Believe it or not, celebrating Halloween and photography have something in common — besides one being a good way to capture spooky costumes and face paint for posterity. Both became popular in the U.S. in the mid-1800s. From early spirit photographs that claimed to capture the dead to snapshots of kids trick-or-treating in the neighborhood, Americans have been documenting it all with their cameras. Take a look back at more than 150 years’ worth of Halloween photos, including Hollywood starlets, office parties, crazy costumes, and pumpkins (of course). So, so many pumpkins…
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1865
Photography was still something of a novelty in the mid-19th century, and stereoscopes — twin images that when viewed appear to be three-dimensional — were a common way of viewing pictures. Landscapes were common, as were humorous images like this one.
1915
They weren’t exactly in costume, but Scottish army recruits wearing traditional kilts found still celebrated Halloween during World War I. In this photo they raised a glass on the holiday, despite the lack of pumpkins and other holiday decorations.
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1922
Who says Halloween is just for small fry? Jazz Age adults celebrated Oct. 31, 1922, with wild parties, outlandish costumes, and bobbing for apples.
Related: 2020s vs. 1920s: Will History Repeat?
1925
Hollywood in the Silent Era could make anyone (or anything) look glamorous in a publicity photo. One of the biggest stars of the ’20s was Eleanor Boardman, who is best known for her lead role in the 1928 classic “The Crowd,” directed by her husband King Vidor. She got the glamour treatment along with this pumpkin in 1925.
1935
Money was tight during the Great Depression, so folks had to be frugal with the Halloween decorating.
Related: The Spookiest Halloween Decorations on Amazon
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1940s
Costumes, friends, and apples. What more do you need to get the Halloween fun going? Not much, according to these youngsters celebrating at a New York City daycare sometime in the early 1940s.
1944
For soldiers and American Red Cross service members stationed in Great Britain during World War II, a chance to celebrate Halloween at a dance was a welcome break from the all-too-real horrors of the times.
Related: The Most Patriotic Places in Each State
1950s
We don’t know if there is a merit badge for pumpkin carving, but this young Brownie clearly would earn hers.Related: Get Lost in These 19 Corn Mazes and Pumpkin Patches Across America
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1957
Compared with some of the spangled jumpsuits he rocked in the 1970s, Elvis Presley’s choice of costume at this Halloween party in Los Angeles seems rather tame. No word on what actress Joan Bradshaw, Presley’s date to the party, thought of the mask. Presley’s star took off in Hollywood, but Bradshaw’s never caught fire.
Related: The Shocking Truth About Elvis Presley’s Hit Songs
1963
President John F. Kennedy enjoys a rare unguarded moment with his children, Caroline (left) and John Jr., during a Halloween visit to the Oval Office.
1968
Actress Sandra Dee continues the tradition of cheesy Hollywood promotional photos with this groovy shot. Dee’s star had faded considerably by the late 1960s, but she still had a few tricks and treats up her sleeve, including a star turn in the 1970 fright flick “The Dunwich Horror.”
1974
Homemade costumes are the best (as this Memphis, Tennessee, couple demonstrates). ‘Nuff said.
1978
Pumpkins at Pike Place Market in Seattle means one thing: Halloween is near!
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1980
In Boston, employees in the office of Mayor Kevin White celebrated Halloween with an office party at the bar Daisy Buchanan’s. (You can see more candid shots from this wacky party at the Boston city archives.)
1986
If you grew up in the 1980s and watched a lot of late-night horror movies on cable TV, you remember Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, who hosted a weekly syndicated program. In 1986, she paid a visit to the ghost and ghouls at Knott’s Berry Farm (aka “Knott’s Scary Farm“) in Southern California. Two years later, Elvira got her own movie.
Related: 21 Horror Movie Locations You Need to Visit
1994
The ’94 season turned out to be a nightmare for the Buffalo Bills. They’d lost their fourth Super Bowl in a row that winter, then went 7-9 during the regular season. At least they beat the Kansas City Chiefs 44-10 during this home game the day before Halloween.
1997
Kathy Kinney (who played Mimi on “The Drew Carey Show”) keeps alive the Hollywood Halloween tradition of promoting themselves during this look-alike contest in Santa Monica, California.
2001
Another Halloween tradition: Fightful masks of the politicians of the day. In 2001, President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush were two popular options.
2002
You can never, ever have too many pumpkins, as this gentleman demonstrates at the Santa Monica Farmers Market.
Related: 13 Things To Do With Pumpkin Guts After Carving
2011
For Halloween traditionalists, nothing will do but a classic monster mask. At Fantasy Costumes in Chicago, shoppers had no shortage of selection.
Related: The Spookiest and Funniest Face Masks You Can Buy for Halloween
2013
Supermodel Heidi Klum loves Halloween — really loves it. So much so that she’s hosted a gala celebrity party in New York City every year since 2000. Among her most eye-popping costumes: a buxom Jessica Rabbit, a gory flesh-eating alien, and the werewolf from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video.
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2015
If you live in New York City, you take the subway everywhere, even on Halloween. The annual Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village is one of the nation’s most extravagant, though it was cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
2019
It doesn’t matter who is in the White House. Halloween has been celebrated by the president and first lady going back to the Eisenhower administration.
