Friday, October 31, 2008

2008 Halloween Countdown 31 Bonus: Happy Halloween

This should be my last Halloween post for this year. There are a few Elvira items that I have that I did not post about like the model car and Johnny Lightning die-cast cars. First, I would like to thank John Rozum, who has been doing a Halloween Countdown for three years. Secondly, I would like to thank all the participants of Halloween Countdown. Thirdly, I would like to thank all those that posted here especially Jay Amabile from The Sexy Armpit, Darius Whiteplume from Adventures In Nerdliness, Gunther Dedmund from The Basement Sublet of Horror and Reis O'Brien from Geek Orthodox. Finally, a big shout out to Jon Knutson from Jon's Random Acts of Geekery, who inspired me to do my first Halloween Countdown.

I'm giving out boxes of Marvel Hero Candy Sticks this year as part of my Halloween grab bag (each bag has six to seven pieces of candy including M&Ms, Pieces Reeses, Twixes, Kit Kats, Almond Joys, Star Bursts and suckers). Each box has two candy sticks that are one and half inches long and made mostly of sugar, corn starch and corn syrup. The bag of sixty features Hulk, Spider-Man and X-Men but none of the boxes have the Hulk on them. Three boxes have Spider-Man on front and back. One box has Reed Richards from the Fantastic Four on one side and the Thing on the other. The Thing has a box with him on both sides as does the Human Torch. Cyclops and Wolverine each has a box to represent the X-Men. Strange that none of the boxes themselves had the Hulk on them.

Here are the pictures of the Marvel Hero Candy Sticks bag and boxes:
Marvel Hero Candy Sticks bag
Marvel Hero Candy Sticks bag

Marvel Hero Candy Sticks boxes
Marvel Hero Candy Sticks boxes

Hope everyone has a safe and happy Halloween.

2008 Halloween Countdown 31: Elvira Greeting Cards

I was lucky enough to find three Elvira greeting cards at a local supermarket that Hallmark put out back in the late 1980s. I'm not sure how many were actually released but here are the scanned images:

Elvira birthday card from 1987
Elvira birthday card from 1987

Outside has "Hairy Spiders? Ha! What a laugh! Slimey snakes? Get serious! Gross monsters? Love it!"

Inside has "Another birthday? Woooooo...scary!"

Elvira Christmas card from 1987
Elvira Christmas card from 1987

Outside has "You should get lots of presents this Christmas, because I told Santa you've been good all year!"

Inside has "Fortunately, I didn't tell him WHAT! Merry Christmas!"

Elvira's Halloween card from 1988
Elvira's Halloween crd from 1988

Outside has "Trick or treat!"

Inside has "Either way, it'll be fun!"

If you'll looking for some online animated graphics to add to your blog, myspace profile or website, then you will find some with Elvira at ButterFunk.com:













Thursday, October 30, 2008

2008 Halloween Countdown 30: Elvira Computer Games

Several Elvira-themed computer games were released in the 1990s. I have none so the following images were found on the interweb.

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark computer game was released in 1990.
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark game box front
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark game box front

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark game box back
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark game box back

Manual and diskettes from Elvira, Mistress of the Dark game
Manual and diskettes from Elvira, Mistress of the Dark game

Elvira: The Arcade Game was released in 1991.
Elvira: The Arcade Game box front

Elvira: The Arcade Game screenshot #1
Elvira: The Arcade Game screenshot #1

Elvira: The Arcade Game screenshot #2
Elvira: The Arcade Game screenshot #2

Elvira II: The Jaws of Cerebus was released in 1992.
Elvira II: The Jaws of Cerebus box front
Elvira II: The Jaws of Cerebus box front

Elvira II: The Jaws of Cerebus
Elvira II: The Jaws of Cerebus box and contents

Elvira II: The Jaws of Cerebus screenshot
Elvira II: The Jaws of Cerebus screenshot

Elvira III: Waxworks was also released in 1992 but the computer game does not actually feature the Mistress of the Dark. Elvira I, II and III have been collected in a bundle available directly from Adventure Soft called Elvira's Horror Pack.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

2008 Halloween Countdown 29 Bonus: Blog Alert - Vinnie Rattolle's Records

Not only does Vinnie Rattole's Records provides some groovy music albums to download but he also provides reviews videos and full issues of comics. In fact, he has Elivira's House of Mystery #2, 3 and 4 available in pdf and jpg formats. Be sure to check his Elvira posts for even more treats featuring the Mistress of the Dark.

