by Audrey Poff, illustration by Brittney Osborn

The Peabody Hotel in Memphis is famous for its ducks, of course, but as October approaches, I sometimes think back to a Halloween party I attended there in the 1980s where the real wildlife was on two legs—and in costume.

On Oct. 31, what was then the Arkansas State Indians football team played Memphis State at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium with Coach Larry Lacewell at the helm. The game ended in a 21-21 tie with more than 21,000 in attendance. After the game, many A-State fans headed to The Peabody for the night, where a massive Halloween party was scheduled for the evening. My brother and sister-in-law were there with our group.

Since I’m not particularly fond of dressing up in costumes on Halloween, I question my decision at that time to change into a Fruit of the Loom grapes outfit. It involved a black garbage bag and a plethora of purple balloons, so it was neither quick to assemble nor particularly comfortable. My best guess is that I was probably required to attend a Halloween party on campus that week and the Fruit of the Loom outfit fit my budget. It was the ‘80s, however, and the iconic Fruit of the Loom fruit people were big.

The Peabody was packed that night, and the event still serves as the biggest Halloween party I have ever attended. It was even more fun, I think, because of the many A-State fans who were there for the evening.

People were partying on all floors throughout the night, so we decided to take the elevator up to the next level. That turned out to be the most memorable move of the evening.

When the elevator doors opened in the lobby of the historic hotel, we stepped inside. Fortunately, I was standing more toward the front. I knew we were packed in like sardines, but I had no idea how many people were on the elevator. As the doors began to close, the elevator started to move. Unfortunately, we were not going upward as intended. Instead, the elevator began to slowly sink. As the doors began to open and close repeatedly, there I stood in full Halloween regalia looking like a deflated bunch of purple grapes.

Suddenly, a man in the back proclaimed, “It’s the elevator to hell!” That is not what anyone wants to hear when you are in a crowded elevator that has obviously exceeded its capacity and is suspended between floors. Halloween costumes are hot, crowded elevators are hot and this elevator to hell was surely ablaze.

My view from near the front was of the elevator shaft and the floor above our heads from which we had just descended. A little panic set in among the occupants of the sunken elevator, who were now able to see the floor above, but could not reach it. 

Nearly four decades later, I have little memory of our escape, but I know that one by one, we were all extended a hand and pulled safely up to the next floor. I’m betting, however, that it’s not a pretty sight when a sad bag of purple grapes gets rescued from the elevator to hell. 

I miss the ‘80s.

On a happy note, the Fruit of the Loom fruit people just might be making a comeback in Halloween costumes. I shall not be participating. Trust me. I know how fortunate I am that my Fruit of the Loom mascot days pre-dated cell phones.