Happy Labor Day, Now Who's Ready for Halloween?!

[FourRoses]

Man I LOVED the Creepy Crawlers!!! I still have small burn scars from it. I remember burning my hand once pretty badly; I didn't want to tell my mom because I thought she would take it away. I can still remember the smell of those melted plastic bugs!!!

Todd B.

When I was a kid in the 80's, I found that in my grandmother's basement when I raid my uncle's old toy stash. I'm surprised kids didn't burn down their parents' house(s).

[bludevilok]

Back in the late '60s and early '70s is when I went trick-or-treating.  One lady two door down made popcorn balls only for the kids she knew--and I was one of those.  I remember one year when I went trick-or-treating with my younger brother, we hit a house that passed out 50 cent McDonald's gift certificates!  I remember seeing those being advertised on TV and thinking I'd never get something that big, but we had hit the jackpot!  Remember, in the late '60s or early '70s, you could buy two meals at McDonalds for 50 cents!  (A regular cheeseburger was only about 15 cents--and Wacky Packages were only 5 cents.      )

[mikecho]

Let's just be glad that no one got rocks!

[mikecho]

Back in the late '60s and early '70s is when I went trick-or-treating.  One lady two door down made popcorn balls only for the kids she knew--and I was one of those.  I remember one year when I went trick-or-treating with my younger brother, we hit a house that passed out 50 cent McDonald's gift certificates!  I remember seeing those being advertised on TV and thinking I'd never get something that big, but we had hit the jackpot!  Remember, in the late '60s or early '70s, you could buy two meals at McDonalds for 50 cents!  (A regular cheeseburger was only about 15 cents--and Wacky Packages were only 5 cents.      )

Yeah, McDonald's gift certificates always came out at Christmastime and originally they were 50 cents each or a book of 10 for $5.00, then later they changed them to $1.00 each or a book of five for $5.00. Then they got rid of them altogether.

[roughwriter]

Another thing I miss is the community haunted houses. The Jaycees did a great one when I was a kid, and my local police station did one right on the station grounds when my kids were little. They were fun and mildly scary, but now the only ones left are the commercial ones that are ridiculously expensive and over the top on the terror. I can even remember a fantastic one at a school friends house in their backyard took shed. The home made scares were the best!

[roughwriter]

Well, that last one didn't resonate with anyone, so what about the WEIRDEST Halloween candies you remember? Gummie Eyeballs, Wax Lips and Fangs. What else was out of the ordinary?

[sco(o)t]

Well, that last one didn't resonate with anyone, so what about the WEIRDEST Halloween candies you remember? Gummie Eyeballs, Wax Lips and Fangs. What else was out of the ordinary?

The same people, I mentioned, who gave out bugs made with a Matel Thingmaker also, gave out edible bugs. In addition to the Plastigoop, Matel later sold Gobble-DeGoop that could be used in the molds to make gummy candies. They sold a set called IncredibleEdibles but the Gobble-DeGoop could be used in the regular molds to make all kinds of stuff. A little ahead of its time, the Gobble-DeGoop was sugar free.

[Lavirus]

Soooo... are we in for a Wacky trick or treat this year?

[crackedjerk]

I remember loose change, pretzels, and trading cards.

I recall, but barely, getting Topps football cards.  I'm sure it was '72, based on seeing the design now.  And I think Donruss may have had trading card packs meant to be given away on Halloween in '81 or so.  This year I have seen packs of Pokemon cards designed as Halloween treats (I think it was at Costco, where a bag of many packs (40 or so?) could be purchased).

[Joe G.]

Tom I just looked that up.   Yup 120 3 card packs for $40!  How cool is that and the packs are Halloween branded too!  What a great idea!  Now not sure how most kids would respond to it these days but it’ll certainly make a few Trick or Treaters Halloween for sure!

