Entertainment, TV, Celebrity, Culture

Follow @2Paragraphs
  • Daily Edition
    • Bernie SandersBernie Sanders Says This “Greedy” Enemy Unites Even Divided Americans
    • Barack_ObamaBarack Obama Links To Tyre Nichols $1 Million Fund, Speaks Out On Tragedy
    • Joe_BidenJoe Biden Viral Video: “Blank Stare” or Disgust and Surprise?
  • Business
    • Ph.D. student Omar Samara of UC Davis with an agrivoltaic farmAgrivoltaic Farming Trend Surges, Success Stories Around The Globe
    • Dwayne_Johnson by Eva Rinaldi [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia CommonsDwayne Johnson Knocks On His Wooden Head After $100 Million Annual Sales
    • Bill_GatesBill Gates Defends Huge Farm Purchases, “There Isn’t Some Grand Scheme”
  • Culture
    • George Foreman‘Big George Foreman’ Trailer Drops Featuring ‘Death Of A Salesman’ Star
    • Courteney CoxCourteney Cox Shares “Pretty Brutal” Dog Video, David Spade Cracks Joke
    • Jordin SparksJordin Sparks Is Bringing the Heat in ‘No Pants’ Mini Dress
  • Sports
    • Tom_BradyTom Brady Plans To Torment Haters By Never Going Away
    • LeBron James LakersLeBron James Says Western Conference Less “Physical” — Dejounte Murray Reveals
    • Deron WilliamsNBA Taps Deron Williams For All-Star Gig, “One Of The Nastiest” — Here’s Why
  • Food
    • Jennifer GarnerJennifer Garner Reveals Her Favorite ‘Dry January’ Treat at Home
    • Dark ChocolateAre Dark Chocolate Fears Overblown? Cadmium, California, and “Ouch, Ouch” Disease
    • Wendy's restaurantWendy’s New Riddle Stumps Social Media — “Chili in Philly?”
  • Interviews
    • Cranberries_in_a_bucketDo Cranberries Really Help UTI? A Doctor Answers With New Evidence
    • Lauren Lovett The Speech Ring InventorVideo: The Speech Ring Inventor on Overcoming Fear of Public Speaking
    • Surge first out gay superhero in the moviesFirst Out Gay Movie Superhero Surge Speaks on Humor, Responsibility
  • Cool Stuff
    • Bergdorf Goodman 5th Avenue store in NYCChristian Louboutin Reveals 3.5″ Spring Mules With ‘Vibrant Red’ Nail Polish
    • Cardi_BCardi B Says She Hit Jackpot With $30,000 Chanel Slot Machine Bag
    • Patton Oswalt, photo: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsPatton Oswalt Shares Genius Movie Solution for Home Viewing, “Wow”
  • People
    • Bradley_Cooper,Bradley Cooper’s Net Worth Wealth Soars, $100 Million Plus
    • Barbara CorcoranWho Is Barbara Corcoran’s FBI Agent, Football Star Husband?
    • Israel Del ToroWatch ESPYS Pat Tillman Recipient MSgt. Del Toro Talk About Resilience
  • Contact

One Scary Cold Case for Halloween

by Mary Fichter in Culture | September 25, 2012

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • More
  • Linkedin
  • Reddit
  • Email

If you’re a parent who wants to avoid buying licensed Hollywood Halloween costumes for the kids, e.g., Batman, Spiderman, and all those Disney princesses, good luck. According to online retailer PureCostumes.com, originality is on the outs. The more recognizable a character’s outfit is, say from a superhero box office hit, the more popular that costume will inevitably be. And even in hard economic times, Americans aren’t afraid to pay for fun and fear – and heroes. Last year, according to the National Retail Federation, Americans spent $2.5 billion on Halloween costumes ($1 billion for kids, $1.2 billion for adults, and $310 million for their pets – dogs love to go as cats). Toss decorations, pumpkins, and candy into the cauldron, and the average American spent $72.31 on the holiday.

We can thank a man named Ben Cooper (b. 1906 on the Lower East Side of NYC) for being the first to buy a license to produce and sell Disney costumes. That was in 1937; costumes often sold for only $1.25. (Today’s store-bought toddler-sized Spiderman goes for $20-30.) Ben Cooper, Inc. flew its highest in the 70s with popular masks of Nixon but the entire industry was spooked by the tragic 1982 Chicago Tylenol murders, in which seven people died after taking manipulated painkillers laced with potassium cyanide just one month before Halloween. The idea that the tamperer was still at large did not encourage trick or treating. The Feds haven’t yet found the villainous Tylenol killer. Just last year, they requested DNA samples from the incarcerated “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski as part of the on-going investigation into the Tylenol killings. The U.S. Marshall’s office recently auctioned his infamous disguise – a gray hoodie and pair of sunglasses – for $20,025. That’s scary expensive.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • More
  • Linkedin
  • Reddit
  • Email

Dickens-Era Tinsel Treasures – American Folk at Lincoln Center

Urn of Flower with Blue Leaves, artist unidentified, c. 1880-1890, American Folk Museum, photo: Gavin Ashworth

Load More

  • Recent
  • Trending
  • Popular
  • George Foreman‘Big George Foreman’ Trailer Drops Featuring ‘Death Of A Salesman’ Star
  • Courteney CoxCourteney Cox Shares “Pretty Brutal” Dog Video, David Spade Cracks Joke
  • Jordin SparksJordin Sparks Is Bringing the Heat in ‘No Pants’ Mini Dress
  • BeyoncéBeyoncé Crushes Adele In Critical Music Biz Category Ahead of Grammys
  • Missy ElliotMissy Elliot Gives Rock Hall of Fame Speech Preview, Talks Timbaland Love
  • Anna CampAnna Camp Poses Topless at Airbnb in the Desert, “New Vibes”
  • Laura PreponLaura Prepon Chops Off Hair, Surprises ‘That ’70s Show’ Co-Stars at Reunion
  • Riley_KeoughRiley Keough’s Bare Midriff Photo Screams Rock Royalty, ‘Daisy and The Six’ Attests
  • Miley_CyrusMiley Cyrus Shares More Bikini Video, Dedicates Song After ‘Flowers’ #1 News Hits
  • Evangeline LillyEvangeline Lilly Flaunts Frosted Curled Hair, Michelle Pfeiffer Reacts
  • John TravoltaJohn Travolta’s Daughter Makes Clever Family Video, “Mama Would Be Proud”
  • Demi LovatoDemi Lovato Shares New Year Kiss in ‘Drippy’ Sunglasses
  • Anna KendrickAnna Kendrick Stuns in Fringe Mini Dress with Pitch Perfect’s Brittany Snow
  • Jenna DewanJenna Dewan Stuns in White Fringe Poncho Dress, Flaunts Sculpted Cheekbones
  • Gage Skidmore / CC BY-SACandace Cameron Bure Sits on Husband’s Lap, “He Calls For Us to Endure”
2paragraphs on APPLE NEWS | 2paragraphs Amazon Shop | SEE MORE 2paragraphs ARTICLES
  • About 2paragraphs
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Dedication
  • Map
  • Fresh
  • Law
  • How-To
  • Personal
  • Books

© 2012-2023, 2paragraphs Productions, LLC

  • Buffer
  • Diggit
  • Email
  • More
  • Facebook
  • Flattr
  • Google+
  • Linkedin
  • Pinterest
  • Print
  • Reddit
  • Stumble
  • tumblr
  • Twitter
  • VK
  • WhatsApp
  • Yummly
  • Xing