a collection with two off-Broadway revivals of antique hits, Leave It to Jane and Oh Kay! Jane/Kay came from the FYE in Moorestown, and the other two were yard sale finds. I've had Li'l Abner for so long, I have no idea where it came from now. I think I picked it up from the Borders near the Hamilton Mall in college.

Watched Young Frankenstein while working in honor of Teri Garr, who passed away today. Dr. Fredrick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) isn't proud of his family's ghoulish legacy, until he inherits his grandfather's castle. After discovering his grandfather's private library, he decides that maybe his grandfather wasn't that crazy after all and the dead could be brought back to life. He and Igor (Marty Feldman) do find the appropriate enormous body, but Igor brings him an abnormal brain. Now the monster is running loose and the Inspector (Kenneth Mars) and townspeople are calling for both their heads. Not to mention, his fiancee Elizabeth (Madeline Kahn) turns up when he's courting his assistant Inga (Garr). 

Classic horror comedy is an all-time favorite, thanks to the delightful cast and Mel Brooks' alternately spooky and silly black-and-white atmosphere. The cast loved making it so much, they added extra scenes just to keep going, and many audiences may understand why. 

Put on Match Game '77 while eating a quick dinner. They're near the end of the year now, with many references to Christmas. Elaine Joyce, Ron Pallilo, and Fannie Flagg joined in as Richard tucked Gene's tie into his pants in the opening of the episode I saw.

Finished the night working on my musical review while listening to the Halloween music and sound effects I've acquired in the last few years. While it didn't have a huge hit like "Christmastime Is Here," the score for It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown has many pleasures. "The Great Pumpkin Waltz" is probably the best-known, but the "Graveyard Theme" when the kids are trick or treating and the little number when Snoopy blows leaves around are worth hearing. 

Nightmare Before Christmas is very nearly an operetta, with little dialogue and a lot of great music. "What's This," "This Is Halloween," and "Jack's Lament" are probably the best-known numbers from the score now. I also like Catherine O'Hara's gentle "Sally's Song" and "Making Christmas."

Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of The Haunted House is actually many different types of scary sounds, not just ones associated with haunted houses. Side one features mini stories to introduce terrifying dog, cat, and bird noises along with an alien crunching, a squeaking bridge, and even dripping water for Chinese water torture. Side two features more traditional sound-effect scares like crashes, screams, and creaks. Research reveals that I have the re-release from 1973 with the orange cover. It would be revised in 1979 with even more scary sounds.

I'm with Disney on not recommending this one to younger children. The mini-stories on the first side alone will definitely make them uneasy, if not give them nightmares. Older kids and pre-teens who can get past this being a Disney release and are horror fans may find Haunted House to be a worthy venture into the world of pure spooky sound.

Witchcraft...! is the closest I've come to finding a Halloween jazz release. It's instrumental versions of songs related to witches, black magic, or the supernatural like "Old Devil Moon," "That Old Black Magic," "Kiss of Fire," and "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered." Ray Martin and His Orchestra gives them the appropriate soft eerie fantasy quality.

Disney's Halloween Sounds and Songs uses some of those additional sound effects created for the 1979 album. The first half are mildly spooky comic numbers mostly sung by Micky and the gang like "Which Witch Is Which?" We do get a genuinely catchy song in the rock number "Shake Your Bones," along with two Winnie the Pooh songs, the original "Heffalumps and Woozels" and Tigger's "I Want to Scare Myself" from the special Boo To You, Winnie the Pooh. The second half after "Scare Myself" are the sounds...and they're genuinely scary and loud. In fact, they're really too scary to work with the kid-oriented music before them. 

Frightening Harts

Began the day with breakfast and Doc McStuffins. Sebastian is the new toy ghost who is supposed to pop out of a pumpkin, but first he gets stuck, then the decorations in the living room scare him. Doc and the others say "Boo-Hoo To You!" and show him that things that look frightening aren't always what they seem. Donnie says "It's Glow Time!" when he pulls his glow-in-the-dark monster Glo-Bo out of the toy box. Doc can't figure out why he's tired and won't glow, until the others get him out in the sun and realizes he's been in the dark for too long.

Switched to Buzzr while finishing up and getting organized. Press Your Luck gets spooky in its second half when a lady in glasses and a young man are so close, it's scary...but it's the lady who manages to pull ahead and win two trips and a ton of cash. Peter Tomarken finishes by reciting a viewer poem parodying Edgar Allen Poe.

