Well guys, it’s finally time. This episode of the Purple Stuff Podcast is more than ten years in the making. For the first time ever, it’s an entire show about the lean, green fighting machines. It’s time to talk TURTLES!

Yes indeed, a whole show about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! And a huge one, at that. This baby clocks in at 90 minutes, and we’re covering everything — the cartoon, the junk food, the weird live-action appearances, and so much more!

There will be more fully-dedicated Ninja Turtles shows in the future, but for our first at-bat, you’re getting a BIG dose of ‘em!

Click here to listen to this month’s show!

…which is also on Spotify, Apple, and wherever else you listen to podcasts!

As a reminder, we’re also on Patreon, where you can grab an exclusive bonus show every month, and gain immediate access to our giant back catalog of nearly 100 bonus shows. The next one is on its way soon, and trust me, it’s a good one!

If you’d like to learn more about the subjects discussed on our TMNT extravaganza, follow the links below!

1. The TMNT Anti-Pot PSA!
2. TMNT Light ‘n Lively Commercial!
3. The Ninja Turtles on Oprah!
4. Thank Goodness for Chef Boyardee!
5. The WWF Toxic Turtles!
6. Nightmare in the Lair!
7. TMNT Delicious Cookies!
8. Turtle Tunes on VHS!

Thanks so much for listening, and for sharing the show around! We had a blast diving into the sewers for this one, and we hope you enjoy hearing about everyone from Creepy Eddie to Oprah Winfrey. Cowabunga!

Okay, I’m finally ready to show you Dino Drac’s April Funpack! It’s the moment a modest percentage of you have been waiting for!

Stuffed with collectibles, toys, trading cards and Nutella, this one has everything you’ll need to turn a boring Friday night into the single most exhilarating experience of your entire life. I can’t guarantee that, but I feel it in my bones.

All subscriber boxes have already shipped. I do have a couple of spares leftover to sell, but since there are so few, it’s gotta be email-only. If you’re not a subscriber but still want this box, send me an email – dinosaurdracula on gmail – and if I have any left, I’ll hook you up with the details. First come, first serve! (UPDATE: SOLD OUT!)

Now, let’s see what’s inside!

Leading the charge this month is a HOT one, if I do say so myself. From 1984, you’ll each receive a never-used, still-packaged McDonald’s Fast Macs car, featuring either The Hamburglar or Ronald McDonald!

These were famously sold at McDonald’s in 1985, but these specific cars are from their lesser-known regional release in 1984! (The same exact toys from ‘85, but in different packaging.)

I adored these tiny-sized pull-back cars as a kid. You’ll either get Hamburglar or Ronald, pulled at random, but I should mention that I have way more of the former in stock, so Ronald’s a rarer pull.

These are totally unused, but expect some package wear to the cards from their 40+ years in storage. (Yes, these are more than four decades old. What a score!)

You know, I’d originally planned to save these for one of the Halloween Funpacks, but they fit so well into this month’s box, I just couldn’t wait.

You’ll each get a sealed Scooby-Doo Tiny Mights figure pack, originally released by CultureFly in… what was it, 2023? Something like that. They’re modern by Funpack standards, but still absolutely off the retail market, now with ever-increasing prices.

These are just too cool. You get a plastic, split-apart Mystery Machine van containing three random Scooby-Doo Tiny Mights figures, featuring the expected characters, along with a slew of monstrous villains. There are tons of colors in the mix, including rarer variants, like glow-in-the-dark and “sparkle” figures.

If you grew up on things like M.U.S.C.L.E. or Monster in My Pocket, these are in the same vein, but totally Scoobified. There are twelve different figures in the set, but with so many colors and variants, it stands to reason that none of you will get the exact same mix!

Some of you love Nutella, and then there’s a portion of you who have no idea what it even tastes like. Well, consider this your test run.

You’ll each get an adorable package of Nutella & Go, featuring separate compartments for the sinfully silky hazelnut cocoa spread, and tiny-sized breadsticks to dip into it.

These are pretty generously-sized, all things considered, and will probably deliver a sugar coma on the same level as a giant slice of cake.

Hey, how about a couple of trading card packs from the early ‘90s? Why not, right? You’ll get a pack of Dick Tracy movie cards from 1990, and then a pack of Terminator 2 stickers from 1991. (Imagine those two having a crossover. Maybe Arnold could’ve saved Lips Manlist from that cement bath.)

I’ll also toss in a fresh pouch of mint-flavored Mini Mini Chicles gum, which will be useful in eradicating the olfactory evidence of your Nutella feast.