2008 Halloween Countdown 29: Elvira Slot Machine

International Game Technologies (IGT) was given the license to use Elvira's image in a themed video slot machine in 2002. IGT acquired Anchor Games in 2001. I actually played the Elvira slot machine a few times at a casino near Topeka, Kansas. Here are some pictures of the Elvira slot machine that I found on the interweb:
Elvira slot machine 2002
Elvira slot machine 2002

Elvira standing in front of her slot machines in 2002
Elvira standing in front of her slot machines in 2002

Promo flyer for Elvira slot machine from 2002
Promo flyer for Elvira slot machine from 2002

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

2008 Halloween Countdown 28 Bonus: Commander USA

Another tv host that I enjoyed watching in the 1980s was Jim Hendricks as Commander USA. He hosted Commander USA's Groovie Movies on the USA Network every weekend from 1985 to 1989. He usually had double horror and science fiction double features every Saturday and a single movie on Sunday. I remember watching the movies with Mexican wrestlers and his hilarious segments where he used his microwave vision along with his hand puppet, Lefty. The basic look of the Comedian from the Watchman reminds me a lot of him maybe because of the cigar and mask. Here is a video with some Commander USA segments:

2008 Halloween Countdown 28: Elvira Pinball

Elvira and the Party Monsters pinball machine from Bally was released in 1989. Some of the features include wake the dead heads, party punch, skull lock and monster ramp. Bally released Scared Stiff in 1996 and features a spin spider. Both pinball machines were designed by Dennis Nordman and are holy grails for most Mistress of the Dark fans. I have neither but I did play Elvira and the Party Monsters on a trip to Wichita University back in the early 1990s.

Here are some pictures of the Elvira and the Party Monsters pinball machine that I found on the interweb:
Elvira and the Party Monsters promo flyer front cover
Elvira and the Party Monsters promo flyer front cover

Elvira and the Party Monsters promo flyer back cover
Elvira and the Party Monsters promo flyer back cover

Elvira and the Party Monsters promo flyer centerfold
Elvira and the Party Monsters promo flyer centerfold

Here are some pictures of the Scared Stiff pinball machine that I found on the interweb:
Scared Stiff pinball flyer
Scared Stiff pinball flyer

Scared Stiff pinball poster
Scared Stiff pinball poster

Scared Stiff pinball promo photos
Scared Stiff pinball promo photos

Scared Stiff promo video featuring Elvira:

Monday, October 27, 2008

2008 Halloween Countdown 27 Bonus: Crematia Mortem

I never watched any of Elvira's Movie Macabre when they originally ran so I need to post about the horror hostess that I did watch. From 1981 to 1988, Roberta Solomon played Crematia Mortem, the ghostess with the mostess, on KSHB-TV Channel 41 out of Kansas City, Missouri. She hosted Creature Feature every Saturday night and I had more fun watching her than the movies. The only item that I have is a DVD of her hosting Laserblast.

Crematia Mortem postcard

The postcard was originally found at T.V. Horror Hosts: Crematia Mortem.

Here are a few videos featuring Roberta Solomon back as Crematia Mortem:


The Basement Sublet of Horror interview



Introducing movie at Feast of Horrors 2007 convention in Wichita, KS

2008 Halloween Countdown 27: Chill's Evenings of Terror With Elvira

Evenings of Terror is a Chill roleplaying game supplement from Pacesetter that was published in 1985. Not only does color pictures of Elvira adorn the front and back covers but there are also black and white pictures before and after each adventure. She even introduces and ends each of the nine adventures of horror like the following:

"This is Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, getting all you CHILL fans ready for our first Evening of Terror, an adventure called "The Epidemic." Kind of a catchy title for an adventure, isn't it...but really what happens is that everybody goes to this town to try and find out why people are vanishing mysteriously and why animals are dropping over dead. And this S.A.V.E. organization which is supposed to be so goody-goody, right? This S.A.V.E. organization gives the people a little puppy and kitten to use as bait. I mean, when you need the ASPCA, they're never around.

"Well, the excitement waiting for the adventure to begin is kind of contagius, don't you think? So let's get on with the story..."

"O.K., first off, what's with these Pacesetter guys? Animal zombies? Little dog's body with a little kitten's head? For that matter, a little kitten's body with a little dog's head. I mean, gross me out! These guys are really not subtle or anything.

"And one verterinarian who just happens to be there? Sure. Just happens to know about half the stuff those S.A.V.E. folks need to know. Made it kinda easy for them, if you ask me. Even if you don't ask me.

"Anyway, the next adventure is going to be more tougher. But more of that later. As for now...Unpleasant Dreams."

For those not in the know, Chill: Adventures into the Unknown was a horror roleplaying game released in 1984. The players work for S.A.V.E. (Societas Argenti Viae Eternitata, or, The Eternal Society of the Silver Way), a secret society dedicated to protecting the innocent from creatures of the unknown. I had the boxed set and several supplements before I sold them several years ago. Mayfair Games bought the game and put out a second edition that gave the rules a facelift.

I had some fun with Evenings of Terror but never actually used any of the nine adventures of horror with my gaming group. I did make a very large campaign with Elvira as a main focus. One player found out the hard way never to take a sleeping pill in a supernatural charged place. Another player had fun hitting werewolves with his silver briefcase.

