Fort Worth

PHOTOS: How your grandparents dressed up for Halloween in Fort Worth

By Matt Leclercq

Updated October 31, 2022 9:01 AM

An unidentified sailor and two young ladies celebrate Halloween in 1945. — An unidentified sailor and two young ladies celebrate Halloween in 1945. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections

FORT WORTH

From the 1940s through the 2010s, here are a few of the fun (and creepy) shots captured by Star-Telegram photographers on Fort Worth celebrating Halloween.

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A child is seen at a pumpkin patch, dressed in a witch costume with a creepy mask, with her arms wrapped around a pumpkin. — Oct. 30, 1974: Kenra Chambers, 7, of Hurst joined friends in picking out a perfect pumpkin for Halloween night. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections

A crowd of Halloween revelers in 1945. — A crowd of Halloween revelers in 1945. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections

Oct. 23, 1951: Jimmy Floyd in his Halloween garb. — Oct. 23, 1951: Jimmy Floyd in his Halloween garb. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections

An unidentified sailor and two young ladies celebrate Halloween in 1945. — An unidentified sailor and two young ladies celebrate Halloween in 1945. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections

1952: Mrs. Homer Belew went out spooking on Halloween night wearing for the 30th year the same devil’s costume her mother made for her when she was a girl. — 1952: Mrs. Homer Belew went out spooking on Halloween night wearing for the 30th year the same devil’s costume her mother made for her when she was a girl. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections

Oct. 27, 2013: Children and parents laugh at magician Bo Gerard during Keller’s Spooky Kooky Keller Kastle in Johnson Park. — Oct. 27, 2013: Children and parents laugh at magician Bo Gerard during Keller’s Spooky Kooky Keller Kastle in Johnson Park. Bob Booth

Thomas Allen Cudgell Jr. in his Halloween costume in 1945. — Thomas Allen Cudgell Jr. in his Halloween costume in 1945. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections

A toddler sits in hay, looking up at an oversized fake pumpkin with a smiling face on it. — 1980: At Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, 2-year-old John Uptmoor sits with a giant jack-o’-lantern during Halloween. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections

1997: Having shown up in similar outfits, Trey Ewing (left), 5, and schoolmate Nicholas Murphy, 3, proudly proclaim their own muscles to be the biggest following the Trinity Children’s Center Halloween parade. The school is part of Trinity Lutheran Church in west Fort Worth. — 1997: Having shown up in similar outfits, Trey Ewing (left), 5, and schoolmate Nicholas Murphy, 3, proudly proclaim their own muscles to be the biggest following the Trinity Children’s Center Halloween parade. The school is part of Trinity Lutheran Church in west Fort Worth. RON T. ENNIS Star-Telegram

A young woman in a dress poses and smiles in front of a movie poster carrying what appears to be an axe. — 1951: Margaret Drain, 26-years-old, born on Halloween night, was the winner of a contest to view a showing of “The Thing” at the Worth Theater. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections

Six young children wearing costumes are huddled together and smiling at the camera on a run in what looks to be a school classroom. — Oct. 27, 1950: Everman School students wearing Halloween costumes for a carnival. From left: Charlene Johnson, Freddie Reuter, Melba Jenkins, Juanital Reuter, Jimmy Lee and Jean Lee. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections

2001: Eight classes of first-graders from Speer Elementary walk to Town North Shopping Center to trick or treat the stores, a 40-year tradition. Bryan Craven with Simplex Management Corp. hands out candy. — 2001: Eight classes of first-graders from Speer Elementary walk to Town North Shopping Center to trick or treat the stores, a 40-year tradition. Bryan Craven with Simplex Management Corp. hands out candy. PAUL MOSELEY STAR TELEGRAM

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Three children wearing costumes stand around a decorated booth labeled as "Ye Ole Fishing Hole". They are smiling as they hold fishing poles over the center of the booth. — Oct. 25, 1950: Students at the Oakhurst Elementary School Halloween carnival, from left, Wanda Elrod, Herman Younger and Corky Wheeler. They are holding fishing poles to practice fishing. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections

1958: “Last Halloween when Dr. W. S. Lorimer Jr. labored over a pumpkin, trying to carve it into a jack-o’-lantern, his young son, Douglas, now 6, took the seeds and planted them. Now he has a very long, strong vine (over which the milkman has to step carefully every morning) and a big crop of jack-o’-lanterns on the vine. He anticipates going into the pumpkin business.” — 1958: “Last Halloween when Dr. W. S. Lorimer Jr. labored over a pumpkin, trying to carve it into a jack-o’-lantern, his young son, Douglas, now 6, took the seeds and planted them. Now he has a very long, strong vine (over which the milkman has to step carefully every morning) and a big crop of jack-o’-lanterns on the vine. He anticipates going into the pumpkin business.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections

Oct. 8, 2000: Before going to the store for more Halloween decorations, Karen Benfante received a kiss from her son, Dylan, 4, who was dressed as Dracula. They helped decorate their Arlington residence Sunday afternoon. — Oct. 8, 2000: Before going to the store for more Halloween decorations, Karen Benfante received a kiss from her son, Dylan, 4, who was dressed as Dracula. They helped decorate their Arlington residence Sunday afternoon. R. Jeena Jacob STAR TELEGRAM

Oct. 28, 1952: “If North Side’s Jack Webb, right, looks behind the Halloween mask he will find Edward (Buzz) Kemble, ace of the Arlington Heights backfield. Webb, 195 pounds ramrod of the Steers’ attack, and speedster Kemble will match heroics Friday night in the first ‘big game’ of the city high school football race.” — Oct. 28, 1952: “If North Side’s Jack Webb, right, looks behind the Halloween mask he will find Edward (Buzz) Kemble, ace of the Arlington Heights backfield. Webb, 195 pounds ramrod of the Steers’ attack, and speedster Kemble will match heroics Friday night in the first ‘big game’ of the city high school football race.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections

The group of four are shown together as they smile and laugh at the camera with each of them wearing a different costume including Judy Chambers wearing a clown costume and Judy Nickerson wearing a bellhop costume. — 1946: Fort Worth City Recreation Department Halloween party revelers included, from left, Judy Lynn Nickerson, Elizabeth Ann Houston, Eddie Morrison and Judy Carol Chambers. About 700 kids attended the party. Judy Lynn is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Nickerson, Elizabeth is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Houston, Eddie is the son of Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Morrison and Judy Carol is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Chambers. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections

2012: Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price hands out historical information about Pioneer’s Rest Cemetery, the end of her 2012 bike-ride series. — 2012: Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price hands out historical information about Pioneer’s Rest Cemetery, the end of her 2012 bike-ride series. Max Faulkner Star-Telegram

1952: Two-year-old Valerie Brants, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H.P. Brants, and her boxer King, are all dressed up to scare some of the goblins that will be on the loose Halloween night. — 1952: Two-year-old Valerie Brants, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H.P. Brants, and her boxer King, are all dressed up to scare some of the goblins that will be on the loose Halloween night. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections

Oct. 31, 1946: Texas Wesleyan College’s Halloween carnival. Carolyn Clark (right), junior from Ranger, is playing the role of “wicked old witch”. She is shown stirring her brew before deciding that Jeanne Johnson, fourth from left, freshman from Riesel, be crowned as queen of the 1946 Halloween carnival. Others are, left to right, Jo Ann Gunn, senior from Granbury; Deanie Archer, junior from Granbury; and Margaret Hailey, sophomore from Cisco. — Oct. 31, 1946: Texas Wesleyan College’s Halloween carnival. Carolyn Clark (right), junior from Ranger, is playing the role of “wicked old witch”. She is shown stirring her brew before deciding that Jeanne Johnson, fourth from left, freshman from Riesel, be crowned as queen of the 1946 Halloween carnival. Others are, left to right, Jo Ann Gunn, senior from Granbury; Deanie Archer, junior from Granbury; and Margaret Hailey, sophomore from Cisco. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections

