halloween end

Our guests arrived at the lamp-lit door

The table was set with family treasures

Christopher Lee read Dracula to us

Then all hell broke loose near Midnight!

Tudor Crisps - Wear-em Scare-ems by Tony K: a Halloween special

WEAR-EM SCARE-EMS - Tudor Crisps

Tales from the Haunted Toy Box

Tudor Crisps - 'The only crisp worth its salt'. That's what the advert said. Maybe at the time it was true. Tudor Crisps are legendary. Kids in the 70s loved 'em. Tudor Crisps were radically rebellious and challenged and shocked conventional trends and taste buds alike. 

Like a potato chip Pied Piper, Tudor lured the kids away from the boring and the predictable. They teased and tempted with ever anarchic flavours. It was an era when ready salted was the name of the game for the starchy competition. 

Maybe you remember those cold winter Friday fright nights? Staying up late. Sitting by a cosy glowing fire. Watching an old Vampire movie on telly... and sinking your nashers into a packet of Tudor's hot dog and mustard, or fried tomato and bacon crisps. 

For those with a heightened taste for stomach churning horror, Tudor offered fried onion flavour, kipper flavour, and toe-curling chocolate flavour crisps. 

Today the spectre of those Witching Hour snacks still haunt us like glutinous ghosts and leave us with a bad taste in our mouths. We may well purse our tame, middle-aged lips, in mock horror and pretend they weren't to our taste.

But remember back in then, we were wild and unstoppable. Ready to try anything new. Especially if it was advertised on telly and could be found in the corner shop, with the potential of a free gift. 

Fearsome flavours aside. Tudor are also remembered for their multitude of medallions, badges, and even a colourful flutter of Flutter-Byes. Trinkets which were offered as rewards to loyal young customers and hungry collectors throughout the 70s. 

Possibly the most memorable of these uber cool sets, then and now, are the eight WEAR-EM SCARE-EMS monster medallions. This set which was released in 1974 included, the Aztec Mask, Gorgon's Head, Scaredevil, Shrunken Head, Skull & Crossbones, Naxia Sphinx, Voodoo Mask, and my own favourite, the Werewolf. 

These quality metal medallions came with a small card, telling the lucky recipient all about his badge and the legend behind it. All it took for the aspiring werewolf pup to get his young paws on a medallion was an SAE and six different empty packets of Tudor Crisps, sent off to their Teeside PO box number. 

A key marketing point for WEAR-EM SCARE-EMS... was 'TRADE EM'. Tudor knew that trading was the key to kiddie commerce. It was encouraged and nurtured. It's how I obtained my treasured Werewolf medallion. 

I was a small 11 year old, apprehensively starting at a big secondary school. I swapped a handful of dog-eared footballer bubble gum cards for the little metal gem. 

It secretly lived in my school blazer pocket. It was a sacred totem of protection. It would ward off aggressors and transform my pure heart into a wolf when the wolf bane bloomed and the autumn moon was bright. 

Now in my 50s, I sometimes glimpse blood shot red eyes peering back at me from the bathroom mirror? 

My level headed wife assures me it's simply because I squint to read small print. 

But, if like me, you possessed, or were possessed by, any of the wonderful WEAR-EM SCARE-EMS medallions as a kid, then you'll know where I'm coming from. 

Bad moon rising...

Tony K

it's in the trees! it's coming again!

Its Halloween where the promise of grue and jitters whispers in our ear like the fetid air of an opened crypt.

As its the annual night of the demon I thought I would look at a few creepy connections about the film of the same name, Night of the Demon, the diabolical masterpiece of director Jacques Tourneur from 1957. In the States it was called Curse of the Demon [what's it called where you are?]

The film, based on M.R James' short story Casting the Runes, is basically a battle between good and evil. It concerns the attempts of skeptic Professor Harrington to debunk the satanic claims of evil sorcerer Dr. Karswell and the dark consequences that follow.

It features runes, burning parchments and the most hideous monster in the history of film, the fire demon of the film's title.

With such an iconic movie there are of course many stories, samples and eerie coincidences. The most famous line of all in Demon is without doubt "Its in the trees, its coming" as heard at the end of the famous seance scene shown below - courtesy of You Tube.

