Filmation's Ghostbusters (AKA The Version With The Gorilla)

Everyone is familiar with the Ghostbusters.  You know, the cartoon with the Gorilla that wears pants.  Say what?!

Filmation's 1986 animated Ghostbusters TV series was the cause of confusion and frustration for many children in the 1980s.  It was actually NOT a rip-off of the 1984 Bill Murray film with Slimer and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.  Filmation created a live action Ghost Busters show way back in 1975 (and yes, it had a gorilla character, too!).

The live action 1975 Ghost Busters TV show starred Forrest Tucker as Jake Kong and Larry Storch as Eddie Spencer.  Tracy the Gorilla was played by Bob Burns.

The 1986 Filmation Ghostbusters cartoon focused on the sons of the original Ghost Busters.

The Ghostbusters voice cast included some legendary cartoon actors.  Jake Kong Jr. was voiced by Pat Fraley (Disney's "TaleSpin").  Eddie Spencer Jr. was voiced by Peter Cullen (Optimus Prime in "Transformers").  Tracy the Gorilla was voiced by Filmation producer Lou Scheimer.  Belfry the Bat was voiced by Susan Blu (she's provided character voices and been a voice director on many, many cartoons).

The Ghostbusters have their own flying machine called the Ghost Buggy.  It is sort of like a haunted version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

The Ghostbusters are assisted by Futura, the Ghostbustress of the Future (Susan Blu).  The have to fight off ghouls like Scared Stiff (Pat Fraley) and Haunter (Peter Cullen).

The main villain the Ghostbusters have to fight is Prime Evil (Alan Oppenheimer).  He fits in well with other Filmation villains like Skeletor.

This comic book was packaged with action figures based off the show.  I actually noticed the toys before I knew about the cartoon.

Prime Evil also has help from ghoulish Mysteria (Linda Gary), a Werewolf named Fangster (Alan Oppenheimer), and two-faced Fib Face (Lou Scheimer).

Brat-A-Rat (Peter Cullen) is Prime Evil's cackling, flying rat creature sidekick.

I like how theatrical and dramatic Prime Evil acts.

Prime Evil is foiled again!  He would have gotten away with it if it had not been for those meddling kids and their Gorilla.

The Ghostbusters and their enemies have all sorts of gadgets, houses and accessories to translate into toys.

Oooh!  Look at the Ghost Command Haunted House and the Ghost Buggy!  I never had these.  I bet they are worth a lot now.

Check out the Tracy the Gorilla figure with his Feces Flinging Action Arm!

This is a nice gender-neutral set of toys, with flowing hair on Futura , as well as TV reporter Jessica Wray (Susan Blu) and villain Mysteria.

Prime Evil and his pals want to haunt your house.

Brat-A-Rat was sold with Belfry, which were the only two Ghostbusters action figures that I had.

Belfry (and the Ghostbusters comic book) has survived in my Halloween decorations for decades.  I lost Brat-A-Rat many years ago.

Belfry wrapped up each episode of Ghostbusters, similar to Loo-Kee's role on Filmation's "She-Ra."

"She-Ra" featured a villain sidekick character named Imp who looks a bit similar to Belfry.  Visit Loo-Kee Here! It's She-Ra and He-Man! to explore the world of the Masters of the Universe.

For more fun with Gorillas and Ghostbusters, check out King Kong, Christmas Ape.

Transformers And Universal's Halloween Horror Nights, Sponsored By Wacky Packages

To celebrate the opening of the Transformers attraction at Universal Studios in Florida, the Universal Orlando Resort has an unbelievable corporate sponsorship with Topps Wacky Packages.

The new partnership will allow Universal's Halloween Horror Nights to be celebrated in bold new ways.  Building on the success of Butterbeer and the exclusive merchandise found at Universal's Islands of Adventure, a new world of products will be available at Universal Orlando.  And since it's written on the Internet, it has to be true.

You've never seen Nickelodeon characters like this before.

Do you remember "The Funtastic World of Hanna Barbera" attraction at Universal Studios in Florida?

The Flintstones have been excavated for Halloween fun.

Jaws went belly up to make room for the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley expansion at Universal Studios in Florida.

Jaws is back because he doesn't know the meaning of the word "Fin."  (The world "Fin" is often used at the end of a high-brow or foreign film).

King Kong went ape when the Mummy unraveled the gorilla's attraction at Universal Studios.

Folks are going bananas when they hear that King Kong will be swinging back to Universal for Halloween.

Rumors about new attractions for Jurassic Park at Islands of Adventure just won't go extinct.

Jurassic Park 3D debuted in theaters in 2013.  A fourth new movie is in the works, but has been delayed.

Can we expect to see a restaurant with Brontosaurus Burgers on the horizon?

No, because the term "Brontosaurus" is not used anymore.  (The creature is now called an "Apatosaurus").

Men In Black: Alien Attack will get a tasty new sponsor.

Mallomartians are out of this world.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will have some new food items.

Look for tasty cookie treats at new snack stands located under select bridges at the Universal Orlando Resort.

Of course, when you visit the Simpsons in Springfield, you'll have to get some donuts.  Mmmmm.

It's time to make the D'oh Nuts.

New candy will be offered at Marvel Superhero Island.

We never see Spider-Man eating flies, do we?

Universal Studios has been celebrating Halloween in a big way for years.

You never know what famous face you'll run into who'll want to take your face off.

Universal's slogan early on was "Ride the Movies!"

So grab your popcorn and pour some cola on the bottom of your shoes, because it's time to get moving.

You'll be spending the whole day at the parks, so you'll want to get some good meals here.

