Popular Halloween Costumes Throughout the 20th Century
For many of us, Halloween stirs memories of crisp autumn nights, glowing jack-o’-lanterns, and the childlike joy of heading out in disguise to go trick-or-treating. Each year, the Halloween costumes on display offered a glimpse into what captured people’s attention at the time — whether it was a favorite movie star, a superhero, or a good old-fashioned ghost or witch. Store-bought masks and homemade outfits reflected the mood of each decade, from the cowboys of the silver screen to the astronauts of the space race.
Looking back at the 20th century through its Halloween costumes is like flipping through a scrapbook of popular culture. Each era had its trends, icons, and traditions. Here’s a look at the popular costumes that defined a century of spooky celebrations.
1900s
At the turn of the century, Halloween in the U.S. remained closely tied to older folk customs, many brought by Irish and Scottish immigrants. Costumes were homemade, crafted from repurposed clothing, painted masks, or simple linen and gauze. Popular getups of the decade included ghosts, vagabonds, and witches, and many disguises reflected the folkloric goal of confusing or warding off spirits, blending masquerade with superstition.
Halloween “guising” involved putting on costumes and singing songs to earn treats, but masquerade parties were more common than door-to-door trick-or-treating. Some so-called “Halloween” images from that era may even represent Thanksgiving maskers, since the tradition of seasonal masking overlapped between holidays in some parts of the country.
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1910s
In the 1910s, Halloween costumes remained largely homemade and steeped in the earlier decade’s emphasis on the eerie and the mysterious. People typically repurposed everyday clothing, sheets, and scraps of fabric and enhanced them with homemade masks, painted designs, or paper constructions. One recurring source of ideas during this era was Dennison’s Bogie Book, first issued in 1909. By the 1910s, it offered suggested costumes, cutouts, and crepe-paper techniques to make masks and decorative motifs. Among the most popular costumes were pirates, Pierrot clowns, Harlequin jesters, fortunetellers, and witches. Though trick-or-treating had not yet become standardized, masquerade parties and home gatherings grew more popular.
1920s
In the 1920s, Halloween became more of a neighborhood celebration, with parades, block parties, and private gatherings emphasizing fun over fright. Costumes were still primarily homemade from household items and simple paper-mache masks. Popular disguises included ghosts, clowns, and witches, alongside fanciful characters such as animals or fairies. Dennison’s Bogie Book and Beistle Company’s paper decorations influenced costume ideas, with stars, moons, and black cats becoming standard motifs. Children in masks sometimes went door-to-door for treats, though the line between “tricks” and “treats” was still fuzzy.
1930s
The 1930s marked a turning point, as mass-produced costumes began to supplement homemade disguises. Traditional favorites such as ghosts, clowns, devils, and witches continued to dominate, but companies such as A.S. Fishbach, Inc. began introducing inexpensive boxed outfits and masks, including licensed Walt Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Snow White.
At the same time, horror movies such as Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Mummy heavily influenced Halloween attire, popularizing vampires, Frankenstein-style monsters, and mummies that could be recreated with capes, theatrical makeup, and bandages. Though parties and parades remained staples, trick-or-treating slowly began taking hold, especially among children in urban and suburban areas.
1940s
During the 1940s, Halloween costumes reflected both wartime realities and classic spooky traditions. Witches, ghosts, and pirates stayed popular, while the war years brought a surge of patriotic choices such as soldiers, sailors, nurses, and Uncle Sam. Licensed character costumes were becoming trendy, but a scarcity of materials meant many outfits were homemade from repurposed clothing. Halloween gatherings often centered on school events, parades, and neighborhood parties, where children could show off their disguises despite wartime rationing.
1950s
Postwar prosperity brought a golden age for Halloween costumes. The rise of television gave kids new heroes, and the mass production of boxed costumes by manufacturers such as Ben Cooper, Halco, and Collegeville made it easy for children across America to become their favorite characters. Cowboys and cowgirls, inspired by Westerns such as The Lone Ranger and Bonanza, dominated wardrobes, alongside Disney princesses — especially Cinderella, thanks to the 1950 film.
Meanwhile, superheroes such as Superman and Wonder Woman appeared on shelves, and sci-fi themes such as robots and spacemen hinted at America’s fascination with technology and the space race. Bright, colorful costumes helped fuel the suburban trick-or-treat boom, but most designs still emphasized classic “hero” or storybook archetypes.
1960s
The 1960s saw Halloween costumes move firmly into the world of pop culture. TV shows, comic books, and music stars played a big role in what kids wanted to dress up as, and store-bought costumes became more affordable and common. Superheroes remained popular, and emerging pop culture figures such as the Beatles also inspired disguises. Clowns, monsters, and pirates continued to be favorites, while classics such as ghosts and witches held their ground alongside cartoon favorites including Bugs Bunny.
Costume masks and makeup were more elaborate than in earlier decades, allowing for more character-driven looks. Costume parties for adults got bigger, too, making Halloween more of a family and community holiday than ever before.
1970s
The 1970s were a decade of wide-ranging Halloween trends, from rock stars such as Elvis Presley to television characters from shows including Charlie’s Angels and cartoon characters such as Scooby Doo. The release of Star Wars in 1977 sparked an unprecedented costume craze, with characters including Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia quickly becoming favorites alongside established comic book and cartoon superheroes.
Other popular costumes, from Willy Wonka to Dr. Frank-N-Furter from The Rocky Horror Picture Show, reflected the decade’s playful, colorful style. Meanwhile, political masks gained widespread popularity during this decade, with Richard Nixon’s face becoming one of the most satirized disguises of the era.
1980s
Pop culture ruled Halloween in the 1980s — movie monsters, blockbuster heroes, musical stars, and sci-fi wonders all made their way into costumes. Kids dressed as Indiana Jones, Freddy Krueger, ET, or members of the Ghostbusters team. Superheroes were more visible than ever, buoyed by comics, TV shows, and growing toy licensing. Costumes inspired by pop stars such as Michael Jackson and Madonna also made the trick-or-treat rounds, while heavy metal and glam rock looks appealed to both kids and adults. Store-bought latex and vinyl masks became more realistic and detailed, and accessories such as makeup, props, and wigs became even more sophisticated.
1990s
The final decade of the 20th century blended nostalgia with a wave of fresh pop culture. Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin fueled a surge of princess costumes, while superheroes such as Batman and Spider-Man returned in fresh film adaptations that inspired a new generation of trick-or-treaters. By the mid-’90s, Power Rangers were everywhere, followed by the Pokémon craze at the decade’s end, with Pikachu and Ash among the most popular looks.
Kids also dressed as TV icons, from Barney to Bart Simpson. On the scarier side, Ghostface from the movie Scream became an instant classic, rivaled by monsters and cyborgs such as the Terminator. Adults leaned into both pop culture and parody with the Spice Girls and Austin Powers. By the end of the century, a holiday once steeped in folklore and traditions was well on its way to becoming the billion-dollar industry it is today.
