For his 55th, Mr. Halloween heads to the Kimmel

To celebrate his 55th — the Double Nickel — Henri David, Philadelphia’s Mister Halloween — is going upscale and moving his Oct. 31 ball into the — flourish of trumpets — Kimmel Center, Broad and Spruce.

Mister Halloween, Henri David. (Photo: Mike Lynch)

And since it is, as he says, on a “school night,” Tuesday, he will be starting at 7:30 p.m., 90 minutes earlier than usual. 

Why? “All the theater starting times on Broad Street are now 7:30,” says Henri.

“Since when do you do what everyone else does?” I ask.

“Good point,” he says, “but….”

Even more remarkable, the 77-year-old impresario cum jeweler told me the costume judging will be moved from the traditional midnight to 10 p.m.

What?

“It’s Tuesday night, give me a break,” he said, lightly.

I will, but this is historic — and might boost attendance because many people — rightly or wrongly — don’t want to be in Center City when the party ends at 1 or 2 a.m

Admission is $25 for people in costume, “$75 for voyeurs,” says Henri, who has been known to generously accept a mask as a costume.

The categories are: Most Hysterical, Best Comic Book Character, Most Horrifying, Best Sensual Fantasy, Most Original Couple, Best Celebrity Look-Alike, Most Beautiful Female Impersonator, Most Believable Female Impersonator, Most Unbelievably Spectacular. “Don’t come as you are, but as you want to be,” demands Henri

The first party was in 1968, when being openly gay could be dangerous to your health. It was staged at the Hotel Philadelphia (R.I.P.), at Broad and Vine. Over the next five decades, he spread his business around, touching base at many venues.

The Town Hall (R.I.P.), Broad and Race.

The Drake, 15th and Spruce.

The Warwick Hotel, 17th and Locust.

The Bellevue-Stratford, Broad and Walnut.

The Convention Center, 12th and Arch.

The Holiday Inn, 4th and Arch.

The Wyndham Franklin-Plaza, 17th and Vine.

The Hershey Hotel, Broad and Locust.

The Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown, 17th and Vine.

Now the Kimmel. 

Not to brag, but during my Big Deal days at the Daily News I was the head judge of the celebrity panel assembled by Henri. I became the head judge largely because I could count and remain sober until the end of the party.

 In those days my favorite costume was as a Roman Catholic priest, the kindly Father Stu. In those days, I was friendly with then-Councilman Jim Kenney, before he went to progressive reeducation camp and exited as an asshole who suggested I was a homophobe, and also a racist.

This came as news to my many gay and nonwhite friends.

At least I have the same friends today as 20 years ago. Kenney can’t say that.

Let’s leave that unhappy subject.

Long before Philadelphia started waving rainbow flags, and painting rainbows on streets, Henri’s Halloween party was where gays and straights could socialize, even ogle each other, in a safe space.

From an interview I did with Henri for his 50th Halloween party:

“Why he launched Halloween parties is simple, Henri tells me during a conversation in his home next to his two-level Halloween jewelry store at 1329 Pine: He wanted people to be able to dress up and have a good time. That’s also why — in one of his many eye-popping high hats — he emcees Philly’s Easter Parade.

“Having a good time has been his North Star since his growing-up days in Strawberry Mansion, the adopted son of loving Orthodox Jews who kept a kosher home.

“By age 12, he says, he knew he was gay, but dated girls. ‘I was going out with them to get my hands on their younger brothers,’ says Henri. Ever the iconic showman, it’s sometimes hard to know when he is — pardon the expression — being straight.”

The other 364 days of the year, Henri is traveling the world buying gems and exotic gimcracks, with which to entice well-heeled Philadelphians, plus some showbiz pals, such as Elton John, Stevie Nicks and members of Duran Duran.

His jewelry business is mostly word-of-mouth. His store has no website, Henri won’t touch a computer or a cell phone, customers have to make an appointment, and bring cash or checks. No credit cards. And yet, he does well. Very well.

He’s Henri David, Mr. Halloween, and he does things his way. Always has, always will.