Life and Times at Cranberry Lake

This blog is about the life, wild and otherwise, in this immediate area of Northeast Pennsylvania. I hope you can join me and hopefully realize and value that common bond we share with all living things... from the insect, spider, to the birds and the bears... as well as that part of our spirit that wishes to be wild and free.

Friday, October 28, 2011

HALLOWEEN BACK IN THE 70s


I used to love Halloween in my old neighborhood on Galaxy Drive in Vestal. Because it was on a hill, although there were about 40 children in that small neighborhood, it was very quiet.
Because of all the children and it was a cul-de-sac, plus a safe place to have other neighborhoods trick-or-treat, there were plenty of children in all kinds of disguises to "trick" as well as to "treat." Back in the early 70's I think it must have been the style to buy a long
coat, and I had one I hated, but was so big I could button it above my head, and still have it hang half down my legs. Also, it was a time when people actually had 'Wig Parties', where I actually purchased a wig on a styrofoam wig form. With a craft knife, rubber bands, some drawing or painting, I made a fairly good head, which I could operate from a finger hidden so the headless Mrs. of the House, could actually move its lips and talk to the trick-or-treaters.

The next year, I designed a Witch on a broom which would slide down a cable (doubled as a dog run)which I had adjusted to run from the corner of the roof of our ranch house to the wrought iron rail at the steps. We also had a stereo system which we placed the speakers so the sound would be outdoors... (thank goodness the Halloweens usually weren't so cold back then ...at least that I remember). We had a line attached to the witch on the broom so that the kids could pull it back up after scaring one party of 'treaters' an scare the bejeebers out of the next group, ...the witch SCREAMING (from the Halloween 'Screech and Holler' record) when released, JUST as the group got close to the door.

The problem was coming up with a new trick each Halloween. I tried with a ghost on a pulley which the children would pull up just as the kids reached the door. By then, they were practically holding up cards to show how well the trick went over. The original ones were the best.

My three kids would be the last to go from door to door, as they wanted to stay home and scare
those who came to our house.

The township of Vestal had a volunteer fire department (that's the best kind... they don't hesitate to go out on a big engine throwing candy to the kids on Halloween. I think the paid ones would charge overtime). One time my oldest son, August, was trick or treating in a different neighborhood, and got home just after the fire department had come to throw the kids a few Tootsie Rolls, or Double Bubble Gum, and though he had a brown grocery bag half full of candy that would last him until Easter, he practically cried because he had missed the Fire Truck. (Kids are funny... could never figure out the best way for them to be happiest ahead of time.)

I got a Halloween greeting from an old friend, thus stimulating my recall to reminisce.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYBODY!!!!!