Went for a walk to Dollar General next. I wanted to buy more things to give the trick-or-treaters. Considering the weather is supposed to be gorgeous all week and we've run out before 5:30 - 6 o'clock the last two years, I figured we're going to need more than even the Mystery Bags. Wanted something different, though, from the usual mini-chocolate bars. Ended up with bags of Fruit By the Foot, Fruit Roll-Ups, Sour Patch gummies, and apple-caramel lollipops. Saw a pretty black lace mask with red sequins that I thought would work with my bat costume.

Headed down the White Horse Pike to Newton Lake Park next. I'm guessing Camden County's been doing a lot of work over there since the 4th of July. Even with the recent lack of rain, the field next to the parking lot looks full and lush, and there's a small plot of flowers in one corner. I got an even bigger surprise when I strolled down the path and saw nothing bordering the water. The playground and picnic tables that used to be there were gone. There was nothing left but churned dirt. 

(Several articles online said they were supposed to have broken ground in August and taken 90 days to complete. Uh...they'd better get cracking, because I didn't see any playground equipment at either spot. All I saw were dirt and wood chips.)

It was a gorgeous day for a walk. It remains sunny and dry here, cool and breezy but not overly so for this time of year. It couldn't have been a more perfect day in late October. I'm surprised I didn't see more people out and about. There were a few talking at a truck on the curb and a few people out walking dogs, but that was it. Even the stairs leading up to West Clinton had a newly-repaired sidewalk leading to it. 

Took the laundry downstairs, then had lunch and went through the closet where I keep my toiletries and medicines, making sure none of them were expired and tossing those that were. Watched sitcom horror episodes as I worked, starting with The Monkees. Davy thinks he's going out with an exotic lady in black, but he quickly discovers she's actually a vampire out to create a "Monstrous Monkee Mash" with her uncle. The others go after him, but first Micky gets turned into a werewolf, then Frankenstein's monster grabs Peter to use his brain. It's up to snarky team leader Mike to save his friends and find out what the monsters have in mind.

Laverne and Shirley are having an equally spooky time at the condemned Ramsdale Manor. Shirley's convinced it's a "Haunted House" with a monster that'll take off your head. Laverne thinks a house is a house, and they need a couch. After Squiggy and Lenny disappear, Laverne starts to wonder if her friend might be right, until Shirley discovers the real reason behind the scary goings-on.

Put the laundry in the dryer, then came back upstairs to continue my sitcom marathon. Richie Cunningham is also worried about a "Haunted" house in the second season of Happy Days, especially after Joanie claims that anyone who'll go in it will lose their head. Richie finally goes to Ralph's big Halloween bash anyway after Fonzie points out that there's nothing to fear but fear itself...and the party being raided by a local gang out to play some nasty tricks.

Vincent Price turned up on F-Troop in its second season for "V is for Vampire." He's a pale-skinned man in the traditional black and red Dracula tux whose courtly ways turn Wrangler Jane's head and baffle the Natives. Agarn, Parameter, and O'Rourke are convinced he's a vampire, until they learn that just because something looks obvious doesn't mean it actually is that obvious. 

Jimmy Olsen is visiting his Aunt Louisa and cousin Chris on the real-life Moose Island, Maine in The Adventures of Superman. She keeps warning him away from "The Haunted Lighthouse," but her deaf-mute housekeeper Alice keeps trying to point him there. He calls Clark Kent to help him figure out what's really going on...and Superman to stop the people who are hiding out there.

Early 1800's scientist Emilia and secret agent Jack are shocked when tombs are desecrated in the name of his alter ego the Daring Dragoon on Jack of All Trades. Emilia takes a concoction that makes her appear to be dead, so they can get in the tomb and investigate. They're lucky to escape being creamated when Croquey thinks she's really dead. Jack uses her "death" to his advantage to try to draw the real thief out of hiding.

Moved to The Roku Channel for Hart to Hart after I brought the laundry upstairs and put it away. Jonathan and Jennifer don't have a clue when they run across "Night Terrors" at a supposedly "haunted" mansion recently purchased by two eccentric friends of theirs. The party turns into a treasure hunt when they learn that the previous owner may have buried priceless jewels on the premises, but things get ugly when one of the guests dies after stealing what appears to be part of it. 

Since Silver Spoons is at The Roku Channel right now as well, I next watched its Halloween episode "A Dark and Stormy Night." Edward encourages Ricky and his friends Alfonso and Freddy to make up their own round-robin ghost story when the power goes out on Halloween night. They concoct the wild story of three brave lads who try to rescue a pretty lady (Kate) from a Dr. Jeckyl-like mad scientist (Edward) and his very unlikely Frankenstein monster (Dexter).

