By Rachel Whitney, Curator,
Sapulpa Historical Museum
On East Dewey Avenue, the traffic was packed, busy, and noisy. Hundreds traveled down the street, and was back-to-back jammed in the downtown area. Although there weren’t any cars causing the blockage, hundreds of people gathered in the downtown area for the annual celebration.
This week in Sapulpa history, Halloween in 1953, was a party downtown.
“Thousands of Sapulpans old and young jammed the streets as the cool, clear weather gave the sponsors of the event a big break. Literally, hundreds of youngsters paraded across” the business district.
The annual Jaycee Halloween street dance and carnival took place. The younger citizens participated in a contest. “Jaycees moved several hundred Sapulpa youngsters across the stage while judges and spectators marveled at the ingenuity shown in the costumes.”
“With Everett Harper doing the emceeing, first prize in the school-age bracket went to Larry Whiteside, who wore a pumpkin and a costume somewhat resembling a scarecrow. Larry won a bicycle. Second prize of a flash camera outfit went to Johnny Ballard who posed as Marilyn Monroe, and filled out the part just right. Third prize went to Denny Cornwell, who represented the Jefferson bicycle safety club.”
Out of all the participants, there were six other finalists. “The other six finalists who gave the judges a hard time were John C. Dennten, Jerry Samuels, Johnny Bradley, Dan Couch, Garcia Barnes, and Linda Langmaid.”
There were two other aged-related costume contests held for the preschool age and adults. “In the preschool age contest, the winners were Gloria Simmons, first prize; Gary McIntosh, second prize; Lin Bradley, third prize.”
“Winners of the adult contest were Dennis Phipps, who dressed as Frankenstein’s monster, and a team of Ada Chambers and Juanita Scott, who won the other prize. They were awarded $10 in ‘scrip’ money, which may be used in any Sapulpa store.”
Along with the costume contest, the carnival and booths lined the streets. “The booths set up by many Sapulpa organizations were kept busy all evening as the crowd ate, played games at concessions, and bought souvenirs. The booths were operational by 6 PM, and the streets were blocked off. The booths came alive.”
One of the many booths at the Jaycee Halloween carnival was operated by the Women’s Auxiliary of the Fire department.
The Sapulpa police force kept the crowded streets safe and comfortable. “City police had their hands full as they kept one eye on the festivities downtown, one eye on the Halloweeen pranksters around the city, and ‘another eye’ on their regular Saturday night trouble spots.”
The crowd gathered and danced the Halloween night away. “A high school group provided music for the street dance which followed the costume judging contest. During the costume contest itself, the Sapulpa High School band performed for the crowd.”
Halloween came to Sapulpa downtown with a “mammoth celebration.”
(Sapulpa Sunday Herald, November 1, 1953)
