Barbara Smuts - R.I.P.

I wanted to take a moment to honor a person who was instrumental in shaping my life. Barbara Smuts was the person who started me on my journey of collecting vintage Halloween memorabilia. She ran a one-person antiques shop in Fair Oaks, California, from 1982 until 2013. It was into her shop, Blue Eagle Antiques, that I wandered one day in early October of 1988, not knowing how that innocent browsing excursion would alter my wallet and sensibilities. Barbara, the epitome of midwestern kindness, had an encyclopedic knowledge of antiques. Her specialization was in American primitive furniture but she knew a lot on a lot of subjects, including holiday memorabilia. Well, that day she asked if I’d mind moving a few boxes from a back storeroom to a spot near the large front window. I did move them and asked what was in them. She said it was the vintage Halloween items that she saved all year to put out for sale a few weeks before Halloween. Well, I opened the boxes and was instantly hooked. (Truly, instantly hooked, buying much of the contents of those boxes that very day for $300.) From that day forward, I always considered Barbara to be the godmother of my collection. I dedicated all three editions of my book to her. We remained friends until her passing at nearly 91 on November 20th. I last spoke to her this past Halloween. Barbara was a truly remarkable person. She was funny, witty and canny - all wonderful qualities. Barbara was the mother to three lucky children and the wife of a very lucky guy, Jerry.
Below is a photo I snapped of Barbara, stalwart at her shop’s counter, on Halloween of 1992. She was in the spirit. Look at her scarf and its central JOL.