Ghost Cellar Jazz
Sane Halloween Observer
Even though the last entry here was almost two years past, that doesn't mean research ceased. With assistance, I have since pieced together a rather large collection of imported Einzinger Narrenfibel catalogs (some seen here in previous entries), and this 1965-1967 edition was particularly one I had been looking forward to obtaining based on known excerpts; it also turned out to be quite the prize given the additional surprises! With this in hand, I'm still trying to figure out why it is assumed by old-school experts (as yet offering zero counter evidence in print) that paper items from Germany ceased after WWII - even though items assumed as 1930s are found here in this 1965 catalog.
Einzinger Narrenfibel 65
Question! Is the tale of certain German mask makers for Karneval (and world export) similar to what occurred with embossed German diecuts? The timeline seems to match. Take Manebach, for example: -"Manebach masks were trendy in the 1930s. Lack of material and sales difficulties were the reason why in 1960 the Thuringian mask factory Heintz & Kühn closed their doors. After the closure of the mask and paper lantern factory Eilers and Meyin, 1971, these products were no longer made there. Gone were the days when Manebach carnival items were sold on every continent." For full article see: "Manebach was once a stronghold of mask making" (Manebach war einst eine Hochburg der Maskenfabrikation).
Until the mystery is solved, here are a few pages from this incredible 99 page catalog offering items for sale 1965-1967 in Germany. I have added rough translations to certain items of interest below the images.
Page 36 -
#19 Hollenkater, 40 cm gross. Pappe, Leuchtaugen, paarweise rechts - oder linksschauend lieferbar. Stuck 2.50.
#19 Hellcat, 15.75 in. tall. Cardboard, bright eyes, in pairs right - or left-facing available. Piece 2.50.
Page 49 -
#3 Blocksberg-Fries. 40 cm breit, 2 m lang, grune Wandleiste aus kraftigem Krepp Papier, mit 7 verscheidenen Spuk- gesellen aus gepragtem Karton. Fries 12.50.
#3 Block Mountain frieze. 15.75 in. wide, 78.75 in. long, green wall strip made of strong crepe paper, with 7 different Spooks made of embossed cardboard. Frieze 12.50. ***
#4 Geister-Kulisse. bestehend aus 4 zusammensetzbaren schwarzen Kartontafeln, je 68x96 cm gross, mit ausgeschnittenen, farbig hinterklebten Motiven, vin ruckwarts beleuchtbar. Satz mit 4. Stuck 24.
#4 Ghost-backdrop. Consisting of 4 black cardboard panels, each 26.75 in. x 37.80 in. in size, with cut-out motifs that are pasted in ghost-backdrop. Can be illuminated from behind. Set of 4 pieces 24.
#5 Jazz im Geisterkeller. 4 verschiedene Figuren, 37 cm gross, aus starkem Karton, mit Aufsteller. Sortiment 3,50.
#5 Jazz in the ghost cellar. 4 different figures, 14 1/2 in. tall, made of strong cardboard, with easel. Assortment 3.50.
#6 Old-devil. 50 cm gross, aus rotschwarzem Karton, mit Aufstellar. Stuck 3.50.
#6 Old-devil. 19.68 in. Made of red-black cardboard, with easel. Piece 3.50.
Page 51 -
#14 Grusel mobile zum aufhangen, mit 8 grotesken motiven, aus starke, gepragtem karton, bunt bemalt, die figuren tanzen bei geringster luftbewegung... komplett 9.50.
# 14 Scary mobile to hang, with 8 grotesque motifs, made of strong, embossed cardboard, painted in color, the figures dance in the slightest air movement ... complete 9.50.
#15 Skelettt, aus starkem Pappkarton geprägt, naturgetreu bemalt, beweglich 70 cm gross Stuck 4.50. / 750 Skelett 125 cm gross. Stuck 7.50.
#15 Skeleton, embossed from strong cardboard, faithfully painted, movable 27.5 in. large piece 4.50. / 750 Skeleton 50 in. tall. Piece 7.50.
Additional Reading
People seem confused that there may have been Halloween celebrations in Germany? No, that's not what you are seeing here. These catalogs were for the celebration of Karneval, Fasching, Fastnacht (and other fantastical celebrations) - which like modern Halloween have different sub-themes. It didn't take a Halloween holiday to fill the German landscape with a long history of spooks, devils, and witches. And you will find these links of additional interest.
Block Mountain, Blocksberg or Brocken: this Wikipedia entry says "The Brocken has always played a role in legends and has been connected with witches and devils" so again the characters shown above in the catalog were not specifically Halloween subjects - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brocken.
Now, to the Brocken, the witches ride;
The stubble is gold and the corn is green;
There is the carnival crew to be seen,
And Squire Urianus will come to preside.
So over the valleys, our company floats,
With witches a-farting on stinking old goats.
German Witches: A very interesting read from 2011 on the connection of German history/traditions with marketable American Halloween imagery - https://streetsofsalem.com/2011/10/24/german-witches/
Karneval Masks A good read on the long history of a paper factory that existed from the 1800's all the way through to 1971: "Manebach was once a stronghold of mask making" (Manebach war einst eine Hochburg der Maskenfabrikation).
