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Horror Nostalgia

[Video] The 1981 NBC Premiere Broadcast Of John Carpenter’s “Halloween” Complete With Commercials!

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[Video] The 1981 NBC Premiere Broadcast Of John Carpenter's "Halloween"!

October 30th, 1981, lives in infamy with HALLOWEEN fans as one of the greatest days the franchise has ever seen. All Hallow’s Eve ’81 not only saw the theatrical debut of the highly anticipated HALLOWEEN II but also the world premiere of John Carpenter’s 1978 “immortal classic,” HALLOWEEN.

And I got the embedded video right here, complete with commercials as it once aired for all our gluttonous entertainment for horror movie tracking nostalgia!

Horrors of Halloween

But first, a little background because I need to fill the page up here.

Upon the major success of the independent film with audiences, NBC Universal bought the television rights for HALLOWEEN for a whopping (at the time) 3 million bucks. It was eager to be the first to air it for the Samhain season. However, the FCC being what it is, wanted NBC to censor some of the film’s scenes, which ultimately led to the standard practice of editing down the movie for sensitive viewers but in the same act, shortening the allotted running time for said time slot.

That being the case and after much debate with Debra Hill and Carpenter, Carpenter agreed to shoot extra scenes for the televised version to appease the corporate Gods; and wasn’t that much of an inconvenience for them considering they were shot during the filming of HALLOWEEN II. This brings a very interesting point to these now-infamous scenes as the movie and extra footage were being shot simultaneously, it better ratifies the sister films together; especially with the bonus scenes of a young Myers staring out a window (of which a snippet actually makes it into the theatrical cut of HALLOWEEN II via Laurie’s dream) and the extra scenes with Dr. Loomis. One of which, offers a more detailed description of how Myers escaped that night along with shots of his trashed room and scribblings on the door that say, “SISTER”. I’m assuming that was thrown in there purposely for the sibling plot twist element revealed in the sequel.

I want to make it a point to mention a rather ironically pointless note that since most of us are hip to the fact Jamie Lee Curtis had adopted her signature short haircut by 1980, her additional scene filmed at the Strode home with PJ Soles begging to borrow that notorious “expensive blouse” is shot entirely with a towel on her head. Presumably to hide her pixie-ish cut underneath.

It’s a small thing, but I always think about it when watching this version.

In 1981, I never got to witness this monumental night of new and altered versions of Halloween sister films, as I was a mere fetus in my birth mother’s belly and wouldn’t be born until the Summer of 1982. However, the ripple effects of notoriety from this televised version trickled over for years to come as I finally got to watch this edited treasure via my local Vegas horror TV horror movie host of the early 90s, Count Cool Rider-who is essentially Danny Koker of Counting Cars for you History TV and auto buffs. YouTuber Darth Awesome has re-uploaded this treasure that was once available on the platform but disappeared for a while. So kudos for making it available once again!

Welp. Enough rambling. Happy Halloween, nuggets!

News

New Documentary From “In Search Of Darkness” 1990-1994 Edition Up For Pre-Order!

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The ultimate visual guide to horror films by the decade, “IN SEARCH OF DARKNESS”, is back at it to stab our eyeballs with a 90s version. And the horror passionate campaign is underway for fans to preorder along with some goodies!

The creative minds behind the In Search of Darkness ‘ 80s horror trilogy and Aliens Expanded documentary, In Search of Darkness: 1990-1994 delves into an era of horror evolution marked by grittier, meta filmmaking, straight-to-video ingenuity, darker villains alongside franchise icons, and the birth of seismic digital-effects – leaving no shortage of terror tales on TV, at the local video store, and on multiplex screens. Landmark film favorites including Candyman , The Silence of the Lambs, Tremors , and Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Wes Craven’s New Nightmare, Stephen King’s IT miniseries, Frankenhooker and Peter Jackson’s Dead Alive are deconstructed, re-contextualized, and revered with a nostalgic, celebratory lens in In Search of Darkness: 1990-1994 , which features new interviews with legendary film icons of the ‘90s, side-by-side with genre experts and famous fans – all assembled to reframe a fascinating period in horror history and hold up a cracked
mirror to the compelling socio-political issues of the landscape.


