10/18/2005 Entry: "The Salem Witch Dungeon Museum."

Just wanted to point out that Garfield's Halloween Adventure hasn't lost a friggin' step. One of my friends brought his laptop to Salem, and for God knows what reason, he actually had the film saved somewhere on his porn-ridden desktop. Maybe it was all the blueberry beer talking, but we watched that thing and we laughed at that thing and we sung the songs from that thing all weekend long. You can hear a few of those tunes on the Halloween Jukebox, but I can't recommend the Garfield Holiday Celebrations DVD enough. You get the Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas specials all for one low price, and in a world where the once great fat cat is worth so much less, it's important to keep the better memories out there for ourselves and everyone else. Oh fuck you.

The Halloween Countdown rages on with the second chapter in the three part SALEM SERIES. This time, it's a look at the infamous Salem Witch Dungeon Museum, a place full of fake accents and spooky mannequins.

Look, I know it's tough to keep the Halloween spirit going. I know you're already thinking about the next few holidays. It's impossible not to. If you're reading this site, that's the kind of person you are. We've gotta try, though. If we don't, we're no better than all of the department stores already setting up for Christmas. You do want to be better than a department store, don't you?

Chestnuts roasted by Kevin @ 10/18/2005 10:58 PM EST

I plan do do-a-ditty on F13 Part 3 during the Countdown. Hopefully.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 10/18/2005 11:07 PM EST

Matt, on the front page the Magic Parlor is dated 10/13 not 10/17.

Any Chance of you finishing the 13th's writeup?

Chestnuts roasted by Chrtrptnt @ 10/18/2005 11:17 PM EST

Sneaky bastard.

Yes, this week.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 10/18/2005 11:19 PM EST

If you all need some Halloween spirit come down here to North Carolina where we do it right. Here in Raleigh we have the choice of going to meet up with a couple thousand drunks at UNC Chapel Hill or a couple thousand drunks at East Carolina University. Both places host massively out of control street party that boost your chances of getting pepper sprayed by riot control. But everyone of those thousand drunk kids gets totally decked out. This year my friends and I are going as the A-team while my fiance is Rainbow Bright. I have been working on my white guy version of B.A. Baracus' beard for about a week, still waiting to shave the mohawk in. We even talked one of our friends into being the A-team van. It's gonna be freakin' sweet.

Oh yeah, Merry Christmas. I can't wait for the Christmas countdown!

X-E Rocks!

Chestnuts roasted by kafox @ 10/18/2005 11:43 PM EST

Awesome!...I have been a huge fan of the Friday the 13th series every since I was a kid in elementary school and me and my friends would have friday the 13th sleepovers...on you guessed it, actual Friday the 13th's. The USA channel used to always have mini- marothons on these awesomely-unlucky days (that unfortunately only happen about twice a year) but I doubt they do it anymore. Anyways, my point being...Friday the 13th part 3 has slowly become one of my favorite "Fridays"...Jason finally gets his mask from some geek kid named Shelby and the gratuitous 3D shoots that no longer serve any purpose other than to show how truly amazing the 80's were...can't wait for the article!

Chestnuts roasted by Kevin @ 10/18/2005 11:44 PM EST

ps:

if you need anything awesome to review matt, go for the lost boys. I can't help watching that movie everytime it's on, and then re-watching the DVD just to see the great gory 80's glory without commercials.

Chestnuts roasted by kafox @ 10/18/2005 11:46 PM EST

I've actually gotten more into Halloween in the last few years than I ever was, mainly due to reading this site's Halloween Countdown.

Well, that and listening to spooky music (hooray for iTunes having a copy of the Halloween theme and the Ghostbusters theme).

Chestnuts roasted by Cameron T. @ 10/18/2005 11:52 PM EST

Woo, finally an update!

To create a conversation, what cartoon characters do you think the creators were high some something when they thought them up?

Here are my entries:

-Chicken Boo from Animaniacs (he was a 1 joke character, but he made about 20 appaearances in the show!)
-Hypno-Toad from Futurama

Chestnuts roasted by Invader Norbert @ 10/19/2005 12:02 AM EST

OMG "Giles rocks" bumper stickers are either the greatest or tackiest thing ever. I can't imagine that gag playing beyond 100 miles from Salem though. That dungeon looks pretty creepy even with the ambiance eating flash effect.
Still trying to rock the seasonal spirit...I only managed to put up the Day of the Dead decorations this past weekend, with the newest addition being a grinning skeleton Pez dispenser (glow in the dark) I picked up at Target.

