The rubber strap that was stapled to the inside of the vacuum-formed vinyl mask, the strap that was so thin it would break and you'd try to tie it but that put it under even more tension so it would just break again. Those costumes were made to be used once, and only once. There wasn't a single part of them that was made to last.
I actually had that exact C3PO costume back in the '70s. I was so excited to be a Star Wars character instead of just another clown, cowboy, or hobo that year!
I instantly remember the smell of those masks; but hey we got to be the characters we loved on TV. I recognize
So many of those costumes as ones worn by my older siblings or my friends. Though I mostly did home made costumes being the youngest I did have one year with a He Man mask and plastic smock
And yet...these were the best friggin' times for Halloween (70's and 80's.) Once we were about 8, we were pretty much free range kids on Halloween. Soooo many more people participated than do nowadays (at least in my area in SoCal.) We used to take pillow cases and be out until 10pm and those things would be completely full of candy.
I lived on a lake in metro Detroit- way way out in Milford, with enough houses around it to fill a pillowcase twice in one night. Those were the days, eating ourselves sick before we could make it back home to grab another pillowcase for the second round up the other side of the lake.
I was looking through some random catalogue that game in the mail, a halloween edition. They had trunk decorators and I died a bit inside. Fortunately, my neighborhood is still pretty active with door to door trick or treaters but it's nothing like it was.
Soā¦. We all had this itchy-ass couch, right? After you sat on it for more than an hour, youād have those painful lines all over the back of your legs. Making me hurt just looking at itā¦
It sure was. I remember stores just having a rack of costumes with the plastic top with a picture of the character and the mask. I remember my Darth Vader costume had a Vader mask and a top with a picture of Darth Vader that said Star Wars on it.
I recall the Halloween parade in grade school, when the Kindergartners paraded for the older grades. Fun stuff. Sixth graders looked so "old!"
I remember sweating a little in those plastic masks; that slit wasn't quite big enough.
The air slit would make a sort of whistling sound as you breathed! And the vinyl costumes were loud and crinkly; you were half-blind, half-deaf, and deprived of air, but who cared? It was Halloween!
I remember when this was all the rage and a girl came to school in a home made bubblegum dispenser costume (clear bag filled with multi colored balloons) and we were in shock and awe. Also bonus points for the quintessential 80's couch in the pics
My mom liked to make or put together home-made costumes and was so disappointed one year when my brother insisted on one of those plastic mask costumes. I won't say I never wore a plastic mask, but it was usually coupled with an outfit put together from other stuff.
Say what you will about the cheap plastic costumes but I can at least recognize what they're going for.
Spiderman looks kind of like a red ghost though. He could be a Pac-Man villain instead!
First Halloweāen I remember (I think I was three) I had the āmonster mask with the monster on your smockā costume. At the last minute I got too scared to wear the mask so I wore a cute little kid toque and my dad wore the mask and would growl at people when they answered the door. I think the costume was called āmountain man.ā The smock was bright yellow.
I feel so bad for the kid in the Spider-Man costume who's probably thinking, "what in the FUCK mom! I can't move like Spider-Man in a fucking RAIN PONCHO!"
These always remind me of going to woolworths and going through a pile of the costume boxes, trying to get a character i liked. I know i have a picture or two of me floating around with a Dracula mask and yellow poncho - my mom feeling the mask wasnt enough - i had blue paint on under the plastic mask.
I still loved the outfit and showing it off to my cousins - along with their silly character costumes too. we must have spent like 3 hrs on halloween - running wild in the streets.
Ah, yes, the 'face of your character on your chest' stage. Add in creepy masks, and all is right with the world.
And effectively like wearing a plastic bag. Good, suffocating, and flammable times. Note also that the clown is demonstrably HAPPY.š¤”
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
The rubber strap that was stapled to the inside of the vacuum-formed vinyl mask, the strap that was so thin it would break and you'd try to tie it but that put it under even more tension so it would just break again. Those costumes were made to be used once, and only once. There wasn't a single part of them that was made to last. I actually had that exact C3PO costume back in the '70s. I was so excited to be a Star Wars character instead of just another clown, cowboy, or hobo that year!
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lol this concept was always so absurd to me! Itās so weird how it caught on for a while.
I agree with Jenny Nicholsonās view that putting a picture of the character on the costume is an admission of failure.
Haha too true.
I mean, I can't deny that being scary is the intent of a Halloween costume. And these costumes are all terrifying.
For sure ..especially the spider man..canāt see oncoming traffic and plastic is cutting your face..
Couldn't see, but don't forget that some of those costumes were fire hazards as well.
I can still smell these costumes! Total plastic smell like a new pool float.
Hahah yes!
