Memphis masqueraders are opting for comical and patriotic guises over the usual blood and gore when choosing costumes this All Hallow’s Eve.
Costume stores around the city are reporting selling out of Statue of Liberty costumes, while ghost get-ups are hanging lifeless from the costume racks.
“People are going more for comical than scary this year,” said an employee at Party City.
With thousands of Uncle Sam’s, Lady Liberty’s, political leaders, firefighters and police officers hitting the streets at sundown, the traditional Halloween ensembles and motifs will more likely resemble a fall rendition of the Fourth of July.
In addition, the word “spirits” seems to have taken on a conceptually new meaning for this year’s Halloween celebration, with last-minute customers snatching up what remained of some costume vendor’s uncommon inventory of red, white and blue.
Some employees at Party City and Mr. Lincoln’s costume shop in Midtown said customers began to stream in looking to be outfitted with patriotic garb not long after the Sept. 11 attacks.
“I didn’t have time to order what most people were requesting - Statue of Liberty and Uncle Sam costumes,” said Barry Lincoln, a University of Memphis alumnae and owner of Mr. Lincoln’s costume shop. “They went quickly.”
Lincoln added that while patriotic symbols, such as Uncle Sam, are a big hit this year, the visages of prominent political figures are always classics with Memphians.
“We’ve sold a lot of George W. Bush, Colin Powell and Dick Cheney masks,” Lincoln said.
The caricatures of the president, complete with “Dubya’s” exaggerated ear size, as well as others among the nation’s political leaders show that America has not lost its sense of humor in light of recent events, according to Lincoln.
Moreover, Lincoln said he had rented out most of his police officer uniforms, as well as the only fireman uniform he had, very early in the Halloween season.
Besides patriotic ensembles, customers at Party City also seem to have taken the more humorous approach this Halloween.
One customer asked the staff if they could help her become a “frilled toothpick” for Halloween, and the costume of a mother with a child on her back has been another popular seller this year.
Other favorite costumes from Party City include the sexy lady cop outfit as well as the Big Daddy and Red Hot Mama costumes.
“The pimps are real big sellers,” a representative from Party City said.
Josie and the Pussycats will also be prowling about the streets this All Hallow’s Eve.
Mr. Lincoln’s most popular list includes Batman, Robin and Catwoman costumes, along with all of the Gone with the Wind characters.
“Planet of the Apes didn’t happen, though,” Lincoln said. He has the costumes, but nobody wants them.
One costume was requested that Lincoln refused to create. It was a likeness of Osama bin Laden.
Although several people came in asking for a bin Laden costume, Lincoln said he discouraged the notion.