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 10/19/2005 12:10 AM EST

I'm not thinking of Christmas. I'm thinking I only have 12 days left to maximize my Halloween potential. Work sucks.

Chestnuts roasted by b-log @ 10/19/2005 12:25 AM EST

Until this moment I thought Rudie Can't Fail contained the following line:

Eating Chicken Boo for Breakfast

Real Line:

You been drinking brew for breakfast

I was so excited when I got London Calling so many years ago and thought, haha all my friends have no idea Chicken Boo is a Clash reference.

I, truly, am the idiot.

Chestnuts roasted by Knegative @ 10/19/2005 12:29 AM EST

When I'm inevitably brought to trial for some magic related crime I didn't commit, I too am going to enter no plea.

But instead of being buried by rocks, I shall rain down lightning on the heads of my oppressors.

Lightning made of SULPHURIC ACID.

Chestnuts roasted by The Wukong Effect @ 10/19/2005 12:40 AM EST

I also remember listening to Sandinista! over and over locked in the vacant nursery of a house I was housesitting. Freaked me out a little bit, I have to admit.

It didn't help that I would fall asleep and have Mensforth Hill acting as the soundtrack to my fever dreams. I wasn't on anything I swear. I do prefer Sandinista! to London Calling.

Chestnuts roasted by Knegative @ 10/19/2005 12:49 AM EST

I LOVE the Garfield Holiday DVD. I got it for Christmas last year and the other day I broke it out for the Halloween episode.

Like you said, it's hard not to start gearing up for the holiday season. Aside from the obvious, I love Thanksgiving. It's my favorite holiday of the year.

My mom said that this year Wal-Mart has shared shelve space for Halloween AND Christmas. Can't they wait at least until the candy reserves start dipping?

Chestnuts roasted by Jeff Mack @ 10/19/2005 12:56 AM EST

The true events of Salem in the 1600's:

"HE'S A CHICKEN, I TELL YOU! A GIANT CHICKEN!!"
"NO!! SHE'S A CHICKEN!! CHIIIICKEN!!"

Chestnuts roasted by Mars @ 10/19/2005 01:01 AM EST

In answer to the question about the Hypno-Toad, who is arguably the greatest character to ever be created in every art form to ever exist, and that DOES include pornography: I don't really think they were high. The sound you hear was just a fill in sound called "angry machine" and they couldn't find anything funnier than it, so thus the Hypno Toad was born.

All glory to the Hypno Toad!!!

Chestnuts roasted by AJ @ 10/19/2005 01:09 AM EST

The Hypno Toad is real.

He recently made a promotional appearance at a local mall, where I got a picture taken and an autograph.

Chestnuts roasted by The Wukong Effect @ 10/19/2005 01:12 AM EST

Sandinista! better than London calling?? That's the first time I've heard someone with that opinion. To each his own I guess...

Chestnuts roasted by Knegative @ 10/19/2005 01:14 AM EST

Damnit sorry!! That last comment was posted by me and addressed to Knegative's last comment.

Chestnuts roasted by D-Roc @ 10/19/2005 01:16 AM EST

Dude you got to meet him???

I am so totally jealous. I even have a special Hypno Toad t-shirt I have made so that when I do get to meet him, he'll think I am extra cool.

Chestnuts roasted by AJ @ 10/19/2005 02:34 AM EST

Has anyone tried Mountian Dew MDX?

Chestnuts roasted by Spaztec @ 10/19/2005 04:30 AM EST

The biggest thing I've noticed is that TV doesn't give a shit about Halloween anymore. When I was little it seemed like there were horror movies and "special presentations" up the wazoo, but over the last several years there hasn't been any more "scary stuff" than there would be during a non-Halloween season. Oh well, this site is like the ultimate Halloween special anyway.

Chestnuts roasted by Monte @ 10/19/2005 04:43 AM EST

When I think of Salem I think of the menthol cigarettes that smelly old women smoke. Commercial crossover possibilities with those demonic mannequins and the BK King. Perhaps an Army of Darkness style movie featuring the King mowing down false witch mannequins in modern day Salem armed only with breakfast sandwiches, a weed wacker for a leg, and cup of BK "turbo" coffee. Billions of dollars in merchandise, I tell ya!!!!

