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Page 32 The Antique Shoppe October, 2019
HALLOWEEN TRICK OR TREAT BAGS

By Larry LeMasters

LeMasters’ Antique News Service
available for collectors. Today, in
When I was a little boy, my a machine that made square- good condition with vivid colors,
sister Kathy and I walked around bottom paper bags with pleated a ‘50s trick or treat paper bag sells
our neighborhood, on Halloween sides. And in 1912, Walter for around $50.
night, dressed as Deubener used cord to reinforce Cloth “trick or treat”
ghosts and pirates paper bags and to add carrying Halloween bags from the 1950s
and carrying handles. A “Deubener Shopping are also highly sought. Two,
Deubener brown Bag” could hold 75 pounds Popeye the
paper bags from our and became the standard for Sailor Man
local Montgomery department store bags. By and Casper
Wards Department 1915, a million Deubener the Friendly
Store. Wards used Shopping Bags were sold Ghost, are
paper bags with each year, and the number exceedingly
handles to bag grew by leaps and bounds rare and are
purchases, and over the years. By 1976, occasionally
Mom, who got plastic shopping bags were offered for ↑Burger King, circa 1977, large
the bags when replacing paper bags in $100 or more “Trick or Treat” bag that is valued
she shopped at nearly every store, and on on Internet at $65.
Wards, saved two Halloween night, children auction sites. ← 50 Pack, 1950s, “Trick or Treat”
bags for us to all over Some bags in unopened wrapper. This
use for trick or America collectors great collectible was offered on
treating. We cried limit their eBay for $92.
sat for a couple as they Halloween in the United States, but today
of hours each lamented trick or treat bag collection to there are only 14, so all Dog
Halloween, ↑Vintage, “Trick bags advertising companies. n Suds items are collectible.
or Treat” bag
drawing from Dog n Suds. There are many to choose from. Charmin toilet paper gave away
black Recently a Chevron “Trick or Mr. Whipple trick or treat bags
cats, Jack Vintage, circa Treat” bag, with Hawaiian girl, in the 1970s that depicted Mr.
1970s, paper
O’lanterns, Trick or Treat bag was offered on eBay for $111. Whipple in a witch’s costume
and our manufactured by This bag is a true work of art, and astride a broom. These bags are
names on our Duro Company.→ its reverse side featured “safety especially fun for any collector
bags using Fun, Charmin Toi- tips” for Trick or Treaters to who has ever “squeezed the
crayons, let Paper “Trick or follow. During the 1970s, Burger Charmin.” Some other companies
and then we Treat” bag with King gave away free Trick or that offered collectible trick or
prowled the Mr. Whipple as a Treat paper bags as promotional treat bags include Brach’s candy,
neighbors’ witch. This bag advertising. A harder-to-find A&W Root Beer (featuring the
was offered on
porches and eBay for $95.↓ advertising Trick or Treat bag Munsters), and Orange Crush
stoops for is the Dog n Suds bag from soda.
free treats. the the 1960s. At Today, kids use plastic
A history passing of the Deubener, one time there bags or pillowcases to
of paper handle paper bag and were 650 Dog n entice homeowners to
bags is the 75 pounds of candy Suds operating “give up the candy.”
actually a it could hold. But there was a day
short history I’m not sure if when Halloween Trick
of trick or Halloween trick or or Treat bags were
treating in treat bags ever had beautifully decorated,
America. a Golden Era, but if and today, these
In 1852, they did, it was the special Halloween
Francis 1950s. All bags in bags are considered
Wolle the ‘50s were paper, “treats” in themselves,
invented the many had handles, and that’s no trick!
first machine and the vivid
to mass- black and orange ↑Chevron Halloween paper “Trick or Treat”
produce envelope-styled paper decorations and pictures on the bag, circa 1969, showing Hawaiian girl in native
costumes and offering Trick or Treat “safety
bags. In 1871, Margaret Knight bags quickly associated them tips” on reverse. This bag was offered on eBay
designed a machine that could with Halloween. Surprisingly, for $111.
produce flat-bottomed paper bags. many of these vintage, 1950s ←Extremely rare, Casper the Friendly Ghost
In 1883, Charles Stilwell patented Halloween bags are still cloth “trick or treat” bag from the 1950s.