2009: TCU students dress up for Halloween as dead celebrities: Bernie Mac (Jackson Beall), Farrah Fawcett (Reeves Sodoma), Billy Mays (Nick Daniels), Walter Cronkite (Spencer Williams), Patrick Swayze (Trevor Sherer), and Michael Jackson (Casey Tounget). — 2009: TCU students dress up for Halloween as dead celebrities: Bernie Mac (Jackson Beall), Farrah Fawcett (Reeves Sodoma), Billy Mays (Nick Daniels), Walter Cronkite (Spencer Williams), Patrick Swayze (Trevor Sherer), and Michael Jackson (Casey Tounget). MAX FAULKNER STAR-TELEGRAM

Oct. 29, 1946: Curtis Merly Sides and Nancy Louise Jolly were crowned king and queen of White Settlement Elementary School carnival. Curtis is the son of Mr. and Mrs. William F. Sides. Nancy is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd E. Jolly. — Oct. 29, 1946: Curtis Merly Sides and Nancy Louise Jolly were crowned king and queen of White Settlement Elementary School carnival. Curtis is the son of Mr. and Mrs. William F. Sides. Nancy is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd E. Jolly. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections

Oct. 31, 1946: Freddie Notley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Notley, offers a bite of his red-faced apple to Camille Bridget, daughter of Capt. and Mrs. H. B. Bridget. — Oct. 31, 1946: Freddie Notley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Notley, offers a bite of his red-faced apple to Camille Bridget, daughter of Capt. and Mrs. H. B. Bridget. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections

1998: Police officers presented a Halloween program to first-graders Glen Harmon Elementary in Mansfield ISD on how to stay safe. — 1998: Police officers presented a Halloween program to first-graders Glen Harmon Elementary in Mansfield ISD on how to stay safe. Jerry W. Hoefer Star-Telegram

1958: A Halloween carnival, sponsored by the G.E. Tandy PTA, will be held from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Students pictured are back, from left, Billy Raley, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Raley of 3541 Canyon Ridge, and Charles Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Smith of 324 Meadowbrook Drive; and front, from left, Lynn Rogers, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin of 2800 Bomar, and Diane Lisius, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E.J. Lisius of 3709 Meadowbrook Drive. — 1958: A Halloween carnival, sponsored by the G.E. Tandy PTA, will be held from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Students pictured are back, from left, Billy Raley, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Raley of 3541 Canyon Ridge, and Charles Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Smith of 324 Meadowbrook Drive; and front, from left, Lynn Rogers, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin of 2800 Bomar, and Diane Lisius, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E.J. Lisius of 3709 Meadowbrook Drive. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections

A boy in jeans and girl in a dark dress smile at each other holding paint brushes in front of a large poster that says "Carnival Time!" with a painted clown face on it. — Oct. 12, 1950: Thomas Place School first-graders, Bob Frederick and Linda Sue Woolsey, put on the finishing touches to one of the Halloween decorations to be seen at the school carnival. The carnival will offer a picture show, cake-walk, refreshments, a ring toss and wishing well. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections

Black and white photograph showing Miss Oyervides as she proudly models her dress and hat made out of newspaper. — Oct. 31, 1940: “Something new in Halloween costumes was the newspaper dress made from Star-Telegrams worn Thursday night by Miss Dorothy Oyervides. It took Miss Oyervides two weeks to make the costume.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections

Everyone is standing grouped together in a semi-circle in an open room. Some people are in costumes. Women in the front row are wearing either dresses or blouses and skirts. Most of the men are wearing suits. — 1941: “This is a crowd shot of the Star-Telegram Halloween dance.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections

MORE: Check out these other photo galleries from the Star-Telegram archives:

This story was originally published October 31, 2022 at 8:00 AM.

Matt Leclercq

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Matt Leclercq is senior managing editor at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He previously was an editor at USA Today in Washington, national news editor at Gatehouse Media in Austin, and executive editor of The Fayetteville (NC) Observer. He’s a New Orleans native.