The most well known re-usage of this line - a so-called sample - was at the beginning of Kate Bush's 1986 single The Hounds of Love, the official music video of which is shown below:

One of the most prominent locations in the film is the grand home of the mysterious Dr. Karswell, Lufford Hall in the flick, seen in the distance below. Dana Andrews and Peggy Cummins discuss its many dark secrets in her sports car on the palladian bridge leading to the Hall

In reality it is Brocket Hall in Hertforshire. It was used as a location in more recent times for the films Willow, Highlander and Omen; The Final Cionflict. It was also used for an episode of the Professionals called Mixed Doubles and  an episode of TV's Morse called Who Killed Harry Enfield shown below.

Besides the big house Night of the Demon also went on location to London's British Museum, both inside and out.

Here the Professor walks with conviction across the courtyard.

and here modern fans are treated to the British Film Institute's recent digital remastering of the movie in the same spot! How's that for mirroring!

The movie's chilling music was composed by Clifton Parker, although I have also read that the 'plain song' was scored by an uncredited Nigerian composer called Felo Sowande MBE. 

Whether the opening theme is this 'plain song' I don't know [do you?] but here's the unforgettable title theme music with the mesmerising voice of Dana Andrews.

Its even a SABRE film! Project SWORD gets everywhere!

Felo went on to score many Fifties films including four Swedish movies like Asa Nisa Ordnar Allt.

Night of the Demon has inspired many film-makers. Sam Raimi paid homage to it in his modern demonic remake Drag Me to Hell made in 2009.

In Night of the Demon the twisted Dr. Julian Karswell meets his untimely demise on a train track in the film's monstrous ending.

In the climax of Drag Me to Hell Raimi dispatches the film's protagonist in an similarly demonic fashion on a railway line.

Ken Adam, of later 007 production design fame, talks here  about his involvement with the film too.

There are many more connections [excuse the rail pun] on IMDB. Better still watch the movie this Halloween, its monstrously good!

For a taster just watch this, the iconic night chase through the woods including the smoking cloven hoof prints. Its in the trees! It's coming! Enjoy!

doing anything for Halloween?

What are you doing this Halloween readers?

halloweeners! Frankenstein drops his trousers!

A little bit of macabre Moonbase mayhem for Halloween.

There's fell deeds and skulduggery down at the Castle!

happy halloween 2016!

 

 

Its Halloween so as usual I'm messing about with my skull.

It's my soft rubber skull I got around 2005. Its the same as the one I had as a kid in the early Seventies.

Hope you're having fun with your monster toys.

Happy Halloween readers!

What will you be doing tonight?

seen any films recently?

Seen any good movies lately?

I've started loads but for one reason or another not finished them. 

I watched The Intruder Within from the 80's last week. It's a poorman's Alien - The Thing rip-off set on a remote oil rig. A waste of time really but I enjoyed it for some odd reason.

Plan 9 From Outer Space was a black and white antique I enjoyed much more. Notoriously one of the best worst movies ever made, Ed Wood's disasterpiece is almost a must-see. Starring the ghost-faced Tor Johnson, a cemetery and various model flying saucers, I was mesmerised.

However, the real star is Vampira, a long fingered, hour-glass waisted alien Morticia, who drifts around the cemetery. Not since discovering Tura Satana in Russ Meyer's Faster Pussycat Kill Kill have I been so transfixed by a femme fatale on film. 

I also caught the second half of Drag Me To Hell. I saw it at the flicks on release but hadn't appreciated Sam Raimi's desire to cast it as a remake of the classic Night of the Demon. Lacking the older film's gothic atmosphere Drag Me does not have the same impact in my opinion.

Anyway, have you seen any films, good or bad, of late?

****

Post Script!

Here's a piccy of Vampira from Plan 9 from Outer Space. Having read a bit more about here, she was a Finnish-American called Maila Nurmi. Originally a magazine cover girl, she was a close friend of James Dean no less. 

Known as the First Goth and the Dark Goddess of Horror she was also the first TV horror host appearing in the 1950's on US television [anyone seen it?]

You can see and read more of Vampira on the superb Vampira Show website.

For some strange reason Vampira reminds me of the original German Bild Lilli - below - on which the US Barbie was based.

Bold Lilli spawned many other clones besides Barbie and Marx's Miss Marlene - below - was one. Dressed in black she could be Vampira's double! With the iconic vampy make-up, these early Lilli lookalikes were even known as Queens of Outer Space. 

