Halloween 2011 - Web Site Banner Decorating Round Up!

It's time for the 2011 Halloween Web Site Banner Decorating Round Up!

I've done this both in 2008 and 2009 and regret not having been able to do it last year. 

It works like this:  I visit a bunch of well-traveled search engines to see not only who has decorated their normal web header to celebrate Halloween, but also to find out who's doing it the best. 
For example:  Google is known for their ever-changing "Google Doodles" but will they take the crown this Halloween? 
Let's take a look and see... 

Total Skull's Happy Halloween Video

Sheri Moon Zombie's totally cool, totally sleek "Total Skull" line of clothing released a new video for the fans today called simply "Total Skull Halloween."

Poltergeists and the Law: The "Ghostbusters Case"

If I dropped the name of a court case called Stambovsky v. Ackley you'd say "Snooooore.  If I wanted to watch Law & Order I'd... watch Law & Order." 

But what if I called the same case "The Ghostbusters Case?" 
You might perk up and say "Hm?  What's that now?  Was this on Law & Order?"

So come on along and I'll tell you a little tale of The Ghost and Mrs. Muir... but Mrs. Muir was actually Mrs. Ackley... and Mrs. Ackley got sued by Mr. Stambovsky... who wasn't a ghost...
Aw, just read on...

McDonalds 2011 Halloween Pails Are Back!

I apologize for not revealing this information sooner. I was waiting to find the green pail so I could photograph and include both, but alas, it has so far escaped me and we're entering "Halloweekend."

McDonalds has put out --quietly-- their 2011 Halloween Pails! 
When I say "quietly" I mean, there's no web presence like last year, no TV commercials and no advertising for them of any kind. 
If I weren't a Halloween Addict bent on finding them this year, I would have no idea they exist.

Top 10 List of Horror Movie Lists for 2011

Horror movie lists.
They're the staple article for the month of October for every media portal from major newspapers and magazines to minor websites and blogs.  

TONIGHT: It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown on ABC @ 8pm

I'm going to make this quick as I've said everything I can possibly say about this eternal Halloween TV classic (do a search for "Charlie Brown" on this site and you'll see). 

It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown airs TONIGHT, Thursday, October 27th at 8pm PT/ET.

Pinball FX2 Releases FREE "Paranormal" Table in Time for Halloween!

Just in time for Halloween, the awesome Pinball FX2 has released a FREE download-able table called "Paranormal." 

Top 10 Celebrities with the Most Halloween Spirit

Celebrities.
They're all over the place:  on your TV, in your check-out aisle and tweetin' on your Twitter-machine.

Sure many go to parties and still more put on costumes, but which celebrities have the most "Halloween Spirit?"

That's right:  "Halloween Spirit"---a phrase I'll define as 'the ability and desire to embrace the Halloween holiday in such a way to make it noteworthy.'

My Quest for the Ultimate Nightmare on Elm Street Freddy Krueger Glove

FrightCatalog.com asked me if there was any product from their catalog that I wanted to review on Halloween Addict.
Without hesitation I said "The Deluxe Edition Replica A Nightmare on Elm Street Glove" like I was spouting off the specs for a Red Ryder BB gun to Santa Claus.

Little did they know what a quest I've had over the past 20 years, trying to find a Freddy Krueger glove that was affordable, metal, attractive and was readily available for the Halloween season.

Candy Review: LifeSavers Gummies Spooky Shapes

I'm trying to expand my Halloween candy horizons this year but, standing in front of the huge candy aisles of the various stores I've visited, it's a daunting task. 
How do I pick?

PopCap Games' Halloween Video

Boy those crazy kids at PopCap really, really, REALLY love their Halloween.

Not only have they been posting How-Tos on making your own Plants Vs. Zombies costumes, and not only have they come up with some great costumes themselves, but NOW they're posting videos for no other reason than to say "Happy Halloween!"

The PEANUTS Cast Don A 'stache for Chocolate Milk: The Official Drink of Halloween

For the first time in years, a web banner ad caught my attention and that led me to the print ad (see left).

It had the Peanuts characters in Halloween masks and costumes and sporting chocolate milk mustaches.
I did my part and clicked through out of curiosity and quickly learned that chocolate milk is the Official Drink of Halloween.

Mondo to Release Limited Edition Trick 'r Treat Poster TODAY!

It pains me to even bring this up as it may be sold out before I finish typing these words.

The always awesome Mondo Tees will be releasing this incredible Trick 'r Treat poster (see left) at some point today.

AMC's Fearfest is Back in Full Swing

October continues to sail along and I almost forgot to tip off those who may not know that AMC's Fearfest is back in full swing!

T-Shirt Tuesday: Halloween Tees from Shirt.Woot!'s Shirtoberfest!

The now-you-see-it-now-you-don't-deal site Woot! is having a Shirtoberfest on their Shirt.Woot! sister site. 

Krispy Kreme's Halloween Doughnuts 2011

Oooooh boy.
On the heels of the Baskin Robbins Halloween flavor announcement last week, we've now got THIS to contend with.
Krispy Kreme has their 2011 Halloween doughnuts out for a limited time. 

Halloween Mix Tape 2011

Ah, the Halloween Mix.
The "Halloween Mix" post seems to be done by everyone, along with the "Halloween Movies To Watch List," but as it's been a few years (2008) since I've posted one and I already built this mix in my iPod, I figured I may as well share it with you.

New Trick 'r Treat: "Making Friends" Short!

Boy oh boy!  On the heels of just-released 30 Second Bunnies short on Trick 'r Treat is the latest FearNet short promoting the all-day Trick 'r Treat marathon: "Making Friends."   

Bun-o-Vision: Trick 'r Treat in 30 Seconds Re-Enacted with Bunnies!

