Halloween has always been a time for dressing up and having fun, but looking back at vintage photos from the early to mid-20th century reveals a different kind of spooky. The weren’t always about superheroes or cute animals. Many were genuinely unsettling, sometimes unintentionally. These old photos offer a fascinating glimpse into how people celebrated Halloween in the past.
Early Halloween celebrations in the United States were often influenced by European traditions. These traditions involved disguises, bonfires, and warding off spirits. As Halloween became more popular in America, costumes became a central part of the celebration. But the style of these costumes was quite different from what we see today.
Many early 20th-century costumes were homemade. People used whatever materials they had on hand, like old clothes, scraps of fabric, and cardboard. This often led to some pretty creative, and sometimes creepy, results. Store-bought costumes were becoming more common, but they often had a similar homemade aesthetic.
One common theme in vintage Halloween costumes was the use of masks. These masks were often made of papier-mâché, a mixture of paper pulp and glue. They could be molded into various shapes, like animals, monsters, or grotesque human faces. These masks often had exaggerated features and blank stares, which could be quite unnerving.
The masks could be hot, itchy, and difficult to see out of. But for many people, the discomfort was worth it for the sake of a good costume. The masks often completely covered the wearer’s face, making them anonymous and adding to the spooky atmosphere.
Another popular costume choice was dressing up as ghosts or skeletons. These costumes were often simple, made from white sheets or painted black clothing. But the simplicity could also be effective, creating a truly ghostly appearance. Sometimes, people would add details like painted bones or chains to enhance the effect.
Animals were another common source of inspiration for Halloween costumes. People dressed as cats, dogs, and other creatures. But these animal costumes weren’t always cute and cuddly. They could be quite frightening, with exaggerated features and menacing expressions. Imagine a child in a full-body crow costume with large, black, beady eyes.
Witches were, of course, a classic Halloween costume choice. Vintage witch costumes often involved long, dark robes, pointed hats, and hooked noses. The makeup used to create the witch’s look could also be quite dramatic, with pale skin, dark circles under the eyes, and exaggerated wrinkles.
