Still trying to decide about your costume for Halloween? Torn between a witch or a princess? An astronaut or a librarian? (Surely someone out there was going to dress as a librarian?)
Throw out all those ideas because I have the solution! Amaze your friends and family by arriving at your Halloween festivities (or even just the front door for trick-or-treaters) dressed like the winner for Most Original costume in the photograph below:
Costume prize winners at Arts Club’s Bal Bohème. Washington, D.C., April 10. Washington’s annual costume ball, the Bal Boheme, took as its theme this year, ‘Paris au Printemps’. Highlight of the evening was presentation of prizes for costumes. Photo by Harris & Ewing, April 10, 1939. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hec.26485
Yes, I do mean the man with the planter on his head. He is dressed as ‘the trees and shrubs of Paris’, in keeping with the theme of this costume ball: Paris au Printemps, or Paris in the Springtime. Held in April of 1939 and sponsored by the Arts Club of Washington, the Bal Bohème featured many costumes in the theme, but no one else had a topiary as a headpiece and small urns strapped to his feet, so I think the winner was clear, don’t you?
Learn More:
- Enjoy images related to Halloween in the Prints and Photographs Online Catalog.
- Explore the Harris & Ewing Collection for more insight into daily life in Washington, D.C. between 1905 and 1945. The collection includes photographs of people, architecture, and events – such as costume balls.
October 31, 2012 at 4:18 pm
Truly, an inspired costume, but I wonder about the face behind the planter. Considering it’s the nation’s capital, could it be an important public servant? A Congressman perhaps?
October 31, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Hello Robert,
The man behind the planter was named Richard Hill, according to the original caption. Not a congressman, but the gentleman in the center (not in costume) is Senator Theodore Green of Rhode Island, so there was a congressional presence! The full caption of the photo is:
“Costume prize winners at Arts Club’s Bal Boheme. Washington, D.C., April 10. Washington’s annual costume ball, the Bal Boheme, took as its theme this year, ‘Paris au Printemps’. Highlight of the evening was presentation of prizes for costumes. The winners were given their prizes by Senator Theodore Green of Rhode Island. Left to right. Most Original, Richard Hill as the trees and shrubs of Paris, Most Amusing, Samuel Staples as a Paris Stevedore, Senator Green, Most Beautiful, Marcia Evert and Parr Hanna, 4-10-39″
Thanks for reading!
November 2, 2012 at 1:32 pm
to me, he seems to be ‘PaRaDiNg” as a Character in Marvel Comic Groups, x-MEN ~brand~ reference FILE, one SeNtInAl uNiT, crazy! Sincerely & yOUrS truely-JeffCaStIllO