21 Frightening Vintage Halloween Photos You Have to See to Believe
There's a chill in the air, and we're not just talking about the crisp breeze of fall. Spooky season is officially upon us! Whether you've come here looking for vintage Halloween costume inspiration, ideas for your haunted house, or you just love creepy vintage Halloween photos, you're in the right place.
We've collected some of the most bizarre, ghoulish images we could find to help you get in the Halloween spirit. Most of these photos show Halloween costumes or Halloween traditions through the centuries, but we've also included some pictures that are meant to give you a fright. After all, it's what the season's all about! If you're looking to learn more about the origins of some Halloween traditions, we've included info on some of the slides here. Your friends will love hearing all about why witches wear black hats or the practice of spirit photography. You can also check our writing about the history of Halloween.
If you're looking for even more vintage Halloween inspiration, be sure you bookmark our '70s costume ideas and our '90s Halloween costume ideas. We've also got plenty of scary couples' costume ideas, Halloween costumes for women, Halloween costume ideas for teachers, and Disney couples costumes for adults.
England - Circa 1920
This spooky photograph was taken by photographer William Hope in England. He likely already had the young woman's photo and used a multiple exposure technique to make it seem as if she were floating above the two people sitting. Hope's work was especially popular among bereaved people who wanted to find evidence of their loved ones' continued presence. Although this somewhat deceptive practice was publicly exposed in 1922, he continued to do so. While it may not be a real image of a ghost, it's certainly a frightening work of art!
France - Circa 1910
Not much is known about this photo, but according to Getty Images, it was taken in France sometime around 1910. It just goes to prove that long before photo editing software, people were getting creative with photos to make creepy effects.
Chicago - 1949
Can't you see yourself and your friends rocking this creepy DIY costume for Halloween? This image was taken at the Chicago Art Institute's Halloween Ball in 1949.
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Circa 1905
This image from the Historic Photo Archive was likely taken in 1905. It should a person (possibly a teacher) wearing a ghost costume in a rural schoolhouse posing behind a table of Halloween decorations including a carved pumpkin and cutouts of witches.
London - Circa 1865
This creepy image was taken in 1865. It's credited to the London Stereoscopic Company, suggesting that it was probably taken as part of a stage production. Can you imagine turning around in your kitchen to be confronted with the "Pumpkin Visitor," as the image is titled?
France - Circa 1863
Eugène Thiébault took this uncanny photo of French conjurer Henri Robin in 1863. It was likely a publicity photo for one of Robin's shows. He managed a theatre in Paris and his most well-known illusion was one where a drum on stage would be hit by an unseen ghost.
Circa 1910
Maybe you've felt just like this after a long day of work or studying! This image from Kirn Vintage Stock/Corbis was taken in 1910. It shows a skeleton perched at a desk, appearing to study the biology textbook in front of it.
Circa 1938
While it's likely these folks were just headed to a Halloween party in 1938, we can't deny we'd be pretty creeped out if this car pulled up next to us while we were trick-or-treating.
Circa 1900
Artists in the 1900s were having too much fun with double-exposed photos. Case in point: This 1900 photo from the Corbis Historical collection of a ghostly man sitting outside in a suit and bow tie.
Circa 1925
We're sure these kids are adorable underneath the masks, but they sure do look ghastly in these old-fashioned ghost costumes. This photo from Kirn Vintage Stock/Corbis shows three children dressed up for trick-or-treating circa 1925. Fun fact: Trick-or-treating actually dates back to the Middle Ages!
United States - Circa 1910
Grab your coven and recreate this costume for Halloween! According to History.com, the pointy black hat we associate with witch costumes comes from a style associated with Quaker women in the 1600s.
United States - Circa 1930s
This vintage 1930s Halloween photo shows an eerie-looking figure with a homemade mummy costume. If you're looking to recreate it in 2024, we'd recommend grabbing some white sheets and duct tape or nylon strips.
Circa 1880s
The practice of carving a jack-o-lantern for Halloween goes all the way back to 1600s rural Ireland. People used to carve turnips, potatoes or other root vegetables and add coals or candles to create makeshift lanterns. When Irish immigrants arrived to the U.S., they started using pumpkins instead. This image of a young boy with a jack-o-lantern was taken in the 1880s.
Circa 1910
Halloween is a time to flex your unique sense of style. And if yours involves strapping on a pair of skates, a creepy mask, and a shawl like this woman in a 1910 photograph, go for it!
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Lexington, Oklahome - Circa 1890
This vintage photograph captured a young woman and five boys dressed up in Halloween costumes circa 1890. It was taken by L. Cranson in Lexington, Oklahoma.
France - Circa 1920
Imagine how much work went into a costume like this before the days of Amazon! This offbeat cat costume was worn by a man in France circa 1920.
California - 1930s
This image by famed photographer Dorothea Lange was taken during a Halloween celebration at the Shafter Migrant Camp in California. This was one of many camps established in California during the Great Depression to house migrants from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas.
University of Wisconsin-Madison - 1915
We could imagine this Little Bo Peep costume on a college campus in 2024! This image of a student was taken at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1915.
Circa 1910
How creepy is this? While it's likely just capturing a person in motion, the blurred man in a shadowy cornfield feels very spooky. This photo from the Corbis Historical Collection was taken in 1910.
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London - Circa 1872
This ghostly photo was probably created with stereoscopic double exposure...or was it? This photo was taken in November 1872.
New York - 1949
Need a palate cleanser after all those creepy pictures? Here's an adorable one of a father and child carving a jack-o-lantern for Halloween in 1949.
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