Deeply Horrifying Halloween Costumes Ca. 1920 (Before Store Bought)

[KittyWampus]

I grew up in the 60's & 70's and we still mostly made our costumes. Animal prints, sheets, burlap, pillowcases and paper mache.

The photos at link seem to be mostly from early 1900's.

Trick or treat started as "guising" brought over from Ireland in late 1800's. It was meant to be scary and creepy.

It's said that store bought costumes started in 30's. There weren't really common in my school days in 60's. Though I do remember the cheap paper masks being sold but not elaborate costumes you see everywhere for kids now.

Some of the early one are really pretty disturbing:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/19-horrifying-vintage-halloween-costumes#1bhlflp

[RandySF]

1. Umm those kids in the third picture.

They look like they're dressed up as...well...a certain secret society.

[TwilightGardener]

2. Back when Halloween was SCARY. Death and ghosts and demons.

Not "what do you want to be when you grow up" costumes and friendly cartoon character BS. Nope, good old fashioned creep-out nightmare-inducers.

[bvf]

3. Ah, youth! n/t.

[bvf]

4. Entertaining post--thanks!

Some put me in the mind of David Lynch.

[Warpy]

5. One of the great things about living in a super poor area

is seeing the kids who are mostly in home made costumes, sometimes made by the kid.

Xmas used to be fun, too, with wildly tacky light displays. After 8 years of Stupid and more years than that of a Clown Congress, people are having trouble paying the month to month light bill. They can't afford the lights until we get rid of enough Republicans that America gets a raise.

I hope they saved the lights, though, some of them were great.

[shenmue]

6. Wow!

[scarystuffyo]

7. That 4th pic I would not open my door

[AtomicKitten]

8. homemade costumes are always the best

truly creepy AWESOME photos

k&r thanks!

[MFM008]

9. i know

back in the 60s most you could find was a plastic mask.I remember dressing as a gypsy once, cant remember any others.

[Cali_Democrat]

10. Those are incredibly creepy

[KittyWampus]

11. creepy kiddie kicks

[Brickbat]

12. When I was growing up, I remember feeling sorry for kids with store-bought costumes because it meant

they either weren't creative enough or their parents didn't care enough to help. Plus the store-bought ones were so gross-looking.