“The ‘90s was a much more exciting time for horror filmmaking, TV programming, and bold innovation than many of us may remember,” says In Search of Darkness: 1990-1994 writer/director David Weiner. “There was an abundance of creative visions, vibrant approaches, and insane indie entries. And it was also a time of major transition, growing pains and evolution for horror filmmakers. I’m excited to present a brand-new line-up of ‘90s horror legends and contemporary voices, alongside several returning ‘80s favorites, to reframe the perspective of this oft-maligned decade of great horror entertainment and risk-taking in In Search of Darkness: 1990-1994. ”

“I’m thrilled to invite superfans on an extraordinary journey with In Search of Darkness: 1990-1994, ” says CEO of CREATORVC, Robin Block. “Together, we were able to show the world a new form of documentary with the first In Search of Darkness in 2019, expanding the film into a trilogy and subsequent books. We are excited to take on a new decade in horror and explore it with our fans.”

With new interviews and insights from the likes of John Carpenter, Heather Langenkamp, Ted Raimi, and Clancy Brown-just to name a few– it’s going to be pretty exciting to hear the perspectives from the legends on the start of a new decade of horror!

In Search of Darkness: 1990-1994 Purchase Options:

● SOD: 1990-94 BLU-RAY PACKAGE (including Blu-ray w/slipcase; 2 posters; name in credits; sew-on patch; digital copy of film; digital soundtrack; membership card; and exclusive certificate)

● THREE-DISC ISOD ‘80s TRILOGY COLLECTION (including In Search of Darkness Parts I-III Blu-rays with exclusive trilogy slipcase; digital copy of film; digital soundtrack)

Pre-orders for In Search of Darkness: 1990–1994 are available October 8 through midnight October 31, 2024 exclusively at www.90shorrordoc.com!

Cool shit to buy, News

Scoobtober is Back and Bigger Than Ever, Celebrating SCOOBY-DOO’s 55th Anniversary!

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Continuing with the annual tradition that first began back in 2020 with the Cartoon Network, MeTV Toons and Max have climbed on board for the 55th anniversary to pay tribute to Mystery Inc along with a ton of new merch dropping from major retailers!

Sorry though, no surprise decapitated heads.

Per the press release:

Warner Bros. Discovery’s month-long extravaganza is dedicated to Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. Gang with spooktacular programming, groovy products, and global events honoring the world’s most beloved mystery-solving pup and his friends. This year, in honor of the Hex Girls’ 25th anniversary, Scoobtober spotlights the powerful girls of the Mystery Inc. Gang and Luna, Dusk and Thorn, known as the Hex Girls, iconic in the Scooby-Doo universe for blending supernatural vibes with their catchy, spooky tunes.

The festivities kick off with a thrilling lineup of Scooby-Doo episodes on Cartoon Network and MeTV Toons and Max will host beloved Scooby-Doo films as well as a “Velma” Halloween special. The spooky fun continues with a Scoobtober Movie Marathon, 48-hours of Scooby-riffic content streaming on MultiVersus Twitch channel and the WB Kids YouTube channel. 

Cartoon Network is gearing up for Scoobtober with a hefty load of Scooby-Doo episodes, starting Monday, September 30. Tune in on weekdays from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for your daily dose of mystery-solving fun. Saturdays will feature Scooby-Doo DTV Movies from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., while Sundays kick off with a morning marathon from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. The spooky celebrations culminate on Thursday, October 31 with Halloween-themed episodes and a special Scooby-Doo takeover from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

From October 1 to October 31, WB Kids YouTube channels will host a month-long Scooby-Doo livestream, featuring six fan-favorite episodes. For even more Scooby-Doo fun, fans can join the Scoobtober 48-hour Movie Marathon to livestream 37 Scooby-Doo movies and check out compilations of some of the most beloved moments from the series. The fun begins October 26-28 at 10 a.m.  

