Spooky meets sophistication

Spider webs stretch across the ceiling, crows flutter around cages, and one crow, Simon, has a few words for guests.

Pages of text are scattered next to an old typewriter with “I am not crazy” written repeatedly. Books are stacked high, rats pour out of an oven, gray skinned dolls with stringy black hair giggle incessantly and did that family portrait just change into a group of ghouls?

Life at 13 Blackbird Lane isn’t quite the same since Mad Madeline disappeared from her manor.

This is the stage and theme of Roger’s Gardens’ Halloween display, a retail showcase following the story of Mad Madeline’s Manor.

As the story goes, Madeline was a collector, taking toys, books, pictures, ornaments, pieces of furniture and other items into her home over the years. Ever since she disappeared, the items in her home have taken on a different image as Madeline still haunts the cluttered house.

Roger’s Gardens creative director Eric Cortina and collectibles buyer Christine McCaffrey came up with the idea — and the purely fictionalized story — in January, perfect for the upcoming Halloween season and for a store focused on collectibles and sophisticated Halloween decor and toys.

“There are not too many venues for adults to purchase [Halloween] items,” Cortina said.

At Roger’s Gardens, the group is trying to mix a classic Halloween with some sophisticated ambience.

They have a gun that shoots spider webs, decorative spiders, rats, crows, skeletons and other playful Halloween items. But at the same time the display is fit with furniture from Paris, antique toys and dining sets that all can be used for creating a unique Halloween home.

“It’s always like you are creating this whole new atmosphere,” McCaffrey said. “Imagination can run a bit more.”

All the items that patrons can see and touch in the Halloween display are for sale from the tables to the organ, from the talking crow Simon to the books stacked to the ceiling in Madeline’s library.

Cortina’s favorite item is an antique monkey with cymbals, worn and weathered, kept underneath a glass case.

Most of the antique items were bought at various shows, such as one in Paris and another in Atlanta, or they were found at small, local antique shops.

Other items, such as ornaments, are created by artists for Roger’s Gardens.

The shop also offers an outdoor section to help decorate the yard and porch for Halloween.

McCaffrey advises people to build their decorations gradually. Start with witches for the porch, add darker plants for the yard, then spooky ornaments and webs inside before adding interior decor.

This is Roger’s Gardens 10th year doing a Halloween display, each year with a different theme.

The display is open to the public at 9 a.m. Friday until Halloween. But Roger’s Gardens advises people to get there early because they often sell out of all its items before the holiday.

For more information, go to www.rogersgardens.com.

ANTIQUE FURNITURE: From $560 to $4,100

SPIDERS: From $8.99 to $60

SKELETONS: From $6.99 for a small to $19.99 for medium to $195 for a full size.

HAUNTED PICTURES: Unframed start at $12.99 and framed start at $34.99

DANIEL TEDFORD may be reached at (714) 966-4632 or at daniel.tedford@latimes.com.