Halloween has a rich, centuries-long history, but dressing up in costumes and trick-or-treating as we know it today only came about in the 1930s. By the 1950s, kids could buy virtually any costume their hearts desired and go door-to-door on the hunt for candy.
Halloween in the 1950s in the United States was mainly a children’s holiday centered around costumes and trick-or-treating. Many costumes in those days were home-made. This was a time for some real creativity and some heavy sewing. Costumes were more traditional and character-based, rather than based on real celebrities.
Here is a selection of vintage photos that shows kids dressing up for Halloween in the 1950s.
