Smiths Horror Bags was a firm snack favourite of ghoulish British schoolboys and schoolgirls in the 1970’s. Made of corn and fairly similar to Monster Munch in essence they came in the following shapes and flavours:
- Fangs (cheese and onion)
- Bones (salt and vinegar )
- Claws (bacon )
- Bats (batburger)
- Ribs (to-be-confirmed, let us know!)
One of the best things about horror bags were the promotional items you could obtain by collecting large numbers of tokens on the back of packets. Games, picture cards, bags etc were all available, as well as more bizarrea items as outlined below:
“I ordered it (well, badgered my mum into buying a postal order and stamps, at least) on the strength of the packet’s enthusiastic and spookily vivid description. When it arrived, it turned out to be a 10-inch piece of thick card with a glow-in-the-dark image of the packet’s un-terrifying cartoon vampire on one side, while on the other, there was a tiny flexi-disk, complete with “stylus” (more like a blunt drawing pin), above which was a holder into which you inserted your index finger. Upon spinning the needle around said disc, it made a rather upsetting scratching noise which, the package alleged, represented the sound of bats. It was appalling.” Johnnie Craig, I Have Grave News
Horror bags are clearly still in demand. The empty pack below – with rare insert – fetched £28.55 on eBay in 2012.
This Horror Bags TV advert features actor Frank Thornton, best known as Captain Peacock in the sexual innuendo-filled British TV sitcom Are You Being Served? and also in Carry On Screaming!
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