It’s our Annual Creepy Cool Vintage Halloween Mask Tribute

 photo halloween2013_10.jpg

Friends,  I have to say, this is one of my favorite posts I do all year. It started back a few year’s ago when I went to one of those Halloween Super Stores and ended up getting totally freaked out by all the ultra creepy masks. Is this what halloween is all about now? Rotting zombies? Psycho clowns? That lame Scream ghost?? I remembering shaking my head and thinking, “Man, it’s not like back in the day. Costumes were so much cuter back then!” But then as I started looking for old photos I had the realization that while many of those old plastic mask costumes were under the guise of innocent characters, most of them were totally creepy. Creepy cool. Let’s take a look!

We begin with this grim duo….the jaunty bowler and capelet are a nice try at “cute-ing” this pair, up….but don’t think we didn’t notice that your face was green, little witchie poo.

 photo halloween2013_2.jpg

Ahhh, the Creature of the Black Lagoon! Lurker of murky swamps….and fan of Revlon’s Racy Red lipstick. It’s very drag-tastic, no?

 photo halloween2013_9new.jpg

Hmmm, I’m not sure what’s scarier….Freddy Frog and the Startled Pumpkin….or the grim face of that lady. (You KNOW she just hissed at them to “Sit up straight for the photo!”) Even the TV looks shocked.

 photo halloween2013_4.jpg

When I find vintage Halloween photos I typically put them into one of two folders: “Cute Vintage Halloween” and “Creepy Vintage Halloween”. This darling group almost made it into the Cute folder. One guess who bumped them into Creepy….

 photo halloween2013_12.jpg

This group is a plastic delight. Nervous clown, defiant skeleton, queen who has a twin sister that’s a nurse, and crazy Raggedy Ann on the end there. Someone needs a hot oil treatment.

 photo halloween2013_11.jpg

Hee. I love the Banana Splits guy and even that lil devil is kinda cute. The witch is where we all fall apart. (Does it say Super Witch on her costume??) Please note the GIGANTIC buckets they are planning on collecting candy with.

 photo halloween2013_5.jpg

If one smoking bum is cool, then two are twice as nice! Bonus points for dainty candy containers. Not like those greedy bums above.
 photo halloween2013_13new-1.png

These two crack me up….they look sooooooo over it all.

 photo halloween2013_14new.png

OK, so these guys have the best trick or treat sacks we’ve seen thus far, but I’m taking points away for the mom jeans on ol’ Farmer Rosey Cheeks.

 photo halloween2013_16.png

Oh sweet fancy moses….I don’t really need to say anything here, do I?? Yikes.

 photo halloween2013_3new.jpg

Meet Casper the Friendly-But-Slightly-Maniacal Ghost! I love the double face action here….And those draggy eye brows?? Lets just say I’m a BIG FAN. Hyuck hyuck.

 photo halloween2013_17.png

Oh bunny. His outfit is straight out of one of our Retro Roundups. His make up is straight up Insane Clown Possee.

 photo halloween2013_6.jpg

OK, seriously…..what’s with all these ghost’s eyebrows?? It’s like a master class from RuPaul’s Drag Race. Ironically that witch could do with a good pair of tweezers. And perhaps a slightly LARGER trick or treat bag, hmmm?

 photo halloween2013_7.jpg

This quartet is a visual delight. Let’s go right to left. Looks like someone’s spidey sense was tingling and came up with a forecast of rain. Nice poncho kiddo! Sassy shirtless Indian needs to grab that dream catcher craziness on the wall behind him for a little extra coverage. I think ol eyebrows is supposed to be the Wolfman, but really he’s soooo Zombie Joey Ramon, no? And methinks this Lone Ranger has definitely had a little work done. “Hi Ho Botox, Awaaay!!!!!!”

 photo halloween2013_8.jpg

The jump suit says Donny but that mask is screaming Marie. This is also a classic example of “you better wear your coat under that costume or you’ll freeze to death!”

 photo halloween2013_55.png

And finally….this sweet boy. Oh ya darling lil cowpoke, we hear ya…..

 photo halloween2013_15.png

So there you have it folks, the Halloween Countdown is Officially ON, people!!!

images: here and 5, 8, 10, 14

9 thoughts on “It’s our Annual Creepy Cool Vintage Halloween Mask Tribute

  1. Oh my gosh, you cracked me up with these pix & commentary! I love those old masks with matching plastic capes… used to buy them at Payless, in the pre-Target days.

Leave a Reply to Alix Cancel reply