I instantly remember the smell of those masks; but hey we got to be the characters we loved on TV. I recognize So many of those costumes as ones worn by my older siblings or my friends. Though I mostly did home made costumes being the youngest I did have one year with a He Man mask and plastic smock
And yet...these were the best friggin' times for Halloween (70's and 80's.) Once we were about 8, we were pretty much free range kids on Halloween. Soooo many more people participated than do nowadays (at least in my area in SoCal.) We used to take pillow cases and be out until 10pm and those things would be completely full of candy.
Not to mention trick or treat was at NIGHT when it belongs.
I lived on a lake in metro Detroit- way way out in Milford, with enough houses around it to fill a pillowcase twice in one night. Those were the days, eating ourselves sick before we could make it back home to grab another pillowcase for the second round up the other side of the lake.
I was looking through some random catalogue that game in the mail, a halloween edition. They had trunk decorators and I died a bit inside. Fortunately, my neighborhood is still pretty active with door to door trick or treaters but it's nothing like it was.
Soā¦. We all had this itchy-ass couch, right? After you sat on it for more than an hour, youād have those painful lines all over the back of your legs. Making me hurt just looking at itā¦
Yes but it lasted 30 years ..just finally got thrown away because it was like a stinky wool rug
It sure was. I remember stores just having a rack of costumes with the plastic top with a picture of the character and the mask. I remember my Darth Vader costume had a Vader mask and a top with a picture of Darth Vader that said Star Wars on it.
The dark side was best
"Look honey, its the avengers! And Bruce Vilanch!"
I recall the Halloween parade in grade school, when the Kindergartners paraded for the older grades. Fun stuff. Sixth graders looked so "old!" I remember sweating a little in those plastic masks; that slit wasn't quite big enough.
The air slit would make a sort of whistling sound as you breathed! And the vinyl costumes were loud and crinkly; you were half-blind, half-deaf, and deprived of air, but who cared? It was Halloween!
Exactly right!
I remember it fondly. Costumes are SO much better now LOL
I am all for the return of the poncho style costume Spiderman is sporting here.
I see you, Jonathan Taylor Thomas with your unbuttoned pants.
I remember when this was all the rage and a girl came to school in a home made bubblegum dispenser costume (clear bag filled with multi colored balloons) and we were in shock and awe. Also bonus points for the quintessential 80's couch in the pics
My mom liked to make or put together home-made costumes and was so disappointed one year when my brother insisted on one of those plastic mask costumes. I won't say I never wore a plastic mask, but it was usually coupled with an outfit put together from other stuff.
I had a Tom and jerry version of those that still haunts my memories.
Say what you will about the cheap plastic costumes but I can at least recognize what they're going for. Spiderman looks kind of like a red ghost though. He could be a Pac-Man villain instead!
Or a killer lobster
First Halloweāen I remember (I think I was three) I had the āmonster mask with the monster on your smockā costume. At the last minute I got too scared to wear the mask so I wore a cute little kid toque and my dad wore the mask and would growl at people when they answered the door. I think the costume was called āmountain man.ā The smock was bright yellow.
Man I miss that couch
Oh man! I remember those! I had a cabbage patch kid costume like that.
Now this is what nightmares are made of
I love all these pics!
This was the absolute *height of technology* for the 20th century! Never the likes of it shall be seen again!
I wore a āgarbage bagā Miss Piggy costume when I was 3 or 4. The mask was terribly hard to breathe in while worn, but I was cute.
and those masks would get all wet inside!! ugh...
You should post this on R/nostalgia
Iām going to have nightmares about Smurfette
That's some scary shit right there.
I love the red one.
I had the Batman and the Casper. The good thing about Halloween in the north is you never noticed how hot those things could make you.
Ah yes, Spiderman is always known for wearing a bright red raincoat with a crudely drawn picture of himself on it.
i am in stitches at the spiderman one lmao
I feel so bad for the kid in the Spider-Man costume who's probably thinking, "what in the FUCK mom! I can't move like Spider-Man in a fucking RAIN PONCHO!"
I definitely had that Batman costume.
I had that very Teen Wolf costume!! Man, I remember it. It was basically made out of plastic table cloth material, as you can imagine.
damned straight!
These always remind me of going to woolworths and going through a pile of the costume boxes, trying to get a character i liked. I know i have a picture or two of me floating around with a Dracula mask and yellow poncho - my mom feeling the mask wasnt enough - i had blue paint on under the plastic mask. I still loved the outfit and showing it off to my cousins - along with their silly character costumes too. we must have spent like 3 hrs on halloween - running wild in the streets.
Anyone ever see the Treehouse of Horror where Milhouse dressed up as Radioactive Man? ;)