Fond du Lac Filmmaker Brings ‘The Pumpkin Lady’ Story Home

Documentary about Loula Beckman, community, memory and a unique Fond du Lac Halloween tradition will screen Oct. 29

A piece of Fond du Lac history is coming home to the big screen.

Filmmaker Jean Herbold will bring her documentary, The Pumpkin Lady of Fond du Lac, to the community for a special screening on Oct. 29, marking a milestone in a project that has been five years in the making.

Herbold, a lifelong Wisconsin native and graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee with a BFA in Film and a minor in Film History, has spent decades working in film and video production. Her career has included producing, post-production supervision, production coordination, and location and talent coordination for commercials, branded videos and short documentaries.

But at age 50, Herbold decided to take one of the biggest creative leaps of her career: developing and directing her longest documentary to date.

The inspiration was a woman many longtime Fond du Lac residents still remember — Loula Beckman, the “Pumpkin Lady.”

Beckman became known for creating a unique Halloween experience for Fond du Lac children through her radio station. Herbold grew up with the excitement of hearing the Pumpkin Lady's voice over the radio and waiting anxiously to see if her own telephone would ring.

Years later, it took moving 2,000 miles away for Herbold to fully appreciate just how special the Fond du Lac tradition had been.

The idea for the documentary resurfaced during Halloween 2020. After months of pandemic isolation, Herbold watched families and neighbors find creative ways to safely preserve Halloween traditions for children.

It brought her back to her own childhood.

“I came back to this story during Halloween 2020, after months of pandemic isolation,” Herbold said. “Seeing my neighbors invent creative ways to deliver candy to children made me think about Fond du Lac and what my hometown had done for children when I was growing up.”

She remembered the anticipation surrounding the Pumpkin Lady and a childhood in which that unique Fond du Lac tradition simply felt like the way Halloween was celebrated.

“I remembered the Pumpkin Lady,” Herbold said. “The excitement of listening to her voice on the radio and anxiously hoping my phone would ring is unforgettable.”

As Herbold dug deeper, the documentary grew into something larger than the Halloween tradition that first inspired it.

“What began as a story about Halloween became a story about community, memory, creativity, and what happens after tragedy,” she said.

Herbold also found inspiration in Beckman's own life. Beckman took a chance on herself in her early 50s by owning a radio station and ultimately creating a community experience that would be remembered for generations.

For Herbold, who began developing the documentary at 50, that connection became particularly meaningful. She hopes Beckman's determination and inventiveness will inspire others to take chances on themselves, regardless of their age or stage in life.

Bringing the Film Home

After five years of work, The Pumpkin Lady of Fond du Lac will return to the community at the center of its story.

A special community screening is planned for Oct. 29 in Fond du Lac. The event is intended as a thank you to the many people who have supported and participated in the project throughout its development.

A limited number of seats will also be available to members of the public who are curious about the film and the history behind the Pumpkin Lady.

The screening is free to attend, with donations welcome.

For Herbold, bringing the finished film back to Fond du Lac is an opportunity to share not only Beckman's story, but a piece of the community's collective memory — and to celebrate the people who helped make sure that story was not forgotten.