Out of the Suitcase #57: 'One Night' – Why Chaosium never ceases to amaze me...
Posted by Michael O'Brien on 8th Sep 2026
Chaosium President Rick Meints shares stories from a life-time as a collector of all things Chaosium.
As I sifted and sorted through a few more older files and folders I happened upon a simply labeled stack of papers. The cover sheet stated "One Night." I thought to myself, "no, this couldn't be that project" and that is exactly what it documented. We in the Nostalgia Department harken you back to the summer of 1989...
That year, Chaosium published an update to its slimmed down mail order catalog which included a solicitation for a Cthulhu Mega-Adventure project with the tentative title One Night. This super deluxe limited edition, numbered supplement for Call of Cthulhu had an estimated retail price of $100, which equates to over $250 in 2026 dollars. One of the most popular recent Call of Cthulhu supplements in the mid 80s was Cthulhu Now. This epic pack hoped to run on its coattails with a modern (1980s) scenario.
-- Chaosium Summer 1989 mail order catalog --
Unfortunately, as with several "coming soon" Chaosium projects it quickly sank into oblivion. The Winter 1989 mail order catalog update included a short "What About...?" blurb. It read: In our last catalog update we mentioned and asked for response to a product tentatively titled One Night. The response was very good, and we are receiving many thoughtful comments. We are still evaluating the feasibility of this project, and will let you know of any future developments.
I figured this got discussed at a few of the daily "fire safety" meetings and the joke wore thin, then got forgotten.
Totally wrong, as I discovered a few weeks ago. Chaosium actually spent way more time working on this project than I ever imagined.
-- The 'One Night' Components List --
The stack of papers imn the 'One Night' folder includes production cost estimates ($15). This wooden boxed and shrink-wrapped product would be collated in the Chaosium warehouse. They researched a lot of components to potentially include: coins, newspapers, rings, buttons, scratch-and-sniff cards, crystals, dice, pendants, etc.
-- Budget breakdown for a pretty packed wooden box --
The notes include fascinating details into the process: Can bones and feathers be included without running afoul of government regulations? Would the footprint be best cast in plaster and not be too fragile? Can we use KY Jelly as "monster slime"? Which modern coins will we buy in bulk from a coin dealer friend? and should they follow some of the suggestions Lou Zocchi offered? Yep, Lou Zocchi of Gamescience. His signed letters, complete with a product sample of fake gems and metal ingots, show the serious nature of this project. No mere speculation on the back stairs at 4:20 in the afternoon.
-- Gamescience letterhead signed by Lou Zocchi --
My favorite part of the project has to be the cassette tape. They really wanted this to be the best item in the box. The audio consisted of four main parts: The Opening, Chanting/piping, Sounds in the dark, and The Party. The docs include the phone number for the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), with the plan to get either Vincent Price or Roddy McDowell as the marquee voice actor on the tape. Either would have been superb.
Because of its vast scope, they also looked at dividing it into three projects code named Humorous Party Scenario ($100 or $150 if signed by Gahan Wilson), Connoisseur's Edition Cthulhu Adventure ($50), and Cthulhu Sinister Stuff Kit ($75).
Don't take my word for it. Lots to read in the scanned docs.
Oh, what could have been, yet never was...
