For the last few years I have made it a point to stop by the home on St. Charles at State Street to take pictures of their amazing Halloween decorations.
Last year I met the owner, Louellen Berger, who graciously let me in her yard for a better view. I emailed her this year asking if I could come and get photos of her latest masterpiece. She told me – of course.
As she was showing me around and describing her skeletal labors of love, I decided that I wanted to write my first article for the New Wave about her. I figured I would interview her to be on the safe side, and pitch it to the Tulane newspaper later that day. They went for it!
With only a 300-word limit, many things got left out, so here are some more behind-the-scenes tips of what goes into creating this…
It takes two whole days for her to set up. After that workers come in with the lights.
Under their costumes, all of the skeletons are the same.
The most elaborate one is Annie’s “Yorkshire Scarier.” It too was built from the same skeleton as all the others. Her son came up with the name after his own terrier was running around the yard.
Harry Potter was one of the most difficult to display.
When she started decorating her home about eight years ago, she began with Lazy Bones and the Lady in the Tree but they did not have names. The Thinker followed the next year.
TromBONE Shorty is one of the new ones this year – and is modeled after his actual pose in an issue of St. Charles Magazine.
And yes, Louellen is extremely gracious and imaginative – I hope that comes across in the article.
Here is the ARTICLE in the New Wave.
And a nice little shout-out in the Uptown Messenger.
I am glad I got to do a little something about this wonderful home that enchants so many New Orleanians (myself included).
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!