I wanted to share these pieces from my collection as Halloween draws near.
No longer as famous as Ben Cooper or Collegeville, Halco was in its day the premier manufacturer of kids Halloween costume. Perhaps their most famous was a Little Orphan Annie costume that featured prominently on a recent episode of "Antiques Roadshow."
I only have three Halco costumes in my collection, though I hope to one day have more. They are "Frankenstein" with a great Glenn Strange likeness but a generic suit which says "Monster Man." A Phantom of the Opera with a terrific James Cagney Phantom mask, and an image of Bela Lugosi as Dracula on the costume body (!). And finally, a Frankenstein which uses the same mask as the first costume, but with a different paint scheme, and a gorgeous suit showing a Chaney Jr. Frankie fleeing the flames of Ghost of Frankenstein.
I don't know how many official, gorgeous looking monsters they made. I hope to discover more. I am dying to see what they would have done with a Wolf Man. But for now, please enjoy these.
Frankie #1
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3161/2945608291_80a5ca344f.jpg?v=0)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3142/2946470804_581d6cd74b.jpg?v=0)
Phantom of the Opera
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/2945608583_57af378f5a.jpg?v=0)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3230/2945608649_b13a629a00_o.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3244/2946471156_7b6ee6ac6b.jpg?v=0)
Frankie #2
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3209/2946464004_eb71e44434.jpg?v=1224133060)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3254/2946464082_2dd3b9f0f3.jpg?v=0)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3013/2945601883_f6d4397985.jpg?v=0)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3208/2945602183_8ac7473efa.jpg?v=1224133158)
Beast witches,
Matt Jaycox
That second Frankie is probably the best old-style Frankenstein Halloween costume I've ever seen. I love it! I've tried to add Halcos to my collection, but good ones just never turn up. I know they're out there, but I never see them on ebay.
I had Halco on my radar for a long time. They made some nice toy guns too. Then I forgot about them...! I may have a Halco Wolfman and a couple other Monster revisions -tomorrow I'll check and add a pic (just up to let the dog out)
Matt, isn't Frankie #2 the same one which sold on eBay two days ago?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Boxed-Halco-Halloween-Costume-Frankenstein_W0QQitemZ350106894999QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item350106894999&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A3%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 (http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Boxed-Halco-Halloween-Costume-Frankenstein_W0QQitemZ350106894999QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item350106894999&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A3%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14)
If you were the winner, my heartiest congratulations! I watched this auction with interest because a friend was bidding but he got left behind in the dust.
This mask has the special quality I cherish in the best vacuforms – they're so colorful they remind me of blowmolds with a light inside them when, in fact, the near-luminescence comes entirely from the paint. A really stunning mask and costume as well!
I 've heard very little about Halco. It would be interesting to get a listing of all the costumes they produced. They did a Green Lantern costume around '66, but I'm not aware if there were any other super-heroes.
They also did the Phantom and Dick Tracy and ManDrake the Magician.
Since they weren't as large a company as Ben Cooper or Collegeville, (Halco stands for J. Halpern and Co., not "Halloween Company" as has been erroneously reported in the past), records are decidely harder to come by. However, some catalogs do exist and survive today. They seem to have gotten on the astronaut craze like everyone else, and pirates, and they did Beatniks, and the Kennedeys. They did licensed Universal Monsters, as well.
Of note, the Phantom of the Opera costume appears to have been made after the Hammer film as the lettering on the suit lifts the titles from one of the Herbert Lom posters. The Dracula image on the suit, as well as the medallion and evening jacket motif lead me to believe that they simply converted existing Dracula suit patterns into the Phantom with the addition of some silk screened lettering.
I would love to see what the Dracula looked like. The sculpts are so good on the masks. It makes me think they might have done a nice "Abbott and Costello-ey" Bela.
Matt
Halco also made the mean-looking fleshtone Frankie mask with the big protruding lower canines, generally packaged as "Monster Man." They had a really gorgeous fake Creature mask as well (I've never seen evidence of its having a costume to match). For the record, Kusan is the same company.
Wow, I didn't know Kusan and Halco were one in the same. I've got three Kusan costumes. I love their 70s masks with those oblong boxes.
Man, those are real cool.
Okay, so here's the "Monster Man" mask:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3074/2976727960_987548bbe2_o.jpg)
Here he is that time he had jury duty (talk about "twelve angry men!"):
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3236/2975873003_a5bc5fb990_o.jpg)
Here's the Halco "Sea Monster" mask:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3161/2975872909_896c580f0e_o.jpg)
...and here it is as it appears in the 1967 Halco catalog:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3025/2976727840_634c2c0e28_o.jpg)
SPECIAL BONUS! The somewhat earlier Halco "Zombie" costume:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3042/2976004665_46c2e845b0_o.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3180/2976004667_b9f5ea0525_o.jpg)
Okay...I know it's Frankenstein...YOU know it's Frankenstein...but J. Halpern & Co. say it's a "Zombie". So why fight City Hall? It's a Zombie.
