Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 29, 1982)
At Ease, The Battalion Friday, October 29, 1982 5 Disguises mask party-goers by Colette Hutchings Battalion Staff What are you going to be for Halloween? That's probally the most popular question asked around this time of the year. If you're still looking for what you're going to be — whether animal, vegetable or mineral, several local shops may be the place to go for help. One place to get costume props, if not ideas, is East 29th Street Warehouse. Carolyn Shankles, co-owner of East 29th Street Warehouse, said the store sells masks, wigs and pirate masks — which are "ugly and boney looking" she said. "We sell mostly props, no cos tumes," Shankles said. Props include vampire teeth and pointed ears, clown noses and Raggedy Anns. "We have make-up kits too. If you wanted to look like you've been hit by a car, we have all the stuff for that," Shankles said. Lisa Shankles said the glow- in-the-dark paints, multi colored wigs and painted hair spray are all popluar among the college crowd. "The punk look is really in this year," she said. Shankles said: "We also have gross masks which look real but are expensive. We tell people though, if they wear them win a contest, they'll get their money back." Lou's Gag Shop is another place to get costumes, but the store owner there said he couldn't explain because 50 cus tomers were currently in the store wanting service. Julie Hayes, a salesperson at Coach House Gifts in Post Oak Mall, said the store is running out of a lot of costume props. "We still have witches hats and greasepaint sticks and hair spray-on color," Hayes said. One costume selling at Coach House could also be used as an Easter costume — a $55 bunny suit. Hayes said they also have a gorilla suit for a mere $105 and a matching mask for $10. Hayes said the store is selling half-masks — masks which cov er half the face and make-up is used for the lower half of the face. Costumed kids kept close tohome by Tracy Johnston Battalion Reporter Yells of "trick-or-treat," chil dren dashing around in cos tumes and the handing out of candy soon may be only a memory. Dr. Sylvia Ann Grider, a Texas A&M folklorist, associate professor and dean, said in terest in trick-or-treating is de clining. "Adults are afraid that their children will be given poison," Grider said. She said much of the fear is connected to the re cent outbreaks of contaminated products, such as Tylenol. by Colette Hutchings Battalion Staff Mel Tillis, the country music star known not only for his sing ing voice but also for his trade mark — stuttering — will be at Graham Central Station in Bryan Thursday night. In addition to the one-night show, Keith Lawyer, area su pervisor at Graham's, said Tillis will draw the winning ticket for a trip for two to Hawaii, spon sored by Whataburger re staurant. Tillis was named the Country Music Association's Comedian of the Year from 1971 through 1976 and in 1976 he won two prestigious honors: The Coun try Music Association's Enter- Officials in Dudley, Mas sachusetts have banned house to house trick or treating this year because they are afraid that some candy might be contamin ated with poison. But they have not completely cancelled Halloween. Instead, they are encouraging parents to take their children to the town's party or to friends houses for treats. In the Bryan-College Station area, police said that the number of trick-or-treaters probably will continue to decline. "We will see less kids trick or treating because of the Tylenol incident," Lt. Joe Alvarado of tainer of the Year and an admis sion to the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Known for such hits as "Coca- cola Cowboy," "Southern Rains," "Burning Memories," "The Sawmill," and "I Got the Hoss," Tillis and his band. The Statesiders, are constantly on the music trail around the country. He has been a guest or host on the gamut of talk and feature shows, from "The Tonight Show" to "The Today Show" along with Merv Griffin and Mike Douglas. the Bryan Police Dept. said. Most kids go to school or church parties instead of door-to-door trick-or-treating, he said. Alvarado said trick-or- treating has declined over the past five years since the Hous ton "Candyman" case. The case involved a Houston child who died Halloween night in 1974 after eating cyanide mixed with candy. The child's father was convicted of the mur der and has been sentenced to be executed this year on Hallo ween. Grider said this case is the only documentation of extreme violence to children on Hallo ween. to town ture appearances "W.W. and the Dixie Dance Kings," "Every Which Way But Loose," "Smokey and The Bandit II," "The Villain," and "Cannonball Run" are just a few of his cre dits. Tillis traces his stuttering back to ae three when he was sick with malaria. He also picked up the speech pattern from another boy who stuttered. Tickets for the concert are $10 in advance and $12at th door. They are available at Hastings Books and Records, Courts Today Halloween party- goers celebrate with apple bobbing, jack o'lanterns and ghostly costumes. With the trend moving away from trick or treating, many communities celebrate Halloween with school carnivals, community spook houses and church parties. Grider pointed out it is not unusual for traditions to fade out. Halloween celebrations will continue, she said, but the end of trick-or-treating may be near. Trick-or-treating is thought to have been introduced by the Ir ish and other British Isle immig rants who came to America in the mid 1800s, during Ireland's devastating potato famine, "Halloween" was originally called All Hallows Eve because it was the eve of the festival of All Saints. But the celebration itself originated with the English Druids. On Oct. 31, the night before the beginning of their new year, the Druids belived the spirits of the dead roamed abroad and they lit bonfires to drive them away. Even after the holiday was Christianized, many of these customs of the ancient Ro mans and Druids continued. This type of exposure becom- Western Wear — all five loca- es multi-media in nature when it tions, Loupots Book Store, and is coupled with his motion pic- Graham Central Station. Mel Tillis M-m-mel's coming