Wednesday, April 29, 2009

'HORROR BAGS' - Fungames pack
















When I first became interested in promotional items from Smith's Horror Bags, I was amazed at how many horror themed items that were released from the crisp/snack company back in the 1970's. For so many years I was only aware of the duffel/swimming bag that you could send away for with so many empty packs of Horror Bags. Now the past few years several items have come to light that I of course never knew about and the latest in this line is what you see here - The Horror Bags Fungames pack. In side this wonderful colourful illustrated pack is a selection of monster themed games, a glow-in-the -dark haunted castle poster, a spooky mobile, and 2 card masks of the Horror Bags Vampire and the Frankenstein Monster. All items are printed on either thin card or paper. The Haunted Castle poster is in 2 sections, the castle picture goes over a picture of various monsters etc and when they are together the doors and windows of the castle can be opened up to reveal the monsters underneath. The games consist of puzzle games, counting games, counting quizzes and the like. The mobile consists of a Bat, Witch, and a Ghost. The 2 masks are printed on thin card and I am guessing that the Vampire mask is not the same that could be sent for from promotional packs, it just seems too flimsy for something that you would post off for. Now I wonder what other promotional items will come to light, I just wish there were some kind of Smith's archive that contained all of the promotional items that were released and press information, adverts, empty packs and boxes etc. I am sure there must be some form of archive as I would imagine that most highly established companies would keep a record of previous products. Its an important part of our cultural heritage surely.

10 comments:

Mondo said...

Have you checked out the new Frankenstein Artwork Gallery blog

Paul said...

Yes I have thank you. What a great site and such a great idea. Its so pleasing to see people's different interpretations in art of the Monster. Must get round to sending one myself sometime.

Anonymous said...

Fantastic Horror bag goodies Paul, they look amazing on the blog, Who knows what else is to be found!!

John said...

Wow! I wonder how many empty crisp packets they wanted for that lot back in the 70's!

Hope you get your camera out for the creepymobile sometime..(!)

Anonymous said...

Ah! Did you win this then?
i made an offer and he accepted, btu then changed my mind about owning it

Paul said...

I am sure there will be a few more items to come to light at some point. Still would like to see pictures of the Horror Bags T-Shirt,Horror Grippers, and the Dracula hand puppet.

Hi John
I have a piece of paper that shows a few offers on, one of which is the Fungames pack and it says to send in 3 empty packs. Not bad at all.

Will try and post some pics of the mobile soon.

Hi Daz
Yes I also made an offer too. How come you changed your mind about owning it?

PSGifford said...

What a cool blog you have!

Paul said...

Hi P.S.Gifford
Thank you for your kind comment, hope you continue to visit.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for a wonferful trip down memory lane!
I bought 'Horror Bags' in the 70's and I also had every issue of 'Scream' in the 80's.
It's nice to know that there are other people out there with fond memories of such things!
You have done a superb job of your blog and I shall be checking in here on a regular basis!
All the best to you,
Mik:)=

Paul said...

Hi Mik
Did you ever send for anything from Horror Bags?
Thank you for your kind comments and I am really pleased that you are enjoying the blog and I agree it is nice to that other people still have fond memories of these type of things.
All the best