I recall, but barely, getting Topps football cards.  I'm sure it was '72, based on seeing the design now.  And I think Donruss may have had trading card packs meant to be given away on Halloween in '81 or so.  This year I have seen packs of Pokemon cards designed as Halloween treats (I think it was at Costco, where a bag of many packs (40 or so?) could be purchased).

[roughwriter]

Soooo... are we in for a Wacky trick or treat this year?

The Magic 8 Ball says "Outcome Likely" but when pressed for a date said "Ask Again Later"!

[MoldRush]

Well, that last one didn't resonate with anyone, so what about the WEIRDEST Halloween candies you remember? Gummie Eyeballs, Wax Lips and Fangs. What else was out of the ordinary?

Can’t say I got a lot of weird stuff, but another occasional get was sugar daddy caramel pops that had a small narrow sports card between the candy and the wrapper.  They were called Pro Faces, and the ones I got were probably from ‘74-‘75, all football, though hockey and basketball were also made.  The fronts were basically a photo of the player’s face superimposed on a cartoonishly drawn and undersized body, to give it a humorous effect.  The size was similar to those Topps ‘80-‘81 Basketball cards where each card was perforated to be separated into three mini-cards.  Never saw any comprehensive history on the Pro Faces but I’m guessing the sets were very small and they were only made for a few years.

[roughwriter]

Sugar Daddy was a favorite of mine (anything caramel, actually!) and I remember those oddly shaped cards! I wasn't into sports at all, so I didn't save them. I haven't thought about them since then. Thanks for a blast from the past!

[RawGoo]

I remember those pops, and cards!  I didn't save the cards because they always seemed to have candy on them.

[drono]

I remember those pops, and cards!  I didn't save the cards because they always seemed to have candy on them.

One summer, I bought a ton of those pops at the concession stand where I played baseball trying to get a complete set.  I also picked up a lot of discarded ones just lying around.  I finally completed that set, and upgraded some of the candy or dirt stained ones, with a few eBay buys around 10 years ago.  They were still in the $2-3 range then.  Some are listed for a lot more now.

[mikecho]

Sugar Daddy was a favorite of mine (anything caramel, actually!) and I remember those oddly shaped cards! I wasn't into sports at all, so I didn't save them. I haven't thought about them since then. Thanks for a blast from the past!

Do you remember Sugar Mama, a Sugar Daddy with milk chocolate coating on a stick (or, as Jose Jalapeno would say, "on a steeck") that came in a red label with yellow letters?

[MoldRush]

I remember those pops, and cards!  I didn't save the cards because they always seemed to have candy on them.

I must have been lucky, I don’t recall the cards ever being stained or anything.  If I knew then what I know now, I would have frozen the sugar daddies before opening.  That would increase the chances of a clean separation. 

[sco(o)t]

Sugar Daddy was a favorite of mine (anything caramel, actually!) and I remember those oddly shaped cards! I wasn't into sports at all, so I didn't save them. I haven't thought about them since then. Thanks for a blast from the past!

I always bought Slo Pokes. Were they basically both caramel? I am assuming from competing companies.

[MoldRush]

I always bought Slo Pokes. Were they basically both caramel? I am assuming from competing companies.

I occasion a candy specialty shop in lower Manhattan called Economy Candy, and they do a nice job of stocking nostalgic chewy candies that are all or partially caramel - the aforementioned Slo Pokes, Zabba Daba (?), Cow (something’s), Goetze caramel creams, and others.  Combining with vanilla nougat seems to be a popular formula.

[mikecho]

It's Cow Tales, I think.

UPDATE: Yep, I'm right here.

[MoldRush]

It's Cow Tales, I think.

Yep, sounds right.  Hard for me to remember all the names because most of these products were not in my local candy stores growing up.  Or at least I passed on them because I wasn’t sure what they were.  Sugar Daddy’s, Sugar Babies and Milk Duds were the main caramel go-tos in my neck of the woods.