I gave a heads up on this back in July HERE, but time flies and now we can have some fun as the 30 Second Bunny Theater tackles Trick 'r Treat!

How to Make Your Own Plants Vs. Zombies Costumes

Boy those PopCap peeps really know how to get their Halloween on. 

Not only do their employees have great costume ideas (like the "Action Movie Poster," read about it HERE) but now the PopCap team is showing you how to make your own costumes from the various Plants Vs. Zombies characters. 
And they MADE the game, so they should know!

Baskin Robbins 2011 Halloween Flavor

I'm attempting to keep tabs on any major company's Halloween tie-in this year, figuring if Halloween Addicts show support and get the word out there, more people will buy the products and thusly they'll continue to DO Halloween tie-ins. 
So Baskin... Robbins... this one's for you.

T-Shirt Tuesday: Trick or Peeps

Peeps!
No, I'm not talking street and trying to get your attention.
Peeps! 
Those sugar-coated shape-shifting marshmallows that show up every holiday.

It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown Limited Edition Poster

DarkHallMansion.com

[The people of Halloweentown mill about the square, shifting uneasily.  There's some news in the air.]

Town Crier:  "People!  PEOPLE LISTEN!  I have good news and bad news and good news... that might be bad news for some."

[The townsfolk police themselves, ending conversations, shushing others.]

.99 Cent Store Halloween Headquarters Trip: 3 Candies Reviewed

Every year I try and make it to a .99 Cent Store near me to see if there are any diamonds in the rough.  I have three, count 'em THREE, in a 2 mile radius of me and all were boasting (with large neon-orange banners) that THEY were the "Halloween Headquarters."  So I spun my car in a circle and headed for one.

Godiva Chocolates Posts Their Halloween 2011 Merch...

I've been scouring the net high and low this year trying to find the coolest Halloween merchandise being peddled.  Imagine my surprise when I stopped by Godiva Chocolates to find their 2011 line of Halloween candy to have a few noteworthy items.

REVIEW: The Horrors of Stephen King on Turner Classic Movies

As October races along, I’ve been trying to catch what Halloween television programming I can before it all goes away on November 1^st.   

One of the things (that I posted about back in August) that I was looking forward to was Turner Classic Movies' documentary: The Horrors of Stephen King.  And it doesn't disappoint...

RECIPE: Skeleton Pretzel Cupcakes

Photo: Kate Sears, WomansDay.com

I enjoy a good looking Halloween recipe from time to time, even if it's something I'd never make.

But I have to say, that when I figured out how the skeletons were built on these Skeleton Pretzel Cupcakes I literally had a moment of "ooooOOOOH!  The PRETZELS are the BONES of the SKELETONS!!!  That's freakin' brilliant!" exclamation.

Grand Theft Halloween - One Fan's Video Game Homage to a Classic...

I'm always impressed by fan's dedication to Halloween.
I'm not just talking about the season, but the film:  John Carpenter's Halloween.  For a simple horror film in the late '70s it never ceases to amaze me how much the-little-slasher-that-could has gone on to inspire and terrify generations decade after decade.

Halloween Wines: Dos, Don'ts and Make YOUR Fav Taste Better...

You see them in every store's Halloween food section going by names like "Tricky Red" or "Treat Bag Chardonnay" or "Zombie Blood."

Halloween Wines.

What's a good buy?
What's swill in a bottle?
And how do I make the wine I like taste better?

These questions and more answered... 

Halloween Fireworks? Taking a look at the Phantom-Brand "Halloween Bag of Tricks"

In October, my grocery store is always a dependable venue for the Halloween basics:  candy, typical decorations, pumpkins ---and then they'll have one obscure item.

The Phantom-Brand "Halloween Bag of Tricks" was 2009's black sheep--- which means I had to buy it.  And I did.  And I held onto it.  For a special time.
That time is now.

DVD Review: Rankin Bass's Mad Mad Mad Monsters and Festival of Classics Jack o' Lantern

I can't remember who tipped me off to this release originally but I'm glad they did.

You see, I'm a fan of animated Halloween specials of the past like Garfield's Halloween Adventure and (of course) It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.

But when something comes along that I wasn't even aware of --like Mad Mad Mad Monsters and its special feature program:  Festival of Classics: Jack o' Lantern-- I get to experience the thrill of watching a Halloween special for the first time.
It's as close as you can get to time travel without leaving your couch.

UPDATED: 10 Halloween Things That Should Exist But Don't...

Halloween Addicts live in a pretty great time.

There are actual, metal, good-looking Freddy gloves you can buy in stores; The Exorcist officially licensed products; fake pumpkins that never rot but look real; affordable fog machines; a giant inflatable Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man; super-bright LED lights that last forever; no flame tea lights and giant gummi brains.
Yep we live in pretty great times, indeed.

But there are a few things that are still missing from our wondrous holiday.
Things that should exist but don't.

Here are Ten:

Halloween Countdown Begins!

Well here we are again!
The first day of October.
The first of the last 31 days until our favorite holiday hits:  Halloween.

Halloween Addict is proudly taking part in the "Countdown to Halloween" Halloween Countdown.
Is that sentence redundant? 
No, this is redundant.  This is redundant. 

The little blog-a-thon-that-could has grown to a whopping 200 participants this year and THIS [throws thumbs at self] Halloween Addict can't wait to see what all of 'em are sharing in their goody bags this year.

As for what to expect here at H.A., you can expect longer, more in-depth articles throughout the month.  Sure there will be short posts too, and you can go back through the archives to get your fill of those if you're new to the site. 

I really strove to bring some reading on Halloween-related topics that you're not going to get anywhere else. 
Let me know in the comments of each posting this month what you're liking.

Glad to have you here.
Glad to be part of the Countdown.
Now, let's get this party started right.
Let's get this party started quickly... right?