San Antonio’s Halloween Nostalgia: A Trip Down Costume Memory Lane
Ah, San Antonio! A city known for its rich culture, delicious food, and, of course, memorable childhood Halloweens. As the leaves change and the air turns crisp, San Antonians who’ve lived here during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s can’t help but reminisce about the Halloween costumes that defined their childhood.
The Charm of Dime-Store Costumes
Imagine a young Howard Harris, just five years old, donning a flimsy plastic mask of Frankenstein’s monster. The year was 1968, and Harris, peering through the eye sockets of a mask that barely fit, had just discovered his love for all things horror.
The costume, a dime-store find from a local Ben Franklin or maybe a Winn’s, wasn’t just a piece of clothing; it was a gateway into another world. “I thought I was very menacing,” Howard recalled, grinning as he remembered the sticky sweat that pooled behind that crinkly mask and the vinyl jumpsuit that swished with every step. Today, many San Antonians share that same nostalgia, conjured up by family photos and memories of those magical Halloween nights.
The Enduring Popularity of Boxed Costumes
At the heart of those Halloweens were iconic costume brands like Ben Cooper Inc. and Collegeville Costumes. If you were a kid back then, chances are you wore or at least saw someone wearing one of their classic boxed costumes. These costumes were so popular that they became part of the collective memory of a whole generation.
Despite the fact that the manufacturers folded in the 1990s, the love for those quirky creations is alive and well. San Antonio’s own Greg Gonzalez reminisces about his own Spider-Man outfit, while Melissa Hernandez cherishes her old Bugs Bunny costume from 1981 when she posed with her little brother, who was dressed as Charlie Brown.
Shared Experiences of Sweaty Masks and Warm Memories
Those plastic masks were notorious for causing kids to sweat bullets in the warm October heat. Melissa joked, “Maybe that’s why they had the character’s face printed on the costumes. We had to take them off to cool down!” But let’s be real: as silly as they were, those costumes were beloved by every kid on the block.
Consider the haunted look of a five-year-old Misty Guerrero Torres in 1982, dressed as a witch, her mask a green-skinned marvel with fangs that could scare anyone. Then there’s the Jolly Roger costume worn by Mike Gillaspia, a pirate with an eerie mask that brought chills to the bravest of hearts. “Costumes weren’t just for Halloween; they were for everyday adventures too!” Mike reminisced.
A Community of Trick-or-Treaters
Halloween wasn’t just about costumes; it was a community experience. Monica Hernandez remembers how children from lower-income families in her neighborhood would often trek to more affluent areas to trick-or-treat. “Now I see that in my neighborhood, and I welcome it,” she shared, reflecting on how that community spirit remains strong today.
The Legacy of Halloween Costumes
The spooky joy of Halloween continues to thrive in San Antonio even today. Those childhood costumes left lasting impressions. For instance, Howard Harris has turned his love for Halloween into a career, owning Greg’s Comics in Mesa, Arizona, where he collects horror memorabilia.
From that old Frankenstein costume to a collection of masks and figures resembling his childhood favorites, Howard and his peers are keeping the spirit alive. As Halloween approaches this year, many will dig up their past, don their costumes once more, and relive the cherished memories of simpler times.
So as you prepare for this Halloween, remember that plastic masks and vinyl costumes aren’t just pieces of fabric; they’re nostalgic portals to fun-filled childhood nights filled with laughter and trick-or-treating under the warm San Antonio stars.
