MovieChat Forums > The Halloween Tree (1993) Discussion > Why isn't this being shown on TV every s...

Why isn't this being shown on TV every single Halloween?


I just checked the TV guide site and apparently they're not showing it this year. In fact, I can't remember the last time I saw this on TV.

I mean, c'mon, this is up there with the Great Pumpkin and the Grinch! A true classic. I think the Cartoon Network holds the rights. I guess with specials made for cable, they don't become the perennial favorites that the network ones do for lack of publicity.
Letter writing campaign, anyone?

PS I think this is probably the only film to get Bradbury right. His narration, it's enough to chill you to the bone.

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Ugh! I, too, was disappointed that they didn't show the special this year!

I haven't seen it on TV for years, but the last time I did see it was actually AFTER Halloween.

Does this mean Cartoon Network is going to be the only channel showing this?

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I totally agree with you, willamschallert !
I've often wondered this myself-
The last time they were showing this on tv as a classic was before cartoon network got the rights to it.
wonder if there is a marketing conspiracy here... lol
j/k
I love cartoon network !

Fabian Trahan

http://www.fabiantrahan.ameranet.com/Ghosts/

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They really need to show it this movie is the greatest movie! I mean its very meaningfull it shows what halloween is about!

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I agree with you about it. I saw it once and have also read the book.

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I have no idea. After I saw it a couple halloweens in a row I looked forward to it every year but alas it was nowhere on TV :(

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I actually recall the first time they showed The Halloween tree on television. I think they showed it on both TBS and Cartoon Network. I loved it immidiately. I have always liked Ray Bradbury's style from the novels Fahrenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles to the television series of Ray Bradbury theatre.

When I first got it on VHS it came with a very thin paper back copy of the book by Ray Bradbury with the cover of the VHS tape as the cover art for the book. The start of the VHS tape advertised the release of The Swam Princess and it came with a bonus Yogi Bear cartoon.

It's a tragedy that television doesn't seem to care about Halloween specials anymore. The Halloween that almost wasn't AKA The Night Dracula saved the world hasn't been on television in years.

At least this Halloween Nightmare before Christmas is returning to theatres in a new 3D format.

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Someone PLEASE find out who has the rights to this! I think these IMDB convos are enough to show broadcasters that we'd love to see it again.

New generations need to see this show!!

Damn that Ted Turner... He's probably clutching it in his bony grip. Which is why we don't even have a DVD release yet!!

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The first time I saw this on the Cartoon Network was in 2004. They didn't show it last year. Does anyone know if and where I can buy the DVD?

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There is no commercial DVD available. Ted Turner, I think, is holding onto the rights, presumably because network showings didn't score high enough in the ratings.

You'd think the movie that Bradbury annoints as "the finest filmed adaptation of any of my works" would be on DVD, but its not. I say we start a petition and drum up support here. Not just for a DVD release, but so that a network will show this and new generations will be able to appreciate it.

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[deleted]

If I'm not mistaken, this is a Hanna Barbera cartoon, so Turner probably does own this, along with the cartoon network. I would just say keep trying with the emails.

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I've been looking everywhere for this movie to see when it is showing on TV. I finally found these boards. I can't believe they aren't showing this movie anymore. It is our favorite Halloween Movie. We own it on VHS, but all of our stuff is in storage and of course I forgot to get our Halloween Movies out before it went in. Now I can't find it in the stores to buy, or on TV. Uggh!

They REALLY need to put this on DVD, especially if we can't find it on TV anymore.

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