Knoxville Chronicles

Halloween 2: Tricks and Treats

October 21, 2023 Knoxville History Project Season 2 Episode 9
Knoxville Chronicles
Halloween 2: Tricks and Treats
Show Notes

Following on from "Halloween Begins," the holiday puts on a mask and heads out on to Knoxville city streets.  Although trick or treating and jack-o-lanterns were uncommon here until the early 1900s, by the roaring twenties, Halloween began to take on a livelier, and sometimes a darker turn. Costumed revelers paraded all parts of downtown, especially up and down Gay Street, blowing horns and displaying general merriment. By the early 1940s, the boisterousness had turned into mayhem and the police department began declaring a state of emergency on Halloween nights in a bid to stem widespread vandalism. It was a trend that would continue until the early 1970s.

Written by Jack Neely and read by Josh Brandon.  Sound design and editing by Pete Carty. Theme song composed by Mike Stallings.

Knoxville Chronicles is brought to you by the nonprofit Knoxville History Project. 
  
 Learn more at KnoxvilleHistoryProject.org