HIGH GEAR PAGE 21

Halloweenin' in Cleveland

It's Tuesday-It's crazy

IT'S EXEDRA'S

KRAZY NIGHTS

•SHOWS

•SPECIALS •PRIZES

ว

•CONTESTS

•COSTUMES •GAGS

San Francisco Halloween

by Jim Lansdowne

One of the most important factors in determining how, or even if you'll celebrate a given holiday is, where you spend it. For Thanksgiving, New York in the Macy's Parade is the place to be Independence Day is best spent in Philadelphia, and Cleveland may even be the winner for St. Patrick's Day, but on October 31st, Halloween, there's no place like San Francisco.

I moved to San Francisco in July, and so this past Halloween, was the first I spent here. I went to work expecting a business-asusual atmosphere. Given the conservative reputation of my company and industry, you can imagine my amazement when I discovered that every employee on 6th floor was in costume, and mostly in drag at that. The men were dressed as everything from a Marine Sargeant to Miss Twin Peaks (complete with one piece bathing suits, high heels, and fish het hose). Some of the women were dressed as police officers, others came as southern belles hoop skirts and all). Perhaps ven more amazing that the cosumes and open "gaiety" was the act that no one was in awe by all his, except me. "After all this is Halloween" I was told several

mes.

As the day progressed, I kept ondering what nightfall and astro Street would bring. Based

on what I had already seen, I knew it would be wild.

At about 9 P.M. I got in my car and headed for Castro, which, I ad learned, would be closed off

the 35th year in a row. I wanted to get there early so I wouldn't have to park too far away. I found myself caught in a traffic jam almost a mile from Castro. Could it be? Yes, all these cars were headed the same place I was. About 45 minutes later I parked and started to walk to Castro Street I was about 1/2 mile away, when I reached the top of the hill overlooking Castro. All I could see was a mass of people. The crowd was estimated at 20,000. Like many others. I was not in costume so I began milling around to see what everyone was wearing and what could possibly draw this many people. The costumes were indeed, unbelievable, at least 3 people came as doctors, frankfurters, Miss Piggy was there, as was Jackie Onassis and even Pope John Paul II made an appearance. (Is nothing sacred?) There were cheerleaders and cowboys, telephone installers and "flashers" and many more. I can't even begin to describe all the costumes: let it suffice to say it was like nothing I'd ever seen before.

Once again it seems appropriate to make the comment "only in San Francisco."

JUST LOOK AT OUR FABULOUS PRIZES:

3-piece suit color TVdinners for two-stereos

rips from Hopkins Airport blenders garbage disposals and many more.

$1.00 or crazy costume

or FREE with roll of toilet paper

or 50¢ with Sears and Roebuck catalog or 25¢ with corn cob

1762 East 18th Street, Cleveland

photos by Carl Hammond