Rounding things out, you’ll also get this month’s Funpack Newsletter, plus an exclusive essay about how I restored a busted Telco Halloween Ghost Motionette, because I’m psychotic about those things, and was willing to take full advantage of a captive audience to blather on about them.

Then there’s this month’s exclusive 5×7” cardstock mini-poster, featuring a classic McDonald’s breakfast from the ‘80s, and a 2×2” sticker, starring an old Ninja Turtles cookie. How joyous.

So yep, you’ll get all of the above for just $25, and that somehow includes shipping to anywhere in the United States!

Subscribers: You’re all set, and your Funpacks are on the way!

If you’re not a subscriber but still want this box, send me an email – dinosaurdracula at gmail – and if I have any left, I’ll send you a link with the info you’ll need to buy one. (UPDATE: SOLD OUT!)

Thanks, all!

Okay, I’m finally ready to show you Dino Drac’s March Funpack! It’s a box of stuff! Old, cool stuff! And new gum!

All subscriber boxes have already been shipped, and many have already been delivered! If you’re on the list and don’t have yours yet, look for it any day now!

While subscriptions are currently closed, I have a small number of spares that I can offer on an individual basis. As always, the price is $25, and that includes shipping to anywhere in the United States. If interested, zip to the bottom to see if there are any left!

Now, let’s dive in and see what y’all are getting…

Leading the charge this month, you’ll each receive ONE of these very vintage Star Wars book-and-record sets!

Both are from 1983. You’ll either get Return of the Jedi *or* Droid World, in unused condition, with the cellophane wrapper still intact. (Do note that the cellophane wrapper may have some tears! I’m showing you both without them, but yours will be untouched.)

Whichever one you end up with, each set comes with a little record album plus a gorgeous picture-filled storybook. The idea was that you could read along while listening to the album. While I cannot 100% guarantee that the records will still play perfectly – warping is sometimes an issue with these old sets – I tested a bunch, and all worked fine!

These sets are over forty years old and take me back to my earliest visits to Toys “R” Us. Thrilled to be sharing these with you!

Next, you’ll each get a beautiful pack of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles puffy stickers, from 1989! What a score! These are actually imports from the Netherlands, but I believe we got the same sets in the States back then, too.

I included a different pack of TMNT puffy stickers in one of last year’s Funpacks, but IMO, this one tops it. Aside from a good dose of Ninja Turtle representation, this set also features Shredder, April and Bebop!

All packs are sealed and unused. How well puffy stickers “work” after so many decades… well, I can’t make any guarantees there, but all stickers are firmly on the backing sheets, and as far as I can tell, none have lost their adhesive powers.

For this month’s snack, you’re getting a generous 10-piece pack of Cotton Candy Bubble Yum! This one has flitted in and out of production since its debut in the 1990s, but it’s currently in production, and clocks as a “forever nostalgic” flavor.

And you sure are getting a lot of it, here. Ten pieces! That’s double the size of an ordinary pack, and enough for a week’s worth of sugary bliss. And, knock on wood, the weather is still chilly enough for these to make it to you without getting all sweaty.

My answer wavers depending on my mood, but if pressed, more often than not I’ll call Gremlins 2 my all-time favorite movie. And it certainly never falls out of the Top 3. When I say that I’ve seen it over 200 times, it’s without a drop of hyperbole. Hell, back in the ‘90s after I made a tape-to-tape dub, I probably watched it 200 times in a single year.

With that, you’ll each get one of these custom-packaged Gremlins 2 35mm trailer frames, cut by yours truly from a genuine trailer reel. Whichever frame you end up with, it’ll be something from the classic trailer, which absolutely floored all of us old school Gremlins fans back in 1990.

Do note that while I’m being careful to cut the frames out cleanly, I am not a professional, and these are just for fun. If you want something more refined, go spend $100 on someone who mounts the things to laminated wood and gets COAs signed by Gizmo.

Man, there’s still more? What VALUES I bestow upon you. You’ll ALSO get three packs of these My Little Pony album “stickers,” from the mid ‘80s.

These were produced by Reyauca, I believe in Venezuela, and were never available in the States. While they look like the same little stickers common with Panini-style albums, these actually aren’t adhesive, and were meant to be taped or glued into albums instead. (Which is actually fortuitous, because without adhesive backings, the individual sheets have survived the years without sticking together!)

A wonderful oddity, and I believe this marks the first time My Little Pony has had any representation in a Dino Drac Funpack. How historic.

Okay, let’s wrap this up!

Rounding things out, you’ll also get this month’s Funpack Newsletter, an exclusive essay about how I love driving to horror conventions, a random set of three Mario Quiz Cards from 1995 (which are awesome), a 5×7” cardstock mini-poster featuring RC Cola, and a 2×2” sticker starring some old M.U.S.C.L.E. toys.

