20 vintage photos show how Halloween has been celebrated over the last century
Some Halloween traditions come and go, but trick-or-treating and spooky costumes are timeless. Take a look at how Halloween has evolved.
Halloween costumes have evolved significantly over the past century. In the 1940s, bobbing for apples was a popular party game. By the 1970s, glitter paint became a prominent feature in Halloween outfits. Americans are now expected to spend a record $13.5 billion on Halloween celebrations this year, with many choosing to shop for costumes at discount stores rather than specialty retailers.
The holiday has seen various traditions come and go, yet trick-or-treating and spooky costumes remain timeless. Children's costumes have also changed, with princesses and superheroes being perennial favorites. In the 1960s, princess costumes were especially popular, while superheroes like Spider-Man were commonly seen in 1966.
Halloween also featured charity events, such as bike rides for UNICEF. In 1971, bicyclists rode the Halloween Maximus 500 to raise funds for the organization. The annual parade at the White House has continued, with First Lady Betty Ford greeting trick-or-treating children in 1974. The tradition persists today, with the White House hosting Halloween celebrations each year.
Pumpkin picking was another popular activity during the fall season. In 1976, children were seen sitting atop a pile of pumpkins in Brewster, New York. Some costumes were elaborate and complete, like the outfits worn at New York's Studio 54 in 1977. Magicians also participated in Halloween events, with magician Doug Henning performing a card trick for John Ritter at the Magic Castle in 1978.
A-list celebrities hosted extravagant Halloween parties, with Jane Fonda and The Village People attending a lavish gathering in 1979. Even police officers joined in on the fun, dressing in matching Groucho masks on Halloween night in 1980. Baseball players also embraced the holiday, wearing humorous masks in 1986 while playing at Anaheim Stadium. Raggedy Ann was a favorite costume choice in the 1980s, as seen in a photo from Vacaville, California, in 1986.
Political costumes were also popular, with masks of presidential candidates on display at New York's Novelty Co. in 1988. These masks successfully predicted nearly every US election, and Halloween costumes even served an educational purpose, as First Lady Barbara Bush used them to teach literacy by reading Halloween stories.
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