Chestnuts roasted by phunqsauce @ 10/19/2005 04:51 AM EST

I can imagine how hard it must be for you guys. You have both Halloween and Thanksgiving before Christmas, and the way things are nowadays, the stores just wanna roll over everything and start pushing Christmas down our throats as early as they can.
We don't have either Halloween or Thanksgiving, even though some globalized suck-ups actually try bringing Halloween over every year. But not the whole trick or treat process, just the scary decor and costume parties. We already have Carnaval, I have no idea why people gotta have another costume date...
Anyways, what we do have down here is Children's Day. It's October 12th, and it's the next best thing to Christmas. On Christmas, you have the whole releigious side to the holiday keeping you centered. On Children's Day, you basically get gifts from the whole family (and from school) just for being a kid. Well, around September, the stores start with the toy advertising, leaning on this holiday. And as soon as it's over (like now), the malls start on the Christmas decorations. I think that's just wrong. Christmas is a December thing, and even though I love the season, they way they keep starting it earlier and earlier, you get kinda fed up with it long before it actually should be starting.

Chestnuts roasted by Roddy @ 10/19/2005 05:49 AM EST

Glad to see some of my ethical concerns addressed .

There must be a big X-E connection going on. Last thread was about THE CRITIC. Last weekend and up to yesterday, I busted out the DVD and was watching it.
Then there is the mention of the GARFIELD HALLOWEEN SPECIAL which I am going to play between classes today (yesterday was the CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI).
NEXT, there is the mention of "can't wait til Christmas."
Finally, I was hoping that F13 pt. 3 would get a review this countdown. For those who haven't seen it, it's the one where things get out of hand. Deaths for REALLY no reason and Jason becomes REALLY unstoppable. Great soundtrack though...

Chestnuts roasted by The Manimal @ 10/19/2005 06:55 AM EST

I've had absolutely no problem keeping my Halloween spirits high.
Side note: coupled with Norbert's prompting and the idea of "A Christmas Carol" style spirits, that last statement of mine might bring up some really interesting mental images.
Anyway, to keep myself in the H'we'en spirit, I've been playing "Planescape: Torment" again. Cause Sigil would be the best place in the universe to throw a Halloween bash. Also, the Homestar Runner pumpkin stencils are back up this year. Rock rock on. Giles.

Chestnuts roasted by Jedoc @ 10/19/2005 07:40 AM EST

Anyone who hasn't done so already should check out these awesome do it yourself halloween props(click on name), I've made all that had instructions and they rock hard! I'm even going to keep the head in the jar around for Christmas, just gonna stick a santa hat on top. Thats what we call "multi-purpose". I think Martha would be proud.

Chestnuts roasted by bloodybrilliantme @ 10/19/2005 07:46 AM EST

I dunno, but Reality sucks balls!
As a kid growing up I had always imagined Salem as a creepy dark town, filled with huge scary castles. Home to vampires, frankenstein, and some werewolves. Never and I mean Never, did I ever picture Salem as a TOURIST attraction . Matt, thanks for the articles there still great. I just wish you'd run into some vampires or get freakin spooked by ghosts,reading something like that would've really boosted a somewhat lame halloween season. Oh well, maybe next Halloween.

Chestnuts roasted by Texican @ 10/19/2005 09:54 AM EST

I really enjoyed reading up on those crafts, but somehow I know that if I bother trying, everything will end up looking more like a dog's boner than anything particularly creepy.

Chestnuts roasted by mtrox @ 10/19/2005 09:54 AM EST

That is, unless you find a dog's boner creepy...

And I guess you really should

Chestnuts roasted by mtrox @ 10/19/2005 09:55 AM EST

I agree wholeheartedly with you on the Garfield holidays DVD. The Halloween one is classic, although the Christmas one is equally amazing, and about as heartfelt as a cartoon can be. When it comes to Peanuts, though, I'm all about the freakin' Thanksgiving special!

Chestnuts roasted by Review the World @ 10/19/2005 10:05 AM EST

I watched the Great Pumpkin and Garfield this weekend (as well as a few Simpsons). Anyone else have any Halloween-ish DVD suggestions as far as specials are concerned?

