6AM City In-house

Unusual since 1920 🪄

History of Caufield’s Novelties in Louisville, KY
Brick building with red awning and glass windows. Large red letter spell out "Caufield's"
Caufield’s Novelty has been located on Main Street since 1987. | Photo by LOUtoday
Imagine this, it’s 1915 and you open a photography studio in the hustle and bustle of downtown Louisville. Business is good, almost too good, and the amount of people in your waiting room seems to grow every day.

So as a way to keep eager customers occupied while you develop their photos, you invest in a few practical jokes (using the $20 you received in an accident settlement) to sell to patrons while they wait — and just as quick as a camera flash, your impromptu novelty store outgrows your photography businesses.

That’s exactly how Keran S. Caufield, an Irish immigrant, started Caufield’s Novelties in 1920, which is now located at 1006 W. Main St.

For over 100 years, the costume and novelty store has remained a family business despite moving three times, growing to be one of the largest theatrical distributors in the US, and becoming Louisville’s No.1 Halloween destination.

A black 1947 Cadillac hearse

New this year to the outside of Caufield’s is the mural + giant skull on the roof.

Photo by LOUtoday


Most Louisvillians know Caufield’s for three things:

🦇 World’s Largest Vampire Bat
Constructed of steel rebar and fiberglass in 2000, the iconic 36-foot tall bat lurking on the side of the building was created to playfully rival Derby City’s other world’s largest bat at the Louisville Slugger Museum a block away.

⚰️ Cadillac hearse
Parked out front of the store, is another recognizable legacy of Caufield’s — the haunted 1947 hot rod — which doubled as an ambulance back in the day. It’s outfitted with fire breathing skulls, red headlights, and golden velvet curtains on the inside + it still takes spooky drives today.

đź’€ The dungeon
In the back of the store past rows of costumes, masks, and props is a room hosting a scene from a scary movie. Wiggling mummies, over-sized clowns, and uncaged monsters fill the dimly lit quarters. It’s open year-round, but the small haunted house is especially frightening during peak Halloween season as the maniacal laughter and creepy theatrics seem to echo a little more eerily.

DYK: Muhahhamd Ali frequented Caufield’s during his boxing career + was a talented amateur magician.

See Caufield’s Novelty’s extended hours through Mon., Oct. 31.
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Tuesday
  • Fiddler on the Roof | Tues., Oct. 18-Sun., Oct. 23 | Various times | The Kentucky Center | $46.80 - $110.00 | See this touring award-winning Broadway musical set in Imperial Russia around 1905 and explores the value of tradition.
  • Kurt Vile| Tues., Oct. 18 | 8 p.m. | Headliners Music Hall | $27.50-$55.00 | Catch this former lead guitarist for War on Drugs play popular songs from his solo career like “Pretty Pimpin.”
Thursday
  • Venardos Circus | Thurs., Oct. 20-Sun., Oct. 30 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Big Four Lawn at Waterfront Park | $16.00 - $46.00 | Created by a former Ringling Bros. Ringmaster, this traveling circus showcases aerialists, acrobats, comedy, magic + more.
  • Yoga with Plants | Thurs., Oct. 20 | 6:30-7:15 p.m. | Mahonia, 822 E. Market St. | $25.00 | Stretch among the lush greenery at this NuLu plant shop + each ticket includes a miniature succulent or cactus to take home.
Friday
  • Eat, Drink, & Do SPOOKY Science | Fri., Oct. 21 | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | Kentucky Science Center | $50 | Explore the thematic science of horror films at this 21+ event that includes hors d’oeuvres and two drinks.
  • Louisville Beer Week | Fri., Oct. 21-Sun., Oct. 23 | Various locations | Various times | Various prices | Pay homage to Louisville’s craft beer scene all week long with events, tastings, beer releases + more.
Saturday
Sunday
  • Hot Brown Showdown | Sun., Oct. 23 | 1-5 p.m. | Festival Plaza at Waterfront Park | $30.00 | Sample Hot Browns crafted by local restaurants at this tasting event + cook-off.
We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
6AM City In-house

Weather
  • 52Âş | Partly cloudy | 2% chance of rain
Opening
  • Bandido Taqueria Mexicana announced it would be expanding into St. Matthews next year by taking over the former Bubbakoo’s Burritos at 4212 Shelbyville Rd. The local Mexican restaurant specializes in California-style burritos, carnitas, and makes 10 house-made salsas daily. Check out its two other Louisville locations + one in Lexington. 🌯 (WLKY)
Closing
  • Public walk-through aviary exhibits at the Louisville Zoo are temporarily closed as a precaution to the recently confirmed cases of avian flu in Fayette County. Chilean flamingos, Dalmatian pelicans, black swans, and a bald eagle are amongst the birds currently being relocated for protection. 🦅 (WHAS11)
Award
  • Mayor Greg Fischer received the 2022 Public Officials Award from the Water Environment Foundation, a not-for-profit technical and educational organization that represents water quality professionals worldwide. The Federation cited his innovative One Water Partnership project as a main reason for winning the award. đźš°
Trending
  • Saddle up, Louisvillians, there’s a new memer in town. On Instagram, @rivercityrules is dedicated to the creation of memes all about Derby City — think jokes about the Ohio River, neighborhood personalities, where you went to high school, and more. Our favorite is this meme about the short-lived Louisville Falls Fountain. ⛲
Number
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Meeting room royalty đź‘‘

New luxury meeting and event venue in Louisville, KY
A square formation of long white tables are surrounded by brown leather rolling office chairs in a carpeted room with two TVs on one wall, a lush green mural on the another, and intricate wood design on the ceiling.
The Royal Room can host 100 people standing or 50 seated. | Photo by The Royal Room
A new, 1,400-sqft luxury meeting and event venue is headed to Norton Commons at 6314 Meeting St. in the North Village. The Royal Room, opening Thurs., Dec. 1, will be equipped with first class technology and amenities + has the capacity to accommodate 100 people standing or 50 people seated.

Pricing to rent the modern designed room ranges from $400-$1,500 on weekdays + weekends. Here’s a closer look at what it will provide:
  • Dedicated on-site concierge — including setup and breakdown
  • Coffee, tea, water + “royal” snacks
  • In-house AV
  • Wireless internet
  • Parking
For an extra fee, The Royal Room can:
  • Cater breakfast, lunch, or dinner
  • Bartend or host flight tastings
  • Provide table linens + videography, photography, and auctioneer services
Two rows of long tables are dressed in off-white linens and surrounded by tall, formal white chairs and a white throne-style chair sits at the front of the tables and chairs.

The Royal Room can also be rented for special occasions like receptions, baby showers, and more.

Photo by The Royal Room

In addition to booking meetings, it also plans to host ticketed events like the Inaugural Royal Dinner prepared by Volare Chef Joshua Moore on Mon, Dec. 14, as well as offer special occasion rentals for receptions + dinner parties.
THE WRAP
Today’s issue was written by Senior City Editor Katie.

Editor’s pick: If you’re curious about the Louisville Falls Fountain short history on the Ohio River from 1988-1998, listen to this episode of WFPL’s “Curious Louisville” podcast.

The six-minute story covers the $2.6 million project and it’s on-again, off-again relationship with the city.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Mix things up with Elijah Craig’s Old Fashioned Week.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Sarah Shadburne, Katie Molck, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Kaylee Holland, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.


Sales: Mandey Lee | Advertise with us.


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