100%

Scanned image of the page. Keyboard directions: use + to zoom in, - to zoom out, arrow keys to pan inside the viewer.

Page Options

Share

Something wrong?

Something wrong with this page? Report problem.

Rights / Permissions

The University of Michigan Library provides access to these materials for educational and research purposes. These materials may be under copyright. If you decide to use any of these materials, you are responsible for making your own legal assessment and securing any necessary permission. If you have questions about the collection, please contact the Bentley Historical Library at bentley.ref@umich.edu

June 22, 1984 - Image 14

Resource type:
Text
Publication:
The Detroit Jewish News, 1984-06-22

Disclaimer: Computer generated plain text may have errors. Read more about this.

14 Friday, June 22, 1984

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

The Willis bat mitzvah with a Munsters'
theme: Lara, Randy, Ken and Barbara,
with Grandma Grunia Keats at right
dressed as Grandpa Munster.

Continued from Page 1

There have been several famous
celebrations in recent years, includ-
ing a lavish affair at Miami's Orange
Bowl, complete with helicopters, and
a famous bar mitzvah party at the
Pontiac Silverdome costing tens of
thousands of dollars. Caterers say
parties costing between $5,000 and
$10,000 are the norm today.
Many people opt for a party far
removed from traditional Jewish fare
and believe fun and creativity should
be the keynote of the celebration.
Barbara and Kent Willis of Birming-
ham used a "Munsters" theme from
the TV show on the occasion of their
daughter Lara's bat mitzvah. The
ceremony invitation was mailed. The
party invitation was hand-delivered
on a stormy night. A professional
make-up artist transformed all the
Willises into the Munsters for the
party.
According to Barbara "the
make-up was so perfect that my
mother, Grunia Keats, dressed as the
Dracula-like grandfather in the
series, actually frightened the help in
the ladies room before the party."
The party had a spooky aura and
was held at "Willistead" Manor in
Windsor, an old mansion actually re-
sembling the Munsters' television
residence.
The decor sported gloved hands
holding balloons on the children's ta-
bles and wilted roses with cobwebs on
the adults'. A skeleton greeted guests
at the seating table.
The candlelighting was per-
formed by the family with a fake cake

Back to Top

© 2024 Regents of the University of Michigan