You can read and see more about these on the cool Fondation Tanagra site.

lp astronauts and toy jets

I've just noticed that the above carded Acrobatic Team featured on Hugh's fantabulous Small Scale World website is a variation of my own Dare-devil and Valu-Pak bagged sets.

I got them both together, pictured below and except for the helicopter and the paratrooper its the same stuff just different colours!

Anyone else got any sets like these?

What are the jets?

rubber ugly monster toy

remember these rubbery guys!

What the hell were they?

all hallows eve beckons; task force alerted

REMCO CRICKET SQUAD

Remco's 3 'crickets': the green Mosquito Jeep, the white Tiger Jeep [not pictured] and the yellow Star Trek Astrocruiser, were all deployed in space and faced giant bugs a plenty. 

Here's a 1964 ad.

A 1964 boxed set.

A 1969 Star trek Astrocruiser

I liked this piccy on Etsy showing a SpaceX Cricket facing a very different kind of Bug!

pics: etsy, hakes, l&l collectables

watching donnie darko

Young Donnie's meeting his rabbit buddy over here on the Horror Channel. Watching it with Blue the Moonbase mutt. He's got his eyes shut.

What are you up to?

....

Watching Drag Me To Hell now! Yikes!

thunder ball mystery toy solved

Back in May I asked if anyone knew the source of the helmeted boy on the box art of this old Thunder Ball toy. Nothing was forthcoming....

 

.....until tonight when I was packing away my big box videos in the attic.

Eureka! Its from the movie D.A.R.Y.L

I haven't watched it. Have you?

OLD STATIONARY QUIZ

For most of my adult life I have pushed pens around in various guises.

Offices have changed but not completely. Some old friends from the dusty stationary drawer still remain.

I've put together a few bits of stationary here.

Can you name them readers?

ONE EACH PLEASE with the number!

where is your collection?

My own collection, an assortment of toys, books and comics, are scattered around my bedroom and the attic. Some stuff is in drawers and some in boxes. 

Well-behaved toys get to stay in the display cabinets!

Where do you keep your finds readers?

giant crabs won't stop me

Just home from Hospital duties. I fed my Grandson tonight. A Grandad first! He's now four and half pounds and doing well. Its a tough job sating his thirst so we are relieving his young Mum each day so she can go home, eat normal food and catch up on sleep!

going to the mattresses

I recall in the Godfather an expression the Mafiosi used to describe battening down the hatches at a safe house in times of war between the five families. It was 'going to the mattresses'. Well, we've gone to the mattresses to be closer to our Grandson in hospital.

It's half term so my role is to look after the mutt so I'm in the house a lot. I have TV, the Internet and books. Books are winning at the mo and the current tome is Origin of the Crabs by Guy N. Smith.

Written in 1979 and published by NEL Origin of the Crabs explains how giant crabs surface from a Scottish sea loch to wreak bloody havoc on the local laird's estate. The book follows Night of the Crabs and Killer Crabs and was no doubt written on the crest of the author's crab wave at the end of the Seventies.

For me, the clickety series peaked with Night of the Crabs, with the crabs invading the holiday resort of Butlins in Wales. This struck a chord with me as my Parents took me there as a kid in the Sixties!

I must say I love Guy N. Smith's novels. I have read most of them I think. My favourite has to be the Sucking Pit, which I re-read most summers on holiday. Easy, none- taxing, light country horror, the perfect medium for cafes, beaches and sleepy harbours. I suppose, yes, it's trashy horror too.

The late Seventies and the Eighties were the golden years for trashy horror in the UK. It may have been worldwide. Along with Guy, fellow grue meister Shaun Hutson was particularly prolific penning such classics as Slugs and The Skull.

The next novel on my travelling pile is The Great White Space by Basil Copper. Compared with HP Lovecraft, it's a book I'm looking forward to. I may even have read it already as I've forgotten what I've read!

As well as reading these horror paperbacks I do like to own them and my collection is in the hundreds I would say. The garish cover art is really fascinating and almost a lost tradition.

Do you collect horror or sci fi paperbacks readers and what are you reading now?

mystery toy space tractor

I saw this toy set online and noticed the tractor. The whole set is the Matchbox Mega Rig Arctic Submarine from 1999. 

