Home Alumni Old school photo: ‘50s Halloween fun

Old school photo: ‘50s Halloween fun

In October 1954, a writer for The Times-Delphic penned this to the student body:

To the younger children, Halloween means a time for bobbing for apples, roasting marshmallows, making jack-o-lanterns and pestering the neighbors with cries of “trick or treat.” To the high school adolescent [Halloween] means the best time in the year for destroying public property, defacing buildings and scaring old ladies. To the average homeowner Halloween is a time to stake down the doghouse, put the ash can in the basement and stand guard. … But to Drake students Halloween should mean attending the all-university party tonight.

Gruesome costumes were suggested and a 50-cent admission charge was requested to cover the cost of refreshments, decorations and music. Sue (Childs) Collins, BN’57, and Sherrie Hart, BN’58 (pictured above) prepared by carving pumpkins for what was promised to be a “Hallowe’en of a good time.”

Do you remember campus Halloween celebrations? Share your own memories of Drake days gone by in the comments section. Browse electronic editions of The Quax and other historical resources in the Drake Heritage Collections on the Cowles Library website.