BE SPOOKY AND STAY SAFE
The Spooky ‘Star Wars’ Shortage of 1977
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 the costume shelves empty didn’t throw in the towel. Instead, they went and found some brown towels to make their own Chewbacca costumes. 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.
HALLOWEEN IN THE YEAR OF COVID-19
Is it possible to trick-or-treat while social distancing? This is a question on the mind of just about every kid and adult in Texas and throughout the country. This year, Halloween lands on a Saturday. If this were any other year, people would be planning all kinds of ghoulish things. Kids would be looking forward to trick-or-treating well into the night, and the grown- ups would be planning spooky parties. But this year is different. People have questions about safety. Is it possible to participate in Halloween revelry during a pandemic? Or is Halloween canceled? These are tough questions to answer, but every parent (or anyone who wants to have a gathering) must consider them. However, as we get closer to Oct. 31, people are coming up with creative ways to both stay safe and have fun. Here are a few of those ideas. Trick-or-Treat in Pods The idea is to keep groups of kids limited to about four people. Large groups should be discouraged. At the same time, kids should not gather with other groups of kids. Once your kids have their trick-or-treating group figured out, help them develop a plan for exactly where they are going. Stick to the plan! Adult supervision is recommended. Hand Out Treats Safely It’s safe to say that many homeowners aren’t interested in swaths of kids coming to their door this year. While many people may leave a bucket of candy on the doorstep, that isn’t without risk either. Instead, place candy in individual snack bags and spread them out on a table near the front door. Another solution: candy catapults! Wear a Mask What is Halloween without masks? Of course, most Halloween masks aren’t medical devices and will not prevent the transmission of germs. However, why not consider incorporating a mask into your costume this year? Many popular characters wear masks, from superheroes to ninjas. Get creative while also placing an emphasis on safety. Sanitize Everything Before the kids head out to trick-or-treat, make sure they have a travel-size bottle of hand sanitizer with them. Disinfectant wipes are also a good option. Later in the evening, make sure everything gets wiped down — including the candy — before it’s brought into the home. Costumes should also be removed immediately so they can be washed or sanitized.
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