Now, for something that I've decided that I HAVE to collect...
The Dennision Bogie Book series ran from 1909 (NO, I WAS NOT BORN YET THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!) to the mid 1930's. These were basically idea book/catalogs featuring the Dennison line of holiday decorations. This is the one that I bought from Amazon. Now my review:
Wow!
This is a glimpse back into history when Hallowe'en was for adults and not children, the days before it was associated with the gore genre. The illustrations (and they are lavishly illustrated) show elaborately decorated rooms for parties, that could be done with Dennison's crepe paper and paper decorations. The costumes, well, let's say we've come a long way baby, they looked kind of goofy but they might have been the height of haute couture back then. Charming but goofy.
The bad news is that the 10 cents price tag has gone up...considerably. If you get your sights on an original Bogie Book for less than 100.00, then you're lucky. Fortunately, there are high quality reprints out there (the route I took) for 12.00 to 14.00. Yes, they're worth it. A fanatic of Hallowe'en should have at least one of these on their shelves to see where we came from and what out ancestors did (at least the rich ones, all the people in these books look well off) to celebrate the most fun night of the year.
Some vintage photos from the interwebs (not from the Dennison books)...Please visit the blogs, I happened up on them and they're great!
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| This one scares the %$#@ out of me! (via Halloween Monster Party) |
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| This SHOULD be a LOL Cat saying 'I iz skard fur life' (via Johnny Cupcakes, a really cool blog and store!) |
| SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET (via Ethics Soup) |
| All I can say is WTF?! (Via Ethics Soup) |
12 comments:
Mr. Macabre,
Well the swastika would be a pretty scary thing, but what it has to do with Halloween I'm not sure. However, I do not that most of the swastikas are left facing as opposed to the right facing style used by the Nazis.
A left facing swastika is more closely associated with Hindu and Oriental religions, as well as early, pre-Christian religions so it may be more of a "pagan" symbol in the picture than anything else.
And since the catalogs only ran up to the mid-1930's, it didn't have the same connotations then as it does today.
But it's a bizarre Halloween costume nonetheless.
Rich
Those pictures are great! It is way too hot this year, I'll be glad for Fall to come and be only 88*.
I remember reading that a lot of cultures used the swastika and that it was the Nazi's that gave swastikas a bad name. I looked up the Nazi swastika and it points in the opposite direction of the girl's in the photo. I don't no what that means, but I don't think she's supposed to be a goose stepping jack boot wearing Nazi circus clown.
Very very interesting! Thanks y'all!
It's still a weird costume, swastika or no swastika.
And yes Captain, it's WAAAAAY too hot. We got a reprieve from the heat yesterday, it was only 95. I should have brought a jacket so I wouldn't catch chill.
Hey Mr. Macabre...
I feel your pain on the summer heat and humidity. FL is melting into the sea I think. I also laughed because I just posted a little about the Dennison books too today. Then I come over here and see that you did as well. Great nefarious minds think alike.
I was more carrying on about what I've found in the stores so far, and the books were just mentioned in passing. But boy would I love to have even just one. Your other B&W pics are terrific too! I hope you will post pics of your coat and shirt at some point. I wish I could sew because I would love to have a long coat and shirt just like that, but in shades of purple, brocade and with some feminine touches like long lacy cuffs hanging out the bottoms of the coat sleeves. I so admire people who sew! Try to stay cool, Fall is on the way....should arrive in the South some time around January...ha! ;o)
Quite interesting stuff!
want some of our rain? ;) those pics are pretty funny!
Intriguing photos. Like The Captain, I also remember hearing that the swastika had positive and peaceful connotations before being adopted by the Nazis. Nevertheless, an interesting costume choice. Glad your summer is going well, despite the heat.
We've got buckets of cool and damp here in England. I'll send you some. Nice to see you back.
Interesting stuff...
How can you survive such a heat? 88 is to hot for me... 72 is good but more than that I don't like. (Now I begin to understand why I'm still living in the North).
Sorry about the heat. I have heard the reports from that area and I feel for all of you. I think I am staying where I am for a while.
And THANK YOU, is that not the greatest find. I so have to have collect those too!!
Awesome....you always find the coolest stuff...that is why I gave you an award on my blog :)
Stay cool.
Cheers!
well, mr macabre--another award awaits you on my blog, too! maybe it's the same one---the price of fame and popularity...
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