Remembering Vintage Beistle Halloween Diecuts

I grew up with Halloween decorations just like these

in our house throughout the month of October.

I didn't know them to be so at the time, 

but I now recognize them as vintage Beistle diecuts.

The Beistle Company began in 1900 in the Shippensburg, Pennsylvania 

basement of Martin Beistle. The decorating of American homes for Halloween

became popular largely due to his die cut paper decorations.

Decades later, with many folks attracted to the vintage trend,

The Beistle Company, including some Beistle family members,brought back 

many of the old favorites to sell under the name Vintage Beistle.

Take a look to see if any of these are familiar to you!

Some were jointed like this black cat,

this skeleton,

 

or the big goblin that we hung on our kitchen door.

You can find out more about Beistle,

and even purchase items like the ones below,

at Vintage Beistle.

Have a happy, vintage Halloween!

 

Eerie Antique Halloween Photographs

These antique photographs from decades back

show creepy Halloween costumes of the time.

There's something unnerving about them, isn't there?

Kind of makes your skin crawl.

Particularly unsettling in black and white or sepia tones.

Bone-chilling, eerie, haunting.

Happy Halloween Magic!

A cute and clever poem by John Martin,

surrounded with vintage illustrations

make for special Happy Halloween wishes

from My Paisley World!

Thriller - The Man & The Moves

dailymail.co.uk

In 1983, Michael Jackson's Thriller video made a lasting wow-factor impact around the globe.
MTV was only 2 years old at the time and most music videos cost around $100,000.
Thriller's cost was $500,000. Unprecedented.

Plus, it was 14 minutes long. Unprecedented.

The Thriller zombie dance is as popular today as it ever was.
OK. I'll admit. I'd love to learn how to do it.
In fact, I'll even admit that it's on my bucket list.

ifunny

Piece of cake, right? Ha!
There are lots of tutorials on YouTube.
(No doubt I'll need to watch them all.)


Speaking of YouTube, have you seen the Making of Thriller videos?
Worth checking out to appreciate the rehearsals, the make-up, the costumes, the special effects
-all that fabulous behind-the-scenes action we love-
plus lots of other great stuff for MJ fans.

mjjccommunity

Without further ado, here's the video.
Even if, like me, you've seen it dozens of times,
I know you'll want to watch it again,
"...for no mere mortal can resist
the evil of the thriller!"
(Cue ghoulish laugh from Vincent Price.)

Vintage Halloween Postcards

vintageeveryday

"There is a child in every one of us who is still 

a trick-or-treater looking for a brightly-lit front porch."

-Robert Brault

vintagefangirl

neatocoolville

neatorama

susan criser

leilastreet

santashauntedboot

ladyofwellington

Frida Kahlo

MyPinkTurtleStudio

During this time of year, the people of Mexico are preparing for their

November 2nd holiday, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). 

They hold festivals to celebrate the dead, who are symbolized by skeletons.

Mexican artist Frida Kahlo painted with a surrealist style, 

closely connected with the mysticism of Mexican folk art. 

She is often linked to these Day of the Dead celebrations.

A colorful character herself, Frida is known for her bright clothing, 

large flower headpieces, severely center-parted black hair, 

and her trademark heavy, meet-in-the-middle eyebrows. 

I found some great Frida Kahlo art and gifts on Etsy. 

Each caption will link you to the Etsy shop. Enjoy!

LennyMud

LeatherArts

ALittleVintageStore

Yalipaz

Tascha

BMiZenDesigns

ValNorthwoods

ShesSoCali

HeatherGallerArt