Nice Monster Man action! Here's one the same but different -
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3198/2976978270_4165384d18_o.jpg)
and with two costumes -
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3016/2976978338_d7c8c5c26b_o.jpg)
A little closer - I agree, you and I both know it's Frankenstein but aka Monster Man (wink wink)! Even has the fur vest under the armor plating!...man your 'mask line' reminds me of mine, Thanks for sharing Devlin!
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3227/2976122569_40884dbeff_o.jpg)
I believe that mask is the "Pak-O-Fun" version, that came packaged in a vinyl treat bag. They're all wider, flatter masks adapted to fit their packaging--the only one I have is the Devil.
FANTASTIC THREAD Matt!
You KNOW I love 'em!
I have the two Frankenstein masks (non-fanged or angry) but, not the gorgeous costumes. I especially love the recent version that sold on ebay that you have. The Phantom mask is just beautiful....and that costume with Lugosi...no words...
I hope the other member finds his Wolfman and treats us all.
I assumed that Morlock mask was a Ceasar version...interesting to know it is actually a Halco. Also, that sea creature was reused by Ben Cooper for the Dragon costume.
I recently acquired a Halco costume from 1955, the Leopard, child's size medium, in the original box, with a dated receipt.
Never worn.
Anyone know the value or where I can find a source for this?
Thanks
Well since you already own it, what does it matter how much it's "worth"? You don't need to rebuy it again.
Quote from: mjaycox on October 15, 2008, 11:59:45 PMNo longer as famous as Ben Cooper or Collegeville, Halco was in its day the premier manufacturer of kids Halloween costume.
Why then is Halco no longer as famous as the others? What happened?
???
Quote from: Hepcat on April 26, 2013, 11:57:02 AM
Well since you already own it, what does it matter how much it's "worth"? You don't need to rebuy it again.
???
What the F' hep maybe they got a great deal on it and wonder it's value, maybe they want to use it for a trade, , maybe they want to sell it one day. why do you care?
Hey new member caseyam welcome to the board, sounds like you made a cool acquisition send a pic it would be cool to see.
eric
Did you see this thread?
http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?topic=21817.msg351989;topicseen#msg351989 (http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?topic=21817.msg351989;topicseen#msg351989)
When the very first words that come out of someone's mouth are "What is this worth?", well yes, I do suspect that they're not enthusiasts but simply sellers.
A new member who is actually a monster enthusiast/fan will be overwhelmed by the info content on this board, and will have all kinds of questions and observations all over the forum. And we'll soon see if that's indeed the case with caseyam.
???
Quote from: Hepcat on April 26, 2013, 11:57:02 AM
Why then is Halco no longer as famous as the others? What happened?
???
No idea ... My guess is because they weren't really making costumes in the 70s and 80s and Ben Cooper and Collegeville were.
Their costumes were made out of synthetic fabrics that whithered and broke down. As opposed to Ben Cooper who in addition to making fragile rayon costumes, also made vinyl as well.
But I don't really know.
Quote from: LonMadnight on October 16, 2008, 10:42:33 PM
I 've heard very little about Halco. It would be interesting to get a listing of all the costumes they produced. They did a Green Lantern costume around '66, but I'm not aware if there were any other super-heroes.
Quote from: mjaycox on October 17, 2008, 02:35:24 PM
They also did the Phantom and Dick Tracy and ManDrake the Magician.
...and they did Beatniks, and the Kennedeys. They did licensed Universal Monsters, as well.
Some other Halco costumes were:
Li'l Abner
Daisy Mae
Wolf Girl
Mammy and Pappy Yokum
Jiggs(Bringing up Father)
Fritz and Hans(Captain and the Kids)
Mister Magoo
Little Iodine
Little Lulu (Kusan)
Winky Dink
Alvin the Chipmunk
Felix the Cat
Mighty Mouse
Droopy the Dog
Linus the Lion
Humble Tiger(Esso)
Charlie Chan
8)
Quote from: mjaycox on April 26, 2013, 06:07:04 PMMy guess is because they weren't really making costumes in the 70s and 80s and Ben Cooper and Collegeville were.
Judging by the characters they licenced, Halco was still a major player in the fifties but by the sixties had been far superceded by the likes of Ben Cooper and Collegeville.
:-\
Man, these are great!
Quote from: mjaycox on April 26, 2013, 06:07:04 PM
No idea ... My guess is because they weren't really making costumes in the 70s and 80s and Ben Cooper and Collegeville were.
Their costumes were made out of synthetic fabrics that whithered and broke down. As opposed to Ben Cooper who in addition to making fragile rayon costumes, also made vinyl as well.
But I don't really know.
I think the era has a lot to do with it. Ben Cooper and Collegeville were the dominant costume manufacturers during the Monster Kid era, and those are the people buying most of the Halloween costumes today. The "serious" Halloween collectors who buy the older stuff tend to turn their noses at boxed costumes (and blow molds). Halco's heyday predates the era that fuels today's nostalgia-inspired monster collectors, and the people who collect Halloween products from Halco's heyday don't like boxed costumes.
