What I remember most is the sweating.
I was nine years old in October of 1974, and I had never worn a homemade costume for Halloween. My mom always bought me a costume that came in a bag from Woolworth or Zayre, probably something in the superhero category. Superman was popular, as was Spider-Man (though I was a DC kid and not a Marvel kid). The masks fit over your face and were tied in the back by a string, which often broke. The masks were made of plastic and it made you sweat. You had to lift your mask once in a while or at the very least you had to pull and adjust your mask away from your face every fifteen minutes.
If it rained or was unseasonably cold, we had to wear a jacket, which of course covered up the costume. You could still see the mask, but I’m sure some of the adults saw me and thought, “Hey, look everybody, the Caped Crusader is here to save us. And it looks like his mom made him wear a coat.”
I also remember the bad candy. The good Halloween candy I got as a kid doesn’t really stand out. But when you get those awful Circus Peanuts, they stick in your mind (and your stomach).
What are they made of, exactly?
And candy corn, which is tolerable for approximately two bites before you realize you’re eating seasonal wax (and not even good seasonal wax). Pop Rocks? A fun novelty at first, but then I realized I’ve never been one for interactive candy and it felt like my teeth were disintegrating. And don’t get me started on black licorice, the worst of all of the licorice. If you’re going to give a kid licorice, why on Earth would you choose something the flavor of anise?
Did you ever get an apple for Halloween? Yeah, those were fun. Even if you didn’t get one with a razor blade in it, just having a piece of bruised, mealy fruit, not protected by any kind of wrapping, was a cause for a frown. Which the apple-givers couldn’t see because we were wearing those plastic masks.
If you must hand out fruit, at least give the kids an orange or a banana, which both come in their own natural protection.
I was never one for vandalism on Halloween, egging homes or putting shaving cream on cars. I remember one year when I was around 14 or 15 going out with a bunch of eggs (but without a costume), ready to do damage. But after one egg I lost my nerve and went home and watched Charlie’s Angels. Now I can just imagine the viral Halloween challenges that pop up online.
Of course, Halloween has now been taken over by adults. For many, I think Halloween ranks even higher than Christmas. According to the National Retail Federation, consumers will spend over $13 billion on Halloween this year. They wear elaborate costumes that look like they were designed by Hollywood costume designers, they go to big parties and drink a lot, and most of the TV commercials for Halloween I see are targeted toward adults as much as they are kids.
There’s something wrong with all that. Shouldn’t we leave Halloween to the kids?
I’ve lived in the same apartment for the past 30 years, and I would estimate that we haven’t had a trick-or-treater in the past 25. I live in a section of town that doesn’t get a ton of foot traffic, especially at night since many of the businesses around me are closed at that time. I still buy candy though. Good candy. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Hershey’s with Almonds and Snickers. Just in case someone shows up. Hey, you never know!
And if they don’t? I guess I’ll have to eat it all.
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Comments
First, I would not live in a city. Period. Second, those masks back in the 1960s and 1970s were both hot, uncomfortable, and had a bad smell to them….Probably made from chemicals now outlawed and no longer used…Third, the candy was awful unless you were fortunate enough to visit someone’s home with homemade candy, cakes, brownies, candied or caramel apples. Since I was in a rural area, we knew everyone we visited and they knew us. There was never anyone hiding needles or razor blades in their goods being given out. Now, my Granddaddy wanted to pass out “healthy” treats so he would always drop a turnip into the spook’s bag directly from his garden….Now that was funny. I helped him do that one year. Ah, the memories.
Now to the transportation question, I would not be without a pickup truck or motorcycle for my transportation….Go back to step one…I only will reside in rural areas that are sparsely populated. No city for this country boy! Period.
James brings up a good point on the car, Bob. What IS your secret for getting around as needed? I had some problems with the masks on Halloween as a kid, too. They do get hot and uncomfortable, and never wore another one until 2020, when I was forced to. Never again though, and no jabs either!
I’m still trying to figure out how you get around to do things like buy candy without a car. It’s not like you live in Manhattan or someplace like that. And using Uber every time would probably cost at least as much as owning a car.