Evenings of Terror with Elvira front cover
Evenings of Terror with Elvira front cover

Evenings of Terror with Elvira back cover
Evenings of Terror with Elvira back cover

Sunday, October 26, 2008

2008 Halloween Countdown 26 Bonus: The Batman vs. Dracula

The Batman vs Dracula was a full-length animated movie released on DVD in 2005 that was much darker than the cartoon series. Vicki Vale makes her first animated appearance and she was voiced by Tara Strong (she was also the voice of Barbara Gordon/Batgirl on The New Batman Adventures and Raven on Teen Titans).

2008 Halloween Countdown 26: Elvira At Claypool Comics Part 3

The final covers from my collection of the Elvira, Mistress of the Dark comic book series from Claypool Comics.

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #35 (March 1996) featured "For Your Spies Only" and "The House That Roared".
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #35 cover
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #35 cover

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #66 (October 1998) featured "Groan" and "Historical Babes Capter Seven: Maid to Order".
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #66 cover
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #66 cover

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #67 (November 1998) featured "The Search For Schlock" and "Historical Babes Capter Eight: Showgirls".
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #67 cover
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #67 cover

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #69 (January 1999) featured "White House or Bust" and "Diving Belle".
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #69 cover
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #69 cover

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #151 (November 2005) featured "Death Cargo of Doom" and "Elvira: S.C.I. (Supernatural Crime Investigation)"
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #151 cover
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #151 cover

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark 152 (December 2005) featured "Holiday Humbug" and "This Is Vinyl Crap Part One: Blast from the Past".
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #152 cover
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #152 cover

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #153 (January 2006) featured "A Nose For Slease" and "This Is Vinyl Crap Part Two: New Year's Evil".
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #153 cover
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #153 cover

Back issues page
Back issues page

Saturday, October 25, 2008

2008 Halloween Countdown 25: Elvira At Claypool Comics Part 2

More covers of the Elvira, Mistress of the Dark comic book series from Claypool Comics.

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #10 (February 1994) featured "Spook Off" and "The Prince of Froggenstein".
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #10 cover
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #10 cover

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #12 (April 1994) featured "Phantom of the Soap Opera" and "Mummy Dearest".
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #12 cover
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #12 cover

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #13 (May 1994) featured "Elvira Meets Renfield & Stimpfield & Their Boss or The Children of the Night...What Cruddy TV Shows They Make" and "Killer Cherubs".
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #13 cover
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #13 cover

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #14 (June 1994) featured "You Drive Me Ape, Ya Big Gorilla" and "High Camp".
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #14 cover
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #14 cover

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #15 (July 1994) featured "You Drive Me Ape, Ya Big Gorilla Part Two" and "The Most Happy Felon".
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #15 cover
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #15 cover

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #16 (August 1994) featured "Little Miss Marketing Ploy" and "Good As Her Word".
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #16 cover
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #16 cover

Friday, October 24, 2008

2008 Halloween Countdown 24 Bonus - Blog Alert: Adventures In Nerdliness

Darius has a cool new logo featuring Elvira at his blog, Adventures In Nerdliness, to celebrate the Halloween season. He has mad skills to be sure since he used the "Yours Cruelly" header that I included in my last post. Be sure to also check out his posts about nerd girls, archaic game materials, Dungeons and Dragons, comics and other topics that nerds like me enjoy.

2008 Halloween Countdown 24: Elvira At Claypool Comics Part 1

Claypool Comics was created in 1993 and began publishing Peter David's Soulsearchers and Company, Richard Howell's Deadbeats and Phantom of Fear City. They also obtained the rights to publish Elvira, Mistress of the Dark comic book series that lasted for 166 issues and two trade paperback collections. Cassandra Peterson had input in the series and even suggested several stories. The artists and writers varied from story to story with Richard Howell serving as letterer, editor and writer for several of the stories.

The company stopped printing in July 2006 thanks to the fact that Diamond Comic Distributors would no longer carry their titles. Deadbeats made the shift to online publication in April 2007 but alas they lost the license to publish the Elvira, Mistress of the Dark series.

I do not have the entire series nor do I have any of the paperback collections. Each issue of Elvira, Mistress of the Dark has photo covers, black and white interiors and two stories. I will be posting the covers of the issues that I have for the next couple of posts.

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #3 (July 1993) featured "Curse & Tell Part Two: Charmed, I'm Sure" and "All in the Family Chapter Three: House Party".
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #3 cover
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #3 cover

Yours Cruelly header
Yours Cruelly header

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #4 featured "Carrie On, Classmates" and "All in the Family Chapter 4: Exeter Only".

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #4 cover

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #7 (November 1993) featured "Over-Exposed" and "Death Takes A Honeymoon".
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #7 cover
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #7 cover

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #8 (December 1993) featured "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow (or get cable!)" and "Child's Christmas (with whales)".
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #8 cover
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #8 cover

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #9 (January 1994) featured "Dino Park" and "Femme Noir".
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #9 cover
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark #9 cover