Halloween Monster Pocket Screamers

Creepy modern day Halloween collectibles

So a while back we came across one of these vinyl squeezable creatures that makes a blood curdling sound when you squeeze its belly. It was strange enough to pique my curiosity and prompt me to assume someone out there is probably collecting these dudes. Turns out they have a variety of names—Halloween Screamers, Cacklers, Monsters, Screechers, among others—and shape shift from season to season, with different manufacturers and varieties filling the market.

I did some research, determined the going price and listed our discovery in our Cool Vintage Finds Store on eBay.  Sure enough, it sold pretty quickly. So naturally we've been on the hunt for more screamers to satisfy the collectors who want to fill their pockets (and shelves) with these fascinating monsters.

This past summer, we came across a handful of pocket screamers dating back a few years. Again, these early screamers flew off our shelves. In the process, we had a conversation with Hugo, a customer and collector with his finger on the pulse of the pocket screamer craze.

"They use to come out like crazy in the beginning. over the years they have trickled down to only a few stores now. Use to be Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Jewels grocery stores, oh, and Party City was good for some classic ones. The ones with hair are the older ones and considered classics."
                                - Hugo
                                  Cool Vintage Finds Store customer

Hugo was kind enough to share a pic of his collection of "way too many screamers." We think it's awesome!

Hugo's good friend maintains a Pocket Screamer page with an extensive compendium of screamer personalities—a page I had consulted to identify our monsters.  Hugo got a kick out of that ... apparently his friend named the creatures himself, and his nomenclature has caught on—not just by us, but others as well! (Check out "The Screamers" to learn more about each variety.)

Be forewarned, this page features the creepy screams, cackles and moans of the screamers, so you may want to turn down the volume on your device if you're viewing in a public place (or you may just scare the be-jebuzz out of those within hearing range)!

For the ultimate authority on pocket screamers, Hugo recommended we visit the BOO-GLEECH blog.

You can also check out the conversations on the Pocket Screamer Facebook page, which has a rather small but dedicated following.

Start your screamer collection now

It's not always easy to find these Halloween noisemakers, with eyes that light up and sounds that send a chill up your spine, but the hunt is half the fun! We'll keep looking and we encourage you to, too. For Halloween 2018, it looks like Kroger's is the place to hit up for the newest abominations.

Here's what Hugo is stocking up on this season!

To see what we have in our inventory, check out the Halloween Scene in our Cool Vintage Finds Store on eBay.

Thanks for reading, and Happy Halloween!