Before streaming, targeted ads and Halloween merchandise showing up in stores before Labor Day, Halloween commercials were an essential part of the season. The 80s and 90s gave us plenty of strange, spooky and gloriously cheesy local TV spots, many of them made right here in Wisconsin. I dug up a collection of vintage Wisconsin Halloween commercials and clips that are peak nostalgia and pure retro Halloween weirdness.
Bartz Halloween Party Store
If you grew up in Southeastern Wisconsin in the 1980s, this commercial for Bartz Halloween party store in Milwaukee was an essential part of your Halloween experience. This commercial brings me right back to the 80s, sitting on the floor in front of the TV on a dark October night watching Fright Night, House, or The Pit.
I’ve always wondered what that troll thing with the giant mouth is supposed to be. It scared and intrigued me as a child, and even now I still don’t know what it’s supposed to be. Would love to see one of those in person.
Fox Valley Goodwill Halloween Commercial
This fun Halloween commercial for Fox Valley area Goodwill stores aired in the 90s and early 2000s. The stop-motion monster shadows keep it spooky but light. Thanks to Amanda for digging this one up!
1985 Milwaukee Elvira Look-Alike Contest
In 1985, Elvira teamed up with Milwaukee’s TV24 and 93QFM for an Elvira look-alike contest. The winner would receive an RCA Colortrak 13″ color TV, and get to host a movie on TV24 dressed es Elvira. There were 75 photo entries, and screen tests narrowed down eight semi-finalists to just three. Those three finalists appeared in segments of Elvira’s Movie Macabre on February 16 of that year, and viewers were asked to call in their votes for who was the best Elvira.
So who won the contest?
Cyndy Peterson, Milwaukee’s Elvira Look-Alike
22-year-old Cyndy Peterson got the most votes, and guest-hosted Elvira Look-Alike Movie Macabre on TV24 on a Saturday night for the movie The Night Evelyn Came Out Of the Grave.
Milwaukee Record has the full scoop on this contest.
Elvira Look-Alike Partyland Commercial
Cyndy Peterson went on to make some appearances at Milwaukee area Partyland stores that October dressed as her Elvira alter-ego.
Fleet Farm Halloween Commercial
Mills Fleet Farm was brewing up value in 1987 with “prices that are so low they’re scary.” This ad aired on the Green Bay/Fox Valley area’s TV32.
Best Buy Halloween Commercial
Dracula and Igor hawk color TVs and compact disc players for Best Buy during the 1987 Halloween season with spooktacular savings. Plus free candy for kiddies on Halloween, free reflective tape, and a costume contest. Not to mention prices that are “to die for.” Dracula is giving the Cryptkeeper a run for his money in the pun department.
American Halloween Commercial
Where can you get a 19″ color TV with remote control for only $219 dollars? How about a Panasonic VHS video recorder for only $198? Only at American, during their 1987 Halloween sale hosted by Dracula. Prices so low they’re frightening!
Got a vintage Wisconsin Halloween clip hiding on VHS? Commercials, TV segments, contests, weird local footage…I want to see it.
What are your favorite nostalgic retro Halloween commercials?
