1940s Halloween photos from Anaheim, CA

Posted by Mark Frauenfelder, October 31, 2008 8:36 AM | permalink

The UCLA Digital Library has a few interesting photos of Halloween in the 1940s. The caption for this one reads: "Stage and crowd at Halloween Slick Chick beauty contest in Anaheim, Calif., 1947." I wonder if Daisy Mae was the winner?

Here's another photo of the Slick Chick contestants, and here's one of children in costumes (including one girl in blackface). (Via Save vs. Death)

posted in:

Favorite this! ( 1 )

Older Short Attention Span Science Theater

Newer Escaped rhino drill at Japanese zoo

Discussion

Take a look at this

#1 posted by Cool Products , October 31, 2008 9:03 AM

Wow, @ that "mammy" costume. Ballsy move for a small child.

Take a look at this

#2 posted by Anonymous , October 31, 2008 9:04 AM

If you click through to see the photo linked as "children in costumes," be sure to look at the little girl in the center of the frame. Yes, the one in full blackface.

Take a look at this

#3 posted by reech , October 31, 2008 9:17 AM

That chick is indeed slick.

Take a look at this

#4 posted by scottyboy , October 31, 2008 9:20 AM

Wow, Gramma's hot!

Take a look at this

#5 posted by jahknow , October 31, 2008 9:42 AM

Yeah, mammy's politically incorrect by today's standards, but I'm checking out the young pirates... in position spread across the crowd, ready for their big takedown action.

Take a look at this

#6 posted by nicheplayer

, October 31, 2008 10:17 AM

Looks like there were two Daisy Maes. I'm envisioning such an awesome catfight on the award podium....

Take a look at this

#7 posted by EH , October 31, 2008 10:34 AM

"...and for the ladies, we carry all of your favorite Halloween costumes. Whether you prefer Sexy Witch, Sexy Peter Pan, Sexy Indian or Sexy Farmgirl, we have it all...and more!"

Take a look at this

#8 posted by Mojave , October 31, 2008 11:34 AM

I can't look at crowd photos like this from the past without scanning the sea of faces for mine, ala Jack Nicholson at the end of the shining.
That slow zoom into the New Years Eve party was probably the single scariest shot in the film.
*shudders*

Take a look at this

#9 posted by Takuan , October 31, 2008 12:05 PM

more evidence the Pastafarian Conspiracy had penetrated the public school system even then.

Take a look at this

#10 posted by airship , October 31, 2008 1:42 PM

I believe the 'Sexy Peter Pan' is actually the Sexy Pied Piper, though why a piper would have a trumpet is beyond my ken. Still, she has my heart.

Especially if she's a redhead. *sigh* So many redheads forever lost to black and white photography.

Take a look at this

#11 posted by Modusoperandi , October 31, 2008 6:45 PM

Sobering thought: virtually everybody in that photograph are dead...
Happy Halloween, everybody!

Take a look at this

#12 posted by Takuan , October 31, 2008 6:59 PM