You'll be happier than the Pillsbury Doughboy on his way to a baking convention.

Maybe you'd enjoy a quiet dinner.

It could be so romantic, you'll find yourself coming apart.

You'll find all sorts of low-fat dining options.

So you can stay fit on vacation.  You'll just be skin and bones.  Or just bones.

Even the condiments get into the Halloween spirit.

Only fresh Killer Tomatoes are used in the ketchup.

There's nothing like a hearty bowl of soup on a cool October night.

How about a shrunken heady bowl of soup?

Enjoy some crackers with your soup.

It's OK to eat these crackers in bed, because they can get rid of your bedbugs.

Now it's time for dessert!

You won't find these cookie monsters on Sesame Street.

Sink your fangs into some bloody good treats.

Forget about counting calories.  It's Halloween!

How about some cookies?  I'll toss you some.

Dessert was great, but now it's time to go trick or treating for candy!

What will you find in your trick or teat bag?  Dental floss?  Pennies?

No way!  Frankenstein knows what folks want.

One of the most coveted items is a ring!

Look at it, my precious!

Even pets can celebrate Halloween at Universal.

Dogs staying at the Universal Orlando Resort Kennel will enjoy their own Halloween treats.

And yes, cats are fed special food at the Kennel, too.

I'm not sure how many people bring their cat with them in a car on a trip to the Universal Orlando Resort, but I guess it happens more than you'd think.

Humans staying at Universal resort hotels get special Halloween perks, too.

Enjoy a wonderful breakfast in the morning.

Sip on a refreshing beverage.

Don't spill it!  It will leave a nasty stain.

Enjoy the special Halloween shampoo at Universal's hotels.

Frankly, the shampoo is shocking and electrifying.

You'll find the scent in the hotel rooms to be bewitching.

The luxurious rooms at Universal's hotels will cast a spell on you.

The partnership between Universal and Wacky Packages will probably make other Orlando attractions a bit green.  With envy!

Wacky Packages did reach out to many other Florida attractions with partnership offers, but most got cold fins.

One particular item is another story.  It is a toy.

For this, you've got to get in line early.  Otherwise, midway through the day, you'll have to wait in line over two hours for it.

Snow White As Maleficent And A Snow Storm Of Disney Catalog Covers

In an effort to shock her friends, Snow White dressed up as Maleficent from the film "Sleeping Beauty" back in 2002. This was not part of an attempted "bad girl" image for pure-as-snow Ms. White. It was her Halloween costume for the cover of the Disney Catalog. Snow White is joined by Pooh (as Stitch), Tinkerbell (as Snow White), a Dalmatian (as Cruella), Donald Duck (as Jiminy Cricket), Mickey Mouse (as Beast), Minnie Mouse (as Marie from The Aristocats) and Tigger (as Pooh).

Per the suggestion of my pal at Filmic Light: A Snow White Sanctum (the place for all things Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs) it's time for some more Disney Catalog Covers featuring characters from Walt Disney's first animated feature film.


Ariel, Belle, Cinderella and Snow White join forces for the cover in 1992.

The Little Mermaid (1989) and Beauty and the Beast (1991) were still new at this time. Cinderella (1950) had been around much longer, but Snow White (1937) was still the fairest of them all after many, many years.


Dopey was featured on the Holiday 1994 Catalog.

The character figures teased on the cover were high-dollar collectibles , and can be seen at Disney's Seven Dwarfs Mine Train: The Plush Toy.


Snow White and all Seven Dwarfs were featured together on the Disney Catalog in 2001.

This cover celebrated the first ever DVD release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.


The Evil Queen was on the cover in time for Halloween in 1999.

The Old Hag from Snow White was later featured on a cover with all the Disney Villains, which can be seen at Halloween With Chernabog And The Disney Villains.


Casey Junior took a break from being Dumbo's Circus Train to become Christmas transportation for Disney Characters.

Grumpy and Dopey make an appearance on this cover from The Year 2000! Viewers of Conan O'Brien's TV show may have his "In The Year 2000" song stuck in their heads now.


Princess Power kicked in during the 2000s.

Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and Belle have a serene book club meeting under a tree in Fall 2002.


Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Snow White were dreaming of a pink Christmas in 2001.

This cover artwork is titled "A Royal Holiday."


Cinderella, Snow White and Belle made a point to visit a fancy Masquerade Ball in 2002.

Not surprisingly, Cinderella's Coach turned back into a Jack-O-Lantern after midnight.


Snow White, her Prince and the Dwarfs joined many other Disney Characters for Christmas in 2002.

Lumiere needs to be careful around the tree.


Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty joined forces to decorate for the Holidays.

Snow White was really busy hanging up wreaths in 2003.


Here she is again, this time with some of her Dwarf friends and many more characters.

Sleepy, Sneezy and Bashful were fashionably late to the party.


Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Snow White had a garden party in 2004.

Is that Sleeping Beauty's Castle or Cinderella's?


The Disney Gang got together for a big Catalog Cover titled "Magical Night" in 2001. Wait a minute. Where's Snow White?


This was a big fold out cover, featuring all sorts of characters, including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Dopey has a nice little moment in this artwork.


In 2002, the Disney Catalog released a lithograph featuring this art.

A lithograph for "A Royal Holiday" was also released.


And now for something different. For Halloween 2003, Minnie Mouse dressed up as Snow White.

Joining Minnie is Lilo (as Ariel), Tinkerbell (as Cinderella) and Marie (as Sleeping Beauty).

Marie was a very popular character in the Disney Catalog at this time, and is still merchandised quite a bit (especially in Asia) though her Aristocats co-stars are rarely ever seen.