'Mr. Halloween' Reveals Passion Pumpkins
Halloween collector shares memories and traditions
"Mr. Halloween" sports a jack-o'-lantern tattoo on his left leg, wears pumpkin socks in mid-July and drives a car with license plates that read "Fright." This self-proclaimed "Halloween nut" is Chris Riddle, creative director at American Greetings, and to say the holiday has possessed his life is a definite understatement.
Over the past 23 years, Riddle's passion for the holiday has spawned a 200-piece collection of Halloween costumes, antiques and collectibles dating back to the early 1900s. Among his finds are ancient scarecrow decorations, tattered trick-or-treat bags, tin noisemakers and paper mache lanterns and pumpkins.
Riddle's collection was inspired by childhood memories and photographs taken during various family get-togethers and holidays. "Browsing through these old snapshots always brings back memories of how special my mom made the holidays each year, especially Halloween," he said. "When I was growing up the holidays always meant sharing special traditions with my family," said Riddle. "I think that's why Halloween means so much to me."
Riddle has passed many Halloween traditions on to his own family. Months in advance the preparation for costumes, decorations and Halloween parties begins. In his spare time, he decorates the basement with streamers and glow-in-the-dark images for his three children, all boys. On the eve of Halloween, he adds sound and visual effects, such as black lights, fans and spooky music to the mix.
The Riddle house is a favorite neighborhood stopping place for trick or treating ghosts and goblins. "Mr. Halloween" is known to dress up in a scary werewolf, alien or pumpkin costume and hand out candy to children -- at least to those not frightened to enter. Each year he shuts off all the lights, blares a horror tape from his porch and hides beneath the door just waiting for the right moment to pounce.
His passion for Halloween is also very evident at the office. As a seasonal creative director for American Greetings, some of his best work is seen on the company's Halloween greeting cards. Riddle has also played an instrumental role in planning pumpkin carving, cubicle decorating and costume contests at American Greetings each Halloween.
Although Halloween comes and goes, Riddle's nostalgic Halloween collection remains. It began by stockpiling a few of his mother's old candles and some paper mache noisemakers. To this day, Riddle continues to spend many a weekend browsing through resale shops, flea markets and garage sales gathering unique Halloween keepsakes. His collection is primarily comprised of pumpkin paraphernalia, but he collects any Halloween decoration that catches his eye.
This special collection is showcased year-round in the Riddle's basement within a giant glass bookcase. Inside the case are five shelves piled high with everything from Halloween figurines to silly children's toys of yesteryear. "The antiques make me smile because I know these items made someone very happy during the holiday," said Riddle in a press release.
In addition to lifting spirits, Halloween decorations and memorabilia are also making collectors' pocketbooks happy and profitable. With the rise of online auction web sites, Halloween antiques are more accessible and among the most highly sought-after collectibles. A recent visit to a site found over 2,000 Halloween pieces on the "virtual auction block." One jack-o'-lantern noisemaker from Germany dating back to the 1920s starts at an asking price of $100.
Would Riddle ever consider auctioning off pieces to make a buck? He says, "Never. This collection is part of my life and it's what makes me a unique person."
