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Many people keep a bowl of candy by the door during Halloween for the many trick-or-treaters that come calling on October 31st. But if anybody turns up on your doorstep dressed like anyone in the pictures below, it's not candy you're going to need. No, it's a crucifix and a bottle of holy water. Because as you can see from this list compiled by Bored Panda, these vintage Halloween costumes are absolutely terrifying.
There probably are many components in making these vintage Halloween costumes looking as creepy as they do. First of all, the vintage photos were taken using much less sensitive cameras, so the picture itself looks quite gloomy and eerie, no matter its contents. Secondly, the arts and crafts supplies for making these Halloween costumes were close to nothing, so people often had to go about with old sheets, papier-mache masks, and low-quality dyes. And lastly, pictures for vintage Halloween character reference weren't so easy to come by, so imagination took a significant part in creating these creepy costumes.
Feeling adventurous? Then take a peek to our compilation of these scary costumes...if you dare! Oh, and you could probably still use these Halloween costume ideas today, especially if you want to scare the bejesus out of everybody.
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#5
Ronja Rövardotter 9 years ago
Ok very very bad idea to look at these pics before I go to bed :-D This one is way too scary.
#9
ADayInTheLife 9 years ago
Is anyone else having flashbacks to the kids in Pink Floyd's The Wall? imgres-57f...136149.jpg 
#10
Ronja Rövardotter 9 years ago
I don't know whether I am more scared by the masked guy or by the two bystanders at the back :-o very creepy
#12
Kirsten Lee 9 years ago
I heard a story about this mother she had a daughter and she loved dolls so much that she wanted to make a real life doll out of real hair, skin eyes and etc... but anyways one night she ripped her daughters hair out then she skinned her daughter alive and made a doll into her thats what i heard but this reminds me of this urban legend its so cool though but then again really creepy lol
#14
David Lyle 9 years ago
Not a photo, This is one of my paintings titled "This Ends Here". Prints available at http://davidlylepaintings.bigcartel.com/
#22
#33
#35
Grace Barclay 9 years ago
I am so very glad I live in a country that does not celebrate? Halloween. Truly, believe me, serious damage would be done to adults and/or children on my doorstep if they looked like this. I would not recover, ever, after a scare like this. Sorry kids...
#37
Maggie Grover Bacher 9 years ago
the kitchen witch. (actually a german witch that sweeps out the bad spirits during faschings)
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- Pets in costume (ideas)
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#41
Nuclear Joe 9 years ago
This looks like a ransom video. "Give us 100 pieces of candy by tomorrow, or he loses his costume."
#43
#57
#67
Donald Scott 3 years ago
Aaah, times when you had to make your own masks.. so much better don'tcha think?
#83
#86
#95
brandon sat 9 years ago
it took me a second but the guy in the middle is standing with his back to us.
#101
#104
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Rafi'ulfath Riwansia 9 years ago
I think many of these costumes get scarrier just because of the photo effect. the vintage. if you try to wear it in real, you'll just look silly.
Fatemeh 9 years ago
I was just about to say the same thing.Most of them are just simple hats and masks and just because they are freezed in black and white photos,it's kind of creepy.
Load More Replies...
Country Nana 6 years ago
Remember c they couldn't go to Walmart and buy a plastic mask with elastic to hold it on their faces. So they had to make their own. And most people not only aren't that artistic, they also don't have the skills to make something look realistic. Seeing these from our perspective, they look creepy because they are so amateurish. But the people who made them or wore them didn't think they looked strange, because everyone else also wore poorly made costumes and masks. They probably thought a lot of the masks we find scary were well made and enjoyed wearing them. That was what was normal back then.
Marie Garmon 8 years ago
Why do all of these look like something out of American Horror Story?! They're innocent costume pics but i swear every single one looks like something terrifying HAS or is about to happen..NO....THANKS.
Julie Richards 9 years ago
I think they got it right back in the day : didn't go out and spend a months wage on a costume . Bloody scary anyway .
Lazy Panda 9 years ago
I don't understand, these aren't scary they're just awesome, with the xceptiom if some less awesome ones
Larry Bud Melman 9 years ago
What am I missing? Isn't the point of a Halloween costume to be scary and creepy? Well, then BRAVO!
Heini Ozor 9 years ago
Very surrealistic... The lack of personality and color is what makes them scary, the strange shapes, also the "facelessnes" in others... The fear of the unknown... Straight from your nightmares. Any recognizable costume in colors would never look scary like these.
Country Nana 6 years ago
Yes, because the people who made them didn't have the skills to add personality and give shape to the faces.
Load More Replies...
Mary Gibson 1 year ago
Much better costumes than you can find now. People were very creative back then.
Suzy Evans 9 years ago
We don't do scary, see enough that in real life, but these are awesome, either some real sickos out there or really funny people! I'm kinda bewildered!
Doree Seligmann 9 years ago
But #20 - Bibendum, the Michelin (tires) man, is a nice character,,,not scary at all...
Rūta Šližytė 9 years ago
Mardi Grass masks are scary? C'mon... But it was quite interesting to see them.
Rafi'ulfath Riwansia 9 years ago
I think many of these costumes get scarrier just because of the photo effect. the vintage. if you try to wear it in real, you'll just look silly.
Fatemeh 9 years ago
I was just about to say the same thing.Most of them are just simple hats and masks and just because they are freezed in black and white photos,it's kind of creepy.
Load More Replies... Country Nana 6 years ago
Remember c they couldn't go to Walmart and buy a plastic mask with elastic to hold it on their faces. So they had to make their own. And most people not only aren't that artistic, they also don't have the skills to make something look realistic. Seeing these from our perspective, they look creepy because they are so amateurish. But the people who made them or wore them didn't think they looked strange, because everyone else also wore poorly made costumes and masks. They probably thought a lot of the masks we find scary were well made and enjoyed wearing them. That was what was normal back then.
Marie Garmon 8 years ago
Why do all of these look like something out of American Horror Story?! They're innocent costume pics but i swear every single one looks like something terrifying HAS or is about to happen..NO....THANKS.
Julie Richards 9 years ago
I think they got it right back in the day : didn't go out and spend a months wage on a costume . Bloody scary anyway .
Lazy Panda 9 years ago
I don't understand, these aren't scary they're just awesome, with the xceptiom if some less awesome ones
Larry Bud Melman 9 years ago
What am I missing? Isn't the point of a Halloween costume to be scary and creepy? Well, then BRAVO!
Heini Ozor 9 years ago
Very surrealistic... The lack of personality and color is what makes them scary, the strange shapes, also the "facelessnes" in others... The fear of the unknown... Straight from your nightmares. Any recognizable costume in colors would never look scary like these.
Country Nana 6 years ago
Yes, because the people who made them didn't have the skills to add personality and give shape to the faces.
Load More Replies... Mary Gibson 1 year ago
Much better costumes than you can find now. People were very creative back then.
Suzy Evans 9 years ago
We don't do scary, see enough that in real life, but these are awesome, either some real sickos out there or really funny people! I'm kinda bewildered!
Doree Seligmann 9 years ago
But #20 - Bibendum, the Michelin (tires) man, is a nice character,,,not scary at all...
Rūta Šližytė 9 years ago
Mardi Grass masks are scary? C'mon... But it was quite interesting to see them.
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