But I think there is a bigger reason Halco is not as popular with collectors today: the costumes are virtually unavailable. If there were hundreds of Halco costumes on eBay every week, people would be collecting them and talking about them. But the more desirable ones, like the ones in this thread, rarely pop up on eBay. Some collectibles are too rare for their own good. Without product, there is no market.
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/417134_10151157150955665_2017100535_n.jpg Have no idea the maker of this costume and where the mask is.It was my first Halloween costume I found in the attic.It will fall apart if handled to much,but Iam keeping it.
What year might the costume be from? Do you think you would recognize the mask if you saw one?
???
HH- What a great costume! I don't have any of my old costumes, but I swear I can recall where they were bought and the method I used to select them :) It was serious business back in the 70s! I saw this thread and I spent 2-3 hours last night looking at Halco costumes on the internet! I just about spazzed out when I saw the Halco Gypsy costume- it was one of my favorites! I also remember the bags they came in and the masks that you HAD to check, while you were still in the store, to make sure the nose wasn't smashed in. Great costumes - especially if a store bought costume was a real treat!
Quote from: Hepcat on April 28, 2013, 02:26:39 PM
What year might the costume be from? Do you think you would recognize the mask if you saw one?
???
It has to be from the 60's and I would not know the mask if I saw it.
Quote from: charp13 on April 28, 2013, 02:45:35 PMI don't have any of my old costumes, but I swear I can recall where they were bought and the method I used to select them :) It was serious business back in the 70s! I saw this thread and I spent 2-3 hours last night looking at Halco costumes on the internet! I just about spazzed out when I saw the Halco Gypsy costume- it was one of my favorites! I also remember the bags they came in....
Can you post a list of the costumes you had? Are there any you have not seen since?
???
speaking of Halco...just picked me up a halco LADY DRACULA costume....
Quote from: HARRY HAMMOCK on April 28, 2013, 11:14:45 AMHave no idea the maker of this costume and where the mask is.
It's this Ben Cooper one:
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%202/BenCooper2_zps13340775.jpg) (http://s1101.photobucket.com/user/Balticprince/media/General%20Album%202/BenCooper2_zps13340775.jpg.html)
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%202/BenCooper5_zps323f7628.jpg) (http://s1101.photobucket.com/user/Balticprince/media/General%20Album%202/BenCooper5_zps323f7628.jpg.html)
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%202/BenCooperD_zps5433ad65.jpg) (http://s1101.photobucket.com/user/Balticprince/media/General%20Album%202/BenCooperD_zps5433ad65.jpg.html)
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%202/BenCooper4_zpsce1749f3.jpg) (http://s1101.photobucket.com/user/Balticprince/media/General%20Album%202/BenCooper4_zpsce1749f3.jpg.html)
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%202/BenCooper3_zps2c261695.jpg) (http://s1101.photobucket.com/user/Balticprince/media/General%20Album%202/BenCooper3_zps2c261695.jpg.html)
:)
Quote from: freddie poe on April 29, 2013, 09:42:19 AM
speaking of Halco...just picked me up a halco LADY DRACULA costume....
I don't think I've ever seen that one... may we, pretty please? :)
will try to get a pix tonight but it will just be the mask the costume is fragile........
Quote from: freddie poe on April 29, 2013, 02:49:36 PM
will try to get a pix tonight but it will just be the mask the costume is fragile........
Fair enough, thanks!
Hep- I had 3 Halco costumes when I was a kid- The Gypsy, The Princess, & The Witch. I'm pretty sure I had them in 1969,70 & 71. We bought them in "town" - probably at a store called Shopper's Fair (or Fare??) not sure of the spelling. All 3 of mine were in plastic bags- not boxes. I think they were the cheapest you could get back then :) I also had a Batman mask in 1966 or 67. But my mom made the rest of my costume.
Seeing the devil costumes and Halco costumes inspired me to post pics of my Halco Devil costume. I really like the colorful mask and sparkled costume. I'm not a big costume guy, but this one caught my eye. Kinda scary for a kid way back when to wear a costume that says "Satan" on the chest! Any info on this costume/mask would be appreciated. Also would consider offers or trades. Thanks and I hope you all enjoy...
(http://imageshack.us/a/img856/7076/dsc04756q.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img268/9208/dsc04752y.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img832/4901/dsc04754kf.jpg)
http://imageshack.us/a/img832/4901/dsc04754kf.jpg (http://imageshack.us/a/img832/4901/dsc04754kf.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img805/3780/dsc04753y.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img560/5148/dsc04755p.jpg)
Quote from: Hepcat on April 29, 2013, 10:20:16 AM
It's this Ben Cooper one:
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%202/BenCooper2_zps13340775.jpg) (http://s1101.photobucket.com/user/Balticprince/media/General%20Album%202/BenCooper2_zps13340775.jpg.html)
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%202/BenCooper5_zps323f7628.jpg) (http://s1101.photobucket.com/user/Balticprince/media/General%20Album%202/BenCooper5_zps323f7628.jpg.html)
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%202/BenCooperD_zps5433ad65.jpg) (http://s1101.photobucket.com/user/Balticprince/media/General%20Album%202/BenCooperD_zps5433ad65.jpg.html)
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%202/BenCooper4_zpsce1749f3.jpg) (http://s1101.photobucket.com/user/Balticprince/media/General%20Album%202/BenCooper4_zpsce1749f3.jpg.html)
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%202/BenCooper3_zps2c261695.jpg) (http://s1101.photobucket.com/user/Balticprince/media/General%20Album%202/BenCooper3_zps2c261695.jpg.html)
:)
Oh my God!Thats it Hepcat!Thanks for the picture!Ya wouldnt know the date of it would you?