MultiVersus, the free-to-play platform fighter featuring an ever-expanding roster of popular characters based on Warner Bros. Discovery franchises, is celebrating Scoobtober with a 48-Hour Movie Marathon livestream on the game’s Twitch Channel from Oct. 26 at 10 a.m. PT through Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PT. Based on the amount of viewing time of the stream, MultiVersus players will be granted free in-game rewards, including the But It Has 3 Bathrooms profile icon, Mystery Inc. Shaggy character variant, and 100 Gleamium (in-game currency). Fans can also test their knowledge with rounds of live Scooby-themed trivia, enjoy Scooby-themed games, and join in Hex Girls Karaoke. 

MeTV Toons is the new TV home of Scooby-Doo!, airing weekdays at 6 p.m. ET/PT and Sundays at 3 p.m. ET/PT. In celebration of Scoobtober, on Sunday, October 27 at 3 p.m. ET/PT, The Sven Squad from MeTV’s House of Svengoolie will also make a special appearance on MeTV Toons to present the “Scooby-Doo! Sunday Special – Hosted by the House of Svengoolie.”  

Boomerang is pulling out all the stops for Scoobtober with 11.5 hours of Scooby-Doo programming every weekday throughout the month (Mon-Fri 7-8 a.m., 1:30-7 p.m., 11 p.m.-4 a.m.). Weekends will feature 24-hour Scooby-Doo marathons, each day spotlighting a different series.

For Scooby-Doo’s favorite month, Max will be celebrating Scoobtober with the return of some of the most beloved Scooby-Doo films including Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost, Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island, Scooby-Doo Cyber Chase and Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo. And don’t miss the “Velma” Halloween special, from Warner Bros. Animation, streaming on Thursday, October 3, 2024, exclusively on Max. “Velma: This Halloween Needs to be More Special!” With just 24 hours to bring Velma back, the friends search for a dark spellbook while trying to avoid the wrath of a vengeful spirit. But as the annual Sexy Halloween party nears, Velma and the gang must face their biggest fears… if they all want to make it out alive. 

Some Scooby-Doo fans might remember a time when Saturday mornings were filled with the excitement of gathering around the TV for Saturday morning cartoons with the Mystery Inc. Gang. It’s time to recreate that magic and share it with a whole new generation…on TikTok! To celebrate Scoobtober Scooby-Doo’s TikTok will be going live on October 19th from 8 a.m.-8. p.m. with the Scoobtober Scoobstream with a replay on October 31. During the stream, fans will be able to catch some of the most memorable scenes featuring the Hex Girls and even some of the most requested clips straight from fans’ TikTok comments. 

In addition to a ton of programming, Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products (WBDGCP) has teamed up with partners like PUMA, Crocs, Walmart, Loungefly, BarkBox, BoxLunch, WB Shop, Spirit Halloween and more to release heaps of ghostly-good Scooby-inspired products!

The WB Shop is launching an all-new exclusive collection featuring the beloved Mystery Inc. Gang. Featuring one-of-a-kind apparel and homewares, this collection lets fans showcase their love for Scooby-Doo like never before. 

The new Scooby-Doo Crocs! The groovy collection of clogs and JibbitzTM charms will have the whole family walking in style. 

The all-new collection with PUMA is set to launch this November!

The new Loungefly backpack and wallet!

And check out the Scooby-Doo x RSVLTS collection of classic button-down shirts!

Not to mention Playmobil’s award-winning Mystery Mansion Playset!

Retailers including Walmart are bringing the heat with Scooby-Doo-inspired products including pajamas for adults and kids, perfect for displaying your fandom. The Hex Girls will be taking center stage at FYE with an exclusive backpack., and a new lineup of costumes dedicated to Scooby-Doo and his friends can be found at Spirit Halloween!

 Lastly, we can’t forget our fur friends! The Scooby-Doo Halloween Bundle from BarkBox has chew toys, treats, and accessories and Sassy Woof’s all-new collection of collars, harnesses, and leashes are over at Petsmart.

From those primetime airings to Saturday morning splendor, the simplest of premises of four meddling teenagers and a dog became such a staple spanning generations of fans.  Joe Ruby and Ken Spears created an idea that has carried television series, live-action big-budget films, numerous animated movies, and countless parodies. With its monster plots, Scooby-Doo became the ultimate introduction to horror for even the most timid kid.

For that, we salute you Scoobs.