3-D Monster Pops

Holy Halloween!  I just got a huge kick of nostalgia, right in the feels this evening!  I was just scrolling through Facebook, minding my own business, when an article posted to Haunter's Hangout caught my eye.  A member of the group shared this post about zombie popsicle molds.  Normally, a zombie popsicle mold wouldn't necessarily catch my attention; while I do love frozen treats, I'm not a huge zombie fan.  But, as soon as my eye skimmed the accompanying photo, it was like a part of me automatically zoomed back to my childhood as I remembered eating monster popsicles.  Looking at the photo, I could literally feel that awesome sensation of my tongue going over all the little nooks and crannies offered by the unique designs, including Dracula, a mummy, Frankenstein's Monster, and possibly a skeleton.

The photo that sparked the memory. Source

Before that moment, I had completely forgotten these popsicles even existed. I hadn't thought about them for years, and now all of a sudden, I'm flooded with memories.  Memories are now a little fuzzy, but I'm pretty sure the only times I actually ate these were at my grandparents' house in Beckley, WV.  I grew up near Charleston, and I don't remember eating them at home, but I'm not sure if that's because we couldn't find them here...or my mom wouldn't buy them for me.

I'm also not 100% sure the time frame that I had these.  I remember eating them at my grandparents' old house, and I'm pretty sure it was before I was 10, so sometime probably between 1985 and 1992. I also don't think these were limited to just Halloween---I'm pretty sure they were available year round.  Anyway, like I'm apt to do, I went to Google to see if I could find anything out about my beloved childhood treat.

The Monster Pops from my childhood. Dracula was my favorite! Source

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find out much, but I was thrilled to find a photo at least proving that I wasn't totally crazy; these things actually existed.  The picture above comes from the Gone But Not Forgotten Groceries Blog, which notes that they don't own the photo and aren't sure who does. The blog and its comments offered some good insight, though.  Turns out these 3-D Monster Pops were manufactured by the Good Humor and came in boxes of 12. When the author of the blog reached out to Good Humor, they couldn't provide any information.  Flavors included grape, orange, and cherry.  Like me, a lot of people commenting on the post remember eating these in the mid to late 1980's, but they could have been around as early as the 1970's and some people reported finding them in their local store as late as the latter half of the 1990's. It also seems like from the comments that these were marketed largely to the southern states; one person was even located in my general area of southern West Virginia.

I'm absolutely craving one of these 3-D Monster Pops now, so maybe I'll have to buy those zombie molds, if anything, in an attempt to recreate that unique sensation of a 3-D popsicle on my tongue. And, obviously, I'd love to know more about these!  If you know anything about these frozen delights, or have any memories of eating them yourself, please let me know in the comments below.

The Master of Horror Wishes You a Merry Christmas!

Master of Horror, Vincent Price, is far more commonly associated with Halloween than he is Christmas.  But, the Yule season is actually a pretty spooky one, filled with witches, ghost stories, monsters, and plenty of supernatural superstitions. With that in mind, Vincent Price posing beside a Christmas tree seems a little more...normal?

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Witching You a Very Merry Christmas!

It's time for a Witchy Wednesday: Christmas Edition.  Now THIS is the kind of Christmas greeting card I would have loved to receive! Around the Victorian era through the early 1900's, holiday greeting cards were a lot more hard core, and sometimes, downright WEIRD.  This example isn't too far out there, but it certainly doesn't scream CHRISTMAS, at least by modern standards.  Don't quote me on this, but I BELIEVE this particular holiday postcard was put out by De La Rue. De La Rue was an English company dating back to around 1813.  They made Christmas cards (and some of their work is REALLY odd!) from about 1872 to 1885. 

 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Witches!

Want MORE creepy, crazy Victorian Christmas cards? Bored Panda has collected at least 57 examples of dead birds, devils, and lots and lots of frogs, all wishing YOU a very merry holiday season!

Happy Independence Day!

It may only be July 4th, but that's no reason to forget Halloween!  Happy Independence Day, everyone...Halloween is just around the corner!

Happy Pi Day!

Happy Halloween!  Uh, I mean, Happy Pi Day! Celebrate this March 14th with a big slice of pumpkin pie---Donald Duck approved. 

Harvey Harmer and His Pumpkins

Harvey Harmer is serious about his pumpkins!  The Clarksburg, West Virginia man is show here proudly showing off his 1914 crop of gourds.  All four pumpkins, ranging from 38 lbs. to 104 lbs., came from a single vine.  That's pretty darn impressive! 

This wonderful old image was found on the WV History on View website, which notes that Harvey Walker Harmer was born in 1865 and died in 1961.  In addition to his farming accomplishments, Harmer was a lawyer, local historian/author, and a state senator representing Harrison County.  Here's a fascinating article on Harmer's integral role in the controversial 'American Constitutional Association' and his role of chairman for the America First Day celebration.

Halloween 1987?

Happy Throwback Thursday!  I'm that cute lil' princess, and that's my older sister as a gypsy.  I'm not entirely sure what year this picture was taken, but I'm guessing it was sometime between 1986 and 1988.  I still remember that crown as being not only a beloved Halloween costume component, but also a favorite everyday dress up item!  In fact, I'm pretty sure a year or two before THIS photo was taken, my sister wore that same crown as part of her Beauty Pageant Queen costume.

Before moving to Winfield, my trick-or-treating didn't take place around my neighborhood.  We lived in a rather smallish trailer park, so each year, my parents would take me and my sister to the mall in Kanawha City.  Back then, the mall was a bustling shopping center, and every store gave out candy to the trick-or-treaters on Halloween night.  But, before we collected our sugar haul, my mom would drag us into the mall's photo studio for our annual Halloween portrait! I'm sure back then I thought it was a huge drag to have to sit for a formal photo when all I wanted to do was eat candy, but I'm so glad my mom made us take the time to get them done.  I LOVE Halloween and now I have a beautiful photograph of my sister and myself to remind me of how we celebrated my favorite time of year as a child. This costume, like most of mine before the age of 10, was a simple one...a lacy, pink party dress paired with cheap sequined tiara headband...but I remember feeling just like a princess in it!

What was YOUR favorite Halloween costume as a kid? Let me know in the comments below, or join me over at Theresa's Haunted History Facebook page and share your own photos!  Happy Halloween 365, everyone!