The Halloween Retrospect (1 year later)

There are now three editions of The Halloween Retrospect for vintage Halloween collector references. Note again these are not visual survey books but instead articles on focused subjects via primary sources that include ~550 catalogs of consumer/vendor materials (1900-1979) as well as company materials across US archives (such as Framingham History Center for THR, V2 or Hallmark Archives for THR, V3).

 

THR, VOLUME 1 (June 2023):

 

With research pulled from the pages of nearly 500 catalogs (1900-1979) housed in one archive library, The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 1 is the first in a series of new guide books (in digest form) to offer critical perspective of the traditional narrative surrounding vintage Halloween markets, and by result offering important information to collectors in the field.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Note that official copies include bookmark-tallies and a March Brothers poster.

Letterbox (pg. 4).

Introduction Positions for Context, Statement of Intent, Regarding Sources (pg. 5) .

Normal Halloween Holiday Novelties & Early Twentieth Century Youth (pg. 10).

Western Novelty Co. 1928-1990 Carnival, Concession, & Bazaar Supplies – Colorado (pg. 17).

Timeline for Witches A Journey of Two Witches: United States & Germany (pg. 20).

Ornamenten Groteske The Enigmatic History of German Diecuts (pg. 26).

Craw-Bogle Trader a proposal for off-market collecting (p. 32).

 

THR, VOLUME 2 (December 2023):

 

Volume 2 continues the tradition of researching America’s past Halloween marketplace. The guidebook’s feature article examines Dennison publications with significant finds (about serial numbers on publications) from Framingham History Center. As well, V2 offers information on B. Shackman catalogs, E. Rosen cards, and certain German imports (see cover art).

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Note that official copies include a Dennison poster and Shackman postcards.

Letterbox (pg. 4)

Introduction Statement of Intent, Regarding Source (pg. 5).

Decrypting Dennison Serial Number Guide Featuring Autumn Publication (pg. 10).

Shackman’s 70 / 72 Peculiar Catalogs from the Tens & Thirties (pg. 20).

Skittle or Decor The New Identity Crisis for Vintage Figures (pg. 24).

Trix or Treats at Sears Rosen in Midcentury Midseason Fall Catalogs (pg. 28).

Index The Halloween Retrospect, Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 (pg. 32).

 

THR, VOLUME 3 (June 2024):

 

The third volume of The Halloween Retrospect features a two-part article that first studies haunted house ephemera (early-20th-century to mid-century) and secondly features cards by Gibson and centerpieces by Hallmark as evidence of new paper collectible innovations The book also has small articles on the 60’s wave of sound effects vinyl and a list of catalog terminology.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Note official copies contain Hallmark centerpieces poster and crossword puzzle.

Letterbox (pg. 4)

Introduction Statement of Intent, Regarding Source (pg. 5).

Halloween Haunts – Part 1 The Witch’s Cottage and Spook House Additions (pg. 8).

Halloween Haunts – Part 2 Engineered Mansions and Hallmark Innovations (pg. 14).

Haunted House Timeline Hallmark Haunted Houses 1950-1980: Poster & Key (pg. 25).

Haunted Vinyl Sixties Wave of Haunted House Recordings (pg. 27).

The Catalog Audience Understanding Readership to Define Content (pg. 29).

Index The Halloween Retrospect, Vol. 1 -Vol. 3 (pg. 31).

 

 

 

Done