Hello Boils & Ghouls,

With all the excitement and buzz going around recently about Steamboat Willie (Mickey Mouse) entering the Public Domain this year, I started to wonder what other works might be entering as well.

The little character I was wondering about didn’t whistle as much as Mickey (thank goodness), but he did laugh with a high-pitched “HEHEHEHEHEHEHE!”

Of course, I’m talking about the dead-icated host who was always ready to corspe around: The Crypt Keeper!

But not just the Crypt Keeper, I was really wondering when the entire Tales from the Crypt franchise would enter the Public Domain.

I’m sure a lot of people only know about the HBO version of the Crypt Keeper character I have posted above; but what you might not know is, Tales from the Crypt actually started as an American bi-monthly horror comic anthology series published by EC Comics from 1950 to 1955, producing 27 issues. 

The first issue of “Tales from the Crypt” was published in 1950. Under current U.S. copyright law, works published between 1923 and 1977 are protected for 95 years. Therefore, “Tales from the Crypt” first comic book would enter Public Domain in 2045.

HBO’s Tales from the Crypt is an American horror anthology television series, which ran for seven seasons on the premium cable channel HBO from June 10, 1989, to July 19, 1996. Under current U.S. copyright law, for works created after 1977, the copyright lasts for the life of the author plus an additional 70 years. If the work is a work for hire (like a tv show), the copyright lasts 95 years from the year of its first publication or 120 years from the year of its creation, whichever expires first.

So, the earliest the HBO series could enter the Public Domain would be 2084.

Tales from the Cryptkeeper is a Canadian/U.S. animated television series aimed at children and was made by Nelvana Limited.

It was shown on YTV in Canada and ABC in United States, first airing on September 18, 1993. It was based on the live-action TV show, Tales from the Crypt, which aired concurrently on HBO. Being directed at children, Tales from the Cryptkeeper was significantly milder than the live-action HBO version.

The series was cancelled on December 10, 1994. In 1999, the show returned to the air as New Tales from the Cryptkeeper. The animation was different from that of the past episodes but ended its run for six years. Except for John Kassir (HBO’s Crypt Keeper voice actor), the voice cast are entirely Canadian.

Since Tales from the Cryptkeeper was created after 1977, the copyright lasts 95 years from the year of publication if the work is a work for hire (like a tv show). Therefore, Tales from the Crpytkeeper cartoon series would enter the Public Domain in 2088.

Tales from the Cryptkeeper would go on to create a scary, short-stories book series for children in 1995. This book is following the same 95-year copyright law, meaning it would enter Public Domain in the year 2090.

Tales from the Crypt had 3 films:

The 1972 British film “Tales from the Crypt” would be subject to UK copyright law, which typically protects films for 70 years after the death of the last surviving principal director, author, or composer. However, if the film was also published in the U.S. within 30 days of its UK release, it would be subject to U.S. copyright law. Under U.S. law, works published between 1923 and 1977 are protected for 95 years, so the film would enter the public domain in 2067.

The 1995 film “Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight” is subject to the U.S. 95-year copyright law. Therefore, it would enter the Public Domain in 2090.

The 1996 film “Tales from the Crypt: Bordello of Blood” is also subject to the U.S. 95-year copyright law. So, it would enter the Public Domain in 2091.

While Tales from the Crypt isn’t going into Public Domain anytime soon, I still had a killer time putting this together and I hope you had a good time reading it.

It’s a grave pleasure to have you here, my friends. Please check out the rest of Haunted Headquarters for all your eerie entertainment needs.

Stay Scary!

-Jeremy

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