Here's a few vintage discount store Halloween-themed advertisements from the mid 80s...
Eckerd Drugs Ad from October 14, 1984
Loads of Halloween fun here. Rubber masks, "Creepy Creature Make-up Kits" G.I. Joe, He-Man, Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake Halloween costumes, "Kooky Spooks Make-up Kits", Candy, Lite-up glow sticks and the classic plastic pumpkin candy holders.
Osco Drug 3 page Halloween add from October 26, 1986. We've got GI Joe and Pound Puppies costumes, Snickers, M&Ms, Reese's and Rolo Candy...
Adult costumes, Halloween decorations...
Tootsie Rolls and Tootsie Pops, Butterfingers, Baby Ruth, Almond Joy and Mounds, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Make-up Kits, Rubber Masks, and pumpkin pails.
TG&Y Family Centers (my fondest discount store of my youth)brings it' "A" game with this October 21, 1984 Halloween Ad. Cabbage Patch Kids, Shirt Tails, Rainbow Bright, Transformers, He-Man, Care Bears, Spider-Man, My Little Pony, Cookie Monster and Barbie (I think) costumes galore! Also assorted candy bars, Pops, Sweetarts, Whoppers, Rainbow wigs, rubber masks, Plastic pumpkins, Paas Halloween Make-up Kits, Flashlights, and other goodies.
TG&Y Variety Stores ad from October 28, 1984 (weird that these are a week apart and have the new and old TG&Y logos. Maybe the new style was just for the Family Centers...).
He-Man, Cookie Monster and Rainbow Bright costumes, glow sticks, witch's hats, Baby Ruth and Butterfinger candy bars and Super Bubble bubble gum.
McCrory and TG&Y Variety Stores Ad from October 26, 1986. Includes lots of candy, Centurions, GI Joe, Muppett Babies and Barbie costumes, Brach's Candy, Weird Footballs (I assume Madballs knock offs), Spray hair colors and Silly String.
Page 2 of the TG&Y ad has some classics. Halloween bags, make-up kits, plastic fangs, plastic pumpkins, Bat Masks, Rubber Masks, "Sounds of the Night" cassette tape, Rubber masks and rubber monster hands, rainbow wigs and decorations. Plus some generic Christmas Toys too.
Last up is Walmart from October 26, 1986. Skittles, Starburst, Mounds and Almond Joy, &Ms, Butterfingers, Baby Ruth, 3 Musketeers, Snickers, Reese's, Mr. Goodbar and KitKat, some hair sprays and Makeup Kits, plus He-Man and Ultra Magnus Halloween costumes.
I've got some more ads to go through, so there's more to come.
-Matt
aka Dr. G
