Thread: First Halloween sighting in stores...

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Halloween Express is open in Tulsa!

...and it looks like last year's stuff...and the store already looks kinda...trashed.

sigh...

I hear Spirit opens soon!

I got an old-school jointed cardboard (chipboard) skeleton from party America. It reminds me of school decorations in the late 70s.

Originally Posted by Ghost of Spookie

There are others here that have used spirit balls in past years that would be better at commenting, and this guy is my first venture into this prop, but I can add something I guess.

Sure you could turn him into a fortune teller. I'll have to activate him and let you know what he says per his regular audio track. With the microphone you could make him say anything you want so no problem there. He does have a fairly loud volume (I figure better than too low and no one can hear him), and no volume control switch that I've seen yet. He's kind of put a way right now but I believe the speaker is underneath him (he's on that stand that raises him 5 inches or so above a tabletop) and I think that helps project the sound. You might be able to partially cover the speaker to muffle it a bit. Personally I'm hoping after this season when I can sit down with him I'll be able to hack him to work with an mp3 player and external speakers which could be adjusted. Since he has the mic (audio input) and speakers (audio output) I'm sure it can be done. There's people in the forum prop area that will probably help out on this.

If you are thinking about getting him, I'd say do it before he's sold out. This guy is the creme de la creme as far as size and features; super deal for the price. Ross allows returns up to 30 days I believe so if you plug him in and don't like him, you can take him back for a refund. I could see taking him out of his crystal ball, adding a headwrap and maybe some cloth to cover his stand (and maybe muffle the sound in the process) and turn him into a soothsayer (like one of the other Gemmy crystal balls; who knows he might have the same soundtrack anyway--Gemmy seems to reuse these a lot). I'll fire him up later today and let you know what he says on his own.

Thanks so much for the info! I know it's an awesome price- they only had 2 so I better run back over there and see if they still have them! If not, I'll try another Ross. I am clueless about hacking into ANYTHING. Just clueless...LOL

The good news is that JoAnn stores should have their Halloween decorations up by now.

The bad news is they have nothing new or different from Home Goods, Michaels, or Christmas Tree Shops and are charging 4-5x as much for the same merchandise. It's ridiculous. And their Halloween fabrics have been on a perpetual loop of 25% with no respite in sight.

I did find some cool, $2 indoor giant faces perfect for a party at Party Fair.

The Spirit Ball is quite loud. It has Dr. Shivers face. The mouth and eyes move (and the eyes glow) and the head rocks from side to side. It can be noise activated, triggered by the included remote control or talked through using the included wireless microphone. It's a heck of a deal for $20.

Originally Posted by dippedstix

Can you fill me in on the spirit balls? Could I use one of those for my fortune telling booth? I think I read someplace that they are really loud. Can you turn the volume down? I saw some at Ross as well and was realy thinking of grabbing one!

Was in Lowes today and the Halloween stuff is high up on the top shelf un-wrapped where I could not read most of the boxes. Two that I did read were from Gemmy... "Giggling buddies and Talking Heads."

I was in a Dollar store today & they had halloween stuff in stock . The holiday season is here ... BOO ! ! !

Originally Posted by Tumblindice

Was in Lowes today and the Halloween stuff is high up on the top shelf un-wrapped where I could not read most of the boxes. Two that I did read were from Gemmy... "Giggling buddies and Talking Heads."

I was checking out the video on the giggling buddies, man are those things creepy! I think those are the most frightening thing I have seen in awhile. They have these cutesy voices and giggle (some are sold animated and rock side to side= even creepier) and they are under a cutesy costume of a pumpkin or ghost just makes ya think theres something hideous under there. Im sure thats not what it was intended for, it looks like it is for small TOTS so they are not afraid, but that thing just is so scary to me, a grown woman, lol.

Speaking of the Ross spirit balls, I was in my storage the other day (just had to get a second unit solely for additional Halloween ><) and was looking about. I have now accumulated a wall, yes a wall, of those Ross spirit balls! I was thinking up how much they cost, and got this fleeting thought of returning them, for me it was alot of money to spend and there are many I bought. O.O Then I was like, "I must be crazy to have all these, how will I explain these to my fiance when he sees this wall? -cue the price is right music- ding! screw it! Im keeping them!" Now what to do with them is the question! lol. :3

Originally Posted by kittyvibe

I was checking out the video on the giggling buddies, man are those things creepy! I think those are the most frightening thing I have seen in awhile. They have these cutesy voices and giggle (some are sold animated and rock side to side= even creepier) and they are under a cutesy costume of a pumpkin or ghost just makes ya think theres something hideous under there. Im sure thats not what it was intended for, it looks like it is for small TOTS so they are not afraid, but that thing just is so scary to me, a grown woman, lol.

Speaking of the Ross spirit balls, I was in my storage the other day (just had to get a second unit solely for additional Halloween ><) and was looking about. I have now accumulated a wall, yes a wall, of those Ross spirit balls! I was thinking up how much they cost, and got this fleeting thought of returning them, for me it was alot of money to spend and there are many I bought. O.O Then I was like, "I must be crazy to have all these, how will I explain these to my fiance when he sees this wall? -cue the price is right music- ding! screw it! Im keeping them!" Now what to do with them is the question! lol. :3

Kitty were did you see a video of the GB's? I'd like to check them out.

Garden Ridge has those same Giggling Buddies I think. They kind of look like a small TOT dressed in a costume and talk in a kid's voice saying things like "Did I scare you? Hee Hee Hee Hee" and rock side to side.
Might be good for putting one in your graveyard and having it being attacked by skeletons!
I also saw several of the green Skeleton witches at my Garden Ridge. They look pretty good for $30. I should buy one..........

Originally Posted by DaveintheGrave

Garden Ridge has those same Giggling Buddies I think. They kind of look like a small TOT dressed in a costume and talk in a kid's voice saying things like "Did I scare you? Hee Hee Hee Hee" and rock side to side.
Might be good for putting one in your graveyard and having it being attacked by skeletons!
I also saw several of the green Skeleton witches at my Garden Ridge. They look pretty good for $30. I should buy one..........

I used a Giggle Buddy once by placing it beside the cemetery with a bucky reaching over and grabbing it. They are motion activated so when a kid walked by it wiggled like it was trying to escape. I also put one in a giant web one year, mine lost the noise function long ago so it doesn't say the creepy things and the motion is perfect.