October 31, 2003
Greetings Accumulators!
And may I add - MOOOOOOOOOOOHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Preparations have begun in
this household for tonight's Halloween Do. We will be attending the
fabulous Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, followed by a gala dinner at
the home of some friends who live right near the parade site. Three
different cheesecakes are already residing in the fridge and the green face
makeup is waiting in its tube.
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DIE! DIE, YOU EVIL MONSTER!
Just when you thought it was safe to go out on Halloween, along comes
Sotheby's with something that will make it even safer. Yesterday the
auction house sold a vampire killing kit, complete with silver bullets and
stake. The kit, said to be a souvenir sold to 19th century travelers in
Eastern Europe, sold for $12,000. The kit consisted of a walnut box with
the aforementioned bullets, a crucifix, a rosary and vials for things like
garlic. Okay, the garlic thing I could get into. I mean it's just another
benefit of pizza, the world's most perfect food. No wonder there are no
vampires hanging around Giuseppe's on the corner. But, $12,000? You can buy
a lot of calzones with that much money!
WHAT TO GIVE EXTREMELY LARGE TRICK-OR TREATERS DEPARTMENT
Some clever manufacturers have figured out that the 18 - 34 year old set
are not the only ones with money. Of course, they're not the first to
figure it out. Just check the number of TV commercials for anti-aging
creams and pain relievers and you'll know that Baby Boomers have market
clout. So, in time for Halloween, candy manufacturers are offering up such
nostalgic treats as candy dots,those little sugar blobs arranged in rows on
long strips of paper. The paper, by the way, is edible, which is why we're
all still alive. My sister and I used to pretend they were pills, and
regularly saved each other's lives from all sorts of dread diseases, but
not from dread tooth decay. Sorry, Mom. Also being produced for the aging
sweet tooth: Gold Mine Gum, candy cigarettes, Nik-L-Nips, and my personal
favorite, wax fangs. No word on those little metal cups of "pudding" with
the little metal spoons, or those little wax bottles filled with sugar
water. What did we ever see in them?
SITES TO SEE
Monster Movie Music - This site has the soundtrack to almost every horror,
fantasy or sci-fi flick from the past. Great to pipe through your speakers
if you're having a Halloween party tonight. If you're not, just turn it on
and hide under the bed.LINK
History and Customs Of Halloween - This site greets you with scary music
and the assertion that "there are 365.3 days to go until Halloween!" Some
of you may know that I have dealt in vintage Halloween memorabilia for
years, and this is a favorite site of mine.
LINK
The Parade - And here's another favorite of mine. The Greenwich Village
Halloween Parade is one of the more fabulous traditions here in New York
City. We go every year, and it is one of the wildest and funniest nights
imaginable. Get a look at some of the revelers from past parades and read
the announcement of this year's Parade Grand Marshall, who happens to be
Audrey II, the blood-drinking plant from "Little Shop Of Horrors", one of
my all-time favorite musicals. LINK
So, Accumulators, the time has come for me to don the green face makeup,
the tall pointy black hat, and the skeleton necklace, grab the broom and be
off. Tomorrow night we will be in Cuddebackville, NY at the wonderful Old
Red Barn auction. What great stuff they are selling this month! If you're
in the nabe, stop by. And bring money. Have a great week, Accumulators.
Happy hunting!
Best,
Judith
© 2003 Judith Katz-Schwartz. All rights reserved.
Antiques and Collectibles Newsletter #230
U.S. Library of Congress
ISSN 1520-4464
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