by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator
“I was in the seventh grade in 1964 and had been interested in art for as long as I remember, so somehow I managed to get an assignment to paint a window downtown at Halloween.” –Dan Hollingshead, 2014 e-mail.
Halloween Painting by Dan Hollingshead in the window of Frey’s Jewelry, 1964. John Bahre also worked on the painting. Courtesy Dan Hollingshead.
Hollingshead recalled that quite a few of the downtown businesses participated and allowed spooky Halloween scenes to take over their store windows for a time each October. Usually two people were asked to create a scene, but Hollingshead noted that his partner was John Bahre, They used a water-base paint.
West 6th Street, Newton. ca. 1957. Looking east. Frey’s Jewelry is located at 133 W. 6th (sign is visible). HCHM Photo Archives.
Hollingshead graduated from Newton High School in 1970. He lives in Longmont, CO and continues to create beautiful paintings and murals. The Halloween painting on the windows at Frey’s Jewelry in Newton was his first piece of “public art.” For more information on Dan Hollingshead’s work see: http://danhollingshead.com/
What do you remember about this Halloween tradition? How long did it last? How were artist chosen?
Please share stories and photos in the comment section or on facebook. We would love to know more!
Thank you to Dan Hollingshead for sharing his photo and memories!
Sources:
- Newton City Directories, 1963, 1965.
- Photo Archives, HCHM
- Dan Hollingshead to Kristine Schmucker, e-mail, 22 October 2014.