Whew. And all of this packed into a sturdy box that you can later reuse if you want a microwave pizza to look like it was delivered from the joint up the block.

So yep, you’re getting all of the above for $25, and that includes shipping!

If you’re already a subscriber and you wanna stay that way… do nothing! You’re all set, and your Funpack has already shipped.

If you’re NOT a current subscriber but still want this box, I have just a few left to offer on an individual basis. Click the button below to order. United States only, please! Once they’re gone, they’re gone forever!

Thanks so much, and I’ll be back with more of the good stuff in April!

The latest Purple Stuff Podcast is here, and this episode is (Robert) stacked. Join us for our fourth trip into the wild world of UNSOLVED MYSTERIES!

If you’re familiar with our prior episodes about the classic TV series, you know the drill. Me and Jay plucked six segments out from the show’s seventeen thousand seasons, this time covering everything from angels to aliens to… aphrodisiacs? Yes, really.

These Unsolved Mysteries pods are absolute monsters to complete, but we always love to do ‘em. Whether you’re in the mood for something creepy, cheesy, or both at the same time, we’ve got you covered.

Click here to listen to this month’s show!

…which you can also find on Apple, Spotify, and wherever else you listen to podcasts.

Thank the lawd that Unsolved Mysteries has fully embraced the streaming era, and is so easy to watch on so many platforms. I remember a time when there was a hot market for unofficial DVDs, which generally looked terrible, if they even played at all. We’ve come a long way, baby.

The podcast is loaded with clips, but if you actually wanna see the segments we’re discussing, follow the links below!

1) The Belgian UFO!
2) Resurrection Mary!
3) The Minnesota Iceman!
4) Aphrodisiacs!
5) The Las Vegas Fraudster!
6) Do Angels Really Exist?

Thanks so much for your ears, and for sharing the show around! We’re over ten years deep into doing this podcast, and we so appreciate your continued support!

Oh, and as a reminder, the Purple Stuff Podcast is also on Patreon, where you can grab an exclusive bonus show every month, plus gain immediate access to our immense back catalog of prior bonus shows. (We’ve done nearly 100 of them so far!)

Our latest bonus is a deep dive into an old broadcast of Tales from the Darkside, complete with TV commercials from the ‘80s. If our 70-minute tribute to Unsolved Mysteries doesn’t freak you out enough, that one oughta do it.

Enjoy, everyone! Perhaps you can solve a mystery.

The latest episode of the Purple Stuff Podcast just dropped, and we think it’s a suitably cozy one for the dead of winter. (Emphasis on “dead.”)

Join me and Jay from Sludge Central as we dive into a 1986 network television broadcast of Friday the 13th Part 2! Edited for time *and* content!

Even without the gore and bad words, Part 2 remains my favorite film in the franchise. While it lacks the “party movie pizazz” of later installments, the more grounded approach really suits it. (I say “grounded” as if a severed head isn’t a major plot point in the movie, and arguably its third most important character.)

We’re looking at a complete network broadcast from November of 1986, exactly as it aired on WFLD 32 out in Chicago. Complete with commercials, for those who prefer their Friday the 13th discussions with sidebars about Pizza Hut.

Click here to listen to this month’s show!

…which is also on Spotify, Apple, and wherever else you listen to podcasts.

It was so great to see Friday the 13th Part 2 the way it was meant to be seen – with ads for Dimetapp and Wrigley’s Spearmint gum sandwiched between the killings.

As a reminder, the Purple Stuff Podcast is also on Patreon, where you can grab an exclusive bonus show every month, and get instant access to our immense library of past bonus episodes. There are around ninety of them in there, waiting for your ears!

Oh, and here’s a video collecting the intro, commercials and bumpers from this 1986 broadcast of Friday the 13th Part 2. This gem of a find was donated by The Nostalgia Society over on IG, who correctly assumed that we’d wanna drop everything to cover it. Thanks, friend!

Enjoy our first episode for 2026, everyone! Feel free to share thoughts about this wonderful rom-com in the comments. Did you like seeing Jason with long, stringy hair? Did the movie give you a better appreciation for antiquated handheld video games? The public (or maybe just me) wants to know!

Okay, it’s finally time for Dino Drac’s February Funpack! A cozy box filled with nostalgia and sugar and bright red demons.

All subscriber boxes have already shipped out, so if you’re on the list, you either already have it or will soon!

While subscriptions are currently maxed out, I have a small number of spare boxes that I can offer on an individual basis. If you’re not a subscriber but still want this Funpack, zip to the bottom to see if there are any left! (They’re $25 shipped. United States only!)

