The Spooky ‘StarWars’ Shortage of 1977
the costume shelves empty didn’t throw in the towel. Instead, they went and found some brown towels to make their own Chewbacca costumes.
A long time ago … in October of 1977 to be exact, Halloween was fast approaching and many parents faced a major dilemma. That year, kids didn’t want to go trick-or-treating dressed as vampires, witches, or ghosts. The classic costumes simply wouldn’t do. That Halloween, almost every child in the United States wanted to dress as their favorite character from the new hit movie, “Star Wars.” Today, you can walk into a Halloween City on Oct. 30 and easily pick up a costume for Rey, Darth Vader, or Princess Leia. But in 1977, less than five months after the release of the first movie in the popular franchise, getting your hands on “Star Wars” merchandise was a bit more difficult. Ben Cooper, a costume company in Brooklyn, had the foresight to license “Star Wars” for costumes right after the movie came out. Unfortunately, they didn’t foresee how great the demand for these costumes would be. Retailers across the country were selling out of “Star Wars” costumes as fast as they came in. Some stores reported selling more “Star Wars” costumes than pumpkins. Kids who got their hands on an authentic Han Solo or C-3PO costume were considered lucky. But kids who arrived at the store to find A Different Kind of Halloween Staying Safe While Getting Spooky This year, Halloween falls on a Saturday. That’s just about the perfect day for this chilling holiday. Kids get to stay up late (past the witching hour) and adults can do whatever they want — even go to bed early! Of course, while Oct. 31 may fall on the ideal day for trick- or-treating and other spooky revelry, this year it isn’t without new safety concerns. The two questions on everyone’s mind are: Is it possible to safely trick-or-treat or party in the era of COVID-19? Do we have to cancel Halloween? The answer is, by all means, up to parents, but there are plenty of ways to stay safe while having plenty of ghoulish fun. Here are a few ideas: Socially distancing and trick-or-treating. Keep groups of kids limited to about four or five people and avoid congregating. If kids do go out around the neighborhood, make sure they keep a healthy distance from other groups. Additionally, large groups should be discouraged. Kids shouldn’t congregate in one place for too long, either. Keep things moving!
In the current age of cosplay, homemade costumes based on movie characters are commonplace, but in 1977, this was uncharted territory. Kids searched for white dresses to be Princess Leia and bathrobes they could cut short to mimic Luke Skywalker. Moms everywhere broke out their sewing machines and created
costumes using only action figures for reference. It was grueling work, but it showed how much kids wanted to spend Halloween in a galaxy far, far away. The “Star Wars” costume shortage marked a new era for Halloween — one where making your own costume was just as cool, if not better, than buying it.
Socially distancing and treats. Most homeowners aren’t too keen on the idea of dozens (or hundreds) of kids coming up to their doors this season. The easy solution is the classic bowl of candy on the doorstep. Of course, that isn’t without its risks either, since everyone will be putting their hands into the same bowl. Instead, place candy in individual sandwich baggies and spread them out on a table near the front door (weather permitting). Mask up! The great thing about Halloween is that most costumed revelers are already wearing masks. While costume masks are not medical devices, they are better than wearing nothing — provided they cover the wearer’s mouth and nose. Consider incorporating a mask into your costume this year — this goes for kids and adults alike. (Bonus points if the mask is a genuine piece of personal protective equipment!) Sanitize! Sanitize! Sanitize! Everyone should keep their hands as clean as possible. Kids should carry a travel-size bottle of hand sanitizer with them while they’re out and about. It’s also a good idea to keep a pack of disinfectant wipes on hand to give candy buckets and wrapped candy a quick wipe down before digging in. One final tip: When costumed revelers return home, put costumes in the wash (if possible) and keep them separate from clean clothes.
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