Dennison's Bogie Book
A 1926 Guide for Vintage Decorating and
Entertaining at Halloween (14th Edition)

CONDITION: new, softcover, crisp and glossy covers, 37 pages, 2011 republication, size: 5.5x8.5, unabridged, published by Bramcost Publications

Originally published in 1926, this Bogie Book features the following ideas and suggestions for planning and decorating for vintage Halloween celebrations:

• Invitation ideas along with poetic phrases
• How to create an eerie atmosphere using common items in your home (chairs, mirror) and adding crepe to transform them into festive decorations
• Halloween ideas for a playing card party
• Halloween party for little folks with witch, clown, cat and pumpkin themed novelty and decorating ideas
• Decorations for the refreshment table
• Design suggestions for Halloween chandeliers
• Decorating doors, windows and celings with crepe to create a festive atmosphere
• Pirate themed party decorating ideas
• Easily made favors and serving cups with detailed instructions
• Decorating and entertaining for larger halls, churches, etc., with four specific design layouts
• Food related novelties including gobolink candy bag, apple cauldron, marshmallow ghost, gobolink donut, carrot favor, pumpkin boy chocolate bar, witch serving cup 
• Instructions for making a devil, witch, Halloween fairy, baby pumpkin, clown, soldier, cat, imp and child Halloween costumes (the book references that you can write Dennison for more detailed instructions; however, the text instructions and images are clear for recreating the costumes). For plans and instructions for more Halloween costumes, please see our Dennison Costume book listings.
• Instructions for a cat, doll face, ghost, fancy Halloween hat, pumpkin and frog mask
• Instructions for making Halloween decorations including wire framed pumpkins, crepe fringed ghost, scarecrow floor lamp, cat centerpiece and many more
• Halloween games including an elimination dance, broom dance, blindfold witch fortunes, cheshire cat contest, fly away, blind bogie man, numbers up, rhyming fortunes, treasure hunt, pumpkin dance, Halloween tricks, and more

Centerpieces, favors and novelty suggestions and ideas fill this book as well as instructions for making your vintage projects a success including how to wrap wire, make scalloped petals, fringed crepe, fringe drapery and how to mount crepe paper designs.

From the late 1800s through the 1930s, Halloween parties geared toward adults were very popular. Beginning in 1909 and continuing through 1934, Dennison Manufacturing Company entered the Halloween party niche with their colorful party idea books called "Bogie Books." The first Bogie Book was issued in 1909, the second in 1912 and from that time on, an annual issue was released every year through 1934, with the exception of a brief production interruption during World War I. Each book was filled with colorful examples of party favors, Halloween costumes, decorating ideas, party games, spooky poems and stories.

The Dennison Bogie books featured amazingly creative displays of festooned crepe swags and garland, hanging decorations depicting witches, ghosts, scary pumpkins, black cats and other symbols we associate with Halloween as well as a vast array of games and favors. The Bogie Books were a great source for party planning, each year showing different ideas to match the new products being released by Dennison. They continue to be a great resource for party planning and provide interesting old-time party tips and suggestions. 

Please see images for a sampling of book pages and ideas that can be used for vintage, festive Halloween parties. Be sure to check our other auction listings for more Dennison and Halloween books.

Bramcost Publications is your publishing resource for vintage lifestyle books and patterns. Our books/patterns focus on the way our foremothers and forefathers lived, laughed and loved in their everyday lives. Beauty, fashion, millinery, entertaining and handicrafts are the building blocks of our book/pattern offerings with an emphasis on VINTAGE:

• makeup, hairstyling, beauty
• sewing, pattern drafting, fashion design
• knitting and crochet patterns
• millinery, hat construction, hat patterns
• beadwork, jewelry making
• ribbonwork, embroidery, embellishments, quilting
• weddings, bridal interest
• paper dolls, doll books, doll clothes patterns
• Christmas, Easter, Halloween and Valentine?s Day holiday celebrations