photograph:

Halloween has always been a time when Americans set aside some of the conventions of propriety. Although in the later 20th century and the 21st, the holiday has become more focused on children and children's events, in the past adults played more active roles in the festivities. While trick-or-treating was the realm of children then as now, many adult individuals, and sometimes even entire small towns, held annual Halloween parties and attended in costume. While younger folks might perform mild acts of vandalism like smashing pumpkins or soaping windows (the tricks, perhaps, if the treats were withheld) the adult party-goers could participate in party stunts, games, and other ice-breaking activities. It was also a time to photograph everyone--adults and children--in their costumes, as well as the homes and public spaces where the events took place. The physical photographs that remain from this period show intriguing differences and similarities to contemporary celebrations and interpretations of the holiday.