Otherwise, keep reading to learn about everything in this month’s pack!

I’m absolutely THRILLED about these. Longtime readers know how fond I am of Modulok, who was perhaps Hordak’s weirdest goon from Masters of the Universe lore.

Well, in this Funpack, you’re actually getting him! Back in 2019, Super7 released Modulok as part of their ReAction action figure collection. Actually, with a wink to how the original action figure could split into multiple figures, they released him twice!

You’ll either receive the “A” or “B” version shown above, in absolutely case-fresh packaging. I have roughly equivalent amounts of both, so whichever one you want more, you’ve got a 50/50 shot!

A carded ReAction figure is a pretty hoity-toity pull for my modestly-priced Funpacks, and this particular one is incredibly on-brand for Dino Drac. And hey, even if you don’t give a shit about He-Man, just pretend they’re evolved forms of the Press Your Luck Whammies. Gorgeous figures, gorgeous card art!

I’ve been doing the Funpacks for over a decade now, and I’ve been trying to work Growing Pains trading cards into them for literally the entire time. I can’t believe the day is finally here!

Yes, back in 1988, Topps released a set of trading cards based on Growing Pains. Compared to many other card sets of the era, they are neither cheap nor common.

It’s a minor miracle that I was able to find a pack for each of you, but it does come with an asterisk: These are very old packs, many are not in perfect condition, many have old price stickers on them, and you can expect that the old bubble gum stick has dissolved and made a mess of the top card. (Okay, yeah, maybe that was three asterisks.)

The condition varies, but I know you’re going to get a kick out of these. Maybe you’ll even find that elusive Jason Seaver rookie card!

Then we have another case-fresh pack of scratch ‘n sniff stickers from the legendary Trend Enterprises, which is currently closed, but apparently may be reopening in the future? I’m not sure, but what’s relevant is that these stickers are definitely out of production at the moment!

This time, you’re getting a whole sealed pack of Strawberry Jam “Retro Remix” Scratch ‘n Sniff stickers, which smell positively heavenly and will make you want cake. Each pack contains two sheets, so you’re walking away with two dozen circular stickers to stink up your notebooks with. Have fun and God bless.

Next up is a pile of assorted awesome ephemera, starting with a genuine My Football Monster Valentine’s Day card from 1988! (I still can’t believe they made those, but I’m not complaining.)

Joining that is a Power Rangers “Action Card” from the 1990s, featuring a lenticular image of the Blue Ranger. These specially-packaged cards were from Avon, of all places. I think they were used for some promotion tied to Power Rangers soap, or something?

You’ll also get two packs of Barbie “Rock Stars” stickers, from Venezuela in the mid ‘80s. Actually, they’re not really stickers – you were meant to tape or glue them into albums, but they still basically look like those old Panini-style stickers. A weird, rare find!

Since the ReAction figure necessitated a long box, I thought I’d take advantage by giving you a long snack!

You’ll each get a two-ounce pack of Sour Punch Rainbow Straws, which are big, colorful, sour, sweet, delicious, and altogether life-changing. You will find it difficult to stay in a bad mood while eating them, but I make no promises as to how you’ll feel when they’re finished.

Rounding things out, you’ll get this month’s exclusive 2×2” sticker (Pizzarias), plus this month’s exclusive 5×7” cardstock mini-poster, which reprints an old grocery store ad for Ninja Turtles Pudding Pies. (I don’t do black-and-white mini-posters often, but this was SO worth it!)

Then there’s this month’s Funpack Newsletter, plus an exclusive essay about the day I got the original Modulok action figure, back when I was a tiny child in 1985.

So yep, you’ll get everything shown above, neatly packed into an extremely sturdy box and shipped directly to your door for a flat $25.

If you’re already a subscriber and you wanna stay that way, do nothing! You’re all set!

If you’re not a subscriber but still want the February Funpack, I have a very small number of extras to sell on an individual basis. Click the button below to grab one! (United States only, please!)

Thanks, everyone! Subscriber boxes have all been shipped, and all spares will ship on Monday morning!

Okay, it’s time to unleash the January 2026 Funpack! We’re starting the new year strong with a key item that literally nobody who reads this site wouldn’t want, but we’ll get to that in a minute!

Official subscriptions are currently maxed out, and all subscriber boxes have already been shipped. I have a small number of extras to sell on an individual basis, so if you’re interested, zip to the bottom to see if there are any left! (As always, the price is $25, and that includes shipping to anywhere in the States!)