I do not. Buy it though and you may find the date printed on the box:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/110236947/vintage-devil-halloween-costume-glow-in (http://www.etsy.com/listing/110236947/vintage-devil-halloween-costume-glow-in)
;)
Quote from: charp13 on April 29, 2013, 05:11:07 PM
Hep- I had 3 Halco costumes when I was a kid- The Gypsy, The Princess, & The Witch. I'm pretty sure I had them in 1969,70 & 71.
Are you still looking to reacquire those costumes? I know you scored the Gypsy mask the picture of which you're using as an avatar about eighteen months ago.
???
here's the one i know is halco. i think i have a few other but not certain? I got these large clown mask.
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p173/fear-the-reaper/670fb204-e46a-49ec-a767-738307578702_zps2485c7d4.jpg)
That "Satan" costume is pretty cool. I like the pitchfork earrings.
Here is my new Halco Lady Dracula costume IOB. I can't take the costume out....too frail, but it's all in there!
(http://imageshack.us/a/img441/3650/042913003.jpg)
Halco was already making costumes well before the vacuform era. Here are a couple of specimens thereof:
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3042/2976004665_46c2e845b0_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/devlinthompson/2976004665/)
Halco "Zombie" costume, late '50s (http://www.flickr.com/photos/devlinthompson/2976004665/#) by Devlin Thompson (http://www.flickr.com/people/devlinthompson/), on Flickr
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3180/2976004667_b9f5ea0525_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/devlinthompson/2976004667/)
Halco "Zombie" costume, late '50s (http://www.flickr.com/photos/devlinthompson/2976004667/#) by Devlin Thompson (http://www.flickr.com/people/devlinthompson/), on Flickr
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2113/1717305562_1fb774e2d0_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/devlinthompson/1717305562/)
I am Droopy. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/devlinthompson/1717305562/#) by Devlin Thompson (http://www.flickr.com/people/devlinthompson/), on Flickr
That Droopy never fails... to creep me out! You should wear it at the store. Randomly.
That costume on this one is kinda meh but that mask rocks. All the colors and art right from a 50's horror comic. HOO HOO HOO HAHAHAHANice score brother.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img560/5148/dsc04755p.jpg)
Thanks Wicked Lester. Yeah, the mask is very cool. I made a trade/cash for a Halco Phantom costume and box Sunday. I will take pics and post when I get a chance.
Quote from: Wicked Lester on May 07, 2013, 07:02:48 PM
That costume on this one is kinda meh but that mask rocks. All the colors and art right from a 50's horror comic. HOO HOO HOO HAHAHAHANice score brother.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img560/5148/dsc04755p.jpg)
That mask is fabulous!
8)
Thanks Hepcat. Here is the Phantom costume I acquired this weekend.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img560/259/dsc04762kc.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img708/8265/dsc04763p.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img22/9509/dsc04764k.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img202/4792/dsc04765d.jpg)
So does it fit?
???
Oh wow, now we're talking. That Phantom is awesome.
The mask is the Phantom, but the costume looks more like Dracula's (except for the Phantom logo).
Quote from: apesman on May 08, 2013, 04:40:27 PM
Thanks Hepcat. Here is the Phantom costume I acquired this weekend.
Just awesome! Where'd you find it?
Mat
I know it's crazy....and the head looks a bit like the Wolfman on the costume! Also to note that the box is marked as the Phantom. Definitely a conversation piece. I got it from a fellow toy collector/seller.
SWEET!! I LOVE IT! ITS TOTALLY 60'S! BUT MORD IS RIGHT...YOU GOT THE PHANTOM, DRAC AND THE WOLFIE ALL IN ONE! LOL.....
ODD HOW MOST OF THE TOY COMPANYS CHOSE THE CAGNEY MAN OF A THOUSAND FACES PHANTOM AS THERE IMAGE...? THEY WERE BOTH OWNED BY UNIVERSAL SO IT CANT BE A COPYRIGHT ISSUE....??
Quote from: LonMadnight on October 16, 2008, 10:42:33 PM
I 've heard very little about Halco. It would be interesting to get a listing of all the costumes they produced. They did a Green Lantern costume around '66, but I'm not aware if there were any other super-heroes.
Ben Cooper made several super-hero costumes in 1966 including
Green Lantern. I have never seen mention anywhere of a Halco one.
I wasn't aware of one from 1961, but apparently a company named Dessart Bros. made a
Green Lantern ("Adventure Costumes") one back then. The box also shows Hawkman, Flash, Wonder Woman, Batman & Robin.
