From Zombos' Closet

Brach's Vintage Halloween Flying Witch

Flying out of eBay comes this beautiful vintage Halloween witch for Brach's candy. Sparkles, broomstick, and airy flight dress are perfectly sweet.

Sexy Vintage Halloween Advertisement

Here's a bewitching Halloween advertisement (okay, for underwear, so what)  to get you into the October mood. 

 

Vintage Halloween Pennzoil Ad

First off, who dresses like a clown for Halloween anymore? Unless, of course, it's a zombie or homicidal clown. Second, note the attentive gas station attendant with the smile and bow tie. You won't see a person dressed up like that anymore, even on Halloween. Unless he's a real ghost.

Halloween Press Photo: Gas Station Window 1962

You may find this hard to believe, but there was a time when gas stations had attendants, dressed in snappy uniforms, eager to wash your windows, check your oil, and pump your gas. I know, I know. Sounds like a fantasy, right? 

10/19/62 -- Detroit: When station attendent Walt Sifford painted a Halloween scene, complete with cornstalk, on his gas station window, he never thought his work was realistic enough to become a pheasant trap. But it wasn't long before a pheasant came crashing into the window. Sifford is shown with the pheasant, who was only stunned. Sifford plans to free the bird in a real cornfield when the bird fully recovers.

Halloween Press Photo 1956: Store Window Painting

Here's a shot from 1956 showing store window painting for Halloween in Chicago. I remember seeing store windows painted up on Avenue U in Bensonhurst Brooklyn every October, when I was growing up. Funny the things you remember as a kid, but I noticed how the artistic talents on display grew worse over the years as students from the local high schools participated in the yearly contest. For the truly inspiring artwork, I always felt sad to see it washed away after the holiday.

Halloween Press Photo 1980: Wintergreen Witch

From 1980, the Oregonian, the Wintergreen Witch to promote Halloween Safety. Boy, how many of you remember those assemblies at school of dos and don'ts?

Halloween Weeny-Witch Party Book

I posted the advertisement for Squire's Arlington Skinless Hot Dogs. In the ad you could send away for this party book. I saved you the trouble. 

Press Photo: Anoka Halloween Parade 1949

Here's a Tribune press photo showing the Anoka, Minnesota, Halloween parade marching along Main Street, October 31st, 1949. I love the sign that reads "the house that Jack built." Definitely a monsterkid in the skeleton costume.

 

Vintage Halloween Hotdogs and Weeny Witch Masks

I don't often equate skinless hotdogs with Halloween witch masks, but when I do, I want weeny witch masks. Just not the ones shown here, since THEY AREN'T WITCH MASKS!

Vintage Halloween Brach's Candy Advertising

What's really frightening about this ad are the children's costumes. At least one kid has the right idea. Must be a monsterkid.

Vintage Halloween Necco Wafers Advertising

Skip the wafers: that Necco OK Double Bar looks darn tasty. 

Press Photo: Halloween Barber-B-Q

Wonder what the barber's got cooking? 

UPI Telephoto, October 26th, 1960, Pacific Palisades, California: "A steaming calderon painted on a barber shop window, part of a community Halloween window painting contest for children, has David Goldman seemingly simmering while "chef" with shears, Vince Mangio, prepares bill of fare. Artist was Cathy Toland. Cooking time was one haircut."