
Collecting Halloween ephemera is not something I set out to do. Because of my Christian faith, I’m far more inspired and interested in celebrating Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Beyond carving a Jack O’Lantern, decorating for Halloween is kind of new to me. It all started years ago when I was sorting through some family Christmas ornaments, and I came across these tin noisemakers that had been my mother’s when she was a girl in the 1940s. Called clickers or crickets, these party favors actually make a loud, hollow pop! I instantly loved them because of the great graphics and because they had been my mother’s.
After a little research, I found that they most likely were manufactured by the Kirchhof Company of New Jersey. The firm also produced Braille printers and ticker-tape machines. Kirchhof entered the holiday market initially by making Christmas tree candle holders, then noisemakers. Kirchhof is thought to have supplied American soldiers with the crickets (clickers) used at the World War II Invasion of Normandy. Clickers were used by Allied paratroopers as a way of identifying friend from foe. A soldier would click once, and if two clicks were received in return from an unidentifiable soldier then his identification was confirmed. But, I digress.
Of course, my clickers had to be displayed, but since they were small, I needed to provide a setting for them. Naturally, papier mache Jack O’Lanterns provided the perfect background. In an earlier post about fall decorating, Falling Into Place, I mentioned a few of my self-imposed decorating rules. Let me just say, I realize I’m on mighty thin ice with Rule Number Three!







Sing a song of Halloween
Pumpkins everywhere,
Cats and bats and witches
are flying through the air!
And, there you have it—a quick tour through my parlor. I hope you enjoyed it!
Oh T&CM! Everything is fabulous!! I love, love, love vintage Halloween decorations and you did a wonderful job showcasing them. Love your pumpkin groupings too. Will you come decorated my house? We'll go to Disneyland too. :) xoxo
ReplyDeleteStill only have a glass pumpkin, a few mums, and NOW your ghosts all in my windows!,,
ReplyDeleteWow! What unique decorations! Maybe they are worth some big mulah! Love all your decorating! Happy Halloween!
ReplyDeleteVery fun, love the Pumpkin Totem Pole!!
ReplyDeleteCome and join my giveaway from Metis Linens!
Xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena