A few year’s ago I was out shopping and wandered into the Halloween aisle. And I remember being totally horrified (and a little bummed out) by all the ultra creepy masks. There were freakish ghouls, the weirdo from the Saw movies, the Scream ghost, random slasher hockey masks. I thought to myself, “This is the end of childhood innocence! Where are the cute costumes?? Who lets their kid dress up as a crazy axe murderer??!” I shook my head, “It’s not like back in the day when we were kids!”
I have to say I stand corrected. While the costumes themselves were under the guise of more innocent characters, some of those old school Halloween masks are positively terrifying. Case in point:
The cheap plastic only adds to the horror/appeal. Of course I guess I secretly still love ’em all. (And frankly, they’re miles better than letting your child dress up as a murderer). Every year I like to round up some of my favorites. Here are some fabulous vintage kiddo Halloween pics….terrifyingly awesome.
OK, this next one….is that a bearded lady mask??? That poor child. (Love the paper bags too…looks like the sailor has a big ol bottle of booze in his.)
Aww. Woody Woodpecker is so charmingly rotund……but that weird Shaggy dog takes the cake. Leaving Woody to stare hungrily
Aw, it’s Kris Kristofferson and a Storm Trooper!
This poor child. I’m traumatized just looking at this photo…much less being the person IN the photo.
OK. So I picked this one because of Yoda, but I have to say ol Elton John jr. is stealing the show.
This next one isn’t scary, but the cardboard storm trooper was too funny not to include!
The polka dotted ghost in top hat is the winner!! Â (Sorry baby….)
I posted this one last year but it gets me every time. That Dutch Boy looks like he’s been sniffing too much of his paint and the, er….”exotic” girl who looks like a Tretchikoff painting on acid. Yikes!
This is so SOOOO cute!!! And terrifying. George Harrison, in case you were wondering which one.
Aw I LOVE this hep cat!!!
Some snazzy group shots:
This last group is amazing. Smirking Zorro, Dwarf Ghoul, Super Girl, Mighty Mouse, Drunk Bear, Crazy Eye Duck, Little Pochahontas and uh……Zombie Pig???
And finally, these guys RULE. This is your future album cover, boys:
So there you have it. Wild, weird and wonderful…..ya just gotta love Halloween.
{To see last year’s selection, go here.}
images: vintage masks and costumes