Boye Creative Group Owners: Carrie Boye Roof and Batman
1). Homemade Costumes
Back in the early ‘80s, if your mom knew how to sew, your costume was always better and more durable than your friend’s flimsy-trash-bag-superhero costume featuring the obligatory picture of the superhero on the chest (just in case people didn’t recognize who you were supposed to be). Sometimes, parts of our costumes were made out of our mom’s old clothes like my pirate shirt or my Batman gloves that were ladies gloves with the fingers shortened.
2). Wearing Your Winter Coat
We always thought costumes were a big deal and I remember stressing out one year because I hadn’t chosen a costume and time was running out before Halloween. Then Halloween arrived and it was too cold NOT to wear a winter coat. But if you couldn’t fit your costume over your coat, you could always hand your coat to a parent before running up to the door for candy and running back.
3). Razor Blade Apples
People in the ‘80s feared nuclear war, Satan worshipers, and razor blade-laden apples. Most people didn’t hand out apples. However, there was a dentist who lived and practiced at the end our street who did. Our parents knew him and I remember my sister and I would play with his granddaughter. But after we got home from trick-or-treating, you better believe those apples went into the garbage. We also used to check our candy for needle holes lest we succumb to an assassin’s poison. Being careful reached its zenith one year when, after a successful night of trick-or-treating, our candy vanished. Our dad then told us they threw it out, “Why take a chance?” he said. “The fun is in going out trick-or-treating.”
4). Fake Blood
We will not recommend fake blood here, nor will we provide you with a recipe for DIY fake blood. Do you really want to walk around with corn syrup or some other such sticky nastiness on your skin and potentially your clothes? I remember this one kid in elementary school who showed up wearing scrubs and fake blood. Yeah, that was the costume. I felt uncomfortable just looking at him with the awful red stickiness all over his face, neck, and arms.
5). Having Fun with Costume Props
Most Halloween props weren’t designed to handle the rigors of childhood play, but I was a ninja one year (because it was the ‘80s) and I convinced my parents to buy me a toy ninja weapons set to go along with my costume. The stuff was pretty durable and the Chinese stars (that’s what we called them back then even though throwing stars were Japanese and most of our toys were still being made in Japan) could be thrown like little Frisbees. Of course, I had the real ones back then, but you weren’t supposed to bring those ones to school. I did bring the plastic ones and enjoyed a few throws before my teacher made me put them away.
Happy Halloween!
Thank You for reading our post! We hope you enjoyed the trip down memory lane.
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