The orange tractor beneath the sub reminds me of another toy. Is it from Thunderbirds and maybe Captain Scarlet?

Any idea?

::::::

  

I was thinking  of this red truck. What is it?

communications delay

I am currently supporting my family get through a difficult time in Hospital this week so I may not answer comments or emails as quickly as I would like at the moment.

Please bear with me.

New daily posts have been scheduled until the 30th October.

lp boxed sets re-opened

A few years back I posted this picture of a box rear that a reader had sent me. It features a series if six box sets by our friends LP.

Looking at it again tonight I thought I'd straighten it and highlight each set. Doing this I was amazed to see one of them contains a SpaceX/ Golden Astronaut -type P3 helicopter! 

LP collectors among you will be used to seeing SpaceX/ Golden Astronaut -type toys in these sets but I'm not. 

These pictures highlight just how connected LP's boxed space sets were to Imperial's Apollo Moon Exploring carded sets and the the larger Miniature Apollo Explorations boxed set.

What do you think readers? Have you any LP sets?

hg toys silver pleasure cruiser

I never tire of seeing Spacex clones. Here's one, on an old auction site, we've seen before, the silver Pleasure Cruiser, which came as part of the Alien Attack boxed set by HG Toys.

Anyone got the whole boxed set or maybe just the silver clone? The one I have is brown.

See Creatures Redux

Way back in 2011, I ran a post about my collection of arthropod based toys, seen here:http://projectswordtoys.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/see-creatures.html

The pink lobster was part of the Silverlit Multimac Ocean Discovery range and recently, I managed to find its companion, the Crab Navigator.

Both toys are interchangeable with most of the rest of the Multimac range, which as it has changed hands over ten years has seen a lot of different scales and means of connection. The Crab, however is a solid toy with flip out swim fins, opening claws and figures to sit in the front cockpit. As both toys are cast in bright coloured plastic, they both respond well to illumination with a black security light, the ultra violet making certain pieces fluoresce brightly like bioluminescence.

toys international july august 1969; the full s.w.o.r.d. and spacex article

Further to Tuesday's post, I've now pieced together what I think is the full 4 page spread in Toys International that collector Will Osborne sent me over ten years ago.  Will will have sent a note about them but I can't find it at the mo.

The "look" of the top two are the same and the magazine name and date of the top right and the bottom spread are the same.

It all looks right.

The missing page is the one top right above about SpaceX toys, Zeroids etc. Just click to enlarge.

The SpaceX text is shown close-up below:

its the toy that did the kessel run in 12 parsecs

It's funny how coincidences pile up like Wampa's doo doo. This happened to me whilst holidaying in West Wales this summer.

Strolling through the town of Tenby I chanced upon a toy shop. In one of the rooms on a lonely top shelf was this:

Researching this toy further I discovered that this domed Empire Strikes Back display was made by N.J. Farmer Association Ltd of Leicester back in the day.

As it turned out, this particular example was also known to other Star Wars fans and collectors. In fact the toy shop owner sought their advice concerning the display on the Star Wars forum in 2014

http://starwarsforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=22269&sid=91e503427d15377a8e486cb7137cf7f3

Goggling further I found that the same display on the same toy shop turned up on an online auction, the Saleroom, in June 2015.

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-us/auction-catalogues/peter-francis/catalogue-id-peter-10068/lot-15846c38-72f8-43c6-80a8-a4b400fa9d09

Unless there is more than one toy shop in Tenby housing such a fine domed display I would say it didn't sell as I saw the very same this summer!

Its worth noting that the link between Star Wars and West Wales goes beyond a mere perspex dome however. In fact one could say that the kessel run goes right through it!

The Millennium Falcon was built in Pembroke Dock no less, a huge working model made in secrecy under the code name Magic Roundabout according to Wiki.

You can see pictures and read the full story on various Welsh websites such as 

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/film-news/welsh-town-millennium-falcon-built-11323238

Can you believe that I was actually in Pembroke Dock this summer and only found out about this afterwards so missed the exhibition there!

I am consoling myself however with a possible Millennium kitbash connection I've spotted!

Remember the cup-like cockpit sticking out on the front of the Falcon?

Well check out the similar ends to this Monogram Space Taxi!

Then again the Flying Fortress had a bulbous gun turret too!

Does anyone know the actual sources used for the Millennium Falcon?