Chestnuts roasted by mtrox @ 10/19/2005 10:25 AM EST

I work at a retail store part-time, and we set up for Christmas Sunday night. They gave us Halloween cookies and candy for snacks while we were doing so, and my first thought was always, ew, Halloween candy at Christmas, how old is that? And then I'd remember: we haven't even had Halloween yet.

Chestnuts roasted by Rosella @ 10/19/2005 10:45 AM EST

Dang... and here I am dragging people to the Salem Witch Museum. I should be going to the witch dungeon!

The other one sucks... the one where you standing the dark waiting for a light to come on for a split second so you can stare at a manniquin? That sucks.

I hope you checked out the "Bewitched" statue. Thats creepier than most of the manniquins.

Chestnuts roasted by dj BC @ 10/19/2005 11:03 AM EST

Matt, please reply to my emails. I know your a stoner, you even mentioned it in the article: "tanked before going"

Dude, i live about 3 bus stops away, email me! skynet1984@gmail.com

Chestnuts roasted by skynet1984 @ 10/19/2005 11:15 AM EST

Argh, I put up an unedited version of this entry, with many missing tweaks and several errors. Please reload!

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 10/19/2005 11:24 AM EST

I don't really think they were high. The sound you hear was just a fill in sound called "angry machine" and they couldn't find anything funnier than it, so thus the Hypno Toad was born.

I'm well aware of this fact (I too have the DVDs and I have seen both eps with his appearance an nth number of times, most of them with commentary). It's not the SOUND that makes him so bizarre (although it's the best part), it's just the plain concept that it's a giant toad that hypnotizes people is what makes me believe the Futurama guys are smokin' something I want to get a hold of for myself.

I also made a wav of the "All glory to the Hypno-Toad" scene, and if you want it, email me at Norbert5ca@aol.com and mention the wav in the subject line, so I don't delete it.

Chestnuts roasted by Invader Norbert @ 10/19/2005 12:11 PM EST

How come I don't have cool stuff like this in my town? All we've got are a couple of kids wearing a strange Goth/Skate Punk kind of fashion thing and some other kid who likes to wear a long black traveling cloak. Yes, a Cloak!
Clikkity-stikkity on my name for some cool spooky projects. I might make the board game, as soon as I get a color cartridge for the printer.

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 10/19/2005 12:14 PM EST

Garfield Halloween episode..man it rocks. Things like that really make me wish when Halloween was actually popular.

Chestnuts roasted by Aristobullus @ 10/19/2005 12:15 PM EST

Enjoying the articles, Matt and all the Halloween goodness on your site. My boyfriend and I are saving Garfield and Charlie Brown for Halloween weekend (saving the best for last! ) but I've been celebrating Halloween all month long by watching a different horror/Halloweeny themed film each night, playing Halloween music, and keeping a Halloween screen saver at work.

Chestnuts roasted by Melissa Y. @ 10/19/2005 12:45 PM EST

Things heard at Halloween that sound dirty but are not:

10. She's a goblin!

9. I'd like to get a little something in the sack tonight.

8. Just get on your hands and knees and bob your head.

7. She's got a couple of nice pumpkins on her porch

6. If you just lick it, it'll last longer.

5. Let me see your big sack!

4. Can I eat your Zagnuts?

3. Have your mom check it before you put it in your mouth.

2. You scared me stiff!

1. He's got Candy spread out on the living room floor!

Chestnuts roasted by Halloweenie @ 10/19/2005 01:08 PM EST

Ahh, Hypno-Toad's been going downhill since the 18th season when he moved out of his original pond and into that bachelor "pad" in LA. Jeez, I wonder why LA? Maybe because SOMEONE in the network was lazy and wanted to pay less for sets?

Chestnuts roasted by Andrew @ 10/19/2005 01:20 PM EST

My Halloween enthusiasm just got kicked up a notch. Teletoon (Canada's cable cartoon channel) is starting their 13 Days of Halloween tonight. Which means I have thirteen days of Real Ghostbusters cartoons to watch.

P.S. Good call of Garfield's Halloween Adventure, I'm downloading it as we speak.

P.P.S. Does anyone remember the Nine Lives of Garfield special? I always thought that was freakier than the Halloween special.

Chestnuts roasted by Quammy @ 10/19/2005 01:59 PM EST

Where can you download Garfield's Halloween adventure?

Chestnuts roasted by bloodybrilliantme @ 10/19/2005 02:16 PM EST

I've never thought of "tanked" as stoner related lingo, I always thought it was booze specific. My personal fav term would probably be "half in the bag".

