From Zombos Closet

July 22, 2016

The Shadow Collegeville Halloween Costume

/ Halloween Costume / Leave a Comment

Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows! and maybe Lurch1125, who posted this vintage Collegeville costume on eBay. What this needed was a more exciting box to come in, but the costume looks pretty nifty, don't you think? I forget which Phil Seuling comic convention it was back in the 1970s, but there was this scrawny, nerdy, guy who had this weird, slowly building in pitch, laugh he'd do in imitation of the Shadow's trademark sardonic and mocking laughter. For the real deal you need to listen to the old Shadow radio shows with Orson Welles.

The shadow costume lurch1125 1

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Vintage Halloween Collegeville Hobo Costume

/ Halloween Costume, Halloween Novelty / 2 Comments

Mikestaxidermy listed this Collegeville Halloween Hobo costume on eBay. I see a lot of political correctness and social sensitivity statements and didactics on the Internet regarding the use of a "homeless" person personification for holiday dress up to panhandle candy and party with, but that's part of today's sensibilities and how we perceive things. I tried to find information on the historical background to understand why the Hobo costume has been around for generations. So far I have only found a lot of opinion and repetition of opinion. 

From old photographs, one can see it was in the repertoire of self-made costumers at the very beginning of Halloween's celebration. Perhaps panhandling has something to do with it: hobos would ride the train rails and go from town to town, living a life unfettered by convenient conventions and questionable propriety, and maybe ask for a hand-out now and then. But what do you think? Are hobo costumes still relevant today and acceptable?

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