[RawGoo]

Yep, sounds right.  Hard for me to remember all the names because most of these products were not in my local candy stores growing up.  Or at least I passed on them because I wasn’t sure what they were.  Sugar Daddy’s, Sugar Babies and Milk Duds were the main caramel go-tos in my neck of the woods.

Ah, Goetze caramel creams are delicious!!  I used to keep those on my desk in a jar, along with a jar of Jelly Belly beans and/or Mike & Ike.  I had a lot of visitors!!  I really miss that aspect of working.

[Fanatical_and_Sickly]

All this talk of old candy reminded me those Brach’s Neapolitan tri-color coconut blocks that were wrapped in clear cellophane. I haven’t seen those in years.

I don’t recall getting these for Halloween, but I probably did.

[sco(o)t]

All this talk of old candy reminded me those Brach’s Neapolitan tri-color coconut blocks that were wrapped in clear cellophane. I haven’t seen those in years.

I don’t recall getting these for Halloween, but I probably did.

For some reason, those were more of a Christmas stocking candy for us rather than Halloween. I think my mom would stock up at one of those Brach”s assortment displays for Christmas.

[JailOJohn]

Brach’s Pik-A-Mix! A staple in the grocery stores!

[RawGoo]

Brach’s Pik-A-Mix! A staple in the grocery stores!

Are those the rectangular white nougats with little colored dots of "jelly" in them?  I can remember getting those while trick-or-treating.

[mikecho]

I just got all four of the Monster Cereals for this year. Boy, was I lucky this time, too: the box of Count Chocula was the last one in the store, AFAIK.

[Fanatical_and_Sickly]

Are those the rectangular white nougats with little colored dots of "jelly" in them?  I can remember getting those while trick-or-treating.

Brach’s had a lot of weirdo candies like that white nougat with bits of stuff in them - gummi bits or nut chunks.

The ones I’m thinking of are the three color band coconut pieces.

[sco(o)t]

Are those the rectangular white nougats with little colored dots of "jelly" in them?  I can remember getting those while trick-or-treating.

Sounds like Brach's "Jelly Nougats" candies. I kinda liked 'em.

[roughwriter]

Alright, I've tap danced as long as I can! There is an announcement from Topps that is imminent, and it is about Halloween, and you all will be VERY happy about it!

[Fanatical_and_Sickly]

Alright, I've tap danced as long as I can! There is an announcement from Topps that is imminent, and it is about Halloween, and you all will be VERY happy about it!

No surprise.

When Neil starts a thread on Halloween treats, we know the witching hour will soon be upon us with the delivery of some amazing treats.

[DrDeal]

Halloween Binder is ready to receive some new recruits!

[roughwriter]

While we wait for the Big News, I thought I'd provide a candy update! All the talk Halloween treats gave me a hankering, so I went to the store in search of Mellocreme Pumpkins. None were to be found, and they seem to have been replaced by something I'd never seen before: Mellocreme "Fall Leaves". They're chunky shapes in festive colors. I opted for a bag of candy corns!

[MoldRush]

While we wait for the Big News, I thought I'd provide a candy update! All the talk Halloween treats gave me a hankering, so I went to the store in search of Mellocreme Pumpkins. None were to be found, and they seem to have been replaced by something I'd never seen before: Mellocreme "Fall Leaves". They're chunky shapes in festive colors. I opted for a bag of candy corns!

You shouldn’t have much trouble finding those pumpkins; every chain drugstore I’ve been to has had the full Brach’s Halloween lineup.  Haven’t seen the multicolor leaves though, but I did see an ad.  Flavors look a little iffy - caramel apple, pumpkin spice, sweet maple, (salted?) butterscotch and spiced cider.  I think a few of those flavors might be passable, but sweet maple?  Yuck!  Makes me think of those spiced gumdrops, where the spearmint was good but nearly every other flavor tasted horrible.

[Fanatical_and_Sickly]

fun to see a Wacky becoming a real Halloween product