The January Funpack is exactly what you need for a cozy night on the couch while you’re avoiding the winter chill. Namely, loads of McDonald’s nostalgia and plenty of junk food! Let’s dive in…

The unquestionable star of this month’s box? You’ll each receive ONE of these genuine McDonald’s McNugget Buddies Happy Meal toys, from their debut series way back in 1988!

Um, wow. So for those who didn’t know, the first set of McNugget Buddies were NOT Halloween-themed. In that series, McDonald’s just gave a bunch of anthropomorphic McNuggets random occupations, complete with removable outfits.

You’ll get ONE of those original toys, still sealed in its original Happy Meal baggie, and for extra nostalgia points, I’m stuffing each into a genuine McDonald’s paper baggie from the 1990s. (Slightly anachronistic since the toys came out in the ‘80s, but I didn’t think you’d mind!)

You’ll each get one sealed McNugget Buddy, and I have three different in the mix: First Class McNugget, Snorkel McNugget, or Boomerang McNugget.

Please note that while the toys obviously haven’t been used, the bags vary in condition, and some have pretty severe rub-wear from being trapped in a box together for nearly FORTY years. (Tl;dr: Expect a great-looking McNugget Buddy, but not necessarily a great-looking plastic baggie.)

As far as Happy Meal toys go, these are legitimate all-timers. It doesn’t get much better than the first-ever McNugget Buddies set, and I’m so thrilled to share ‘em with you!

Next up is this generous pile of snacks, which should be enough to stuff you silly for at least one movie night.

Included is a Reese’s PB&J Strawberry Big Cup, which adds a thin layer of strawberry jelly to an oversized peanut butter cup. Then there’s a pouch of Mini Mini Chicles gum, which in every way is a tribute to the long-discontinued Tiny Size Chiclets.

And hell, I’ll even throw in a packet of Planters Salted Peanuts, which is practically health food by comparison. Enjoy!

Next up is a trio of vintage trading card packs!

All subscriber boxes will receive the exact three packs shown above, which includes The Hollywood Walk of Fame (1991), Star Trek: The Next Generation (1992), and The Little Mermaid (1991).

For the few extras that remain, your three packs will likely have (still vintage) substitutions, as I’m running low on these other packs. But even if so, definitely count on a trio of some really old trading cards to ogle!

And now, a lightning round!

You’ll each get a double-shot of McDonald’s artwork, including a 5×7” cardstock mini-poster of Grimace from back when he still was a four-armed villain, AND, to complement your new/old Happy Meal toy, you’ll also get a 6×6” cardstock repro of the original McD’s McNuggets Buddies sign from 1988, which once hung in the restaurants!

And let’s tack on this month’s Funpack Newsletter, a 2×2” sticker of an old Tomy Omnibot, and an exclusive essay that will never be reprinted on the site! (This month’s essay is about a dying mall in New Jersey that I used to visit regularly.)

So yep, you’ll get all of the above for $25, shipped to anywhere in the United States! (I cannot ship internationally, sorry!)

If you’re already a subscriber and you wanna stay that way, do nothing! You’re all set!

If you’re not an active subscriber but still want the January Funpack, you can purchase one by clicking the button below. Supplies are very limited, and once they’re gone, they’re gone for good!

Thanks so much, everyone! Looking forward to sharing many more goodies with you, all through 2026!

Welcome to Dino Drac’s Countdown to Christmas! This feature will be updated daily (or close to daily) through December 25th, with some kind of holiday-related thingamajig. You never know what might turn up!

This one’s really for the old schoolers who prefer blogs to algorithmic timelines full of ads for dicey hair products. I won’t be plugging it often off-site. If this is up your alley, remember to check back often! (And visit After Dark and the Xmas Jukebox, too!)

12/24: Merry Christmas Eve!

Okay, so obviously I’ve missed a bunch of days on this Countdown to Christmas feature, which is what happens when you totally underestimate how FRANTICALLY BUSY the last half of December can get. It’s not like I’ve been staring at a blank page, unable to come up with a couple of paragraphs about holiday bric-a-brac. I just haven’t had time!

I’d intended to drop a giant batch of makeup entries today, but given that it’s already around 3PM on Christmas Eve, you’re going to have to settle for a photo of me in my brand new Grimace holiday sweater.

Today was just the latest in a series of whirlwinds. Did I wait until Christmas Eve to wrap all of my gifts? You bet I did. Did I wait until Christmas Eve to go food shopping for everything I’ll need between now and 12/26? Yep. Did I at least get the laundry done before this morning, so I wouldn’t have to add that to the list? No, no I did not.

I think my breaking point was remembering that I was also in charge of bringing 40 egg rolls from a local Chinese takeout joint to the party. I’m not sure where I thought “three or four hours of blogging” was supposed to fit in.

