CHECKING IN WITH...HOUSE OF HUMOR:

It’s almost Halloween, so this week we interviewed Sherron Newberg, the owner of House of Humor at 1215 Baker St. Unit C in Costa Mesa. The store has been in business for more than 40 years, but over the last 17, Newberg has owned it.

She approaches every customer who walks in with enthusiasm and questions on what she and her staff can do to make their costume something to be talked about for Halloweens to come.

Halloween is right around the corner. What’s your most popular costume to date?

The Hulk is one of them, also Batman and the Joker. My make-up is getting really big for the Joker.

The nurse costume is also really popular, because the Joker wears the nurse costume.

Which is the better Joker costume? Jack Nicholson Joker or Heath Ledger Joker from the most recent Batman movie?

The new, dark Batman Joker. The Joker is very popular this year because he was a fabulous actor, and the way they had all the clowns they had for the bank robbers.

Would you be a happy clown or a scary clown, and why?

Happy. Because that’s what I am. But my make-up artist can make you into a scary clown.

Do you have presidential candidate costumes?

I think [Barack] Obama is the most popular.

Why’s that?

I don’t know why. He’s a good-looking man, there’s your answer! Ha! I run a costume store so I can’t be biased. I have ’em both.

What’s the most popular sexy costume?

The pirate and the Oktoberfest [bar maid]. And also the nurses and the sailor outfits.

What’s the strangest costume a child has asked you for?

One time a child came in and wanted to be Frankenstein. And he wanted to buy the Frankenstein mask and his large hands. Now that’s different. And he was 4 years old.

Why is that different?

Because the child was tiny! The mask was about as big as the child! So that was wonderful, that this is what this child wanted at 4 years old.

What’s your favorite costume?

I don’t have a favorite costume. I like to go with the flow each year. Last year, I was a pirate, this year I’m going to be a Candy Corn.

So the flow this year is with Candy Corn?

Yeah I’m going to be a big Candy Corn. Because I like to do things that are different, and that’s a different type of costume, so I’m going to be a candy.

What would you recommend for someone to make a good costume on a budget?

Parts and pieces. Hair spray, make-up, mustaches, goatees, jewels — buy like parts and pieces and make your costume very reasonable, and I carry every accessory there is.

Is it more important to be scary, unique or funny on Halloween?

I think it depends on what kind of party you go to. In downtown Hollywood, they’re all funny, honey. Ever been to that parade in Hollywood? They’re more glamorous. If you’re going to go to a party in Vegas, anything goes there. It just depends on where you go.

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at joseph.serna@latimes.com.