Here's the Wonder Woman one:
http://www.wonderwomancollectors.com/costumes-1.html (http://www.wonderwomancollectors.com/costumes-1.html)
(http://www.wonderwomancollectors.com/costumes-1lc.jpg)
Would love to see pics of any others!!
Interesting! Those are definitely costumes from 1961 or 1962 because Hawkman's headgear is without the wings which were added only in the spring of 1962.
:)
(http://media-cache-ec4.pinimg.com/550x/a2/66/98/a266985a70bc024eba3516af781de5d7.jpg)
I AM LOOKING FOR A LOOSE MONSTER MAN MASK AND THAT HALCO PHANTOM COSTUME! IF ANYONE HAS ONE THEY WANT TO PART WITH ............. FREDDIE POE
That Phantom costume is great! I have heard of the Dessart Bros. costumes before, and have seen the GL costume (only in a book), but this is the first time I've seen any of the others. I'd love to see what the others look like! Love the box, very 60s-DC!
Chris
Quote from: apesman on May 08, 2013, 04:40:27 PM
Thanks Hepcat. Here is the Phantom costume I acquired this weekend.
(http://imageshack.us/a/img560/259/dsc04762kc.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img708/8265/dsc04763p.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img22/9509/dsc04764k.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img202/4792/dsc04765d.jpg)
This Phantom is super cool!!!!!
I love the classic Dracula pose on the Phantom costume!! These are such great pieces and I have got to add some to my collection asap!
Here's the HALCO Frankenstein version I have.......same bodysuit, but maybe a different paint scheme on mask......One of the Best Frankenstein Halloween costumes I've run across!!
Revisiting this bumped thread, the "zombie" costume makes me think another gauze mask I have might be a Halco. This fabric Frankenstein looks like the same mask as the zombie, but painted differently.
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3750/10551130455_5d5c0662fa_b.jpg)
Wow that's too cool...
The Halco Morlock knockoff shown in reply #9 has received some unexpected mainstream media coverage over the years. In the early 1960s Look magazine featured it quite prominently in their pages:
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/1ace/lp4n349x172o91h6g.jpg)
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0a8d/d2qcgvadzdxwjxk6g.jpg)
In 1971 Sylvania featured it in an ad for their Blue Dot Flash attachments for cameras:
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/df77/kun2sj7s9hly5516g.jpg)
Todd Franklin over at the Neato Coolville blog has posted a nice recreation of the photo used in the Sylvania ad at http://neatocoolville.blogspot.com/2012/10/halloween-halco-mask-in-blue-dot-flash.html (http://neatocoolville.blogspot.com/2012/10/halloween-halco-mask-in-blue-dot-flash.html)
And of course there's the comprehensive eBay listing for the mask by seller mpgstuff, which provides additional photos and info: http://tinyurl.com/HalcoMorlock (http://tinyurl.com/HalcoMorlock)
The mask certainly qualifies as one of the most memorable of the Halco monster line.
It is indeed a GREAT mask, and thank you for those awesome pictures.
Although, unless I am much mistaken, I don't believe the Morlock was in fact a Halco mask. I'll check mine when I get home to confirm. But I don't think it was...
Best,
Matt
Quote from: carbon on March 07, 2014, 02:29:30 PM
The Halco Morlock knockoff shown in reply #9 has received some unexpected mainstream media coverage over the years. In the early 1960s Look magazine featured it quite prominently in their pages:
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/1ace/lp4n349x172o91h6g.jpg)
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0a8d/d2qcgvadzdxwjxk6g.jpg)
In 1971 Sylvania featured it in an ad for their Blue Dot Flash attachments for cameras:
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/df77/kun2sj7s9hly5516g.jpg)
Todd Franklin over at the Neato Coolville blog has posted a nice recreation of the photo used in the Sylvania ad at http://neatocoolville.blogspot.com/2012/10/halloween-halco-mask-in-blue-dot-flash.html (http://neatocoolville.blogspot.com/2012/10/halloween-halco-mask-in-blue-dot-flash.html)
And of course there's the comprehensive eBay listing for the mask by seller mpgstuff, which provides additional photos and info: http://tinyurl.com/HalcoMorlock (http://tinyurl.com/HalcoMorlock)
The mask certainly qualifies as one of the most memorable of the Halco monster line.
Matt: It'll be interesting to know if the mask you have is the same as the one pictured here. And if so, whether or not it has any imprint that reveals the manufacturer. It will indeed be a surprise if it turns out the pseudo Morlock mask seen in the above pictures wasn't a Halco product; because I don't know of any other company that's ever been suggested as having a connection with it.
Not having the mask myself I have no first-hand knowledge about it. The belief that it was a Halco creation seems to be rooted primarily to its inclusion in early Halco product catalogs. F'rinstance, in 2008 Devlin Thompson posted on flickr a picture of the mask from a 1967 Halco costume catalog. (Of course it's never called "Morlock"):
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/a5e8/qvavriggxyjahk36g.jpg)
A couple of years before Devlin's posting, toyranch posted an entire 1969 Halco catalog which also included the mask at http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyranch/sets/72057594049663073/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyranch/sets/72057594049663073/).