Eventually, I decided that the most important thing was to just come on here and say “Merry Christmas Eve.” So that’s what I’m doing. If you’re a Christmas person, I hope you have a wonderful day, and if you’re not a Christmas person, I still hope for the same, in whatever way it takes shape. Have a blast!

12/19: Italian Christmas Cookies!

I may not be eating them at the moment, but the holidays ain’t the holidays until I buy a box of Italian Christmas cookies. During December, they’re all over the salumerias where I live, ready to thrill and delight with sprinkles in every color and a snowy dusting of powdered sugar.

These have been part of literally every Christmas season that I can remember. These exact cookies, in these exact shapes and colors. In particular, they remind me of my late grandparents’ house in Brooklyn, where they’d be spread across a dinner plate and served with espresso. I’d grab my share, and then sneak back to the basement to watch the three channels they got on that terrible ten-inch TV.

As a kid, I always rushed for the “normal” chocolate chip cookie (top-middle), on the basis of it being the closest to Chips Ahoy. Nowadays, I plainly recognize that the Rainbow Cookies – which basically taste like a sugary almond cake – are the ones to aim for. Everyone else knows that, too. They’re always the first to go, and there are never enough of them!

12/17: A Golden Girls Christmas! (1986)

Shown above are shots from the first-ever Golden Girls Christmas episode, ‘Twas the Nightmare Before Christmas, which premiered in December of 1986.

This particular scene happens early in the episode, when the ladies exchange homemade gifts. Rose gives Dorothy a wooden maple syrup spigot. (“This’ll come in a lot handier than those pearl earrings the next time I’m lost in the woods with a stack of pancakes!”) Blanche gives everyone calendars featuring the men she’s dated, and they all take a particular interest in Mr. September. (“I’m surprised you were able to walk in October!”)

It’s all fun stuff, but what really stuck with me about this scene was how idyllically Christmassy everything was. The decorated tree, from an era when people were unafraid to use six pounds of tinsel. The perfectly-wrapped gifts, which looked like props that would’ve been dotted around the cotton landscape at a Mall Santa’s photoshoot. Finally, of course, was the holiday punch.

A glamorous crystal bowl filled with what looked like (and probably was) strawberry Kool-Aid. The sight of Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia sipping away still tickles me!

I’ve clocked countless hours trying to decide if their punch was spiked. None of the girls were teetotalers, and if there’s anything that could make this scene even better, it’s the idea that Sophia was half in the bag five minutes later, eating peeled tomatoes straight from the can.

All in all, it’s just one of the many scenes from old holiday-themed sitcom episodes that became so baked into my brain that I now have to remind myself that I’m remembering stuff from TV shows, and not things I personally experienced IRL.

12/16: Bountiful Blow Molds!

I didn’t mean for this to happen! I guess the ever-spying algorithms caught me talking about that little snowman blow mold from a few entries back, because when I checked Facebook Marketplace in the aftermath, it was just an endless sea of plastic Christmas people.

I couldn’t help noticing that in the mix were several from one particular seller who didn’t only price them much lower than average, but who was also incredibly local. By the time I contacted the guy, he’d already sold off some choice pieces, but there was still enough left for a literal CARLOAD of vintage holiday blow molds.

Two giant Santas! A huge candle! A big snowman! I even bought an enormous jack-o’-lantern, because by that point, the fever had completely taken hold. In my defense, the prices were REALLY good. I paid $135 for a lot that’s easily worth $400+.

I know you want more than the small glimpse this drive-home selfie provides, but you’ll have to wait a little longer for that. I don’t know where to put these things! They’re staying in the car until I clear out some space. Don’t worry, I’ll have an update soon enough – and a very ridiculous photo to go along with it.

12/15: Holiday Lucky Charms! (1992)

While it wasn’t unusual for cereals to have holiday-themed TV commercials in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, actual holiday-themed cereals were rare. Christmas Crunch might have been the first, but right behind it was Holiday Lucky Charms.

HLC, as the hip cats call it, debuted in 1989 and made scattered appearances for years after that. Every time it turned up, the box was redesigned, and sometimes the yuletide marshmallows got updated, too. (Later, even name changes weren’t out of the question. The “Winter Lucky Charms” boxes of the 2000s were arguably part of the same lineage.)

This version, though, might be my favorite. In 1992, Holiday Lucky Charms personified Christmas coziness. That pine green box! Errant branches! The promise of eight different seasonally-appropriate marshmallows, ranging in shape from candy canes to bells! We were overserved on holiday cheer.

