Halloween Revisited -- Wacky Memories

It's the weekend and you know what that means? That's right! Repeats!  It's time for another Halloween Revisited post.  This one is from 2017.

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These days for Halloween treats, people favor handing out pre-packaged candies; the treat you receive from one house indistinguishable from the next.  When I Trick or Treated as a kid, I might receive a candy bar at one house, a comic book at another, and wax Wowe-e Whistles, money, popcorn balls or apples at others. One of my earliest Trick or Treating memories when I was around 7 involved what I thought was an odd treat at the time, but in hindsight was pretty cool and appropriate. I received this Wacky Packages sticker.

Be A Schlepper

The late '70's and early '80's were the golden years of gimmick candy, and I was a sucker for them.

From Pop Rocks to licensed candy bars like the Reggie bar to sweet tarts packed in every variety of container (coffin, sarcophagus, lunchbox, trash can, fire hydrant, locker, you name it) I eagerly handed over my quarters and gobbled them down.

I found this empty (sadly) container at an estate sale among a miscellaneous box of smalls.  I instantly recognized the Wacky Package-esque parody, but not the container.  

You Can't Take It with You

Wow, that was a long gap, but here I am again, popping up when least expected.  Well, it keeps you on your toes, doesn't it?

This will be a little bit different Garage Sale post in that its about something that didn't come home with me.  But it was something that struck a personal chord and triggered fond memories.

I was at an estate sale this weekend (a particularly good one, I might add, but that will be for later).  As I walked into one of the bedrooms, I immediately noticed the door, or more specifically, what was on it.

Wacky Puzzle

A couple Halloweens ago, I blogged about my memories of receiving Wacky Packages in my treat bucket one Halloween back in the 70's.

I found this Jaymar Wacky Packages puzzle at an estate sale for $1 a couple weeks ago.  It's from 1973 and features Wacky Package cards from Series I, II and III.  The picture is a montage of Wacky Packages in various sizes.

Today's Halloween Pails in Comparison

You've probably noticed, these posts come with a heavy does of nostalgia; my own.  Having grown up in the '70's and early '80's, I sometimes feel like I closed out the years when being a kid was magical, particularly around Halloween. It was a time when parents let their children run out alone into the night, enter strangers' homes, eat their homemade treats, and explore unknown paths -- as long as they were home by the time the moon was overhead in the sky.  My memories of Halloween have followed me throughout the years. And it all started with this.

Wacky Memories

These days for Halloween treats, people favor handing out pre-packaged candies; the treat you receive from one house indistinguishable from the next.  When I Trick or Treated as a kid, I might receive a candy bar at one house, a comic book at another, and wax Wowe-e Whistles, money, popcorn balls or apples at others. One of my earliest Trick or Treating memories when I was around 7 involved what I thought was an odd treat at the time, but in hind sight was pretty cool and appropriate. I received this Wacky Packages sticker.