In order to be objective there are two questions that could be raised: Did Halco ever include masks other than their own in their catalogs? And can we be certain the mask pictured in the catalog is the same as the one shown in the above photos? I have no answer for either question, but until someone comes up with evidence to the contrary I'm comfortable assuming it's a Halco creation.
As far as other Morlock knockoffs from the period go, there was the Ben Cooper boxed costume patterned after a Morlock (they apparently called it "Apeman"), which Ray Castile posted at http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?topic=16158.0 (http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?topic=16158.0). It has also turned up on eBay:
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/4c28/tqv87g8786eog766g.jpg)
But the Morlock mask pictured in the Look magazine shots appears to be identical to the one that pops up on eBay that's described as a Halco. It doesn't appear as though Halco ever offered the Morlock mask as part of a boxed costume; only as a deluxe mask:
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0928/s0l3864w3vggvtv6g.jpg)
I'll wrap this up with one final photo of the mask; this one from Brecht Bug's amazing flickr photostream mask compilation. I'd list the URL for it but the coding here messes up any URL with an 'at symbol' -- commonly used in email addresses -- rendering it useless. But you can find Brecht Bug's flickr offerings by running a search; if you're not already familiar with his mask postings.
(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5721/p8457o42rpo8wi56g.jpg)
Man, reading through this bumped thread gave me a HUGE monster flashback! I bought the Halco Sea Creature mask off of the mask display, late 60s?, and my older brother (nine years my senior) helped make me a costume by taking green garbage bags, cutting out scales and taping them to my hoodie sweat shirt with double sided carpet tape. Hadn't thought about that for years!
Quote from: carbon on March 09, 2014, 12:35:18 PMThe belief that it was a Halco creation seems to be rooted primarily to its inclusion in early Halco product catalogs.
That's a pretty compelling argument right there!
:)
Quote from: mjaycox on October 15, 2008, 11:59:45 PMNo longer as famous as Ben Cooper or Collegeville, Halco was in its day the premier manufacturer of kids Halloween costume.
Halco was i believe already eclipsed by competitors Ben Cooper and Collegeville by the early 1960's.
Quote from: mjaycox on October 15, 2008, 11:59:45 PMI only have three Halco costumes in my collection, though I hope to one day have more.
So has that one day arrived? Have you acquired any more Halco costumes?
???
Here's a very cool Halco Shari Lewis Wing Ding costume from 1961:
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%203/General%20Album%203001/Halco%20Shari%20Lewis_zpsjxq275vo.jpg)
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%203/General%20Album%203001/Halco%20Wing%20Ding%203_zpsxi1cphn0.jpg)
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%203/General%20Album%203001/Halco%20Wing%20Ding%204_zps1igp3fnc.jpg)
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%203/General%20Album%203001/Halco%20Wing%20Ding%202_zps2rjhjews.jpg)
8)
Here are a couple more really cool boxed Halco costumes:
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/Halco%206_zpsezc6g02y.jpg)
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/Halco%203_zps1ndmg5fn.jpg)
I really like how the skull is wearing a derby!
8)
Quote from: Hepcat on October 15, 2019, 12:55:21 PM
Here's a very cool Halco Shari Lewis Wing Ding costume from 1961:
I don't seem to remember "Wing Ding"?
Ahhhhh yes. Poor misbegotten maltreated Wing Ding!
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%203/General%20Album%203001/Shari%209_zpsykemcbdb.jpg)
While Lamb Chop had been introduced by Shari Lewis on the Captain Kangaroo show in March 1956, Hush Puppy, Charlie Horse and Wing Ding were all introduced on Shari's Hi Mom show which aired on WRCA-TV in New York from 1957-59. When NBC gave Shari her first network program, The Shari Lewis Show, which debuted on 1 October 1960 replacing The Howdy Doody Show, her family of puppets made the move with her.
But a problem eventually arose. You see Wing Ding was a crow and therefore black. Wing Ding was as a result seen as a caricature of an African-American by certain over-imaginative segments of the populace and thus politically incorrect. You couldn't have that kind of thing on prime time TV, now could you? So at some point Shari bowed to parental or network pressure and had Wing Ding put down. Yes, a very sad, cruel and tragic ending to a beloved TV character from the fifties indeed.
:(
After The Shari Lewis Show's run ended in 1963, NBC unaccountably taped the 1964 Democrat and Republican national conventions over The Shari Lewis Show tapes thus destroying them! I wonder how much that cost NBC and Shari Lewis in lost future syndication revenues?