(The cereal even came with a free ornament, which isn’t shown here, but was originally rubber-cemented right to the front of the box!)

12/14: Empire Snowman Blow Mold! (1960s)

Is this my first-ever Christmas blow mold? It might be! As mentioned previously in this feature, my family didn’t do the blow mold thing when I was a kid, and I can’t recall picking up any on my own as an adult. So yes, this is a historic moment, and I look forward to selling the movie rights for fabulous cash.

This 13” rosy-cheeked snowman was made by Empire in the 1960s. I’m stubbornly refusing to believe that it was a reissue from the ‘70s or later, even if that’s just as likely. Whatever the case, he’s definitely vintage, he’s definitely adorable, and he’s definitely improved my life in dramatic ways.

PS, here’s a hot tip for any would-be blow mold collectors. One reservation I’d long had is that the original cords are ancient fire hazards, but those cords can be affordably replaced with modern ones. Just look for C7 accessory cords, and while you’re at it, grab a pack of C7 LED bulbs, which emanate almost zero heat.

12/14: The Season Moves Too Fast!

Counting the cotton balls on my 7UP poster tells me that today is December 14th, which is RIDICULOUS. I’m used to the holiday season’s breakneck pace, but the fact that Thanksgiving was already more than two weeks ago is straight-up black magic.

I’m trying to remind myself that while Christmas Eve is in just ten days, the holiday vibes usually last through New Year’s. Really, that’s all I’m concerned with. I can live without an extra adventure, and I can almost stomach the idea that fresh cranberries will soon be out of season, but I’m definitely not ready to disassemble my junky tree, nor to fall asleep without obnoxiously Christmassy background videos looping on YouTube.

Still, there are a few little things I wanna do before Santa’s arrival. I haven’t watched many holiday movies this season, so that’s on the docket. I would like to go to a mall, any mall, because I’m the big lame-o who still appreciates “mall culture” at Christmastime. I’d also like to work in some nighttime drives around the neighborhood to see everyone’s lights, with one hand on the wheel and the other wrapped around a Dunkin holiday cup.

That’s a pretty easy checklist. It’s good to have low standards, sometimes.

12/12: Betty Crocker’s Eggnog Pie! (1965)

A classic recipe from Betty Crocker in the ‘60s, Fruit Cocktail Eggnog Pie was exactly what it sounds like – a pie made with whipped eggnog, topped with a ring of canned fruit cocktail.

I’ve seen similar magazine ads containing this recipe floating around social media, and the reactions are always mixed. I’m not even a pie guy, but I dunno, I think this looks pretty great? It has all the visual charm you’d want from a retro recipe, but there’s nothing off-putting about it, either.

Will I make it for the family Christmas party? I mean, I want to, but historically, what I want to bring to the Christmas party (crockpots of marinating cocktail franks, celery-stuffed Jell-O molds) and what I actually bring to the party (ten dollars’ worth of cookies bought five minutes before arriving) are very different things. But it’s a nice thought.

12/12: Dunkin’s Crystal Apple! (1983)

If you’re an active thrifter, you’ve probably seen this glass apple container more than once. Well, now you know where they came from!

For a multi-year stretch in the early ‘80s, Dunkin’ Donuts sold these gorgeous “crystal” apple jars, filled with thirty Munchkins. Since nobody wanted to toss a perfectly good glass jar, they hung around households for years after the Munchkins were finished. Hell, some of you probably still have one!

I just love the idea of turning up at a friend’s house on a Sunday morning, ready to demand coffee in trade for my Munchkin-filled apple. I’d be wearing my longest coat and a red scarf, because obviously, it’d be snowing outside. We’d eat donut holes, gossip about the neighbors, compare notes on how far we’ve gotten on our holiday shopping, and end the visit with some variation of, “If I don’t see you, have a merry Christmas and a happy new year.”

The Purple Stuff Podcast’s big holiday show is here, and we’ve picked an appropriately festive topic for the occasion. Join us for a 75-minute romp through the pages of the legendary 1987 Sears Wish Book!

You remember these catalogs, of course. In the ‘80s, they were as good as bibles. Featuring what felt like every single toy in the universe (and every single other thing in the universe), these retail tomes monopolized our attention every Christmas season, and gave us pleasant, greedy dreams all through December.

1987 was a particularly great year for the Wish Book, and we had a blast circling our favorite stuff for this yuletide podcast. We think you’re gonna dig it!

Click here to listen to this month’s show!

…which is also on Apple, Spotify, and wherever else you listen to pods!

As a reminder, we’re also on Patreon, where you can grab an exclusive bonus show every month, AND gain immediate access to our enormous back catalog of nearly 100 prior bonus eps! (December’s is coming before Christmas!)

