Halloween ..1963-67

[SoCalDem]

I am a short person and so was my best friend, so we got away with trick or treating far longer than we "should have".. Hey.. who doesn't like free candy.

My friend Debbie and I would dress up, and "use" my little brother as the reason for going.. (had to keep him "safe"...even though we routinely ditched him immediately ..:evilgrin:..)

disclaimer:..times were safe back then and he WAS with a group of the other kids his age)

The Kleims had the best Halloween treats, but they were TOUGH.. they were probably in their 70's, but we thought they were ancient back then :)

Their house was a big ole 4 story Victorian with a HUGE wrap-around porch.. (that porch would have accomodated 50 or more people)

they really loved Halloween, and always dressed up,.

As one approached the house, you walked up a long path and then up 7 or 8 steps onto the far end of the porch. they always sat in the swing at the other side.

mrs. Kleim was always dressed in her witch outfit, complete with warts.. She stood over her cauldron.. Mr Kleim, the Scarecrow, was in charge of the TRICKS.. :scared:

As each kid approached, he shone a flashlight on them and decided if the were "too old" to be getting FREE candy..

With tongue firmly planted in cheek, he made the "older ones" do a TRICK, before they were worthy of any treat..

of course he knew us, and knew our ages, so we always had to perform..

ever do a cartwheel in a costume? sing the star spangled banner in front of giggling kids? rub your stomach and pat your head?

He had lots of "tricks"..

Why did we do it?

the "cauldron" was full of melting caramel, and there was a big tray of freshly washed, GIGANTIC apples..

another tray held warm, freshly made popcorn balls..

if you were "good", you got both:)

Debbie and I were VERY GOOD :)

Kids don;t know what they are missing :cry:

[some guy]

1. nice story

good memories for you.

mostly kicking so other people can share. :D

:hi:

[ceile]

2. That's so great!

That's what Halloween is supposed to be like-everyone of all ages involved, having a good time. What a precious memory.

[SoCalDem]

4. Halloween is so "ho-hum" for kids these days

It was fun to be able to get REAL treats when I was a kid..

Now, anything "homemade and yummy" has to be tossed out.

When my boys were little, I organized a cul de sac Halloween..

Everyone MADE treats and put each one in a ziploc with address labels, so we all knew who made what..

After the first year, it spread to 3 cul de sacs..

homemade cookies, cupcakes instead of just candy & gum :)

[Oeditpus Rex]

3. That's where 'trick or treat' came from

In the old days — I mean before the '60s — kids on Halloween had to do tricks before they could get a treat, rather like busking. I believe the phrase was originally "trick for treat."

It's cool that these neighbors stuck to that. I wish people still did.

[LizW]

5. A real witch

used to live down the street from us. She was awesome at Halloween. She dressed in full, amazing witch gear and made the kids do a trick. She had a better time than anyone, and kids came from all over to trick or treat at her house.

[wildhorses]

6. those were the days, my friend

we thought they would never end

thanks for the memories:hi:

[Redstone]

7. Great reminiscense. Thank you.

Redstone

[begin_within]

8. We would go trick-or-treating from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. and come back

with huge pillowcases of candy, we would really make a haul. The neigbors on our block made "special homemade" treats for us and the kids on our block that they knew, great homemade candies, candied apples, cookies in ghost shapes, etc. That stuff was reserved for the kids they knew. Everyone else got store-bought candies. I remember having enough candy to fill probably two 1-gallon jugs.