"BOONANZA"

HALLOWEEN, 1980
RAGGEDY GERALD AND RAGGEDY SUE

A friend from Indiana had never heard the term "Beggar's Night" prior to moving to Ohio. From 1971 until 2008, Gerald and I would go all-out for Beggar's Night. We dressed in costume; some memorable ones: Hester Prynne and The Reverend Mr. Dimsdale, W.C. Fields and Mae West, the Coneheads, Rhett Butler and Scarlet O'Hara , Dorothy and The Cowardly Lion, Glenda and the Scarecrow, Nellie Forbush and Emile de Becque, Mr. Spock and Lt. Uhuru, and Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy (which was especially amusing with Gerald's red beard and triangle on his nose.)

We had our side yard filled with tombstones and we would add a new one each year. Some of the tombstones                                                                         included supposed "last words" such as:

"HERE LIES LESTER MOORE
4 SLUGS FROM A 44
NO LES
NO MOORE"   

and  

"I TOLD YOU I WAS SICK!"  

and  

"HERE LIES JOHN YEAST
PARDON ME FOR NOT RISING"   

and

"PARDON MY DUST" (from Dorothy Parker) 

and 

"CURST BE HE WHO MOVES MY BONES" (Shakespeare) 

and 

"THAT'S ALL, FOLKS!" (from Mel Blanc)

We had elaborate decorations using a fog machine, black lights, accompanied by sounds of screaming and creaking doors. We didn't just give out simple treats; we gave out bags of marvelous goodies including candy apples, popcorn balls, big candy bars, and a dollar in each bag! Gerald and I would put on a performance of "The Monster Mash", dancing in the street.

One year we had a young couple come with their baby and the young father told us that he had always made sure to come to our house when he was a kid because of the "show" and the great treats, and he wanted to bring his child to our house for his baby's first Beggar's Night and he asked if he could film us! I held the baby as we danced to "The Monster Mash" and the baby didn't even cry!

One time we had a wooden coffin and Gerald popped up out of the coffin to hand out treats, but we only did it once because it was too scary!

Each year the attendance dwindled and I can certainly understand the concern of parents about kids being out in the dark, combined with the craziness of a few people ruining it for others. It is with a mixture of sadness--and relief--that we no longer participate in Beggar's Night. We decided to disband our yearly spectacle but I still miss our extravaganza.

I am glad that several organizations now put on "safe" events for children. Our local newspaper The Record Herald, is hosting "BEGGARS NIGHT BOONANZA" which will be held at the Fayette County Fairgrounds on October 29, 2015, from 5:00 PM--7:00 PM.

Les, ever the wit, said, "Wonder if the ghosts of Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker and Pernell Roberts will be there?"

BOONANZA!