Watched Match Game '77 during dinner. They're now on the week near the end of the year with Tom Poston and Mary Ann Mobley. The first episode began with Bertha, the dear old woman who won big in the previous episode. They had technical problems in the second. The lights on the sign didn't work, while Brett wails about looking as slovenly as she claimed Charles did and Gene scolded Charles for yelling too loudly into his microphone. 

Finished the night with a shower, then vintage game show episodes revolving around horror icons or that actually aired around Halloween. Vincent Price was at his zenith as a horror star when he appeared on the panel of What's My Line in 1958 and as the special guest on I've Got a Secret in 1959. The latter proved to be one of the funniest episodes of that series when Price joined Gary Moore to add humorous captions to art works that predate memes by more than 50 years.

Monty Hall may not have been thrilled to be hosting Beat the Clock in 1979, but he still got to lead two married couples through stunts involving tossing rings on witch hats and flinging slimy space aliens at astronaut helmets. Peter Marshall had far more fun with a "Storybook Squares" episode of Hollywood Squares from 1976. Look for Roddy McDowell as Pinocchio, Charro as Lady Godiva, Doc Severinson as the Pied Piper, William Shatner in costume as Captain Kirk, Bonnie Franklin as Goldilocks, Rip Taylor as General Custer, and Joan Rivers as a hilarious Old Woman Who Lives In the Shoe.

Families had their own fun dressing up in 80's game shows. Family Feud did its first Halloween episode in 1989. Host Ray Combs was a very unlikely Batman with his son as Robin as they asked families in wizard, Mickey Mouse, clown, and Lady Liberty outfits which Halloween candy was the most popular and and what people are afraid of.

Whammies had their own fun dressing up on the episode of Press Your Luck that aired the day after the one I saw earlier. Spooky noises accompanied money-grabbing Whammies, while the lady once again just barely got past an older man. Peter Tomarken did a really goofy dance at the end in a Frankenstein mask and passed out when he was done!

NBC did a week-long "Trick or Treat" Halloween event with all of its game shows of the time in 1988. A recently-unearthed episode of Super Password with Rebecca Arthur and Pat Sajak had contestants receiving little gifts called "treats" (like a cassette tape of showtunes) or "tricks" (elephant ears and a trunk or a pull-back skeleton) when they lost. Sale of the Century gave away a trip to Transylvania, a silver punch bowl, and a beautiful red upright piano, among other spooky prizes.

Let's Make a Deal celebrated the holiday in 2010 with ladies dressed as Snow White, pigs, fairies, suns, farm girls in gingham pinafores, and cheetahs in tight jumpsuits. They carved pumpkins, pulled Zonks out of witches' cauldrons, and watched a brief filmed parody of Thriller with Wayne Brady and one of the models. The pig went for the Big Deal of the Day. She missed the Big Deal, but she did get some very nice 60's-style living room furniture that was almost the same price as the game room she gave up. 

Celebrate the spookiest season of the year game show style with a scary marathon of your own! 

What's My Line (1958)

I've Got a Secret (1959)

Hollywood Squares (1976)

Beat the Clock (1979)

Press Your Luck (1984) 

Sale of the Century (1988)

Super Password (1988)

Family Feud (1989)

Let's Make a Deal (2010)

The Eagles Steamroll the Bengals

Began the morning with a quick breakfast and that original cast album CD for the 1966 Annie Get Your Gun Lincoln Center revival. Original star Ethel Merman joins Bruce Yarnell as Frank Butler and Jerry Orbach as Buffalo Bill's manager Charlie here. It loses the two numbers for the ingenues in the original and 1999 revival, but keeps "Indian Too" and adds what would be the last new Irving Berlin song heard on a stage. Frank wants "An Old-Fashioned Wedding," but Annie basically says to go big with the ceremony, or go home. It's Berlin's last attempt at two songs performed in counterpoint to each other, and it's absolutely hilarious.

Hurried out to work after that. It was basically a repeat of yesterday - quiet in the morning, picking up to become much steadier by early afternoon. It remained busy even after the Eagles - Bengals game started. Once again, I got so caught up doing other things in the last hour, I barely had the chance to do carts. This time, they wanted me to put away a cart full of cold items. Which put me behind on gathering the carts. I never did get to the ones at the main entrance.

At least I did get to see Rose and Finley doing their own grocery shopping today. They'd just come from the small Walmart in Audubon Crossings. Finley had a unique black metallic stuffed balloon-style dog. They'll be doing trick-or-treating and the Oaklyn Halloween Parade, and otherwise seem to be doing just fine. (Oh, and Finley is going to be an evil fairy for Halloween.)