Though long gone from the airwaves, Wing Ding still survives in the hearts of fans since his noble visage continues to adorn many Shari Lewis collectibles from the early sixties:
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%203/General%20Album%203001/Shari%201_zpsojbz02hb.jpg)
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%203/General%20Album%203001/Shari%205_zpstvdkhpxf.jpg)
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%203/General%20Album%203001/Shari%206_zpsj6he5sth.jpg)
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%203/General%20Album%203001/Shari%207_zps5fygyini.jpg)
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%203/General%20Album%203001/Shari%208_zpsio9laiyk.jpg)
Including these from my own collection:
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%203/General%20Album%203001/Shari%202_zpsaslnwwcv.jpg)
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/ShariLewisGame.jpg)
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%202/ShariLewisthermos5.jpg)
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%202/ShariLewisThermos4.jpg)
:)
As part of its series of Terrytoon characters Halco issued a Heckle (or Jeckle) costume in the early fifties. This came with a fabric mask as opposed to the vacuum formed plastic ones that began to appear later in the decade:
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%203/General%20Album%203001/Heckle%20Halco%207_zpsovddllfn.jpg)
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%203/General%20Album%203001/Heckle%20Halco%205_zpsaewm4pzg.jpg)
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%203/General%20Album%203001/Heckle%20Halco%204%20-%20Copy_zpsigyzdtrv.jpg)
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%203/General%20Album%203001/Heckle%20Halco%209_zpsa8xzeyvt.jpg)
8)
Quote from: Hepcat on October 22, 2019, 10:28:50 AM
After The Shari Lewis Show's run ended in 1963, NBC unaccountably taped the 1964 Democrat and Republican national conventions over The Shari Lewis Show tapes thus destroying them! I wonder how much that cost NBC and Shari Lewis in lost future syndication revenues?
Arrrgh! The fools! How many TV episodes/series were taped over to save (literally) a couple of bucks!
Quote from: Mike Scott on October 25, 2019, 09:42:08 PMArrrgh! The fools! How many TV episodes/series were taped over to save (literally) a couple of bucks!
Evidently many or maybe all of shows survived in B&W since B&W tapes of the show were distributed for telecasting to local NBC affiliates all over the country. But the master tapes that were filmed in colour were all taped over to save a few thousand dollars.
:(
Quote from: Hepcat on October 25, 2019, 11:10:41 PM
Evidently many or maybe all of shows survived in B&W since B&W tapes of the show were distributed for telecasting to local NBC affiliates all over the country.
I don't mind watching them in b/w. :)
Well then here's one in B&W from 1961:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qONgwRpoZ-g (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qONgwRpoZ-g)
And one in colour from Las Vegas circa 1970:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA1UHiAl8Bg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA1UHiAl8Bg)
Shari Lewis was the consummate mistress of ventriloquism!
;)
Here are a couple of shots of the wild cool Halco Droopy costume from the early 1950's:
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%203/General%20Album%203001/Halco%20Droopy%201_zpsv0l9eoum.jpg) (https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%203/General%20Album%203001/Halco%20Droopy%202_zpsl373x8vx.jpg)
I understand that our very own Devlin is behind the mask in the first picture!
Droopy was created in 1943 by Tex Avery for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in the theatrical cartoon Dumb-Hounded and starred in 24 cartoons in all between 1943 and 1957. He was also featured in an ongoing strip in Tom and Jerry comics:
100
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/Comics/TomandJerry100.jpg)
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/Comics/28-12-2012100222PM.jpg)
8)
Here are a couple of shots of the rad Halco Winky Dink costume from the 1950's which like the others from this time period included a full head mask made of fabric:
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%203/General%20Album%203001/Winky%205_zpsxrkhbfgi.jpg)
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%203/General%20Album%203001/Winky%202_zpsnrzheezi.jpg)
8)
Had I not already posted that shot of me in my Droopy costume a few pages ago, Hepcat? This thread's years old, so I may well not have.
Hey, you did indeed, almost 6 1/2 years ago on 5 May 2013 on the third page of this thread!
;D
But I somehow didn't notice that picture of you in the Droopy costume when I quickly scanned through this thread earlier in October. When I did an image search for Halco costumes and was delighted to find a Droopy costume, I therefore didn't realize that it was you inside the costume!
:o
HALCO 1969 catalog pgs:
(https://i.ibb.co/SQ7XgST/Halco1969-Catalog-Cvr.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/R4V3vYq/Halco1969-Catalog.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/px9Jy2y/Halco1969-Catalog2.jpg)
More HALCO costumes:
(https://i.ibb.co/HhBsgrs/Hairless-Joe-HC-Halco-Abner.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/1M3vFR4/Little-Honeymoon-HC-Halco65cu2.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/hVprBrK/Sky-Masters-HC-Halco2.jpg) (https://i.ibb.co/QphF4CT/Sky-Masters-HC-Halco.jpg)
Great stuff!
Quote from: curseofthewerewolf on October 15, 2020, 05:53:55 PM
More HALCO costumes:
(https://i.ibb.co/1M3vFR4/Little-Honeymoon-HC-Halco65cu2.jpg)
And I just checked Little Honey-Moon:
Quote from: dicktracy.fandomHoneymoon Tracy (sometimes "Honey Moon" or just "Honey") was the daughter of Dick Tracy Jr. (Junior Tracy) and the first visitor from the Moon to Earth, Moon Maid.