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 10/19/2005 02:20 PM EST

I got it on BearShare.

Chestnuts roasted by Quammy @ 10/19/2005 02:26 PM EST

Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?

Chestnuts roasted by NORTH AMERICAN HALLOWEEN PREVENTION INITIATIVE @ 10/19/2005 02:45 PM EST

MATT- the reason the people dressed up like the puritans looked like pilgrims is because the puritans were the pilgrims. They just don't teach you that crap in grade school. Oh no and we should have a holiday for Columbus because he went through indian villages and slaughtered the savages! Horay for early American History!

Chestnuts roasted by Darth Poop @ 10/19/2005 03:53 PM EST

Hey Matt, I was in a small little shit town the other day in Washington State, and while at the local "supermarket" I found what have to be the last boxes of Frosted and Marshmellow Rice Crispies! Dude, I'm gonna go back there and buy 'em.

Chestnuts roasted by CJ @ 10/19/2005 03:55 PM EST

I've had never heard of this Giles fellow, thanks for schoolin' me. One might say the latest entry to the 2005 halloween countdown was down right bewitching? Blah-ha-ha! I skipped school today!

Chestnuts roasted by Kennef @ 10/19/2005 04:10 PM EST

matt, thanks for the Dungeon Museum write-up...i've been there, albeit over 2 decades ago, and i've often wondered if it was still around...all i remember was burying my head in my father's shoulder as he carried me, crying my retinas apart, glancing up at a woman in a stockade, staring right back down at my dad's flannel and crying again...i think they used the churchy stage area in the crappy sequel to salems lot, i'm serious...

Chestnuts roasted by fart_mike @ 10/19/2005 04:15 PM EST

Man. I'd completely forgotten about "Garfield: His Nine Lives." And what's even more tragic, I've never seen the end, because we lost reception about three quarters of the way through.
That's right, kids. "Ree-sep-shun." It's what we used to have on our televisions. Sometimes, the channel would just stop sending pictures and sound...EVEN WHEN IT WASN'T A FOX AFFILIATE.
Heh. Just kidding.
You can't get Fox on an antenna in the ass end of nowhere.

Chestnuts roasted by Jedoc @ 10/19/2005 04:47 PM EST

Today's my birthday!!! I'm 23 years old now!!! Funny, I don't feel a day over...22.

Damn! I wanna go to this place!! I need to see things like this!! I read "The Crucible" in 11th grade (early 2000). I was kind of angry b/c the part I was assigned, Tituba, the maid from Barbados, was a character with the worst broken-English ever. My best friend, who never like reading during class, got a much bigger part than me (she was Procter's wife, I think).

For me, the greatest part I ever played in the Literature class textbook plays was Julius Caesar in "The Tragedy of Julius Caesar," which was in 10th grade. The teacher assigned different people different parts every day, and the day my teacher assigned it to me (I didn't even have to volunteer for it--I volunteered during "The Crucible," and I still got one of the worst parts in the play!) was when Caesar died!!!! I don't have much of a range in my voice, but I over did that death. It was great!!! Informal survey--what was the best/worst part you played in Literature textbook plays?

Chestnuts roasted by Allison @ 10/19/2005 05:19 PM EST

Happy birthday Allison!

Chestnuts roasted by Darth Poop @ 10/19/2005 05:26 PM EST

I should have finished reading your post before I posted. I'm in 10th grade and we're reading the Crucible right now. I play reverend Paris. Hell yeah! Best f'in part ever!

Chestnuts roasted by Darth Poop @ 10/19/2005 05:29 PM EST

X-Entertainment has it all. Even crazed stalker fans!

Chestnuts roasted by Reaper @ 10/19/2005 05:48 PM EST

hey all, long time reader first time poster, love this site, also, has anyone seen those old halloween buckets mcdonalds used to give away, i miss mine, lol i want one

Chestnuts roasted by Pinky @ 10/19/2005 05:49 PM EST

Pinky- Burger King has some Wallace and Gromit halloween pales. It's not Mc Donnalds but it's close enough.

Chestnuts roasted by Darth Poop @ 10/19/2005 05:52 PM EST

Allison! Happy Birthday Girl!

Chestnuts roasted by Texican @ 10/19/2005 06:03 PM EST

Darth, you're making us all feel old. Well you're making me feel old. And, Allison the correct answer is Mercutio.

