10/31/2026
A wonderful little piece of SVA Halloween history from 1935!
HALLOWE’EN PARTY PROVES A SUCCESS
AUDIENCE DELIGHTED WITH MYSTERY PLAY
On the night of October 30 at St. Vincent’s Academy, a large crowd was on hand for the Annual Hallowe’en Party sponsored by the seniors.
To give the atmosphere of Hallowe’en, two ghosts, (Gertrude Russell and Helen Oetgen), hovered at the entrance and weirdly asked for tickets.
An amusing and thrilling one-act mystery play entitled, “At The Stroke of Twelve”, was presented by the members of the Senior class before an appreciative audience.
The parts were naturally and cleverly acted. The poor frightened girl was Mary Osterholtz under cover. Her mistress, the spinster Miss Briggs who objected to her niece’s marriage, was well acted by Julia Cleary. The attractive niece, Eileen, was played by Helen Jackson. George Baker, the objectionable suitor from the Aunt’s point of view and then later the ghost who got what he came after, was professionally acted by Helen Brennan. The village gossip, Miss Sample, whose duty was to mind other people’s business, was characteristically carried out by Mary Drew Freeman. The play was announced by Margaret Cronin.
After many thrills and much applause, the play ended splendidly and the audience was invited to the refreshment booths in the yard.
The booths were attractively decorated in the spirit of the occasion and the seniors were on hand in costume to serve. In charge of these booths were: Cecelia Smith, Ann McDonald, Mary Bernard Goette, Kathryn Kelly, Mary Jane Fahey, Essie Fountain, Mary Best and Frances Kilroy.
Music was furnished by a radio lent by one of the graduates and dancing was enjoyed.
All in all the party was voted a gratifying success and the seniors wish to thank everyone of the large crowd who attended or helped in any way to enable them to make such a substantial sum.