8)
(https://i.ibb.co/CKPn8Cm/Little-Honeymoon-HC-Halco65cu.jpg) (https://i.ibb.co/2qGygBQ/Planet-Patrol-HC.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/Fwc19By/Wolf-Gal-Abner-HC59-Halcojpg.jpg) (https://i.ibb.co/nLW5mTP/Jiggs-HC-Halco.jpg)
Quote from: curseofthewerewolf on October 15, 2020, 05:42:23 PM
HALCO 1969 catalog pgs:
I want to see what a "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" costume looks like!
That Wolf Gal looks awesome.
More HALCO costumes:
(https://i.ibb.co/5TbKhGm/Mr-Magoo-HC-Halco56.jpg) (https://i.ibb.co/M5z5Xwp/Mr-Magoo-Halco56-Mask.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/fFzzt4J/DTracy-Moon-Maid-HC-Halco.jpg) (https://i.ibb.co/KhWbJSd/DTracy-Moon-Maid-HC-Halco-Mask.jpg) (https://i.ibb.co/kxRHb8k/DTracy-Moon-Maid-HC-Halco2.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/pP05F5Z/Exxon-Tiger-HC-Halco-Boxed.jpg) (https://i.ibb.co/r2ZC43M/Exxon-Tiger-HC-Halco.jpg) (https://i.ibb.co/d5TDwxs/Exxon-Tiger-Mask.jpg)
Mmmmmm, Moon Maid!
(https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/dicktracy/images/c/c9/Moon_Maid_%26_Junior_in_love.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130703182248)
(https://i.etsystatic.com/5912056/r/il/8ad916/209450638/il_794xN.209450638.jpg)
So cool!
8)
Quote from: Hepcat on October 21, 2020, 11:23:57 AM
Mmmmmm, Moon Maid!
(https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/dicktracy/images/c/c9/Moon_Maid_%26_Junior_in_love.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130703182248)
(https://i.etsystatic.com/5912056/r/il/8ad916/209450638/il_794xN.209450638.jpg)
So cool!
8)
I now want a Moon Maid.
Quote from: curseofthewerewolf on October 16, 2020, 09:21:15 AM
(https://i.ibb.co/Fwc19By/Wolf-Gal-Abner-HC59-Halcojpg.jpg)
Mmmmmm, Wolf Gal!
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/g434/Balticprince/Wolf_Gal_3.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/g434/Balticprince/Wolfgal.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)
8)
The horrific and terrifying...CHARLEY WEAVER!
(https://i.ibb.co/5r7b3Xf/Charley-Weaver-HCboxed-Halco.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/VvYf6bS/Charley-Weaver-HC.jpg) (https://i.ibb.co/PxrpfRV/Charley-Weaver-HCmask.jpg)
Quote from: curseofthewerewolf on October 30, 2020, 10:28:02 AM
The horrific and terrifying...CHARLEY WEAVER!
(https://i.ibb.co/5r7b3Xf/Charley-Weaver-HCboxed-Halco.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/VvYf6bS/Charley-Weaver-HC.jpg) (https://i.ibb.co/PxrpfRV/Charley-Weaver-HCmask.jpg)
Yikes!🎃
The fabric costumes with full fabric or composite masks that Halco and other Halloween costume companies manufactured up until the late 1950's(?) can be seen to be of better quality than the later rayon or vinyl costumes with vacuuformed masks that came to completely dominate the kids' costume market by the early 1960's. Here are a couple of shots of the wild cool Halco Droopy costume from the early 1950's:
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%203/General%20Album%203001/Halco%20Droopy%201_zpsv0l9eoum.jpg) (https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%203/General%20Album%203001/Halco%20Droopy%202_zpsl373x8vx.jpg)
And here's the very cool Halco Shari Lewis Wing Ding costume from 1961:
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%203/General%20Album%203001/Halco%20Shari%20Lewis_zpsjxq275vo.jpg)
(https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/General%20Album%203/General%20Album%203001/Halco%20Wing%20Ding%202_zps2rjhjews.jpg)
The more modern rayon/vinyl costumes with vacuuformed masks lent themselves to quicker and easier mass production methods though and could thus be sold at a friendlier price point thus expanding the potential market for the costumes. Moreover the masks could be sold separately through convenience stores which further expanded their market potential.
cl:)
That's ME in that Droopy costume!
Quote from: Mike Scott on October 16, 2020, 09:41:48 AM
I want to see what a "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" costume looks like!
I'm sure it looked pretty "chitty!"
Quote from: Devlin on December 03, 2021, 07:16:39 PMThat's ME in that Droopy costume!
I'm glad it still fits. How long have you had it?
???
Who is it anyway that says Halco is forgotten?
???
We here seem to remember the company very well.
;)
Hepcat: They're still in business as the top manufacturer of Santa suits (https://santacollc.com/halco-catalog/ (https://santacollc.com/halco-catalog/)), but it's been at least 40-45 years since they've sold any Halloween costumes (and the last few years of that were all under their "Kusan" subsidiary, as near as I can tell), so they don't have the name recognition of the firms that stayed in the game longer. I think we can all agree that we're not exactly typical American consumers!
(https://i.postimg.cc/1t6F3jmv/315750447-10217889232417104-6251174380061486388-n.jpg)
Anyone we might know?
???