"blind bow boy buttshaft" I believe it was? C'mon I was 15 at the time, I thought that was funny. Wow that's almost like crumb crisp crust

Chestnuts roasted by Knegative @ 10/19/2005 06:10 PM EST

I lived in Mass for 25 years before I moved to Los Angeles last year and never once visited Salem. I never had the urge to go untill I ended up on the other side of the country. Damn irony...

Allison- Happy Birthday to Ya!!

Chestnuts roasted by D-Roc @ 10/19/2005 06:16 PM EST

Dead on, Matt. It's taking an extreme amount of self-discipline to "honor" Halloween by not yet partaking of the eggnog which has been popping up in grocery stores this past week.

Chestnuts roasted by Eddie Lightning Frog @ 10/19/2005 06:28 PM EST

Hey Darth Poop - about your trip to Metropolis - Last time I was there was in 2001 during the celebration. When I went I scored a giant 70's Superman/Spiderman crossover special, a couple of 80's Secret Wars figures (Symbote Spidey and Ironman), and a couple of rad teeshirts.
I guess a lot can happen in 4 years, so maybe Matt should ignore my previous suggestion and avoid Metropolis, Il. If the gift shop sucks now, then there's no reason to go.
But there should still be a X-E article on Knotts Scary Farm!

Chestnuts roasted by Antenna Villain @ 10/19/2005 07:17 PM EST

Right on Antenna Villain. Right on.

Chestnuts roasted by Darth Poop @ 10/19/2005 07:23 PM EST

Happy birthday, Allison! I'm 23 too, though mine was about three months ago now (really, where does the time go?). I also used to live in Mass., but we also never visited Salem. We go to the northeast a lot, but we've never gotten there. Maybe one of these days...

Hmm...wonder what a Chicken Boo "True Hollywood Story" episode would be like?

Chestnuts roasted by Andrew @ 10/19/2005 07:49 PM EST

Actually, that museum sounds pretty nifty...if VERY scary. Most of the Victorian musuems in Cape May are as stiff as the mannequins in elaborate gowns and suits, though some do put on shows like the witch trials opening in the Bed-and-Breakfasts.

Cape May also hasn't succommed to the chain-store-and-T-shirt trap...and I kinda wish it WOULD. There are a few T-shirt shops, but even the gift stores in this town sell elegant, expensive merchandise. You'd probably insult the snobby matriarches who mostly visit there now with joke and Wiccan shops!

I miss Cape May like it was when I was a kid, when the Acme looked like a normal Acme and didn't have wood pannelling, the General Store carried real, useful merchandise and didn't cost an arm, leg, and toes, and there was this nifty dollar store that sold T-shirts, but also jokes, cheap toys, even cheaper souveniers, and all kinds of truly great junk. It converted into an all-T-shirt shop sometime in the 90s.

I love the Garfield Holiday Celebrations DVDs. I hope the person who suggested putting all three Garfield holiday specials on one DVD got a very nice Christmas bonus. I've watched the Halloween one a couple of times, and I have the comic book version as well.

Chestnuts roasted by starwenn @ 10/19/2005 08:18 PM EST

hey, im gunna goto salem in 2 weeks.. any suggestions of where to go? and where to drink?
email me with info if u got a minute: ssquad001@yahoo.com

Chestnuts roasted by bobby digital @ 10/19/2005 08:58 PM EST

It's all pretty much in one spot, but...

Go to the Salem Witch Museum and the Salem Witch Dungeon Museum.

Eat at the restaurant in the Hawthorne hotel. Also eat at Salem Beer Works, but save that for when you're planning to get ripped.

Check out "Terror On The Wharf" if you yearn to be thirteen again.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 10/19/2005 09:04 PM EST

I love the Garfield Holiday Celebrations DVDs. I hope the person who suggested putting all three Garfield holiday specials on one DVD got a very nice Christmas bonus.

And apparantly no one mentionted about the 3 dvd sets with the other Garfield Specials on it? A recent box set was released with all 3 dvds, with the sad excpetion of the Holiday one. The only reason I don't have it now is because of lack of extras.

and someone named Paul was the only person so far to ask for the Hypno-Toad wav. If you're out there: No Prob.