Down below are scans of some of the 1987 Sears Wish Book items covered on this month’s show:

I think Spectra is my new obsession, guys.

Thanks so much for spending another year with the Purple Stuff Podcast, and we hope this latest episode adds a little something to your Christmas week! Happy holidays, all!

Dino Drac’s December Funpack is here, and it’s stuffed with yuletide cheer. (And also chocolate!)

I think you’re gonna love this Funpack. It’s kinda like the perfect Christmas stocking, and the lead item is seriously to-die-for. More on that in a minute!

Subscriptions are currently maxed out, but I have a small number of spares that I can sell on an individual basis. The cost is $25, and that includes shipping to anywhere in the United States. If interested, scroll to the bottom to see if there are any left!

Now, in the immortal words of Kuni from UHF, let’s see what’s in the box!

Oh lord. This one is special. You’ll receive a sealed, factory-fresh copy of the official Silent Night, Deadly Night score, on audiocassette! These gorgeous tapes are produced by my friends at Terror-Vision, who always do amazing work.

If you’ve never seen Silent Night, Deadly Night, it’s a 1984 cult classic slasher movie with a Christmas twist, and famously features shots of countless ‘80s toys. It also had an underrated OST, which is captured in full on this double-sided high-quality audiocassette.

But wait! These aren’t ordinary cassettes! In the spirit of Christmas, each tape is imbued with tri-color holiday glitter! They look INCREDIBLE in person, and it was definitely worth the extra expense to get y’all something sooo festive.

Your tape will arrive factory-sealed and ready to play, assuming you still have a cassette deck! If you don’t, whatever, it’ll still look great on a shelf.

Next we have another glorious pack of Retro Stinky Stickers from Trend Enterprises, which sadly closed its doors a few months back. Which means that these babies are now completely out of production, and can be classified as a modern collectible!

I panic-bought a bunch when I still had a chance, and now you’re going to be the beneficiary with a sealed pack of Scratch ‘n Sniff Hot Cocoa stickers! There are two sheets in each pack, so you’ll be getting 24 stickers, and boy, the scent on these is POWERFUL! Powerful and ACCURATE. They really smell like hot cocoa!

Trend had been a chief sticker supplier for decades, especially for schools. These Hot Cocoa stickers have the exact same design as the ones that were famous in the ‘80s, and they were made by the same company!

You’ll also receive one of these E.T. Mini Figure Blind Bags, released by NECA way back in 2012. Each foil bag contains one of six mystery E.T. figures, which range from “regular” E.T. to “sheet ghost” E.T., to E.T. in his stylish blue shirt.

I’ve always associated E.T. with the holiday season, not because of anything that happened in the movie, but because his initial merchandise blitz was soooo Christmas-centric. Hell, there was even a point when kids could get their Sears Christmas photos taken with E.T. instead of Santa Claus. Dude was a holiday icon.

Shown above is a sampling of the possible figures. Remember, you’ll only get one!

I hope you’re hungry, because you are getting more than a mouthful of chocolate with this month’s Funpack. Included in each box is a 2.8 oz package of Reese’s Peanut Butter & Grape Jelly BIG Cups, and I gotta stress the “BIG.”

I haven’t done the math, but I believe these cups are twice as tall as the normal ones, and each pack contains two of those suckers. If you’ve never experienced a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup with the addition of a grape jelly smear, well, here’s your chance!

There are only a few months each year that I can get away with mailing y’all chocolate, so I had to take advantage. These certainly won’t melt in transit during December. (In fact, I’d advise you to wait until they’ve hit room temperature again before chomping away!)

Rounding things out, you’ll also get this month’s Funpack newsletter, exclusive essay, a 5×7” cardstock mini-poster that recreates some killer art from an old Toys “R” Us holiday circular, and a 2×2” sticker depicting a classic Santa blow mold from the ‘80s.

(This month’s essay is about my giant childhood Christmas stocking – an idea which I absolutely stole from Christmas at Pee-wee’s Playhouse. It’ll never be reprinted on the site!)

So yep, you’ll get all of the above, shipped directly to your door for a flat $25!

If you’re already a subscriber and you’d like to stay that way, do nothing, you’re all set!

If you’re NOT a subscriber but still want this month’s box, you can purchase one by clicking the button below. Supplies are very limited!

New orders will be sent within 24 hours, and all should arrive before Xmas!

Thank you all for another great year with the Funpacks. I’m well-stocked for 2026, and have some seriously unreal goodies coming in the months ahead. Stay tuned for that, but for now, I hope the December Funpack adds a little something to your holiday season!