Old Man Gloom is 96 years old and he still looks great. But he never looks the same. Each year he grows taller, wears new clothes or has a different hair style. The evolution of Old Man Gloom is ever changing.Hes one of the most notorious characters in New Mexico. You can call him a chameleon of the times. I feel in love with the guy. I would say he was my first boyfriend, said Zozobra Deputy Event Chair Judith Moir.Black and white photos show Zozobra in the early years and key points in our history. As the years go on, Old Man Gloom becomes the monsters we need him to be. He becomes the villain of America. All the planning and design for Zozobra is done around the decade of his history, said Moir.In 1982, the marionette has buttons along his top and a black belt. Then two years later, in 1984, he ditched some of his buttons for a bow tie, which would become his iconic look in the years to come. Then in 1985 and 1986, Old Man Gloom had orange hair.Then the '90s Zozobra rocked yellow locks along with his bow tie. Fast forward to the early 2000s. Old Man Zoom donned several looks. The easiest change to see was his hair, from white to purple to orange. Other than the fact that has gotten bigger, I think the biggest change that we have done was in 2014, we added the decades project, said Moir.The decades project starts with the 1920s and is a way to highlight each decade as we get closer to Old Man Glooms 100th birthday. He was a snidely whiplash guy with a big mustache. Then we moved on to the '30s. He was old, bald and fat because that was the depression era. Zozobra had a little white hair left on this head and one button on his top.Then came 2016. The '40s we have the WWII era. That was a really big deal for us. That was really important because we were able to mark the 75th anniversary of the holocaust, said Moir. The marionette was dressed for the occasion with his double-breasted top, a fedora and a black tie.Part of the decades project is to teach kids about their past, not just Zozobra's past but what happened in New Mexico, what happened in the world, said Moir. That same year, the night before the event, a candlelight vigil was held to pay tribute to the victims and survivors of the Holocaust. Then in 2017, it was all about honoring the '50s. He was wearing a cardigan sweater and I would like to say he was father knows worst, instead of father knows best, said Moir. Zozobra had red hair to match his red nails.Then came the '60s. We really rolled out the entire hippie era 3:42 he tried to give the peace sign, but because he is Zozobra he really couldn't do that, said Moir.2018 was all groovy baby, with staff dressed in tie-dye as Old Man Gloom wore a bolo tie and had silver hair.Then last year, in 2019, disco was out to play. Coming in at 50 feet, 6 inches tall, it was all about the John Travolta look. Zozobra wore a white suit, gold medallion and blonde hair. His eyes were the memorable avocado green color and his lips were burnt orange. That was the first time his lips have changed color.2020 2 was slated to take us back to the '80s, but that is on hold until next year. Event organizers want this years focus to be the coronavirus. Zozobra will not wear a mask. Instead this show will honor first responders like our health care workers. The big question is, what will them marionette look like? His gray hair will take on the look of the virus itself, with orange pingpong balls and red hair scrunchies. His cuff-links will resemble murder hornets and they will be dipped in gold to bring out his formal attire. Last but not least, the buttons on his jacket will be stamped with the year 2020.

Old Man Gloom is 96 years old and he still looks great. But he never looks the same. Each year he grows taller, wears new clothes or has a different hair style. The evolution of Old Man Gloom is ever changing.

Hes one of the most notorious characters in New Mexico. You can call him a chameleon of the times. I feel in love with the guy. I would say he was my first boyfriend, said Zozobra Deputy Event Chair Judith Moir.

Black and white photos show Zozobra in the early years and key points in our history. As the years go on, Old Man Gloom becomes the monsters we need him to be. He becomes the villain of America. All the planning and design for Zozobra is done around the decade of his history, said Moir.

In 1982, the marionette has buttons along his top and a black belt. Then two years later, in 1984, he ditched some of his buttons for a bow tie, which would become his iconic look in the years to come. Then in 1985 and 1986, Old Man Gloom had orange hair.

Then the '90s Zozobra rocked yellow locks along with his bow tie. Fast forward to the early 2000s. Old Man Zoom donned several looks. The easiest change to see was his hair, from white to purple to orange. Other than the fact that has gotten bigger, I think the biggest change that we have done was in 2014, we added the decades project, said Moir.

The decades project starts with the 1920s and is a way to highlight each decade as we get closer to Old Man Glooms 100th birthday. He was a snidely whiplash guy with a big mustache. Then we moved on to the '30s. He was old, bald and fat because that was the depression era. Zozobra had a little white hair left on this head and one button on his top.

Then came 2016. The '40s we have the WWII era. That was a really big deal for us. That was really important because we were able to mark the 75th anniversary of the holocaust, said Moir. The marionette was dressed for the occasion with his double-breasted top, a fedora and a black tie.

Part of the decades project is to teach kids about their past, not just Zozobra's past but what happened in New Mexico, what happened in the world, said Moir. That same year, the night before the event, a candlelight vigil was held to pay tribute to the victims and survivors of the Holocaust.

Then in 2017, it was all about honoring the '50s. He was wearing a cardigan sweater and I would like to say he was father knows worst, instead of father knows best, said Moir. Zozobra had red hair to match his red nails.

Then came the '60s. We really rolled out the entire hippie era 3:42 he tried to give the peace sign, but because he is Zozobra he really couldn't do that, said Moir.

2018 was all groovy baby, with staff dressed in tie-dye as Old Man Gloom wore a bolo tie and had silver hair.

Then last year, in 2019, disco was out to play. Coming in at 50 feet, 6 inches tall, it was all about the John Travolta look. Zozobra wore a white suit, gold medallion and blonde hair. His eyes were the memorable avocado green color and his lips were burnt orange. That was the first time his lips have changed color.

2020 2 was slated to take us back to the '80s, but that is on hold until next year. Event organizers want this years focus to be the coronavirus. Zozobra will not wear a mask. Instead this show will honor first responders like our health care workers.

The big question is, what will them marionette look like? His gray hair will take on the look of the virus itself, with orange pingpong balls and red hair scrunchies. His cuff-links will resemble murder hornets and they will be dipped in gold to bring out his formal attire. Last but not least, the buttons on his jacket will be stamped with the year 2020.

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'A villain of the times': The evolution of Zozobra - KOAT New Mexico