Chestnuts roasted by Invader Norbert @ 10/19/2005 09:06 PM EST

Matt, did you get to go to Salem Willows? There are great arcades there, which is nice because its hard to find good arcades anymore.

Chestnuts roasted by Jamie @ 10/19/2005 09:29 PM EST

Maybe I missed the whole hubub, but Season 1 of MOTU came out this week, apparently. I remember watching the show as a kid, but I'm no where near buying any of the sets. Hell, I still need to buy Vol. 2 & 3 of Aqua Teens and Viva La Bam.

For those interested:

Nov. 1st--yeah, yeah obviously Ep.III; but also Blink's Posthumorous Greatest Hits on DVD & CD.

Nov. 15th--Path of Neo on PS2 and Xbox and PC I guess

Bullet in a Bible--Green Day's new live DVD

Nov. 23rd The Ice Harvest; finally, this thing has been in Post-production since Spring '04!!

Chestnuts roasted by Knegative @ 10/20/2005 09:52 AM EST

Thanks for the greetings, everyone!! I had a great birthday!

Jamie, you're right-it is hard to find a good arcade anymore. Hell, I'm still happy if I can find a Simpsons arcade game somewhere (the Atco Multiplex in Atco, NJ has one--along with the introduction about not smoking and placing trash in a recepticle upon exiting that walked its way out of the 1980s).

Cape May is still quite elegant and touristy--I haven't been there in a quite a few years (though I live an hour away!). It is probably beneath its charm to open a novelty store or two--I would rather visit those, but I do tend to like some of those fancier stores--especially Christmas stores.

Starwenn, did you say you worked at Acme one time? Do you still work there? I always hear about everythng being over-priced there. Plus, the one in my town is always over-crowded, and most people drive 20 minutes away to go to Shop-Rite.

Nothing ever stays the same anymore! No more good arcades, all food is over-priced, DVDs forgetting to put key holiday specials on them...what the HELL is this world coming to?

Chestnuts roasted by Allison @ 10/20/2005 05:43 PM EST

I wanna be better than the store I worked for 2 years ago on Halloween... that store being Wal-Mart. Let me tell you a true Halloween Horror story.

Our store had a big shipment of Halloween costumes shipped over from district on the 29th that another store had in their back. 4 days after Halloween and there were about 6 skids (pallets) worth of costumes left. My bitch of a store manager had them all marked down to $0 and instructed the associates to throw them in the dumpster. Refused to donate them refused let the customers have them... trashed. And anyone who took them would be fired.

Chestnuts roasted by Mystie @ 10/21/2005 10:52 PM EST

I live in Salem, right around the corner from The Hawthorne Hotel. Haloween is absolutely insane (as you can imagine from Matt's expose). Buses, tourists, it is virtually impossible to drive anywhere on the weekends.

One thing that you neglected to mention Matt, was that this year there is an unveiling of a Bewitched statue and has the local townsfolk up in arms. I do believe that we will see an angry mob out on the streets on Halloween with pitchforks and torches....I will keep you updated as I hear more.

Chestnuts roasted by franz-a-matic @ 10/21/2005 11:07 PM EST

We saw the statue. Interesting that its surrounding area was the most empty lot in Salem.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 10/22/2005 04:33 PM EST

Wow, I LOVE the "What should I be?" song from Garfield's Halloween Adventure... Thanks for allowing me to hear it again!

"I could be a scaaaary vampire
And turn myself into a bat
FLAP FLAP!
Or I could put on some black pijamas
And go as a big fat halloween cat..."

(/orgasm)

Chestnuts roasted by Al @ 10/22/2005 05:17 PM EST

I remember my trip to the witch's dungeon in fourth grade when I sent my summer at the YMCA. There was a couseler who took one of the younger kids through becuase he was so scared. When we got to the end of the tour the counseler told the kids, "Oh It's just a maniquin", Turns out it wasn't.It was one of the actors from the play and screamed at them, scaring the counseler and the kid. It was one of the greater moments of my childhood.

Chestnuts roasted by Amy @ 10/25/2005 12:32 PM EST

That's freaking hillarious. I went to Salem years ago when i was about 14 and we went to some place where we could watch live mannaquins with moving jaws and limbs re-inact the Salem Witch Trials. One of the mannaquins malfunctioned and slowly began to fall to the ground face down.

That was the most entertaining part of the trip.

Chestnuts roasted by susan @ 10/31/2005 06:53 PM EST