Rushed straight home after work and into the Eagles - Bengals game on Paramount Plus. Fortunately, they were on halftime when I arrived. The Eagles were up 17-10 when I got home and dominated the game from then on. The Bengals tried, but kept getting steamrolled. It was a glorious game, played on no less than the Bengals' home turf. The Eagles eventually beat the tight pants off the Bengals, 37 - 17.

Went from the Eagles game right into dinner and tonight's Match Game marathon. This one was themed around Halloween, either having episodes that were filmed or debuted at Halloween or mentioned Dracula and Frankenstein in some way. The closest the 70's-80's show got to having a Halloween episode was the time Charles Nelson Reilly was late and head Boss Mark Goodson briefly filled in for him. Later in the episode, there was a question about what Charles' Halloween costume would be. There was also the syndicated show where Gene wore a white wig and called himself Old Man Periwinkle, and another when he had his head wrapped mummy-style. 

Match Game wouldn't attempt an actual Halloween episode until 1990. This one went all out, with decorations and costumes for the contestants and the entire panel. Host Ross Schafer was Dracula. Charles went as Superman, complete with inflatable muscles. Brett was a little girl with a big pink bow. The two soap opera actors that week were a wizard and Miss Liberty. Vicki was Little Red Riding Hood in a scandalously short dress. It was ventriloquist Ronn Lucas and his dragon friend Scorch, though, who managed to come up with the scariest costume of all.

Celebrate Halloween the Match Game way with these spooktacuarly hilarious episodes!

Match Game Sunday Night Classics - Match Game Halloween Costume Party

Crooner's Matches

Got such a fast start this morning, I barely had enough time to gulp my breakfast and hurry to work! Work went fine during the morning, when it was less busy. I was able to focus on sweeping and pushing carts...until it started to pick up around noon. I had to clean up a broken bottle of non-alcoholic red wine, which put me way behind on carts. I had to rush around and get all of the carts up front done in 10 minutes, and I never did get to the ones in the back.

Needless to say, I rushed straight home after that. Watched the 1966 version of The Canterville Ghost while I changed and had a snack. I go further into this surprisingly good TV retelling of the Oscar Wilde short story at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Musicals On TV - The Canterville Ghost (1966)

Finished the night with a shower, dinner and a very long marathon on YouTube. Singer Jack Jones, who passed away yesterday, had a long association with game shows. He did at least two What's My Line episodes in the early 60's as a Mystery Guest and another later in the decade on the panel. His first appearance on the original 60's Password was early in the series with Carol Lynley; he would do a color week later in the 60's with none other than Joan Fontaine. In both cases, he played very well, easily getting his contestants through the Lightning Round.

He turned up in Password Plus with Audrey Meadows late in its run when Tom Kennedy was the host. (Tom mentions Allen Ludden recovering and returning. Sadly, Allen died before that could happen.) He did even better on a wild week of Super Password in 1984 with Jo Ann Worley. Host Bert Convy took a rather big pratfall coming out at one point, while Jo Ann easily flew through two Super Password bonus rounds and almost got another. His only appearance on Hollywood Squares was late in its run, when it was being filmed at the Riviera in Las Vegas. Paul Lynde, Steve Kanaly, George Gobel, Foster Brooks, and Pearl Bailey are among the celebrities joining him.

By far the most unique show on this stream was the one of two remaining episodes of the 1979 Goodson-Todman flop Mindreaders. Two teams of men and women read a celebrity captain's mind via yes and no questions. The bonus round has them trying to guess how ten people in the audience will answer a certain question. Dick Martin is a charming host, but the format is ridiculous. The "guess how ten people in the audience will react" thing would work better in the 1986 Card Sharks. No wonder the show only lasted five months in late 1979-early 1980. 

Jack appeared in some of the most memorable weeks of Match Game in 1979. His first week was actually in late 1978. In fact, he would be around to see Charles, Gene, and Brett christen the new sign with screw-in numbers on New Year's Eve and Gene turn up covered in streamers and stumbling around on New Year's Day. He was on the week later in 1979 where Gene auctioned off Loni Anderson's bathing suit poster (and Charles won it) and Joyce Bulifant and a contestant showed off their sterling jitterbug skills. 

By the time he returned near the end of 1979, the show had moved to syndication. Cheeky Alfie White and Patty Duke joined up just in time to see Charles finally do some emoting for Oscar-winner Patty. Patty got help with her bruised knee from an attractive physical therapist, leading Jack to run out and try to do the same. Jack also turned up in one of the most memorable later nighttime episodes. Charles got so frustrated after a contestant didn't choose him, he tore his name off the Star Wheel and tried to leave.

Let's make another run with some lollipops and roses and honor this beloved ship-shape crooner!

Match Game Saturday Night Classics - Jack Jones Tribute